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!--
[200] Thomas Sorrel owned a plantation near "Nomini Hall" in
Westmoreland County.
_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--
[201] Gawin Corbin of "Yew Spring" in Caroline County.
[202] Apparently Randolph Carter's clerk.
[203] There were frequent references in the _Virginia Gazette_ during
the previous year to the arrival in Williamsburg of "Dr. Graham, the
celebrated oculist and aurist, at Philadelphia."
_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_!--
_Sunday 18._
The Colonel gave me, at Breakfast the offer of a Seat in his Boat to
Church. The Morning was fine, & Nomini-River alive with Boats Canoes
&c some going to Church, some fishing, & some Sporting--Mr _Smith_
gave us a very practical Sermon against the common vices here, in
particular against the practise of abusing Slaves--The report
concerning Boston is much talked off & still confirmed!--We dined all
at Mr Turberville's; Miss _Corbin_ looks _fresh_ & _plump_ as ever.
Towards evening arose a pretty furious Thunder-Gust, which we hardly
escaped on our way home I observed that several, but in special Mr
_Carter_ is not pleased with Mr Smith's Sentiments of Slavery.
_Monday 19._
The morning fine & cool, & produces in our School at last a fine
Fire!--Fire looks & feels most welcome; and I observe it makes our
children remarkably garrulous & noisy--I took cold by Saturdays
unusual exercise, & to Day have a Pain through my head, sore throat, &
the other common troubles in a Cold--This Day begins the examination
of The Junior class at Nassau-Hall. Every time I reflect on that Place
of retirement & Study, where I spent two years which I call the most
pleasant as well as the most important Period in my past life--Always
when I think upon the _Studies_, the _Discipline_, the _Companions_,
the _Neighbourhood_, the _exercises_, & _Diversions_, it gives me a
secret & real Pleasure, even the Foibles which often prevail there are
pleasant on recollection; such as giving each other _names_ &
_characters_; Meeting & Shoving in the dark entries; knocking at Doors
& going off without entering; Strowing the entries in the night with
greasy Feathers; freezing the Bell; Ringing it at late Hours of the
Night;--I may add that it does not seem disagreeable to think over the
Mischiefs often practised by wanton Boys--Such are writing witty
pointed anonymous Papers, in _Songs_, _Confessions_, _Wills_,
_Soliliques_, _Proclamations_, _Advertisements_ &c--Picking from the
neighbourhood now & then a plump fat Hen or Turkey for the private
entertainment of the Club "instituted for inventing & practising
several new kinds of mischief in a secret polite Manner"--Parading bad
Women--Burning Curse-John--Darting Sun-Beams upon the Town-People
Reconoitering Houses in the Town, & ogling Women with the
Telescope--Making Squibs, & other frightful compositions with
Gun-Powder, & lighting them in the Rooms of timorous Boys, & new
_comers_--The various methods used in naturalizing Strangers, of
incivility in the Dining-Room to make them bold; writing them sharp &
threatning Letters to make them smart; leading them at first with long
Lessons to make them industrious--And trying them by Jeers & Repartee
in order to make them choose their Companions &c &c--Evening after
School with Mrs Carter, & the Girls I took a Walk thro the Pumpkin &
Potatoe Vines. the Air is clear, cold & healthful. We drank our Coffee
at the great House very sociably, round a fine Fire, the House And air
feels like winter again.
_Teusday 20._
Among the many womanish Fribbles which our little Misses daily
practise, I discovered one to Day no less merry than natural; _Fanny_
& _Harriot_ by stuffing rags & other Lumber under their Gowns just
below their Apron-Strings, were prodigiously charmed at their
resemblanc to Pregnant Women! They blushed, however, pretty deeply on
discovering that I saw them--We have to day both in the School &
great-house steady Fires--Mr _Thomas Edwards_ a reputable Planter in
the Neighbourhood died this day about one o-Clock--I saw him last
Sunday at Church when he was in good Health; was taken the same
Evening, & hurried off at once!--Frail Man, how easily subdued!--
_Wednesday 21._
We have a more particular account of the Death of Mr _Edwards_. About
a twelve-month ago, he was suddenly siezed with a Fit of the Palsy,
his Foot, Side, Arm, & part of his Face then failed, & became useless,
after some time, however, he grew better, & has since been apparently
well; til Sunday evening last after the Shower, as he was walking in
his Garden, he fell down in an instant, there happened to be help at
hand, he only said these emphatical Words--"_Now I must die_"--He was
carried in, & expired as I mentioned yesterday!--I am told that the
Flux is in the upper part of this County--My cold continues; in the
Evening on going to bed, I took a dose of Honey & Rum--
_Thursday 22._
A pure cold northerly wind still blows, & we all keep Fires--Peaches &
Fruit are omitted at Dinners, & Soup or Broth is brought in; Milk and
Hominy at Breakfast too are laid by & Coffee & Sage Tea brought in;
Our Suppers are Coffee & Bred & butter--_Neatness_ _variety_ &
_Plenty_ are reigning Characters in our worthy oconomist Mrs Carter. I
read to Day, & am charm'd with a ---- of Lord Chesterfield. Letters to
his natural Son, which I propose to purchase--After School, with Ben,
I took a walk to Mr Turberville's--He has received a line from Colonel
Lee at Philadelphia that the Congress is going on--That the account
concerning Boston is false--Evening Lancelot Lee came in, & staid the
night--He gave Ben & myself an Invitation to dine with him tomorrow, I
took out of the Library & began to read Watts's Logic--
_Fryday 23._
I spent some time in reviewing Geography & Logic--Mr Lee left us about
twelve, & Ben rode out with him--Evening from Mr Turberville's I saw
some _Barberry's_, _Sloes_, & _Pomegranates_, neither of which I had
seen before--
_Saturday 24._
Together with my Cold I have to Day a most disagreeable gathering on
my middle Finger--I keep myself at home reading Logic--Evening the
Colonel invited me to walk with him; he took me to his Mill,
_Coopers_, _House_, _Channel_, _Meadows_ &c, and was vastly particular
in describing to me their particular uses--I begin to look with eager
Sollicitude to the time of my revisiting my friends & Relations--It
is, happily near--
_Sunday 25._
The morning clear cool & very dry--I rode to Ucomico-Church, I was
surprised when the Psalm begun, to hear a large Collection of voices
singing at the same time, from a Gallery, entirely contrary to what I
have seen befor in the Colony, for it is seldom in the fullest
Congregation's, that more sing than the Clerk, & about two others!--I
am told that a singing Master of good abilities has been among this
society lately & put them on the respectable Method which they, at
present pursue--I dined at _Mr Fishers_, among others I saw there, Dr
_Steptoe_, & Mr _Hamilton_ who have lately been to Philadelphia--They
give various Reports concerning political affairs, & as to the
Congress nothing certain, so that I say nothing on that Score--Their
Remarks on the City & Inhabitants; The Country &c are curious--They
allow the City to be fine, neat, & large; they complain a little of
the small Rooms, Uniformity of the Buildings, & several other like
faults--They call the Inhabitants grave & reserved; & the Women
remarkably homely, hard favour'd & sour!--One Colonel Harrison[204]
from a lower County in this Colony, offer'd to give a Guinea for every
handsome Face that could be found in the City, if any one would put a
Copper on every Face that did not come up to that Character!--This is
an impeachment of the Ladies which I have never heard before, I do not
give my opinion either for or against it--The face of the Country, &
the method of farming that way delights them: but at this I dont
wonder.
[204] Probably Benjamin Harrison of "Berkeley" in Charles City County,
who attended the Congress in Philadelphia in 1774.
_Monday 26._
Yesterday the Inspector, whom I have named & described before, desired
the Parson to wait on them in his family and christen his Child--Is
the child sick? No Sir--Why then today? it is the Mothers Desire
Sir--Why was it not brought to Church? The Mother is unwell, Sir--The
Parson excused himself, & promised to come some Days hence, but the
long winded officer, inured to Stubbornness, hung on, &, without
moderation or Apology _demanded_ his presence!--And prevail'd.--
Something in our palace this Evening, very merry happened--Mrs
_Carter_ made a dish of Tea. At Coffee, she sent me a dish--& the
Colonel both ignorant--He smelt, sipt--look'd--At last with great
gravity he asks what's this?--Do you ask Sir--Poh!--And out he throws
it splash a sacrifice to Vulcan--
[Illustration: man with telescope]
_Teusday 27._
This morning the Colonel with his Theodolite observed the Centre of
the Sun at his rising, & found it bore East 5° South--This he is doing
to fix a true East & West Line for regulating the Needle at any time.
This Bearing he corrected by finding the Suns Declination, & fixed his
Points--After the morning we let our fire go down--Both yesterday, &
this evening I rode out to exercise myself & horse against our
approaching Journey--Mr _Hodge_, a Merchant of _Leeds_ & Mr _Leech_ a
Merchant of Dumfries came Home with the Colonel from Westmoreland-Court--
Both chatty, in special Mr Leech; both well-bred, sensible, &
sociable--The loyal Toast was _Wisdom_ & _unity_ to the Conferrences
now assembled--And when Women were to be toasted, I gave Miss _Jenny
Washington_.--
_Wednesday 28._
The weather remarkably dry, since Sunday sennight, we have not had a
drop of Rain, nor even a cloudy Sky, and till yesterday, & steady,
cold, serene northerly Wind--To Day is the annual Commencement at
Nassau Hall--
[LETTER OF PHILIP V. FITHIAN TO MR. LARKIN RANDALL]
[Nomini Hall. September 28 (?) 1774]
MR RANDALL.