with Colonel _Tayloe_, but the Servant who went with us was so slow in
preparing that we breakfasted before we set out--We arrived at Colonel
Tayloe's however by half after nine--The young Ladies we found in the
Hall playing the Harpsichord--The morning cool with a fine Breeze from
the North for I forgot to mention that about Midnight last Night a
violent Gust of Blackness, Rain, & Thunder came on & gave us present
Relief from the scorching Sun; there was no Dust & the riding was
pleasant--The Colonel, his Lady, Miss Polly, Miss Kitty, Miss Sally,
rode in their Great Coach to the Ferry--Distance about 4 miles--Ben &
I on Horseback--From Colonel Tayloe's to this Ferry opposite to
Hobbs's Hole the Land is levil & extremely good; Corn here looks very
rank is set thick with Ears, & they are high & large, three commonly
on a Stalk--Here I saw about an Acre & a half of Flax, which the
people were just pulling, exceedingly out of Season--This is the only
Flax I have seen since I have been in the Colony; I am told they raise
much in the upper Counties--Here too is a great Marsh covered with
thick high Reed--The Face of this part of the Country looks fertile,
but I apprehend it is far from being healthy--We came to the Bank of
the Rappahannock; it is here about 2 Miles over the Shipping on the
other Side near the Town lying at Anchor look fine; no large Vessels
can haul along the Wharves on account of shoal Water--There were six
Ships riding in the Harbour, and a number of Schooners & smaller
Vessels--Indeed, says Mrs _Tayloe_, Captain Dobby has forgot us. here
we have been waiting for a full half hour, shall we take the Ferry
Boat Colonel & cross over, & not stand any longer in the burning
heat?--I was pleased not a little with the proposal tho' at the same
time, I laughed with myself at Mrs Tayloe's truely Womanish
impatience!--At last they are coming--The long-Boat came, well
furnished with a large Awning, and rowed with four Oars--We entered
the Ship about half after twelve where we were received by Captain
Dobby, with every possible token of welcome--Since I have been in
Virginia, my inclination, & my fixed purpose before I left home, both
of which were very much assisted by a strict Attention to the
instructing my little Charge, these have kept me pretty constantly,
almost wholly, indeed out of that kind of Company where dissipation &
Pleasure have no restraint--This entertainment of Captain Dobby's,
elegant indeed, & exceeding agreeable, I consider as one among a
prodigeous throng of more powerful similar Causes, of the fevers &
other Disorders which are common in this Colony, & generally
attributed to the Climate which is thought to be noxious & unhealthy.
The Weather here indeed is remarkably variable But taking away &
changing the usual & necessary Time of Rest; Violent Exercise of the
Body & Spirits; with drinking great quantities of variety of Liquors,
these bring on Virginia Fevers--The Beaufort is a Stately Ship;
Captain Dobby had an Awning from the Stern over the Quarter quite to
the Mizen-Mast, which made great Room, kept off the Sun, & yet was
open on each Side to give the Air a free passage. At three we had on
Board about 45 Ladies, and about 60 Gentlemen besides the Ships Crew,
& Waiters Servants &c. We were not throng'd at all, & dined all at
twice--I was not able to inform myself, because it seemed improper to
interrupt the General pleasure, with making circumstantial inquiries
concerning Individuals, & saying pray, Sir, what young Lady is that
yonder in a Lute-String Gown? She seems genteel; where does her Father
live? Is she a Girl of Family & Breeding? Has She any Suitors? This
when one could not be out of the Inspection of the Company, would have
seemed impertinent so that I did not much enlarge my Acquaintance with
the Ladies, which commonly seems pleasing & desirable to me; But I
took Notice of Several, & shall record my remarks--The Boats were to
Start, to use the Language of Jockeys, immediately after Dinner; A
Boat was anchored down the River at a Mile Distance--Captain _Dobby_
and Captain _Benson_ steer'd the Boats in the Race--Captain _Benson_
had 5 Oarsmen; Captain _Dobby_ had 6--It was _Ebb-Tide_--The Betts
were small--& chiefly given to the Negroes who rowed--Captain Benson
won the first Race--Captain Purchace offered to bett ten Dollars that
with the same Boat & same Hands, only having Liberty to put a small
Weight in the Stern, he would beat Captain _Benson_--He was taken, &
came out best only half the Boats Length--About Sunset we left the
Ship, & went all to Hobbs's Hole, where a _Ball_ was agreed on--This
is a small Village, with only a few Stores, & Shops, it is on a
beautiful River, & has I am told commonly six, eight, & ten Ships
loading before it the Crews of which enliven the Town--Mr Ritche[192]
Merchant; he has great influence over the People, he has great Wealth;
which in these scurvy Times gives Sanction to Power; nay it seems to
give countenance to Tyranny--The Ball Room--25 Ladies--40
Gentlemen--The Room very long, well-finished, airy & cool, &
well-seated--two Fidlers--Mr _Ritche_ stalk'd about the Room--He was
Director, & appointed a sturdy two fisted Gentleman to open the Ball
with Mrs _Tayloe_--He danced midling tho'. There were about six or
eight married Ladies--At last Miss _Ritche_ danced a Minuet with ----
She is a tall slim Girl, dances nimble & graceful--She was _Ben
Carters_ partner--Poor Girl She has had the third Day Ague for twelve
months past, and has it yet She appeared in a blue Silk Gown; her Hair
was done up neat, without powder, it is very Black & Set her to good
Advantage--Soon after he danced Miss _Dolly Edmundson_[193]--A Short
pretty Stump of a Girl; She danced well, sung a Song with great
applause, seemed to enter into the Spirit of the entertainment--A
young Spark seemed to be fond of her; She seemed to be fond of him;
they were both fond, & the Company saw it--He was Mr Ritche's Clerk, a
limber, well dress'd, pretty-handsome Chap he was--The insinuating
Rogue waited on her home, in close Hugg too, the Moment he left the
Ball-Room--Miss _Aphia Fantleroy_ danced next, the best Dancer of the
whole absolutely--And the finest Girl--Her head tho' was powdered
white as Snow, & crap'd in the newest Taste--She is the Copy of the
goddess of Modesty--Very handsome; she seemed to be loved by all her
Acquaintances, and admir'd by every Stranger, Miss _McCall_--Miss
_Ford_--Miss _Brokenberry_[194]--_Ball_--Two of the younger Miss
_Ritche's_--Miss _Wade_--They danced till half after two. Captain
Ritche invited Ben & I, Colonel Tayloe & his Family with him--We got
to Bed by three after a Day spent in constant Violent exercise, &
drinking an unusual Quantity of Liquor; for my part with Fatigue,
Heat, Liquor, Noise, Want of sleep, And the exertion of my Animal
spirits, I was almost brought to believe several times that I felt a
Fever fixing upon me, attended with every Symptom of the Fall
Disorders--
[192] Archibald Ritchie was a prominent merchant of Hobb's Hole.
[193] The Edmundsons were a prominent family in Essex County. Thomas
Edmundson, whose will was proved in 1759, had a daughter named Dorothy
Edmundson.
[194] The Brockenbrough family had been a well-known one in Richmond
County since the beginning of the eighteenth century. William
Brockenbrough (1715-c.1778) had married Elizabeth Fauntleroy, whose
sister Mary was the wife of Parson Giberne.
[Illustration: dance party]
_Wednesday 3._
We were call'd up to Breakfast at half after eight--We all look'd
dull, pale, & haggard!--From our Beds to Breakfast--Here we must
drink hot Coffee on our parching Stomachs!--But the Company was
enlivening--Three of the Miss Tayloe's--Three Miss Ritche's--And Miss
_Fantleroy_--This loveliest of all the Ring is yet far below--_Laura_
If they were set together for the choice of an utter Stranger; he
would not reflect, but in a moment spring to the Girl that I mean to
regard--After Breakfast the young Ladies favoured us with several
Tunes on the Harpsichord--They all play & most of them in good
Taste--at eleven we went down to the River; the Ships Long Boat was
waiting, Captain _Purchace_ of the _Beaufort_ helped us on Board--I
gave the Boatswain a Pisterene for his trouble--Half a Bit for the
Pasture of my Horse--We rode to Colonel Tayloe's--The Ladies all
retired for a nap before Dinner. We sat in the Hall, & conversed with
the Colonel a sensible, agreeable Sociable person--Miss _Garrot_ is
Governess of the Young Ladies; She too is chatty, satirical, neat,
civil, had many merry remarks at Dinner, we staid til about six took
our Leave, & rode Home--Found all well; gave an account of ourselves,
of our entertainment, & of our Company to Mr & Mrs Carter at Coffee--&
retired soon to Bed--
_Thursday 4._
I made out to get up by seven--A little fatigued tho'--Many are
sickening with a Fever, & great numbers have the Ague--Protect me if
it be thy will, God of my Life, & give me a Heart to praise thy name
for all my Favours--Dined with us the Inspector--I walked through the
Garden, several times banishing by solitude, as much as possible
reflection on several Days past.--
_Fryday 5._
I have no Stockings; & I swear I wont go to the Dancing School This
was the first I heard of _Bob_--Are Bob & Nancy gone to Mr
_Turberville's_ said the Colonel at Breakfast--_Nancy_ is gone Sir,
Bob stays at Home he has no shoes! poh! What nonsense! says the
Colonel--Call _Bob_, & Call the Clerk--He sent Mr Randolph to the
Store for a pair of Shoes, Bob he took to his Study and flogg'd
severely for not having given seasonable Notice, & sent him instantly
to the Dance--
_Saturday 6._
Last night, & this morning haizy mistty the Wind South East threatens
a Rain--Transcribing my pieces, yesterday and to Day--I had a strong
invitation to Dr Thompsons Fish-Feast, but the Rainy Weather hindred;
I spent the Day in Quiet in my Chamber writing--Dadda Gumbey sent me a
small Water-Melon.
_Sunday 7._
I set out for Church--It was cloudy, it Thundered in the West: But I
rode on Bob was with me--We arrived at the Church & had our Saddles
put into a Chariot--When a violent Gust came on--We were all in the
Church; many Ladies were present--The Thunder was violent! Many
discovered great Terror--Neither the Parson, nor Clerk attended--There
we sat in Silence til the Storm was over, when each sallied out &
splashed homewards--Mr & Mrs Carter were to have gone by Water--They
had set off But saw the Cloud befor they had rowed far, & wisely
returned--Towards Evening Miss Betsy _Carter_, Miss Polly _Carter_ of
Richmond, & Miss _Turberville_ came over to see our Girls. Miss Betsy
plays the Harpsichord extremely well, better I think than any young
Lady I have seen in Virginia.
_Monday 8._
All once more in School--Dined with us _George Lee_ & Mr _Grubb_--They
spent the afternoon at the great House--After Coffee Lee rode Home--Mr
_Grubb_ staid with us all night--Dennis came into our Room to bring us
a Bowl of Punch; Grubb shut the Door, and accused him of having been
caught with Bett, the Dairy Girl, in the Stable last Saturday
Night--Dennis seem'd in great distress, he denied the Fact tho' with
great steadiness--Nelson our Boy came in with a candle--Dennis here,
says _Grubb_ to _Nelson_, has been accusing you, Sir, of several
crimes; he says you gave him half a _Bitt_ last Saturday Night, to
stand at the Stable-Door while he with Bett--Nelson star'd--Grubb
opened a huge _Molls Atlas_ that lay in the Room; & read off their
Case & indictment--The Boys seem'd crazy--We dismiss'd them when all
the novelty was over, but they darted like Indians so soon as they
were at liberty--We sat up til eleven--Ben drank for his Toast, Miss
_Julia Stockton_ of New Jersey; Grubb Miss Betsy Carter--I with
pleasure the Rival of them all--
_Teusday 9._
I propose to visit Dr Jones to Day say's Mrs _Carter_ at
Breakfast--See & have the Carriage ready for me by ten o-Clock
_Benny_--She took with her _Priss_, and _Nancy_--We have a thin
School--Mr _Grubb_ dined with us--Staid til evening, when with Ben he
rode home--I finished & glad enough I feel my Latin Thesis--The
Weather is now very tolerable, we had to Day a fine Shower about
twelve--
_Wednesday 10._
All in School--Miss _Fanny_ very much troubled with the festered Bites
of _Seed Ticks_--Mr _Stadley_, whom I always see with Pleasure came
towards evening--After School he gave the Girls a lesson each--About
Six we have a fine Shower, with Thunder and Lightning, especiall in
the evening the Lightning Sharp--
_Thursday 11._
Dined with us two Gentlemen Names unknown--They informed us that a
Flux is in a neighbouring County, of which many die!--The Ague too is
growing frequent _Fanny_ has a fit this afternoon--I begin to be a
little alarmed at the early approach of these Disorders, which I fear
will be distressful here!--Through the kindness of heaven I am yet in
perfect health--Mr _Carter_ & Mr _Stadley_ performed both on the
_harmonica_ I am charm'd with the Sounds! The melody is swelling,
grave & grand! The weather vastly hot--
_Fryday 12._
Very hot--_Sam_ our Barber is Seized with the Ague & Fever--Fanny is
confined to her chamber with a Fever occasioned, I am apt to believe,
by the inflamed bites of the Seed-Ticks, which cover her like a
distinct Small Pox.--Dined with us by particular invitation, Mr
_Turberville's_ Family, and Miss _Betsy Lee_--The conversation at
Table was on the Disorders which seem growing to be epidemical,
_Fevers_, _Agues_, _Fluxes_--A gloomy train!--Fearing these, I keep
myself at home; make my diet sparing & uniform; Use constant moderate
Exercise; Drink as little Wine as possible, & when I must drink Toasts
I never fail to dilute them with well with Water; I omit almost every
kind of fruit; & make my time for _Sleeping_ from Night to Night the
same, Viz to Bed by ten, & rise by six invariably--I never lived so
much by Rule as I do this Summer; & I am taught the Art, & have a
Steady Example in Mr & Mrs _Carter_--Mr _Stadley_ played on the
Harpsichord & harmonica several Church Tunes & Anthems, with great
propriety--
[LETTER OF PHILIP V. FITHIAN TO JOHN PECK]
Nomini Hall August 12th 1774.
"Si bene moneo[Maneo], attende."--
SIR.
I never reflect, but with secret, and peculiar pleasure, on the time
when I studied in _Deerfield_ with you, & several other pleasant
Companions, under our common, & much respected instructor, Mr _Green_.
And I acknowledge now, with a thankful heart, the many favours, which
I received from your family while I was a member of it. This sense of
obligation to your Family. And personal friendship for you, have
excited me, when it was in my power, to introduce you to the business
which I now occupy; into a family, where, if you be prudent and
industrious, I am confident you will speedily acquire to yourself both
Honour & Profit--But inasmuch as you are wholly a stranger to this
Province; & have had little or no Experience in the business which you
ar[e] shortly to enter upon; & lest, from common Fame, which is often
erroneous, you shall have entertained other notions of the manners of
the People here, & of your business as a Tutor, than you will find,
when you come, to be actually true; I hope you will not think it
_vain_ or _untimely_, if I venture to lay before you some Rules for
your direction which I have collected from a year's observation. I
shall class what I have to say in the following order. First. I shall
attempt to give you some direction for the plan of your Conduct among
your neighbours, & the People in General here, so long as you sustain
the character of a Tutor. Then I shall advise you concerning the rules
which I think will be most profitable & convenient in the management
of your little lovely charge, the School. Last of all. I shall mention
several Rules for your personal conduct. I choose to proceed in the
order I have laid down, as well that you may more fully & speedily
recieve my mind, as that you may also the more readily select out and
apply what you shall find to be most necessary.
First. When you have thought of removing, for a Time, out of the
Colony in which you was born, & in which you have hitherto constantly
resided, I make no doubt but you have at the same time expected to
find a very considerable alteration of manners, among your new
acquaintances, & some peculiarities toto Caelo different, from any you
have before been accustomed to. Such a thought is natural; And you
will if you come into Virginia, in much shorter time than a year, be
convinced that it is just. In New-Jersey Government throughout, but
especially in the Counties where you have any personal acquaintance,
Gentlemen in the first rank of Dignity & Quality, of the Council,
general Assembly, inferior Magistrates, Clergy-men, or independent
Gentlemen, without the smallest fear of bringing any manner of
reproach either on their office, or their high-born, long recorded
Families associate freely & commonly with Farmers & Mechanicks tho'
they be poor & industrious. Ingenuity & industry are the Strongest, &
most approved recommendations to a Man in that Colony. The manners of
the People seem to me, (probably I am overborn by the force of
prejudice in favour of my native Soil), to bear some considerable
resemblance of the manners in the ancient Spartan Common-Wealth--The
Valour of its Inhabitants--was the best, & only security of that State
against the enemy; & the wise laws of its renowned Legislator were the
powerful Cement which kept them firm & invincible--In our Government,
the laborious part of Men, who are commonly ranked in the midling or
lower Class, are accounted the strenth & Honour of the Colony; & the
encouragement they receive from Gentlemen in the highest stations is
the spring of Industry, next to their private advantage. The Levil
which is admired in New-Jersey Government, among People of every rank,
arises, no doubt, from the very great division of the lands in that
Province, & consequently from the near approach to an equality of
Wealth amongst the Inhabitants, since it is not famous for trade. You
know very well that the Lands in a small township are divided, & then
again subdivided into two & three Hundred Separate, proper, creditable
estates; for example _Deerfield_ & _Fairfield_ two Townships, or
Precincts, in which you & I are tolerably well acquainted, in the
former of which, are the Seats of two Judges of the Sessions; & in the
latter resides one of the representatives in General Assembly for the
County; But if 16000£ would purchase the whole landed estates of these
three Gentlemen, who are supposed to be the most wealthy in the
County, if we rate their Land at the Low Consideration of 4£ per acre,
with all conveniences, each would have 4000 Acres. Now you may suppose
how small a quantity many must have when two or three hundred
Landholders reside in each of these small Precincts; Hence we see
Gentlemen, when they are not actually engaged in the publick Service,
on their farms, setting a laborious example to their Domesticks, & on
the other hand we see labourers at the Tables & in the Parlours of
their Betters enjoying the advantage, & honour of their society and
Conversation--I do not call it an objection to this, that some few,
who have no substance but work like Slaves as nec[e]ssity drives them
for a few Months in the year; with the price of this Labour they visit
Philadelphia; & having there acquired a fashionable Coat, & a Stock of
Impudence, return home to spend the remainder of the year, in idleness
& disgrace!--But you will find the tables turned the moment you enter
this Colony. The very Slaves, in some families here, could not be
bought under 30000£. Such amazing property, no matter how deep it is
involved, blows up the owners to an imagination, which is visible in
all, but in various degrees according to their respective virtue, that
they are exalted as much above other Men in worth & precedency, as
blind stupid fortune has made a difference in their property;
excepting always the value they put upon posts of honour, & mental
acquirements--For example, if you should travel through this Colony,
with a well-confirmed testimonial of your having finished with Credit
a Course of studies at Nassau-Hall; you would be rated, without any
more questions asked, either about your family, your Estate, your
business, or your intention, at 10,000£; and you might come, & go, &
converse, & keep company, according to this value; & you would be
dispised & slighted if yo[u] rated yourself a farthing cheaper. But
when I am giving directions to you, from an expectation that you will
be shortly a resident here, altho you have gone through a College
Course, & for any thing I know, have never written a Libel, nor stolen
a Turkey, yet I think myself in duty bound to advise you, lest some
powdered Coxcomb should reproach your education, to cheapen your price
about 5000£; because any young Gentleman travelling through the
Colony, as I said before, is presum'd to be acquainted with Dancing,
Boxing, playing the Fiddle, & Small-Sword, & Cards. Several of which
you was only entering upon, when I left New-Jersey; towards the Close
of last year; and if you stay here any time your Barrenness in these
must be detected. I will however allow, that in the Family where you
act as tutor you place yourself, according to your most accute
Calculation, at a perfect equidistance between the father & the eldest
Son. Or let the same distance be observed in every article of
behaviour between you & the eldest Son, as there ought to be, by the
latest & most approved precepts of Moral-Philosophy, between the
eldest Son, & his next youngest Brother. But whenever you go from
Home, where you are to act on your own footing, either to a Ball; or
to a _Horse-Race_, or to a _Cock-Fight_, or to a _Fish-Feast_, I
advise that you rate yourself very low, & if you bett at all, remember
that 10,000£ in Reputation & learning does not amount to a handfull of
Shillings in ready Cash!--One considerable advantage which you promise
yourself by coming to this Colony is to extend the Limits of your
acquaintance; this is laudable, & if you have enough of prudence &
firmness, it will be of singular advantage--Yet attempt slowly & with
the most Jealous Circumspection--If you fix your familiarity wrong in
a single instance, you are in danger of total, if not immediate
ruin--You come here, it is true, with an intention to teach, but you
ought likewise to have an inclination to learn. At any rate I solemnly
injoin it upon you, that you never suffer the spirit of a Pedagogue to
attend you without the walls of your little Seminary. In all
promiscuous Company be as silent & attentive as Decency will allow
you, for you have nothing to communicate, which such company, will
hear with pleasure, but you may learn many things which, in after
life, will do you singular service.--In regard to Company in general,
if you think it worth the while to attend to my example, I can easily
instruct you in the manner of my Conduct in this respect. I commonly
attend Church; and often, at the request of Gentlemen, after Service
according to the custom, dine abroad on Sunday--I seldom fail, when
invited by Mr or Mrs _Carter_, of going out with them; but I make it a
point, however strongly solicited to the contrary, to return home with
them too--Except in one of these cases, I seldom go out, but with a
valuable variety of books I live according to Horace's direction, &
love "Secretum Iter et fallentis Semita Vitae." Close retirement and a
life by Stealth. The last direction I shall venture to mention on this
head, is, that you abstain totally from Women. What I would have you
understand from this, is, that by a train of faultless conduct in the
whole course of your tutorship, you make every Lady within the Sphere
of your acquaintance, who is between twelve & forty years of age, so
much pleased with your person, & so fully satisfied as to your
abilities in the capacity of--a Teacher; & in short, fully convinced,
that, from a principle of Duty, you have, both by night & by day
endeavoured to acquit yourself honourably, in the Character of a
Tutor; & that, on this account, you have their free & hearty consent,
without making any manner of demand upon you, either to stay longer in
the County with them, which they would choose, or whenever your
business calls you away, that they may not have it in their Power
either by charms or Justice to detain you, & when you must leave them,
have their sincere wishes & constant prayrs for Length of days & much
prosperity, I therefore beg that you will attend litterally to this
advice, & abstain totally from Women. But this last precaution, which
I have been at some pains to dress in the plainest language, I am much
inclined to think, will be wholly useless in regard to you,
notwithstanding it is founded in that _Honour_ and _Equity_ which is
on all hands allow'd to be due from one Sex to the other, & to many of
your _age_, & _Standing_ no doubt would be entirely salutary. Because
the necessary connections which you have had with the Fair, from your
Puberty upwards have been so unfavourable & ill-fated, that instead of
apprehending any danger on the score of over fondness, I am fearful
your rancour has grown so inveterate at length, as, not only to
preserve you, in thought & practice, pure of every Fleshly foible, but
has carried you so far towards the other extream, as that you will
need many persuasions, when your circumstances shall seem to require
it, to bring you back to a rational & manly habit of thinking & acting
with respect to the Sex; which yet, after all (& eternally will
continue to be, tho it is so much courted & whined after) if
considered in the fullest manner, & set forth to the best advantage,
never rises above its divine definition viz "The weaker Vessel." But
without detaining you any longer with a matter merely depending on
accident or Circumstance I pass on to the second General Head; in
which "Ludis atque Jocis amotis [amatis]" I shall offer to your
consideration & recommend for your practice several Rules concerning
the managment of the School.