Catalogue description Diary of Elijah Goff: volume 1. Note inside cover states 'begun 15 Jan. 1788, ended 31 Aug. 1796' (also 'no. of my watch 7613, made by Ellicott'), but covers are detached and entries up to 8 Dec. 1789 have been lost, except for part of one page for 6-10 Feb. 1788.

Note inside back cover re purchase of a chestnut mare for £34 18s in Aug.1796.

The entries include frequent references to the weather; sermons heard at 'Mr.Hill's meetings', 'Shakespeare's Walk', St.George-in-the-East Church, etc.; dining at the Coal Exchange, Stock Exchange or at various inns(e.g. the Cock and Lion, and the Crown and Magpie in Whitechapel); rides on horseback to various places in Kent, Essex, etc.; visits to and from his children; attacks of gout; visits to Plaistow (where he sometimes assisted with haymaking), Ramsgate, and Epping; domestic occurrences such as having chimneys swept, laying down port, or hiring new servants (e.g. 5 Jan.1790); hearing news of his son Joseph Goff, at sea on voyages to Jamaica and India; etc.

Specific references include the following:

- Death of niece Maria Ainsley, buried at Wapping churchyard in Mr.Mallard's vault 'beside my dear wife' (10 Jan.1790)

- Son John returning from boarding school for his birthday (24 Feb.1790)

- 'A fire broke out at a cork cutter's at the Hermitage, burnt a hemp warehouse and several others' (2 Apr. 1790)

- 'Dined at the London Tavern with the Duke of Gloucester his son Prince William with several noblemen and a very numerous company on the anniversary of the London Hospital' (20 Apr. 1790)

- 'Went to the London Hospital to vote for Mrs.Guion to be matron, who got it by a large majority' (22 Apr 1790)

- 'Rode down to Blackheath to see the King reviewing the Oxford Blues; dined at Eltham' (4 May 1790)

- 'Last evening a press broke out for seamen' (5 May 1790)

- 'Rode down to Blackwall to see Mr.Pary's new west dock entered for the first time - they took in 3 East Indiamen and 1 Greenlandman' (20 Nov. 1790)

- Visits Southampton, Winchester and the Isle of Wight (19 - 26 Sep. 1792)

- 'Dined at the London Tavern with Earl Cornwallis and about 300 of the subscribers of the Eastern Dispensary, in the evening met at the Paul's Head the stewards of the Universal Medical Society to order the dinner of the charity' (12 May 1794)

- 'Heard that Peter Goff [his son] had changed his name for Mallard' (12 Apr. 1794)

- 'Met the Marquis of Cornwallis with the Deputy Lieutenants of the Tower at the Court House in Wellclose Square, made a subscription to raise a body of men for the service of the Crown to protect our properties' (20 May 1794)

- Visits Portsmouth and Southampton (15-22 Jul.1794)

- Marriage of his son Elijah to Mary Robinson at Camberwell Church (26 Mar.1795)

- 'A great mob gathered at St.George's Fields, but [I] did not hear of any damage, blessed be God for it' (29 Jun.1795)

- 'This morning Mr.Ainsley's stables were broke open and his mare stolen' (13 Feb.1796)

- 'Dined with the Lord Mayor at the Mansion House, with about 200 of his friends' (4 Jun. 1796)