twelve, with Mr _Randolph_, I walked to see the Negroes make a fence;
they drive into the Ground Chesnut stakes about two feet apart in a
strait Row, & then twist in the Boughs of _Savin_[132] which grows in
great plenty here--Ben, to Day, began Virgils Georgics--And Prissy
began Division--By accident to day in the Garden I took up Mr _Gegory_
the Gardiners Spade, for which he instantly called on me for my
forfeit--This Gardiner through the Summer from this Time has half a
Crown daily Wages--Dined at half after two.
[132] An American juniper or "red cedar."
_Teusday 8._
I rose by six--the morning fine. Breakfasted at nine. At twelve I
walked, to the mill together with Mr & Mrs Carter; Miss Prissy &
Nancy, to see them bake Biscuit, & pack flour; here too I had a
Forfeit for kneeding biscuit. The Colonel shewed me and explain'd the
Pan of his Mill; his Canals; Waste-gates; Toll Mill, Merchant Mill:
&c. The tide flows quite to the Mill & is navigable with Canoes &
Flats--He told me that his Wastgate as it stands alone cost him
95£.--And that nothing less than 5000£ Capital can continue the works
& keep them supplied. The Ovens bake 100lb of Flour at a Heating;
there are in the Bake-house two Ovens. Dined half after two.
The Colonel formed last Sunday, & is yet compleating Tables for
finding the Difference between _Virginia_, & _Maryland_ Currency, as
he is entering largely into Trade he finds it necessary to be better
acquainted with the Exchange. _Ben_ agreed to ask his Papa at Supper
for Leave to go with me to Philadelphia but poor Boy his resolution
fail'd him!
_Wednesday 9._
Up by seven, very Windy--Evening I rode with Ben to Mr _Lanes_ to see
young Lane; he was out however, & we soon returned--Mr Warden was at
Mr Lanes. Evening we played in our small Concert our old Sonata; &
besides Feltons Gavott,[133] supp'd at nine.
[133] William Felton (1713-1769), an English clergyman, was well known
in the eighteenth century as a composer, and performer on the
harpsichord and organ. "Felton's Gavot," which was long highly
popular, had been introduced into Legrenzio Vincenzo Ciampi's opera
"Bertoldo in Corte" in 1762. The music was written for the gavot, a
lively dance of French peasant origin, in which the feet were raised
in the step instead of being slidden.
_Thursday 10._
Mrs _Carter_ informed me last Evening that this Family one year with
another consumes 27000 Lb of Pork; & twenty Beeves. 550 Bushels of
Wheat. besides corn--4 Hogsheads of Rum, & 150 Gallons of Brandy.
Breakfasted with us Mr Warden, at twelve, with Mr Randolph, I went a
fishing, but we had only the luck to catch one apiece. Dined with us
Mr _Cunningham_, he has lately had a severe turn of the Pleurisy--I
supped with Mr Randolph on Fish--
_Fryday 11._
The finest morning we have yet had: the _Robbins,_ & _blue Birds_
singing all around us. _Prissy_, _Nancy_, & _Bob_ go this day to the
_Dance_ which is at Mr Turburville's--It come here next--I wrote a
Letter to Mr Rees[134] at Trenton--At twelve with Ben I rode to Mr
_Lanes_ to see young Mr _Lane_, he happened to be at Home, &
introduced to me Mr _Middleton_ an old facetious but pofane Gentleman.
We dined with Mr Lane. When call'd on for my Toast I gave Miss _Sally
Hollinshead_, of Philadelphia Dined at three--
[134] Oliver Reese.
I heard a mocking Bird sing this Day. supped at eight & in Bed early
for I am much fatigued with riding.
_Saturday 12._
I rose by six--Breakfasted with us Captain _Blackwel_; master of a
Ship lying in _Ucomico_--I heard _Harry_, Miss _Fanny_, & _Besy_
repeat their catechism--At ten Mr Lane called on us to go on Board
Captain Blackwels Ship to Dine--We consented and set off by Eleven; We
rode to a place called Horn-Point, which is about a Mile up the River
Ucomico, & in sight of the wide _Potowmac_, off this point at about a
Quarter of a miles Distance lay Captain Griggs, & Captain Blackwels
Ships, they sent immediately a Boat to carry us on board, but on
telling us that neither of the Captains were at Home, we chose rather
to turn Back--The distance from Mr _Carters_ to this Point, is called
twelve miles; the Land seems to be exceeding poor, as it is covered
for most of the way with Large _Pines_, & shrubby _Savins_, &
destitute almost intirely of Cultivation--From Horn-Point we agreed to
ride to one Mr Camels, who is Controller of the customs &c here;
cheifly to see a Daughter of his to whom we were equally strangers, we
arrived at Mr Camels about two o-Clock, & were severally introduced to
Miss Pinkstone Camel, a young woman of about sixteen, neat, handsome,
genteel, & sociable; & in my opinion she possesses as much of these as
any young Lady in Virginia whom I have yet seen--It has been Mr Camels
misfortune, in the course of trade, to be reduced to low
circumstances, on which account his Family does not now meet with so
great respect, as I am told they formerly did--
From Horn Point to the Comptrolers, the distance is call'd four miles.
Before Dinner we Borrowed the Comptrolers Barge, which is an over
grown Canoe, & diverted ourselves in the River which lies full
fronting the House; & we were the better pleased with the sport as all
our motions were in the sight of Miss Camel--We dined at half after
three on Fish, & wild Duck--our drink Grogg, & Water. From the
Comptrolers at 5 o-Clock we set of Homewards; we call'd on our way at
Captain _Meddletons_,[135] whom I take to be exceedingly Profane in
his Language; we were introduced to his two Daughters; they seemed
however aukward in their Behaviour, & dull, & saturnine in their
Disposition--The distance from the Comptrolers to Captain seven
Miles--We left there at eight in the evening, & rode to Mr Joseph
Lanes Esqr which distance is called five miles, & arrive at 9
o-Clock--here we had an elegant Supper--with good _Porter_ &
Madeira--after Supper, when call'd on for my Toast, I gave Miss _Betsy
Beaty_ of Newington, Pennsylvania--At half after ten we set off and
rode home; Distance three miles, Our poor Horses went the distances
which I have laid down and were not fed in the course of the day; as
they have no taverns in these parts--Our whole Distance 31 Miles
Expence to the Sailors for their trouble is 1s 10d. Exceedingly
fatigued with Riding.
[135] Middleton.
_Sunday 13._
Soon after Breakfast Captain Scott (master of a Schooner laden with
Wheat, & bound from Alexandria for Philadelphia, which about ten days
past in a gale of wind run aground and is like to lose her Cargo) come
to hire Mr Carters Schooner to assist in unloading her that the vessel
may be saved; the vessel run aground, & now lies nearly opposite the
mouth of the River Nomini in Potowmack!--The Colonel is engaged in
taking off a Description of the River _Ucomico_; the Road from hence
to Horn-Point; & Mondays-Point[136] with the Houses on the several
ways--This day I declin'd going to Church, chiefly on account of my
Horse, who went so far yesterday--It is however the first time that I
have kept myself at home in good weather--Evening Mr Carter received a
Packet of Letters from _Anopolis_ by the Post, but none comes to me
this long Winter--Bob to-day rode to Richmond Church, & in the Evening
brought from Counsellor _Taylor_[137] a strong invitation to come and
see him.
[136] Mundy's Point is located on the Yeocomico River near the mouth
of that stream.
[137] Colonel John Tayloe of "Mount Airy."
_Monday 14._
Bob this morning begg'd me to learn him lattin; his Reason he tells me
is that yesterday Mrs _Taylor_[138] told him he must not have either
of her Daughters unless he learn'd Latin he urged me so strong that I
put him some Lessons for leasure hours. Rainy most of this day, & in
the afternoon from the West arose a black cloud which was attended
with several pretty hard Claps of Thunder--We had with us one Mr
_Neal_ a good Sort of self sufficient Gentleman--
[138] Mrs. John Tayloe of "Mount Airy" was the former Rebecca Plater,
daughter of Governor George Plater of Maryland.
_Teusday 15._
This morning, as Ben & Bob were agreeing on the price of a Rudiman
Grammar, which _Bob_ wanted to purchase of _Ben_; after some time when
Bob would not give 2/10. Bens great demand for a Book almost worn
out, which when new, may, by thousands be had in Philadelphia for 2/.
that Currency--He threw his Book into the fire, & destroy'd it at
once!--An Instance of two ruling Foibles which I discover in Ben viz.
obstinacy, & avarice. And another I mentioned the other day, of his
agreeing, for half a Bit, or 3½d a week, to play the flute for a
limited time, every night after I am in Bed; of this however he has
grown tired, & given up his wages on account of the Labour, or
Confinement of the Task--And I should be deceived, if a very little
money would not excite him to submit to almost any menial service--Bob
however; for the present is frustrated in his purpose of learning
Grammer, & it seems to chagrin him as much, as tho' he actually
believed in what Mrs Taylor[139] told him last Sunday, that without he
understands Latin, he will never be able to win a young Lady of Family
& fashion for his Wife.--At the Noon play-Hours _Bob_ & _Nelson_ the
Boy who waits on the School had a fight, I know not on what account;
it was Bobs misfortune in the course of the Battle to receive a blow
on his cheek near his Eye, which is visible, & brought the
intelligence of the Quarrel to me, for all were wholly silent till I
made inquiry, when all in a moment seem'd to turn & try to convict
him--In the Evening, after School, I took them both to my Room and
examined them of the reason, Place, and manner of their fighting; from
themselves it seem'd plain that they fought for mere Diversion I
therefore dismiss'd Nelson, & kept Bob til near Supper & then gave him
a smart correction & dismiss'd him.
[139] Mrs. Tayloe.
_Wednesday 16._
The morning cloudy & windy, Breakfasted at nine--Mr Randolph hurt
himself by a Fall from a fence to day badly--Dined at half after
two--Towards Evening the clouds all scattered, the wind fell, & left
the air pleasant: The Birds also seemed glad and merry--The whole
reminded me of a beautiful, & memorable passage in _Milton_. "If
Chance the Radiant Sun with farewel-Sweet, Extend his Evening Beam the
fields revive, The Birds their notes renew, the bleating Herds Attest
their joy that Hill & valley rings."
After school, I had the honour of taking a walk with Mrs Carter
through the Garden--It is beautiful, & I think uncommon to see at this
Season peas all up two & three Inches--We gathered two or three
Cowslips in full-Bloom; & as many violets--The English Honey Suckle is
all out in green & tender Leaves--Mr Gregory is grafting some
figs--Mrs Carter shewed me her Apricot-Grafts; Asparagus Beds &c
Before Supper a Black cloud appeared in the West, at which Mrs Carter
discovered much concern as She is uncommonly affraid both of wind and
Thunder.
_Thursday 17._
This morning Mr Carter put Miss _Fanny_ to learning the Notes--While
we were breakfasting Mr _Stadley_ the musician came; Miss _Prissy_ is
with him; _Nancy_ learns the _Guitar_, under the direction of her
_Papa_, as Mr Stadley does not understand playing on the
_Guitar_--Dined with us a young Gentleman Mr Fantleroy from
_Hobbes-Hole_--He seems to be a modest sensible, genteel young
Fellow--I had the pleasure of taking a walk in the Garden at five with
Mr _Stadley_; _Bob_ along--He is a man of Sense, & has great Skill in
music. I spent the Evening in the Room in the midst of music.
_Fryday 18._
The morning damp & disagreeable--Mr Stadley continues to Day with Miss
_Prissy_. We received this morning the _Williamsburg_ Gazette's--
Several Addresses appear, and poetical Encomiums on the Countess of
Dunmore lately arrived there.
Mr. Bracken. & Mr. Henley, are still contending in furious Combat, but
poor Henley seems to be on the verge of a Defeat--I have all along
intended, & shall now attempt to give a short discription of
Nomini-Hall, & the several Buildings, & improvements adjoining it; as
well for my own amusement, as also to be able with certainty to inform
others of a Seat as magnificent in itself & with as many surrounding
Conveniences, as any I have ever seen, & perhaps equal to any in this
Colony--
Mr _Carter_ now possesses 60000 Acres of Land; & about 600
Negroes--But his Estate is much divided, & lies in almost every county
in this Colony; He has Lands in the neighbourhood of Williamsburg, &
an elegant & Spacious House in that City--He owns a great part of the
well known Iron-Works near Baltimore in Maryland--And he has one or
more considerable Farms not far from Anopolis. He has some large
tracts of Land far to the West, at a place call'd "Bull Run," & the
"Great Meadows" among the mountains. He owns Lands near Dumfries on
the Potowmack; & large Tracts in this & the neighbouring
Counties.--Out of these Lands, which are situated so remote from each
other in various parts of these two large Provinces, Virginia, &
Maryland, Mr Carter has chosen for the place of his habitation a high
spot of Ground in Westmoreland County at the Head of the Navigation of
the River Nomini, where he has erected a large Elegant House, at a
vast expence, which commonly goes by the name of _Nomini-Hall_. This
House is built with Brick, but the bricks have been covered with
strong lime Mortar; so that the building is now perfectly white; It is
seventy-six Feet long from East to west; & forty-four wide from North
to South, two Stories high; the Pitch of the lower story seventeen
Feet, & the upper Story twelve--
It has five Stacks of Chimneys, tho two of these serve only for
ornament. There is a beautiful Jutt, on the South side, eighteen feet
long, & eight Feet deep from the wall which is supported by three tall
pillars--On the South side, or front, in the upper story are four
Windows each having twenty-four Lights of Glass. In the lower story
are two Windows each having forty-two Lights of Glass, & two Doors
each having Sixteen Lights--At the East end the upper story has three
Windows each with eighteen Lights; & below two Windows both with
eighteen Lights & a Door with nine--
The North side I think is most beautiful of all; In the upper Story is
a Row of seven Windows with eighteen Lights a piece; and below six
windows, with the like number of lights; besides a large Portico in
the middle, at the sides of which are two Windows each with eighteen
Lights.--At the West end are no Windows--The Number of Lights in all
is five hundred, & forty nine--There are four Rooms on a Floor,
disposed of in the following manner. Below is a dining Room where we
usually sit; the second is a dining-Room for the Children; the third
is Mr Carters study; & the fourth is a Ball-Room thirty Feet
long--Above stairs, one Room is for Mr & Mrs Carter; the second for
the young Ladies; & the other two for occasional Company--As this
House is large, & stands on a high piece of Land it may be seen a
considerable distance; I have seen it at the Distance of six Miles--At
equal Distances from each corner of this Building stand four other
considerable Houses, which I shall next a little describe. First, at
the North East corner, & at 100 yards Distance stands the
School-House; At the North-West Corner, & at the same Distance stands
the stable; At the South-West Corner, & at the same Distance, stands
the Coach-House; And lastly, at the South-East corner, & at an equal
distance stands the Work-House. These four Houses are the corner of a
Square of which the Great-House is the Center--First the School-House
is forty five feet long, from East to West, & twenty-seven from North
to South; It has five well-finished, convenient Rooms, three below
stairs, & two above; It is built with Brick a Story & a half high with
Dormant Windows; In each Room is a fire; In the large Room
below-Stairs we keep our School; the other two Rooms below which are
smaller are allowed to Mr Randolph the Clerk; The Room above the
School-Room Ben and I live in; & the other Room above Stairs belongs
to _Harry_ & _Bob_. Five of us live in this House with great Neatness,
& convenience; each one has a Bed to himself--And we are call'd by the
Bell to the Great-House to Breakfast &c--The Wash-House is built in
the same form, & is of the same Size of the School-House--From the
front yard of the Great House, to the Wash-House is a curious
_Terrace_, covered finely with Green turf, & about five foot high with
a slope of eight feet, which appears exceeding well to persons coming
to the front of the House--This _Terrace_ is produced along the Front
of the House, and ends by the Kitchen; but before the Front-Doors is a
broad flight of steps of the same Height, & slope of the _Terrace_.
The Stable & coach-House are of the same Length & Breadth as the
School- and Wash-House, only they are higher pitched to be convenient
for holding Hay & Fodder.[140]
[140] This manor plantation has remained in the possession of Carter's
descendants to the present time. The original manor house was
destroyed by fire in 1850. A wooden structure erected shortly after
that time still stands. Carter's daughter, Harriot Lucy, married a
well-known lawyer, John James Maund. A daughter of Harriot Lucy and
John James Maund became the wife of Dr. John Arnest. "Nomini Hall" is
today the residence of Dr. Arnest's grandson, Mr. T. M. Arnest, who is
the great-great-grandson of Councillor Robert Carter. The only known
representation of the original manor house is a crude water-color
sketch done by an amateur artist "E. Maund," a relative, who visited
the family and made the sketch shortly before the house burned in
1850. One obtains a clearer understanding of the imposing character of
this manor house from Fithian's comments regarding it. This is
especially true of his observation made when spending an evening once
at "Mount Airy," the "elegant seat" of Colonel John Tayloe in Richmond
County. "The House," he said, referring to "Mount Airy," "is about the
size of Mr. Carter's...."
Due East of the Great House are two Rows of tall, flourishing,
beautiful, Poplars, beginning on a Line drawn from the School to the
Wash-House; these Rows are something wider than the House, & are about
300 yards Long, at the Eastermost end of which is the great Road
leading through Westmorland to Richmond. These Rows of Poplars form an
extreemely pleasant avenue, & at the Road, through them, the House
appears most romantic, at the same time that it does truly
elegant--The Area of the Triangle made by the Wash-House, Stable, &
School-House is perfectly levil, & designed for a bowling-Green, laid
out in rectangular Walks which are paved with Brick, & covered over
with burnt Oyster-Shells--In the other Triangle, made by the
Wash-House, Stable, & Coach House is the Kitchen, a well-built House,
as large as the School-House, Bake-House; Dairy; Store-House & several
other small Houses; all which stand due West, & at a small distance
from the great House, & form a little handsome Street. These Building
stand about a quarter of a Mile from a Fork of the River Nomini, one
Branch of which runs on the East of us, on which are two Mills; one
of them belongs to Mr Turburville, the other to Mr Washington, both
within a mile--another branch of the River runs on the West of us, on
which and at a small distance above the House stands Mr Carters
Merchant Mill,[141] which I have in other places described; to go to
the mill from the House we descend I imagine above an 100 Feet; the
Dam is so broad that two carriages may pass conveniently on it; & the
Pond from twelve to Eighteen Foot water--at the fork Mr Carter has a
Granary, where he lands his Wheat, for the mill Iron from the Works
&c--
[141] A merchant mill was a mill in which flour was manufactured and
packed for sale. The owner of such a mill customarily purchased wheat
for manufacture. In Virginia it was a common practice for the owner of
the mill to pay for the wheat in flour. A mill used exclusively for
grinding grain for local consumption was called a grist or custom
mill. A portion of the grist was usually allowed the owner for his
services.
In the Evening Mr _Carter_ sent for _Ben_ & I to play over the
_Sonata_ which we have lately learn'd; we performed it, & had not only
Mr Stadleys Approbation, but his praise; he did me the honour to say
that "I play a good Flute." He took a Flute also and play'd; which put
me in mind, at once, of the speech of the Shepherd in virgil.--Non tu
in Triviis, indocte, solebas Stridenti miserum Stipula disperdere
cament [carmen]. For when compared to him, the best that Ben or I can
do, is like Crows among Nightingales--We play'd till ten, and
separated, I gave to Miss Harriot, for saying a good lesson, half a
Bit--
_Saturday 19._
The morning still wet & disagreeable--Last night I dreamed much of the
Girl, which, I most of all others, esteem, & admire; of _Laura_; But
oh! I dreamed She was treacherous!--If it be true, I must suppress the
Greatness of my Disappointment by reflecting that I had not well
enough considered this Sentiment of the _poet_, That,--Varium et
mutabile Femina--I discover weakness when I am writing in this manner;
but Anxiety, and mighty-Love carry me over the bounds which I set for
the regulation of my conduct--Dreams indeed are vain & false; But
perhaps _Laura_ may think that Lovers vows are vain & trifling as
they!--I spend the day in my Room looking over the Catalogue of the
_Reviewers_ for August, September, October & November 1773.--Ben, &
Bob, & Harry, out tho the Day is bad--Mr _Stadley_ is yet busy with
the young Ladies--
_Sunday 20._
The weather still cloudy, damp, and disagreeable, but it is perfectly
calm; people here attribute this so long dullness to the Sun crossing
the Line which is to happen to-morrow--After Breakfast Mr Stadley
left us, The day is so bad none of us go to Church--Before Dinner I
received from Mr Lane, by his Servant a Note, informing me that he is
to set out tomorrow for home--In return, by the Same bearer, I wrote
him my Compliments in a letter; desiring him to remember me to my
Acquaintances in Pennsylvania, & New Jersey, as he will probably soon
see many of them--I spent much of this Day in Mr Carters Library among
the works of mighty-Men; I turned over _Calmets_, Scripture prints,
they are beautiful, & vastly entertaining--At Dinner by some means, I
know not how a conversation was introduced concerning the Souls of
Women; Mrs _Carter_ observed that She has heard they have no
Souls--Says Miss Priscilla in a moment if I thought so I would not
have spent all this morning in Reading; nor would Women, (Said the
well discerning Miss) be careful to avoid any Shameful, or Sinful
Action--It is not unlikly but those are the private Sentiments of many
among the Fair; & no doubt they would be generally and publickly
practised if it should be universally admitted that the Soul of a
Woman is not to exist after the present Life.
_Monday 21._
This day the days and nights are equal--The Sun enters _Aries_--Aries
[Libra] dies Somniq: pares ubi fecerit Horas, Et medium suis atq:
Umbris jam dividet Orbem. _Virgil._ Georgic I.
At Breakfast Mrs Carter asked me who is foremost in Arithmetic;
whether Bob, or Prissy? At which Mr Carter observed, that him of his
Sons whom he finds most capable of doing Business when he leaves the
World, & his Estate, Shall have the management of the whole, & support
the Rest. It seemed to me to be not an ill-chosen Incentive to
Diligence among the Boys--
This morning still cloudy, the wind at South--about ten a black-gloomy
cloud appeared in the west; it came over like Virgils--Omnia Ventorum
concurrere proelia [vidi]--The wind changed with the cloud to the
westward--Dined with us Mr Washington & Mr Philip Smith, Brother to
the Parson of this parish, to whom I was formally introduced--Toasts
as usual--Towards Evening it grows more pleasant & after School, I had
the pleasure of a walk in the Garden with Mrs Carter, Miss Stanhope, &
Miss Harriot--The peas have grown admirably since my last Walk; &
indeed all the Herbs seem sprouting--Harry this Day finished vulgar
Fractions, & began Practice. Expence to day as Pin-Money a Bit or
7½d
_Teusday 22._