Series 1 > Diary of the Reverend John Mill, minister of the parishes of Dunrossness Sandwick and Cunningsburgh in Shetland, 1740-1803. With selections from local records and original documents relating to the district

72
MILL’S DIARY
[1784
countrey at 26 pence per lispd., which serves to keep prices
low for benefit of the poor, as the crop was bad, and many
straitened for corn and fother; yet weather fresh mostly till
now that frost and snow cover the ground.
1784 Jan. This year began with a strong blow of easterly
wind, which set people in a great stir for preserving their
houses and boats, but, alas, discovered little concern or anxiety
for the salvation of their souls. O! that men were wise,
that they understood this, and might constantly remember
their latter end, with an eye to a future reckoning, that
precious time, talents, and the season of grace might be
improved to better purpose.
Feb. 23rd. This day I enter on my 73rd year; and O!
to be helped by divine grace so to number the remaining
days of my pilgrimage as to fill them up with duty, and to
have the lamp of my heart well trimmed and burning with
love to Christ Jesus, and that I may [be] ready at his call,
having a desire to depart and be for ever with the Lord.
For 4 Sabbaths past I have been keeped at home from the
North Kirk through frost and deep snow, which speaks aloud
to improve the season while it lasts. But though people
and beasts are greatly straitened for want of food, yet alas!
the generality are so fearfully blinded and hardened that they
consider not the works of the Lord etc. and continue stupid
and senseless under word and rod. May the Lord awaken
their drowsy souls in mercy.
In April several ships arrived with meal etc. for supply of
the countrey, but as ’tis upwards of a crown per lispd. and
the people mostly want money to purchase, will prove small
relief to them; and if it pleased the Lord to open the
mouth of the sea would be more beneficial. The world is
mostly in peace at present, which is seldom the case. But
our Government [is] in a fluctuating condition, the Ministry
often changed; all striving for posts and pensions, and who
shall be uppermost, but never think of the reckoning here¬
after. They pretend Patriotism when only acted from selfish