Journal and Letters of Philip Vickers Fithian: A Plantation Tutor of the Old Dominion, 1773-1774.

The morning haizy, no Wind, & very warm – I wrote a Letter to Uncle Samuel Fithian– After Dinner Mr Carter set out for Williamsburg – by him I sent to the Post-office at Hobbes-Hole, My Letters to Mr Hunter, Uncle Fithian, Miss Beatty. & Mr Peck– After School in the evening I had an agreeable walk with Mrs Carter in the Garden —

Fryday 10.

Cool but exceeding dry – Writing at my Lecture. Mrs Carter was to day sadly frighted with a Lizard, that lives under the House – After School, with Ben I wakked over to Mr Turburville's to gather Cheries, which are there in great plenty – Mrs Carter in the evening after our return, gave me a Lecture for taking Ben to Annapolis when I went last Home without a waiting-Man – Wrote at my Lecture til eleven. Ben sleeps at the Great-House in the absence of his Papa.

Saturday 11.

I was sitting in the Colonels Library I took a Catalogue of the whole of His Books – & he tells me he has left behind him at Williamsburg, with many other things 458 volumes besides Music & Pamphlets.^[178]

It is with considerable Difficulty that I keep the Children in School til twelve o Clock as they used to go out all the last winter at Breakfast —Bob especially is vastly vociferous on the Occasion – Our Bells for School & play-Hours are at present under good Regulations. The Children come in as soon as they rise and are Drest which is usually about seven – The Bell rings at eight for Breakfast – At nine it Rings for two purposes; for the Children to enter School, & for the Gardiners, Carpenters, & other workmen to come into Breakfast – At ten it Rings them to work. At twelve it rings for the School play hours – At two it rings for us to Dine, & the workmen – And the las[t] bell is at three for School & for the workmen to go to Labour – I dismiss them by my watch at half after Five. – After Dinner I rode alone to Mr Blains Store; bought a pen-knife, nine Jacket-Buttons, & a primmer for Miss Harriot 3/. It is alarming to observe how hard, & dusty the Country is; towards evening some clouds arose & looked promising in the West, but they bring no rain – No rain has fell here since the 24th of May, & then but a Scanty Shower, & most of the time since windy.

Sunday 12.

Ben & Mr Randolph had a small wrangle about Horses: The Day is vastly hot, the wind small at West, clear & very Dry I choose therefore to stay at Home – I lent my Horse to Ben, & staid myself at Home to write my Lecture, Mrs Carter the two Misses, & Ben went to Church, Mr Randolph went on Board Captain Blackwells Ship to dine —Bob pleaded hard with me for Leave to go on Board the Ship, but I kept him at home with me – Evening I finished my Lecture & laid it by for future examination. Some Clouds & Lightning in the west but no rain.

Monday 13.

Ben gave Bob, for some imprudent Language a drubbing this morning – About nine we had a Shower but soon over & of little use; be to God, however, that we have any – I begun, to day my Sermon for the Presbytery – The change in the weather since yesterday is remarkable. This afternoon is so cool that I should be glad of a winter suit – yesterday afternoon was so hot I could not be comfortably cool in a thin gown, with all the windows of my chamber up. Evening, John the waiting Man play'd, & the young Ladies spent the evening merrily in dancing – I staid til ten, saw them & Conversed with Mrs Carter.

Teusday 14.

I added last night to my Bed-Clothes a Quilt, Blanket, & my own Clothes & lay under them all, none too warm – The children call'd for a Fire in the school-Room, & were so cold I was obliged to dismiss them before the Bell – I believe there is no Frost – Befor Breakfast, Mr Stadley the musician came from Colonel Taylors at mount Airy.

Miss Priscilla & Nancy attend his instructions. Mr Stadley shewed me some Verses he is carrying from Mr Washingtons to His Daughter they seem good and are as follow.

A Hymn for a dying Believer

 
  1st Happy Soul thy Days are ended,
All thy mourning Days below,
Go by Angel-Guards attended
To the Sight of Jesus, go.
 
 
2d   Waiting to recieve my Spirit,
Lo thy Saviour stands above,
Shews the purchase of his merit
Reaches out the Crown of Love.
 
 
3d   For the Joy he Sets before thee
Bear a momentary pain,
Die to live the Life of Glory
Suffer, with thy Lord to reign.
 

Spent the evening very agreeably with Mrs Carter & Mr Stadley, we sat about a good Fire in the Dining-Room, and it seems as necessary & agreeable as in November or December. —

Wednesday 15.

So cold that I ordered a Fire in the School-Room – Mr Stadley with us yet – I took out of the Library to read for entertainment the "Amusement of the German Spa; it is a well written piece – Designed entirely for Amusement Before dinner Mrs Taylor,^[179] with her two Daughters Miss Polly, & Kitty came in a Chariot —Bob was in a moment on Fire; He is deeply Smitten with Polly's Charms – beg'd me for Leave to go out of School & dress – I allow'd him, The Day was vastly windy & the drouth is alarming! – Close Attention for two weeks past has fatigued me so much, that yesterday, & to Day I have laid aside Study, & read only for Relaxation – I took a whim in my head & would not go to Dinner, my Head was not dress'd, & I was too lazy to change my clothes – Mrs Carter, however, in the evening lash'd me severely. I told her I was engaged in reading a pleasant Novel. – That I was not perfectly well – But She would not hear none, & said I was rude, & censurable – Mr Stadley spent the evening in playing several songs & Sonata's on the Harpsichord & violin —

Thursday 16.

Mr Stadley left us before Breakfast – Reading at the Amusement of Spa– Drew off some Tunes —

Fryday 17.

Bob was missing last night I was at his Room at twelve o Clock he was absent – This morning I examined him, he told me he was at Mr Turburville's, but told me several palpable Lies – I gave him however severe correction – We had this morning about 5 °Clock a smart Gust of wind, Rain & Thunder, but soon over.

Saturday 18.

Ben not very well – At twelve Bob teaz'd me for leave to go to a Cock-Fight & Horse-Race about two Miles off, I gave him Leave with his promising to be home by Sun Set. – Spent the Afternoon in my room writing – Towards evening 'Squire Lee call'd in, & brought a late London News-Paper in which we are informed that another Act of Parliament has pass'd taking from the People of Boston all power of trying any Soldier, or Person whether for commiting any Crime; & obliging all such offenders to be sent home for legal Tryal – Heaven only knows where these tumults will End! – He informed us likewise that last Saturday in Richmond (our neighbour County) the people drest & burnt with great marks of Destestation the infamous Lord North– Mrs Carter, after the 'Squire left us quite astonished me in the Course of the evening. with her perfect acquaintance with the American Constitution —

Sunday 19.

The day cool – Sermon is at Ucomico, so that we all stay at Home Mrs Carter was in the morning frightned thinking that several of the Negro-Girls in the Family are unwell with the Measles, but I believe it to be only a Frett of the Heat Ben is unwel; He has a sick Stomach; at Times aguish; complains of Pains in his Breast & Side; & in the morning Spits Blood. He keeps about however, but his fond Mama discovers great anxiety. – I spend the Day in my Room writing at my Sermon, & reading the plain & useful Pictete.

Monday 20.

So cool that I sit with my Cloths buttoned, & am chilly. the children also complain of the cold; this must certainly be unwholesome weather – Breakfasted with us Mr Cox– Ben continues no better, he lays by Study to day & keeps in – I myself either conceit or in reality have a Fever & head-Ach to Day – Before twelve we had a moderate Shower no wind nor Thunder – Mrs Carter wrote a note to Dr Jones & Desired him to call & See Ben, towards evening he came; He thinks Ben has only Symptoms of an Agu approaching – He prescribed some Physick – Drank Coffee with us, & went home about six – I lightens in the North.

Teusday 21.

Harry is unwel, takes this morning Physick, and keeps his Room – Ben is in the same way —Priscilla & Nancy are practising Musick, so that to Day we have only four in School – At five in the Evening, Ben, Prissy & I rode out on Horse back for exercise; before we returned Captain Dobby, of the Ship Susannah an agreeable, sensible, polite Gentleman came, & 'Squire Lee– The conversation, at Coffee was on American affairs, the 'Squire shew'd us one of Mr Dunlaps papers,^[180] in which are accounts that the Northern Colonies are zealous & stedfast in resolutions to maintain their Liberties – We sat til eleven —

Wednesday 22.

Breakfasted with us Captain Dobby, & Mr Taylor, their conversation promiscuous – Clear & warm, not sultry, Harry better & in School, but Ben continues indisposed. I wrote to Day some at my Sermon – After School, with Mrs Carter & the young Ladies & Bob, I walked through the Garden – But I seem not suited in being confin'd wholly at Home, yet my stay is quite voluntary —

Thursday 23.

Very warm all the morning – From twelve to two I was writing at my Sermon – While we were at dinner a very black cloud rose in the West: Mrs Carter, is fearful when it thunders, so that I did not leave the Room till it was over, about four, there was a strong Gale of wind, some thunder, & a refreshing Shower. At five with Mrs Carter & the young Ladies I took a walk; She shewed me from a high Hill several beautiful Prospects – I was diverted tho it was a little cruel, to see the Girls gather the Blossoms of some Prickly-Pears.

Fryday 24.

Lat night we had a Gust of Rain & Thunder; very acceptable – To Day in course Mr Christians Dance happens here – He came before Breakfast – Miss Jenny Washington came also, & Miss Priscilla Hale while we were at Breakfast – Miss Washington is about seventeen; She has not a handsome Face, but is neat in her Dress, of an agreeable Size, & well proportioned, & has an easy winning Behaviour; She is not forward to begin a conversation, yet when spoken to She is extremely affable, without assuming any Girlish affectation, or pretending to be overcharg'd with Wit; She has but lately had oppertunity of Instruction in Dancing, yet She moves with propriety when she dances a Minuet & without any Flirts or vulgar Capers, when She dances a Reel or Country-Dance: She plays well on the Harpsichord, & Spinet; understands the principles of Musick, & therefore performs her Tunes in perfect time, a Neglect of which always makes music intolerable, but it is a fault almost universal among

young Ladies in the practice; She sings likewise to her instrument, has a strong, full voice, & a well-judging Ear; but most of the Virginia-Girls think it labour quite sufficient to thump the Keys of a Harpsichord into the air of a tune mechanically, & think it would be Slavery to submit to the Drudgery of acquiring Vocal Music; Her Dress is rich & well-chosen, but not tawdry, nor yet too plain; She appears to Day in a Chintz cotton Gown with an elegant blue Stamp, a Sky-Blue silk Quilt, spotted apron; Her Hair is a light Brown, it was crap'd up, with two Rolls at each Side, & on the top a small cap of beautiful Gawze and rich Lace, with an artificial Flower interwoven – Her person & carriage at a small distance resembles not a little my much respected Laura. But on close examination her Features are something masculine, those of Laura are mild and delicate: Mr Christien very politely requested me to open the Dance by stepping a Minuet with this amiable Girl, but I excused myself by assuring Him that I never was taught to Dance. – Miss Hale is about fourteen; a slim, puny silent Virgin; She has black Eyes, & black Hair, a good sett of Eye-Brows, which are esteem'd in Virginia essential to Beauty; She looks innocent of every human Failing, does not speak five Words in a Week, & I dare say from her Carriage that her Modesty is invincible; She is drest in a white Holland Gown, cotton Diaper quilt very fine, a Lawn apron, has her Hair crap'd up, & on it a small Tuft of Ribbon for a Cap She is but just innitiated into the School, and only hobbles yet Once I saw her standing; I rose immediately and begg'd her to accept my Chair; She answered most kindly, "Sir I thank you." that was all I could extract from this Wonder of the Sex for the two Days she stay'd, & I seemed to have an equal Share too in the Favours of her Conversation; so that I cannot be any way particular in describing the mental faculties of Miss Hale. it is sufficient to say that I think She is far removed from most of the foibles of Women – Some time after these came Colonel Lee's^[181] Chariot with five young Misses – These five, with Miss Washington & Miss Hale & Miss Nancy Carter, & Bob are Mr Christiens Compliment of Scholars in this School except Miss Turburville who is just now up the country with an Uncle, where She is to Stay some time together with Miss Corbin. Miss Betsy Lee^[182] is about thirteen; a tall slim genteel Girl; She is very far from Miss Hale's taciturnity, yet is by no means disagreeably forward; She dances extremely well, & is just begining to play the Spinet – She is drest in a neat shell Callico Gown, has very light Hair done up with a Feather, & her whole carriage is easy inoffensive, & graceful – The other Miss Lee's are small Towards evening came in George Lee, & Mr Grubb, an English Gentleman; the Company danced after candle-light a Minuet round, three Country Dances, several Reels, when we were Rung to Supper after Supper we sit til twelve drinking loyal Toasts —

Saturday 25.

Ben & I slept til eight – we breakfasted at nine, soon after Christien collected his School and gave them a Lesson round – About ten the two Gentlemen left us. They quit Dancing about two – After Dinner Mrs Carter & the young Ladies, with Mr Christien Ben & Myself walked in the garden, & through the Pasture, There are several beautiful prospects of the green Bottoms, & of the River Nominy from the High hills – By Miss Washington I wrote a letter to Mr Lowe, acquainting him with what was done for him in the business he sent by me to Philadelphia. The Day is cool, & intirely agreeable & the Ground has been refreshed by a Shower or two lately – I am told that the people are already reaping not only Rye but Wheat in the Neighbourhood; certainly it is earlier than we reap to the Northward. —

[Letter of Philip V. Fithian to John Lowe]

Nomini Hall June 25th 1774.

To Mr John Lowe. Bushfield.

Sir.

I should have waited on you immediately after my return from Philadelphia, to acquaint you with what was done in regard to the business you intrusted me with, and to return the certificate which I now send inclosed; but necessary business detain'd me for a few days at home, and when Bob was at the Dance at Mr Washingtons he informed me you proposed shortly to be here. As I expect to see you shortly I shall write nothing particular, but only inform you that your intention was considered and approved:

I am, Sir,

Your humble Servt:

Philip V Fithian

[JOURNAL]

Sunday 26.

Mr Smith to Day is out of the Parish so that we have no sermon – I shut up myself therefore in my chamber to reading – Eleven I am sent for to see Mr Lowe who is come – I invite him to my Room, where we sit til Dinner – He informed me of the Manner of Trials in Scotland, which Candidates undergo. It is similar & indeed almost the same as with our Presbytery Evening Mr Carter returned about seven o-Clock from Williamsburg; He has been unwell himself while there, & he informs us that many are indisposed in that City While we were at Coffee I was taken with a Sudden & unusual pain in my Breast, a sickness at my stomach, attended with a trembling and dizzy faintness; I retired to my Room immediately, laid myself down in bed but had a Fever most of the Night —

Monday 27.

I feel myself perfectly reliev'd blessed be God who upholds my Life Mr Carter says the people are reaping on the Road as he came. He opened & shewed me a curious Case of mathematical Instruments price ten Guineas; He shewed me Bens Seal five Guineas – We have to day several plentiful Showers – Evening at Coffee the Colonel shew'd me a book of vocal Musick which he has just imported, it is a collection of psalm-Tunes, Hymns, & Anthems set in four parts for the Voice; He seems much taken with it & says we must learn & perform some of them in their several parts with our voices & with instruments. – Lightning in several parts of the Heaven Mrs Carter is much afraid, & can never eat if a cloud is rising nor lie down to sleep.

Teusday 28.

Warm this morning. Mr Carter rode to Court. I wrote some at my sermon but it goes on slowly —Ben is not perfectly well, he studies, however, at times a little, to day he makes Doctr Jones a visit – The Day very hot; people I understand are reaping in this County – Evening we have in the West & North-West amazing Lightning – Mrs Carter retired to her Chamber, where She always chooses to sit quite alone in bad Weather —

Wednesday 29.

Writing at my Sermon – The day cool & agreeable. I was never so much confined as now, not even when I was at College, for I used to go with my sweet mates, as Virgil calls them, about the Fields, or to the Brooks to wash, & often ride to Trenton for exercise & pleasure – & sometimes to Newington & spend an Afternoon with that dear girl Laura– Here in Virginia I have no Call out, people seem sociable & kind but I want Spirit to improve & relish Society Soon, however, soon, if I keep my Health, I shall be again at Liberty.

Thursday 30.

The morning pleasant none too hot to be agreeable – My Charge seem rising slowly, & uniformly in their several Parts – Harry begun at Reduction & is now working Fellowship; he improves too in Writing. Bob began at Addition and is working Compound Division: he is the best writer in the School – Ben begun with reading Salust he is now reading Virgil & the Greek-Testament. He writes extremely bad – Priscilla began Addition & is working Division; She improves in writing, & reads tolerably – Nancy mends fast in writing, but reads carelessly thick & inaccurately.

– I mentioned to Day Mr Peck to Mr Carter He objected at first to his Age as rather too young for the Duty of a Tutor, he assented however & requested me to write him word that he is desired to come by the Time I shall leave Virginia —

Fryday July 1. 1774.

I rose at six. The morning bearable Breakfasted with us 'Squire Lee. – About one came in Captain Blackwell, Mr Grubb, & Lancelot Lee. the two youngsters came suddenly into our Room, bold gay & noisy. We conversed with them till the Bell rung for Dinner, when we all repair'd to the dining-Room: Captain Blackwel is to sail in about ten Days for London. I gave the Children the afternoon for Recreation.

Saturday 2.

Mr Grubb called again about twelve with an intention to ride out to the Potowmack but there came on a Rain & kept us at Home – We spent the afternoon sociably in our Room. Miss Nancy Carter last Night or this morning, in some whimsical freak, clipt off her Eye-Brows; She has a very good Skin; exceeding black hair, & black-well arched, full Eye-brows, which, as I said the other day are much esteemed in Virginia – She denies positively that She cut them herself, & swears some mischievous person has done it when She was sleeping. But I am inclined to think it is an experiment She has been making on herself to see how she can vary the looks of her face. It made me laugh when I saw it first, to think how early & how truely She copies Female absurdities.

Towards evening we rode out merely for exercise, & straggled at last to Mr Simpsons; near his house we saw two trees standing near each other both of which have lately been struck by Lightning & are torn to shivers in several parts —

Mr Grubb agreed to stay the night. we supt on Artichoks, & Huckleberries & Milk – The toasts, after Supper, were the King, Queen & Royal Family, the Governor & his family, & then young Ladies of our acquaintance – We were alone. Mr and Mrs Carter left us immediately, so that we spent the evening without restraint.

Sunday 3.

We were all to go to Church to day, but we were prevented by a storm of thunder & Rain; the Ground is now sufficiently wetted – I have not heard a Sermon on Sunday since the fifteenth of May; a longer Vacancy from publick worship than I have ever had since my first remembrance. About ten an old Negro Man came with a complaint to Mr Carter of the Overseer that he does not allow him his Peck of corn a Week – The humble posture in which the old Fellow placed himself before he began moved me. We were sitting in the passage, he sat himself down on the Floor clasp'd his Hands together, with his face directly to Mr Carter, & then began his Narration – He seem'd healthy, but very old, he was well dress'd but complained bitterly – I cannot like this thing of allowing them no meat, & only a Peck of Corn & a Pint of Salt a Week, & yet requiring of them hard & constant Service. We have several Rains this day so that the Ground is sufficiently wetted – I spent the greater part of the day writing at my Sermon.

Monday 4.

I begun to read the first Volume of Tristam-Shandy – He is droll in the account he gives us of his Birth & Family – We have several good showers to day, the weather is warm, funky, very damp, & I fear will not turn out long to be healthful. With us in Jersey wet Weather about this time not only is prejudicial to the Harvest, but is generally thought, & I believe almost never fails being a forerunner of Agues, Fall-Fevers, Fluxes, & our Horse-Distempers – Fearing these, any of which so far from Home, would be painful & expensive, I keep myself much at Home, contrary to the repeated & strong invitations of the youngsters – And indeed my Duty, seems to require my Presence pretty constantly; & I am forced to produce an Example for what I find it necessary to enforce on our Boys, in order to do it with some face, for they always call upon me for a Reason for every one of my precepts – It is now the Height of Harvest – There is at Mr Turburville's a young Lady, from the Isle-of Wight, Miss Betsy Lee,^[183] a Sister of George & Lancelot Lee's– It is proposed that Ben & I go this Evening to the Captain's & Invite her here – Accordingly after School we rode on our errand, We found besides Miss Lee– Mr George Turburville, his Wife, Mr Grubb, & Lancelot Lee– After the ceremony of Introduction, & our Congees were over, we took our seats in a cool passage where the Company were sitting; all the Company when we entered were laughing at Master Lee, who had been gathering Mulberries, & either through carelessness or Greediness had stained his ruffles – At any Rate they looked like a scarlet Clock in a Bunters stocking, both indilicate & impudent – The attention of the Company however being wholly taken up with Mr Lee, I had the opportunity, which I wanted, of examining the person of his Sister, without being interrupted either by the notice of others, or by my own timidity – Miss Betsy Lee, I am told is but lately entered her twenty sixth year; She is a well set maid, of a proper Height, neither high nor low – Her Aspect when she is sitting is masculine & dauntless; she sits very erect; places her feet with great propriety, her Hands She lays carelessly in her lap, & never moves them but when she has occasion to adjust some article of her dress, or to perform some exercise of the Fan– She has a full face, sanguine Complection, her Nose is rather protuberant than otherwise; Her Eyes are exactly such as Homer atributes to the Goddess Minerva; & her Arms resemble those which the same Poet allows to Juno. When She has a Bonnet on & Walks, She is truely elegant; her carriage neat & graceful, & her presence soft & beautiful – Her hair is a dark Brown, which was crap'd up very high. & in it she had a Ribbon interwoven with an artificial Flower – At each of her ears dangled a brilliant Jewel; She was pinched up rather too near in a long pair of new fashioned Stays, which, I think, are a Nusance both to us & themselves – For the late importation of Stays which are said to be now most fashionable in London, are produced upwards so high that we can have scarce any view at all of the Ladies Snowy Bosoms; & on the contrary, they are extended downwards so low that whenever Ladies who wear them, either young or old, have occasion to walk, the motion necessary for Walking, must, I think, cause a disagreeable Friction of some part of the body against the lower Edge of the Stays which is hard & unyielding – I imputed the Flush which was visible in her Face to her being swathed up Body & Soul & limbs together – She wore a light Chintz Gown, very fine, with a blue stamp; elegantly made, & which set well upon her – She wore a blue silk Quilt – In one word Her Dress was rich & fashionable – Her Behaviour such as I should expect to find in a Lady whose education had been conducted with some care & skill; and her person, abstracted from the embelishments of Dress & good Breeding, not much handsomer than the generality of Women —

What made me desirous to see, & curious to reconnoitre this young Lady, was, a Sentence that was dropt yesterday by a respectable Member of our Family, intimating a Desire that I may, on seeing Miss Lee, after having known, by report, her faultless character, be so pleased with her person as to try to make her mine, & settle in this Province – That kind Body, who is for making me happy by settling me in Virginia, & connecting me with one of the best families in the Government, little knows how painful it would be if I was indeed compell'd by any accident of Fortune to spend the remainder of my Days in Virginia if is the pleasure of Providence that I am to continue for any length of time in the World – Strong, & sweet are the bands which tye us to our place of nativity; If it is but a beggarly Cottage, we seem not satisfied with the most elegant entertainment if we are totally seperated from it – But if a Princess should solicit me to accept, together with Herself, 50000£ a Year – I declare, with as great pleasure as truth, that the esteem, & Fidelity which I possess for my dear, dear Eliza would make me without reflection, evade & refuse the Proposal – Ben & I returned Home before dark – We had the 'Squire to drink Coffee with us – He brought us a Newspaper containing the debate, of the House of Commons concerning the Repeal of the Tea-duty.

Teusday 5.

While we were at Breakfast came from Hobbes-Holes Mrs Oakly a Woman who has acted as nurse for several of Mrs Carters Children with great credit – All the family speak of her with Love & regard – This day is very warm, but no rain – I gave all the Girls this day to chat with their old acquaintance – Tho' the weather is warm & very Damp we have here no Musquetoes; I have not seen one, since I came into the Province as I can now recollect which seems to me a little strange; for at Princeton in Jersey some warm evenings in July & August they are so numerous as to be troublesome, & that is more than twenty miles from Salt Water, this not more than three times as many Rod. – In the evening, among several other things Mr Carter informed me that he has on this plantation a Negro Man called Prince who is now unwell of a Strain – This Man, he swears, he would not sell for 500£ ready Cash – I was almost ready to say it is more Money than I would give for all he owns on his Estate – The evening is very pleasant I had an oppertunity on the Pavement before the Hall Door of shewing away on Astronomy to Mrs Carter, I lectured for half an hour on the Milky-Way, on several of the Stars, on Jupiter in particular, & on the Course of Comets —

In bed by half after ten as usual.

Wednesday 6.

Ben seems pretty well recovered – We dined to day on the Fish call'd the Sheeps-Head, with Crabs – Twice every Week we have fine Fish, & every Day good Fruit for Dinner, caudled Apples, Hurtle-Berries with milk &c – Yes, says Mrs Carter at Supper, this hot weather takes away all my life; the small Lightning that we now have makes me uneasy & melancholy – I love to see her in such Distress —Beauty & Virtue when combined together & Strugling against Misfortune; O how such objects move, & awaken the most delicate sensations of our Souls – Call in Nancy to her Guitar, says the Colonel. In She minces slow & silent from her supper – She scratches her Instrument, after a long preparation, into the Air of "Water parted from the Sea." What, pray Miss Nancy, what bewitched you with a desire of clipping your Eye-Brows – The Genius of Woman shines forth in this little Girlish trick – Pray Mr Fithian, was you ever taught Singing? Yes Sir, I attended two years – Had you any instructions in particular for using the Shake^[184]– I am giving Nancy some Lessons, but She is vastly indolent – Nancy, play over and sing the Funeral Hymn – Excuse me, Papa, I have lost the Verses – Happy Soul, thy Days are ended, – Go on – How steady & how sharp it lightens in the North too – Good Night.

Thursday 7.

Yes Fanny may sit down to Breakfast – Where's Ben – The Weather is hot & Ben for enjoyment had stript himself naked – Of every thing but his shirt & Trowsers – Where's Ben – He is not very well, Madam, – This Day says the Colonel after having Prefac'd our Breakfast with a – "God bless us in what we are to recieve" – is our Rye yonder to be mown down; mown down thinks I, do they mow their Grain in Virginia – Yes two Negroes take naked Sythes & mow down the Grain; others are imploy'd in raking it into heaps, but much of it is left – Shall I help you, Mr Fithian, to a Dish of Coffee? – I choose a deep Plate, if you please, Ma'am, & Milk – Our Corn, Madam, in Jersey is inferior to yours in this Province – Or your Cooks, Sir, are less Skilful in managing it – Well, Nancy, I have tuned your Guitar; you are to practice to Day with Priscilla, who is to play the Harpsichord, till twelve o Clock; You can repeat the Verses of the Funeral Hymn? – I can Sir – What, Harry, do you hesitate at that plain Sum in Arithmetical Progression? —Bob, attend to your Business – When I am bedizen'd with these clamorous children, sometimes I silently exclaim – Once I was told, now I know I feel how irksome the Pedagoging Scheme is – Fanny – I say, Fanny, dont you hear me, Fanny, and Betsy, sit down – pray, Sir, must I multiply here by 32 – Yes, thick-Scull – But Mr Fithian, I dont know how to divide by 5½ – Look, Sir, do you see what Mouth's Harry Willis is making? – I can say my Lesson – Buz, Buz – To divide by 5½ you must double both your Dividend & divi[sor] – Half after two we were rung to Dinner; poor Tasker, his Fever has continued high since yesterday afternoon, he lies quiet, and asks for nothing – If his Disorder does not abate to night, I shall give him in the morning a dose of "James's Powder" – Will you lend me Jack, he meant my Horse, says Mr Randolph, to ride tomorrow to Captain Cheltons; Yes Mr Randolph, I will oblige Jenny so far.