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

Fryday 26.

Mr Christian came while we were at Breakfast – Soon after came Miss Washington, Miss Hale & the Miss Lee's– I kept myself in my Room pretty Close – Towards evening Mrs Carter, Miss Washington, Miss Hale, Mrs Christien & Myself had a thorough ramble, first thro' the Garden – We gathered some Figs, the Ladies seem fond of them, I cannot endure them – Then we stroll'd down the Pasture quite to the River, admiring the Pleasantness of the evening, & the delightsome Prospect of the River, Hills, Huts on the Summits, low Bottoms, Trees of various Kinds, and Sizes, Cattle & Sheep feeding some near us, & others at a great distance on the green sides of the Hills, People, some fishing, others working, & others in the Pasture among the Horses; – The Country emphatically in her goodly Variety! I love to walk on these high Hills where I can see the Tops of tall Trees lower than my Feet, at not half a miles Distance – Where I can have a long View of many Miles & see on the Summits of the Hills Clusters of Savin Trees, through these often a little Farm-House, or Quarter for Negroes; these airy Situations seem to me to be the Habitations of Health, and Vigor – We return'd, & all were apparently well satisfied with the walk – Evening was spent jovially in Dancing, at Supper, I left the Company, being not very well, & retired to my Chamber, Thanks to my heavenly Father, that I can enjoy a competent Measure of Health when many are sick around – A Note from Mr Lowe. Miss Betsy Lee, & her Brother came in just at night – Miss Lee seems cheerful, dances well, sings agreeably, appears free of formality, & Haughtiness the Common foible here, —

Saturday 27.

The morning spent in setting coppies, Sums &c., for the School – After Breakfast, I spent a couple of Hours in the Dancing-Room – Mr Lee in our Room raved against the Scotch – He swore that if his Sister should marry a Scotchman, he would never speak with her again; & that if he ever Shall have a Daughter, if She marries a Scotchman he shoots her dead at once! – At twelve I rode to Mr Washingtons, the Country extremely pleasant Dined with the Parson, his Brother, Mrs Smith, Miss Pettit, Mr Blain, Mr Buckner,^[197] & several of Mr Lowes Boys; Mr Lowe was from home. On my return I found no company, except Grubb who had come in my absence. We spent the Evening after sipping our Coffee in Chat with Mr & Mrs Carter.

Sunday 28.

Mr Grubb rose very early, having yesterday made every previous necessary preparation, & set out for Home about One hundred miles Distance. He has so much good Nature, is always so cheerful, & at the same time void of any thing malicious, clamorous & impudent, that I cannot but esteem & very much respect him – On some whimsical unsubstantial Miff or other, however, our Girls cannot endure him – he wrote them some Copies the other Day, & tho' he writes a much finer neater hand than I they would not allow it, nor hardly – Strive to imitate – I laughed at the ridiculous, the perfect Picture of Female Caprice, & Obstinacy in Miniature – Sermon is to Day at Ucomico, so that I keep my Room – I wrote several Letters which are to be forwarded by Mr Blain, one to Jack Peck, one to John Duffield,^[198] at Dr Shippen's^[199] Junr Philadelphia, & one to Laura. I begun also a Sermon I understand by Mrs Carter & Ben who were at Church, that the Parson was unable to read Prayrs or Preach, having a Fever, but that there was a thronged Assembly; many I am told, have the Ague & Fever, but none are dangerous or have it fixed —

[Letter of Philip V. Fithian to Elizabeth Beatty]

Nominy-Hall. August 28: 1774.

To Laura.

There is a Letter of yours lying before me, in which you say "that if I had continued writing to you, it is more than probable you had been as negligent as ever; but that my leaving off for a Time has at last extorted a Letter from you" – Mighty pretty! I dare say the Sentiment is genuine, & you may be assured that I allow & believe it.

You are not, therefore, to account this any thing more than the Ghost, the Shade of a Letter; for, thinking this an extraordinary Case, I have gone beyond my usual Manner of speaking, in Order to convince you of my Resolution – And swore that I will not interrupt you til' I have received several.

If you receive this by the Conveyance I expect (I send it by Col: Lee who attends the Congress) it will be a few Days before I leave Virginia; for I intend, by the Permission of Heaven, being at Home by the beginning of November at farthest.

In the mean Time, since I ardently wish your constant and perpetual Felicity, from a deep-rooted Friendship, which I have discovered in a thousand Variations, suffer me to borrow a Form of Mr Addison, & put up one important Prayr in your Behalf "Ye guardian Angels to whose Care heaven has intrusted its dear Laura, guide her still forward in the Paths of Virtue, defend her from the Insolence & wrongs of this undiscerning World; At length, when we must no more converse with such Purity on Earth, lead her gently hence, innocent & unreproveable to a better Place, where by an easy Transition from what She now is, She may shine forth an Angel of Light."

It would be bold & presumptuous, or I would with Earnestness & Sincerity extend the Wish a little farther, but transfer it to Fortune, & pray that She would make you mine. I ought, however, to be cautious here – In so nice a Case, Truth & Virtue are often thought impertinent.

I advise you, upon the whole, to consult & examine the Prospect you have of substantial Happiness, when you are about to change your State for Life. Inform yourself, so far as you are able, of the Quality & Measure of what you think your chief Happiness – Your Satisfaction & Comfort will consist in.

Place this against necessary Distress & Perplexity; You will thereby have a clearer & fuller View of both; Your Judgement will be less confused; & more likely to fix to Advantage; – You are to consider that a wrong Choice brings on a Train of Curses; but view it in the other Light, & it is almost a State of unmixed Pleasures —

I am, Madam yours

Philip. V. Fithian.

[JOURNAL]

Monday 29.

Miss Fanny in School to Day, but not entirely well of her Sores made by the Ticks—Ben complains of a pain in his breast; he seems to have many symptoms of Weakness in his breast – I attempted to take a rough Draught of the Great House for myself – Evening after Coffee the C[o]lonel entertained us by playing on the Harmonica.

Teusday 30.

Mr Carter rides to Westmoreland Court. By him I send my Letters to Mr Blain, who is going to the Congress —Ben seems to be no better; has a slight Fever, pain in his Breast, & Uneasiness, I fear he is bordering on a Consumption – His fond Mother discovers great Anxiety, & true affection. Once I too had a fond indulgent Mother; when I was sick, or otherwise distress'd, She was always impatient til my Health & Ease returned; & She used to urge me likewise by precept & example to strive for an habitual Preparation for Sickness and Death! But oh! She has gone & left me, & Friendship seems to have been buried with her! – Formality & Pretence are common enough, but Sincerity & affection are exceeding rare – Mrs Carter thinks it better for Ben to sleep at the Great-House til he grows better, for the advantage of giving him medicine – I seem now when it is late in the Evening, lonely, & a little fearful, at least I think on what I made a Subject for a merry Hour, when I was at Home last, & a young Lady was complaining of being fearful at Night, & afraid to sleep in a Room alone – There are now (asleep I suppose) in this House, below Stairs Mr Randolph, & Mr Burney the Cooper; two clever lusty youngsters, & in the Room next to mine Bob & Harry sleep – I feel yet gloomy; Ben is missing, & which is worse, he is sick —

Wednesday 31.

Last Fryday, Saturday, Sunday, Monday, Teusday, & this Day have been perfectly fair, but yesterday & to Day are very hot —Ben quits reading & is quite unwell – Dined with us Mr Wadman: He is, I believe, a Man of a good understanding, but desperate in his religious Principles —

Thursday Septemr: 1st: 1774.

One other Calm, sunny, sweltering day

The Colonel says it is the hottest Day we have had – I keep myself caged up in my Room, & cannot venture out on my usual walk or Ride for exercise – Through divine goodness I continue in perfect Health, but as skinny & meagre as tho' I was continually sick —Ben seems a little more pert today – Evening it Lightens in the North West.

Fryday 2.

Extreme hot to day – Yesterday a Negro Child about six years old sickened as to appearance with the Ague & Fever, & to Day about eleven in the morning it expired! It is remarkable that the Mother has now lost seven successively, none of which have arrived to be ten years old! – The Negroes all seem much alarm'd, & our School make it a Subject for continual Speculation; They seem all to be free of any terror at the Prescence of Death; Harry in special signified a Wish that his turn may be next. I should be glad if his desire were wise; & he was as fit for the business of the other world, as he seems willing to leave the business of this – In the evening this unexpected Death was the Subject of Conversation in the House – Mr Carter observed, that he thought it the most desirable to die of a Short Illness. If he could have his Wish he would not lie longer than two days; be taken with a Fever, which should have such an unusual effect on his Body as to convince him that it would be fatal, and gradually increase till it affected a Dissolution – He told us that his affairs are in Such a state that he should be able to dictate a Will which might be written in five Minutes, & contain the disposal of his estate agreeable to his mind – He mentioned to us the Substance – "That he would leave Mrs Carter 6000£ Serling; & leave the remainder of his Estate to be disposed among his children as the Law directs." —

He told us likewise, with great firmness, that if he hives [lives] to see his children grown, he will pay no regard to age, but give his wealth to Him who bids fairest to be useful to mankind – That he allows all an equal oppertunity of improvement, but the One who is found then improved shall with the Learning inherit also the Substance —Dennis the Lad who waits at Table, I took into the School to day at his Fathers request, He can spell words of one syllable pretty readily. He is to come as he finds oppertunity.

Saturday 3.

Indeed says Mrs Carter at Breakfast, the Lightning, Rain, & Thunder, disturbed me, & kept me padding from Room to Room all Night; I first had the Girls Beds removed as far as possible from the Chimneys – then had lights placed in the passage; and then but without rest or pleasure, I wandered through the house silent & lonely like a disturbed Ghost! – It has however effected an agreeable change in the Air; which is now cool & agreeable. I was invited this morning by Captain Fibbs [Gibbs] to a Barbecue: this differs but little from the Fish Feasts, instead of Fish the Dinner is roasted Pig, with the proper apendages, but the Diversion & exercise are the very same at both – I declined going and pleaded in ex[c]use unusual & unexpected Business for the School – By appointment is to be fought this Day near Mr Lanes two fist Battles between four young Fellows. The Cause of the battles I have not yet known; I suppose either that they are lovers, & one has in Jest or reality some way supplanted the other; or has in a merry hour call'd him a Lubber, or a thick-Skull, or a Buckskin, or a Scotchman, or perhaps one has mislaid the others hat, or knocked a peach out of his Hand, or offered him a dram without wiping the mouth of the Bottle; all these, & ten thousand more quite as triffling & ridiculous, are thought & accepted as just Causes of immediate Quarrels, in which every diabolical Stratagem for Mastery is allowed & practised, of Bruising, Kicking, Scratching, Pinching, Biting, Butting, Tripping, Throtling, Gouging, Cursing, Dismembring, Howling, &c. This spectacle, (so loathsome & horrible!) generally is attended with a crowd of People! In my opinion, (others may think for themselves) animals which seek after & relish such odious and filthy amusements are not of the human species, they are destitute of the remotest pretension to humanity; I know not how they came by their form, by the help of which they are permitted to associate with Men, unless it has been (unfortunate for the World!) by an intermixture of the meaner kind of Devils with prostitute Monkeys! – This however, I cannot determine; But I think all such should be deemed by the community infectious, & suspended at least any kind of intercourse, til, either the lineage be settled & recorded, or those shrew'd Characteristicks of a spurious, illegitimate claim to kindred with men be in a good Measure abated.

Sunday 4.

We had last night a flood of rain, the wind North East stormy – No Church to Day – Mr Carter sent down to his Mill-Dam, & channel all his people to try if they can secure them; he gives them Rum, & a Shilling a man —

I read Prayrs, by the desire of the Parents, at the Grave over the deceased Child Priscilla, Nanccy, Fanny, Betsy, Ben, Bob, Harry, & Myself, & about forty or fifty Negroes were present. Neither the Father nor the Mother of the Child went out; imitating the example they see in others, & stay from an affectation of overflowing Grief.

Monday 5.

There is wonderful To do, this morning among the Housekeeper & children, at the great house. They assert that a Man or a Spirit came into the Nursery about one o-Clock this morning – That if it was indeed a Spirit the Cause of his appearance is wholly unknown; but if it was Flesh & blood they are pretty confident that the design was either to rob the House, or commit fornication with Sukey, (a plump, sleek, likely Negro Girl about sixteen) – That the doors & windows were well secured, but that by some secret manner, unknown to all, the Thing opened the Cellar door, went through the Cellar, & up the narrow dark Stairs (which are used only on necessary occasions, as when the great Stair way is washing or on some such account) – That it left the said Cellar door standing open, & besides unbar'd, & threw open the East Window in the little Room, in order, as they wisely supposed, to have, if it should be hurried, a ready passage out – That it had previously put a small wedge in the Lock of the Nursery Door, where several of the young Ladies, & the said Sukey sleep, so that when they were going to Bed they could not Lock nor bolt the door, but this they all believed was done in mischief by the children, & went thereupon to bed, without suspicion of harm, with the door open – That Sukey some time in the Night discovered Something lying by her Side which she knew to be a Man by his having Breeches – That She was greatly surprised, & cry'd out suddenly to the others that a Man was among them, & that the Man tickled her, & said whish, whish– That on this She left the Bed & run & squeased herself in by the side of Miss Sally the House-keeper, but that by this time the Whole Room was awake & alarmed – That when the thing knew there was a discovery it stamped several times on the floor, shook the Bedstead by the side of which it lay, rattled the Door several Times & went down Stairs walking very heavy for one barefoot – That on its leaving the Room the Hous[e]Keeper went to Ben Carters Chamber, & that he rose & they all went down & found the Doors & window as I have mentioned – All this with many other material accidents is circulating through the family to Day; some conclude it was a Ghost because it would not speak – But, more probably it was one of the warm-blooded, well fed young Negroes, trying for the company of buxom Sukey– The Colonel however, at Breakfast gave out that if any one be caught in the House, after the family are at Rest, on any Pretence what ever, that Person he will cause to be hanged! – This Afternoon Nelson the Lad who waits in our School, was in the woods about half a mile off, where he met with & kill'd a Rattle-Snake having six Rattles – He cut off the head, & brought Home the remainder of the Body, which we have skin'd & stuff'd – Mrs Carter complains to Day of the Tooth-Ach, & a slight Fever.

Teusday 6.

The day fine – It is whispered to Day that B… is the Ghost that walk'd in the Nursery the other night, but I think the report is false, and arises from calumny. We had an expectation of company to day, but are disappointed. We dined on Fish & Crabs, which were provided for our company, to-morrow being Fish-Day – I begun a Sermon Job XXIII. 3. 4. We have too vagrant Tinkers with us mending several articles, one of whom is this afternoon violent sick with the Fever & Ague – I rode to my old spot, the Corn field, by chance met with Mr Taylor. I walked with him among the Tobacco Cotton &c. He gave me Directions for raising the latter. – Cotton must be planted about the middle of May in rich Land, prepared with Hills, & made very mellow. When up it must be weeded & kept clean, it must be top'd & suckered as Tobacco, otherwise it runs too much to vine. Towards the Fall it will begin to open, when the opened pods mu[s]t be gathered & laid by til dry, then the Cotton pick'd out & clean'd —

Wednesday 7.

Mrs Carter not very well; is troubled with a small tooth-Ach Fever & a Cold – Every leisure minute I spend in writing at my Sermon – Dined with us Mr Sorrel, & Mr … on Fish, Rock, Perch, fine Crabs, & a large fresh Mackerel. Yesterday & to day I have been a little pained & pretty much alarmed, at an unusual feeling in my right arm. Almost all the Summer I have felt an obstruction when I would lift up my arm. But now it is a trembling steady knawing down the under part of my arm & Wrist, without unless when I move it suddenly – Evening I walked throug the pasture to the River, the Hills are green, since the late rains, & look fine tip'd with the setting Sun.

Thursday 8.

Cloudy & cool. I rise now by half after six – I found it necessary to flogg Bob & Harry on account of lying in bed, after I come into School – At twelve Mr & Mrs Carter, with all the Family except Ben, Harry & Myself; Ben staid of choice, & Harry I kept at Home on account of a sullen Impudence when I dismiss'd them – I told them that they both had my leave to go but at the same time it was my advice that they should stay – Harry then answered "D – n my Soul but i'll go!" At this I informed him that he had at once dismiss'd himself from my authority. & without singular signs of Submission I should never take him under my direction more – And therefore that he had general & unbounded Liberty to go not only to the Horse Race, but where & when he chose – He seem'd startled, & began to moderate his answer: I ordered him out of the Room, & told him to use his liberty. Mrs Carter took with her all the young Ladies & all her children —Ben & I with great satisfaction dined alone. Nelson, to Day, kill'd another Rattle Snake; near the place where he kill'd the other, which had twelve Rattles – Harry grew sick and refused to go to the Race, he came soon to my room & with every Sign of Sorrow for his conduct begg'd me to forgive him, at first I refused, but at length I took him in, yet informed him that I shall pass over no other instance of what may be called rudeness only. – The Colonel on his return, in the evening informed us that the Race was curious, & that the Horses were almost an even match – That the Betts were Drawn & no Money paid – That the Rider of one of the Horses weighed only forty Seven pound – Strange that so little substance in a human Creature can have strength & skill sufficient to manage a Horse in a Match of Importance – Something alarming happened a few nights ago in the Neighbourhood at Mr Sorrels^[200] a House in sight – It is supposed that his Negres had appointed to murder him, several were found in his bed chamber in the middle of the night – his Wife waked – She heard a whispering, one perswading the other to go – On this She waked her Husband, who run to his Gun; but they escaped in the dark – Presumption is so strong together with a small confession of the Fellows, that three are now in Prison – The ill Treatment which this unhappy part of mankind receives here, would almost justify them in any desperate attempt for gaining that Civility, & Plenty which tho' denied them, is here, commonly bestowed on Horses! – Now, Laura, I sleep in fear too, though my Doors & Windows are all secured! —

Fryday 9.

Mr Stadley came in before Breakfast. He inform'd us that Governor Dunmore has gone to the Frontiers with about 400 Men to subdue the Indians – That the Indians seem disheartened, & leave their towns, & are unwilling to fight – Mrs Carter, out of Compliment, this morning presented to Ben & I for staying at home yesterday, a large fine Cake– Dined with us a Stranger —Ben with great Humour either out of a Bravado or for Revenge gave out in the Family to day that it is the opinion of a certain Female, of considerable Note in the family, that all the male Children which shall be born in this unlucky year, tho' they may be fair to the Sight, will be yet unable, from a Debility of Constitution, to do their Duty, with respect to Women, either married or single – That She has two reasons for this opinion,

1. Because the Air appears to her extremely barren, weak, & ungenerative– 2. Because the Peaches, & other Fruit, are observed this year to have in them very few Kernels, at the same time that the Peaches are sweet & fair – I think that Ben, by this stratagem, whether it be real or otherwise, is levil with the invidious Vixen which suspected him of entering the Nursery to visit black-faced Sukey —

Saturday 10.

With the Boys I Surveyed a small field lying along the Richmond Road; the Colonel has a good Theodolite & other Aparatus for Surveying – English Magazines, & Reviews arrived to Day – One of the Books lately published I am desirous to purchase viz. – Dr Henry's History of Great Britain on a new Plan. This history is to be contained in ten Books, each of which will be divided into seven chapters. In the first Chapter of every Book, the Author relates, the civil & military History of Great Britain – The second chapter contains the ecclesiastical History of the same period: the third presents us with the history of our political constitution, Government, Laws, & Courts of justice: the fourth is employed upon what relates to Learning & Learned men: the fifth investigates the State of the useful & ornamental Arts: the sixth enquires into that of commerce, Shipping, Money, with the prices of commodities: & the last Chapter of every Volume is alloted to a Detail of the Manners, Virtues, Vices, remarkable Customs, Language, Dress, Diet, & Diversions of the Great Britains – Six o-Clock, Mrs Turberville, Miss Jenny Corbin, and Miss Turberville came in; Miss Corbin has been, all the Summer, at her Brothers on Rapahanock forty miles distant.^[201]– I saw, in the evening, in Mr Randalls^[202] Room, a Young man about twenty years old, totally deaf, & dumb! He is well-set, lusty, & likely; he is cheerful, good natur'd, extremely dextrous, quick of apprehension, &, in short, very conversable, & sociable by signs – he was taken to the much famed Dr Graham,^[203] when he was in this Colony trumpeting about his own unproved Abilities; he fumbled with the unfortunate Lad, by blooding, gouging, boreing &c. putting him to torture and expence without any possible expectation of help – He Sustains among his neighbours the Reputation of being, honest, industrious, & useful– He supports by Labour his mother, & himself; He is remarkably fond of Cloths; & vastly curious, & nice in examining every article of dress, where he has the smallest intimacy – He abstains entirely from strong Liquor. – And what most of all produced admiration in me, was his taking a Pen & writing his Name "Coley Reed" in a good legible Hand, better indeed, than the Bulk of planters are able to do! But he can write nothing more —

Sunday 11.

Ben rode out yesterday after Dinner and returned this morning; but came on foot, I begin to suspect him of being actually engaged in what several alledge against him – But I will keep off so long as I possibly can, so unwelcome, so unwelcome & so Base a thought of its Reality – After Breakfast Mr Stadley left us; I feel always Sorry when he leaves the Family; his entire good-Nature, Cheerfulness, Simplicity, & Skill in Music have fixed him firm in my esteem – None go to Ucomico Church to day – Towards evening, I took a book in my hand, & strolled down the Pasture quite to the Bank of the River – Miss Stanhope, Priss, Nancy, Fanny & Betsy Carter were just passing by – They walked to the Mill; there they entered a Boat, & for exercise & amusement were rowed down the River quite to the granary, & then went to angling – I walked to them, & together we all marched Home to Coffee.

Monday 12.

We threatned having a Fire this morning – I wrote at my Sermon – From the Ship lying at Leeds, arrived this afternoon our new Coach – It is a plain carriage, upper part black, lower Sage or Pea-Green – The Harness is neat strong, & suitable for the Country. Price 120£ Sterling – In the same Ship Mrs Carter imports about 30£ value in plate in a pair of fashionable Goblets; Pair of beautiful Sauce-Cups; & a Pair of elegant Decanter-holders —Ben introduced into our Room a plain useful Book-Case, in which we class & place our Books in order. after School, I took a Book, and walked through the Pasture strolling among Horses, Cows, & Sheep, grazing on the Hills & by the River.

Teusday 13.

We thought of Fire this morning, but put it off – Ben's mare is not yet heard of, though he has had a Boy almost constantly searching about for her – It is curious to see the Girls imitating what they see in the great House; sometimes tying a String to a Chair & then run buzzing back to imitate the Girls spinning; then getting Rags & washing them without water – Very often they are knitting with Straws, small round stockings, Garters &c – Sometimes they get sticks & splinter one end of them f[o]r Brushes, or as they call them here Clamps, & spitting on part of the floor, they scrubb away with great vigor – & often at a small game with Peach-stones which they call checks– Evening after School I rode to the much Frequented Cornfield, Mr Taylor was from Home the evening cloudy, cool, but fine, The Planters now begin to cut their Tobacco.

Wednesday 14.

Mr Carter received word to day that he has had brought very lately for his Mill 7000 Bushels of Wheat at 4s 6d pr Bushel. – I am at a Loss to know where he will dispose of such vast Quantities! – The Colonel who is often pidling in some curious experiment, is to day making some Printers Ink – He tells me the Materials are Lint-seed-Oil, Wheat-Bread, Onions, & Turpentine, a rank compound truely – then for Black, Lamp-Black, red, Vermillion —Ben, found his mare lost in last Saturday's Visit, poor Brute! She was confin'd in the Pasture where he left her, in which being very large She had been concealed. – Mr Smith, who was wounded last Spring by a Shot of his Brother is lately dead, & it is said by the Wounds which he received from his Brother! —

Thursday 15.

Ben is much better: he has return'd to his Bed in my Room, but complains often of the pain in his Breast. – I put him to begin & read some select odes in Horace – He works arithmetic but is only in Reduction – He dispises Greek, & therefore makes little or no progress in that Language – He is reading in course the Eneid Lib 3 – He has an unconquerable Love for Horses; he often tells me that he should have been a skilfull, & useful Groom; that he should be more fond & careful of a favourite Horse than of a Wife, or than his victuals, or than any thing whatever! I never saw a Person, in any Diversion, Recreation or amusement, who seemed so full of Pleasure & enjoyment as he is when on Horse back, or even in the company of a Horse! He seems to possess as warm a regard for them as Dr Swift had for the Houyhnhnms – But I cannot discover that Ben has so cordial an enmity to Mankind as Swift had for the Yahoos. —Bobs passion for the same Animal is no less strong, but it is furious, & cruel, he rides excessive hard, & would ride always —Harry's Genius seems towards Cocks, & low Betts, much in company with the waiting Boys, &, against my strongest Remonstrances, & frequent severe corrections, he will curse, at times, horribly, & swear fearfully! he always, however, omits it when I am Present. —

Fryday 16.

Mrs Carter, this morning, with Prissy, Nancy, & Bob went in the New-Coach to the Dance at Stratford, the morning is mild, fair & cool – The Colonel informed me that now his Mill-House Bake-Houses, Store Houses &c. with a clear unobstructed navigation is compleated, & that, he will rent them all to a Person properly qualified – or gladly employ a person who is capable, trusty & industrious enough to be the sole Director of so great & valuable Property – Dined with us captain Walker– He threw out several exceeding unpopular Sentiments with regard to the present amazing Disturbances through the Colonies – One in special I think proper to record because it fixes his Character, & declares him, in Spite of all pretence, an enemy to America – He asserted that no Officers (at Boston or elsewhere) are obliged, either by Law, or Right, to question or refuse any kind of orders which they receive from their Sovereign, or commanding Officer – But I account every man, who possesses, & publishes such sentiments in this Crisis of the Fate of a vast Empire, as great an enemy to America at least, as Milton's Arch-Devil was to Mankind! – After School, we took the Theodolite, the Colonel along, & run several Lines, He seems perfectly well acquainted with the Art.

Saturday 17.

At eight I dismiss'd my small charge. Immediately after Breakfast I took some Boys, & went a Surveying; Ben, impatient of tiresome scurvy Home, strain'd off through the County – I run in to Dinner, the Colonel & I dined alone, we drank a Glass of Madeira, as a Health to absent Friends, after which I went again to the Field & survey'd till six in the evening; The Business of this Day has been to go round the inner Pasture About half an Hour after Sunset (when Women who love their Husbands & Families always come Home) Mrs Carter & the Girls arrived from Stratford She informed us that there was a large, genteel, and agreeable Company at the Dance; that the Ague & Fever have been & continue troublesome in that Neighbourhood; & that Word is arrived from Boston that Governor Gage has fired on the Town, & that it is expected his orders are to burn & beat it to Destruction! Ben returned about seven from Westmoreland Courthouse – He informed us that Mr Sorrels Negroes had their trial there to Day, concerning their accusation of entering their Masters House in the night with an intention to murder Him – It was there proved (so far as Negroes evidence will go) that a Brother of this Sorrels early last Spring bribed some Negroes to Poison his Brother; & when that diabolical Attempt could not succeed, he has since tried to perswade them to murder Him! – But all Evidence against the Negroes was so weak & dark that the judges ordered them to be whiped & dismised them – Though the Law considers all Testimony given by a Negro against a White-Man as weak & unsubstantial; yet what the Negro said to Day on Oath of the younger Mr Sorrel, seems to gain much Belief with many who are candid, & unbiased Judges; & with me beyond all Scruple, it fixes on him the cursed Character of a Fratricide! —