Journal and Letters of Philip Vickers Fithian Part 14

_Monday 17._

At Breakfast the Colonel gave orders to the Boys concerning their conduct this Day, & through the course of the Ball--He allows them to go; to stay all this Night; to bring him an Account of all the company at the Ball; & to return tomorrow Evening--All the morning is spent in Dressing.--Mr Carter & Mrs Carter pressed me to go; But, mindful of my Promise when I left Home, I stay and enjoy myself in quiet.--I give the Children a Holiday to Day--I gave Dennis the Waiter half a Bit a Present--Mrs _Carter_, Miss _Prissy_, & _Nancy_ dressed splendidly set away from Home at two.

_Teusday 18._

Mrs _Carter_, & the young Ladies came Home last Night from the Ball, & brought with them Mrs _Lane_, they tell us there were upwards of Seventy at the Ball; forty one Ladies; that the company was genteel; & that Colonel _Harry Lee_,[115] from _Dumfries_, & his Son _Harrey_ who was with me at College, were also there; Mrs Carter made this an argument, and it was a strong one indeed, that to-day I must dress & go with her to the Ball--She added also that She Desired my Company in the Evening when she should come Home as it would be late--After considering a while I consented to go, & was dressed--we set away from Mr Carters at two; Mrs _Carter_ & the young Ladies in the Chariot, Mrs Lane in a Chair, & myself on Horseback--As soon as I had handed the Ladies out, I was saluted by Parson _Smith_; I was introduced into a small Room where a number of Gentlemen were playing Cards, (the first game I have seen since I left Home) to lay off my Boots Riding-Coat&c--Next I was directed into the Dining-Room to see Young Mr _Lee_; He introduced me to his Father--With them I conversed til Dinner, which came in at half after four. The Ladies dined first, when some Good order was preserved; when they rose, each nimblest Fellow dined first--The Dinner was as elegant as could be well expected when so great an a.s.sembly were to be kept for so long a time.--For Drink, there was several sorts of Wine, good Lemon Punch, Toddy, Cyder, Porter &c.--About Seven the Ladies & Gentlemen begun to dance in the Ball-Room--first Minuets one Round; Second Giggs; third Reels; And last of All Country-Dances; tho' they struck several Marches occasionally--The Music was a French-Horn and two Violins--The Ladies were Dressed Gay, and splendid, & when dancing, their Silks & Brocades rustled and trailed behind them!--But all did not join in the Dance for there were parties in Rooms made up, some at Cards; some drinking for Pleasure; some toasting the Sons of america; some singing "Liberty Songs" as they call'd them, in which six, eight, ten or more would put their Heads near together and roar, & for the most part as unharmonious as an affronted--Among the first of these Vociferators was a young Scotch-Man, Mr _Jack Cunningham_; he was nimis bibendo appotus; noisy, droll, waggish, yet civil in his way & wholly inoffensive--I was solicited to dance by several, Captain Chelton, Colonel Lee, Harry Lee, and others; But George Lee,[116] with great Rudeness as tho' half drunk, asked me why I would come to the Ball & neither dance nor play Cards? I answered him shortly, (for his Impudence moved my resentment) that my Invitation to the Ball would Justify my Presence; & that he was ill qualified to direct my Behaviour who made so indifferent a Figure himself--Parson Smiths, & Parson Gibberns Wives danced, but I saw neither of the Clergymen either dance or game[117]--At Eleven Mrs Carter call'd upon me to go, I listned with gladness to the summons & with Mrs Lane in the Chariot we rode Home, the Evening sharp and cold!--I handed the Ladies out, waited on them to a warm Fire, then ran over to my own Room, which was warm and had a good Fire; oh how welcome! Better this than to be at the Ball in some corner nodding, and awaked now & then with a midnight Yell!--In my Room by half after twelve; & exceeding happy that I could break away with Reputation.--

[115] Colonel Henry Lee of "Leesylvania."

[116] Apparently George Fairfax Lee of "Mount Pleasant."

[117] Parson Giberne was not so fortunate in escaping criticism on other occasions. Fithian, himself, notes his gambling several times, and the Reverend Jonathan Boucher, Landon Carter and Robert Wormeley Carter all comment upon it in their journals.

_Wednesday 19._

Rose at Nine while the Bell was ringing--Breakfasted at ten, Mr _Carter_ and I alone, the Ladies yet in Bed--I gave the Children the third Holiday; _Bob_ _Ben_ & _Harry_ are yet at the Dance--Mrs Carter declines going to Day, I took a Walk out before Dinner, & with my Pen-knife carved _Laura's_ much admired Name, upon a smooth beautiful Beech-Tree--Towards Evening Mrs Lane left us & rode home--_Bob_ came Home about six, but so sleepy that he is actually stupified!--

_Thursday 20._

_Ben_ came Home late in the Night--This morning he looks fatigued out.

We began to study to Day but all seem sleepy and dull. Dined with us to-day Mr _Lee_ a Gentleman from Augusta County, who has lately been to the Settlements on Ohio.

Evening I began some Verses on Miss Carter for a present at the approaching Valantine[118]--But I drew the Picture from Laura.

[118] See this valentine in Appendix, pp. 230-233.

_Fryday 21._

All seem tolerably recruited this morning; we hear, the company left the Ball last Evening, quite wearied out; tho' the Colonel intreated them to stay the proposed Time.

To Day about twelve came to Mr _Carters_ Captain _John Lee_, a Gentleman who seems to copy the Character of _Addisons Will Wimble_.

When I was on my way to this place I saw him up in the country at Stafford; he was then just sallying out on his Winters Visit, & has got now so far as here, he stays, as I am told about eight, or ten Weeks in the year at his own House, the remaining part he lives with his waiting Man on his Friends.--

_Sat.u.r.day 22._

Captain Lee with us to Day--The Weather cold; I set in my Room all Day working at my Verses for Miss Carter.

_Sunday 23._

None went to Church on account of the Cold--Afternoon the Sun shone fair--I took my Horse & rode about a Mile & returned--Captain _Lee_ left us this Day.

_Monday 24._

Still very cold snows some--Dined with us Colonel _Frank_ L.

_Lee_,[119] & Colonel _Harrison_ of Maryland--Miss _Nancy_ unwel of a cold.--There are great Professions of Liberty here expressed in Songs Toasts, &c. Yesterday News came of the Arrival of Ships with Tea; into _Boston_, _New-york_, _Philadelphia_. & of the New-Yorkers burning the House of his Excellency Governor _Tryon_. for having said that, if orders concerning the Tea had been transmitted to him he would have landed it tho' under the mouths of the Cannon!--Gentlemen here in general applaud & honour our Northern Colonies for so manly, & patriotic Resistance!--

[119] Francis Lightfoot Lee (1734-1797) of "Menokin" in Richmond County was the fourth son of President Thomas Lee of "Stratford." His wife was Rebecca Tayloe, a daughter of Colonel John Tayloe of "Mount Airy." Lee served as a member of the House of Burgesses from Loudoun County and later from Richmond County.

_Teusday 25._

Still sharp & cold--Miss Nancy much indisposed with a sore throat--Dined with us Mr _Cunningham_. Toasts the _King_, _Queen_, _Governor_ & _Colonel_, of _Virginia_. Northern Sons of Liberty. & a good price for our comodities.--This Day the Person who carried my Letters to Baltimore returned without any Letters or Intelligence.

_Wednesday 26._

The weather this morning seems to have moderated--Miss _Nancy_ is poorly but better--In the Evening I ran a Foot Race with Ben & Harry fo exercise, & a prize of ten Apples to the winner. We ran from the School-House round the stable, & Kitchen & Great-House which Distance is about 70 Rod--I came out first about One Rod; but almost wholly spent; I went to my Chamber and lay down, sick, fainty, & quite distressed. I puked several times; after having rested a while, however, I revived & went well to Supper, & Spend the Evening in Writing. At Supper from the conversation I learned that the slaves in this Colony never are married, their Lords thinking them improper Subjects for so valuable an Inst.i.tution!--

_Thursday 27._

The morning mild Serene and moderate--The Colonel is making preparations for a Journey to _Anapolis_, where he Designs next Month.

In the Evening, (for here they call the time between Dinner and day-light-End Evening,) He & Mrs Carter shewed me their House; the original Design, the present form; & what is yet to be Done--Miss _Nancy_ came down stairs to Day--

_Fryday 28._

Snows this morning Briskly--Ben in a great Fever lest the Weather shall stop him from a Ride he has alloted for tomorrow--At twelve the Snow ceased, Depth about five Inches--I corrected _Harry_ for the first time to-day for expressing himself indecently to _Prissy_.

[Ill.u.s.tration: room full of smoke]

_Sat.u.r.day 29._

_Ben_ is preparing himself to go out--while we were dining about three it began to Snow briskly--After Dinner when I went over to my Room I was very much surprised to find my Room full of Smoke & Flame!--A kind Providence only prevented the total Loss of our School-House & all its Furniture, & our own Clothes Books &c!--A Coal of Fire had by accident (as the Hearth is very narrow) fall'n on the floor, it took fire, & when I entered it was burning rapidly--It had burnt three Boards about eight Inches from the Hearth, & most certainly in a short time would have been inextinguishable--I put it out however speedily, & had all the fire removed--

The Weather is as wintry here in every Respect as I have ever known it in New-Jersey--Mr Carter has a Cart & three pair of Oxen which every Day bring in four Loads of Wood, Sundays excepted, & yet these very severe Days we have none to spare; And indeed I do not wonder, for in the _Great House_, _School_ House, Kitchen, &c. there are twenty Eight steady fires! & most of these are very Large!--After Supper, when all had retired but Mrs Carter, Mr Carter & Myself, the Conversation being on serious Matters, Mr Carter observed that he much dislikes the common method of making Burying Yards round Churches, & having them almost open to every Beast--He would have them at some small distance from the Church, neatly & strongly inclosed, and the Graves kept up decent, & plain, but would have no splendid, nor magnificent Monument, nor even Stone to say "Hic jacet."--He told us he proposes to make his own Coffin & use it for a Chest til its proper use shall be required--That no Stone, nor Inscription to be put over him--And that he would choose to be laid under a shady Tree where he might be undisturbed, & sleep in peace & obscurity--He told us, that with his own hands he planted, & is with great diligence raising a _Catalpa_-Tree at the Head of his Father who lies in his Garden--Mrs Carter beg'd that She might have a Stone, with this only for a Monument, "Here lies _Ann Tasker Carter_."[120] with these things for my consideration I left them about ten and went to my cold Room, & was hurried soon to Bed; Not however without reflecting on the importance of our preparation for this great Change!

[120] Frances Ann Tasker Carter died in 1787 and was buried in the family graveyard at "Nomini Hall." Her husband, who died seventeen years later, was buried in Baltimore.

_Sunday 30._

Very stormy this morning with Rain and Hail which instantly freezes; the trees hang bending with Ice, & the ways are all gla.s.sy & slippery--None think of going to Church this day--Mrs Carter & I after Breakfast had a long conversation on religious affairs--Particularly on differing Denominations of Protestants--She thinks the Religion of the established Church without Exception the best of any invented or practised in the world. & indeed she converses with great propriety on these things, & discovers her very extensive Knowledge; She allows the Difference between the Church, & Presbyterianism to be only exceeding small, & wishes they were both intirely united! Through this whole Day it storms but the Evening is terrible! almost an Inundation of Rain; The wind violent at North-East; The Snow, Hail, and Rain freezing together on the Ground! This Evening the Negroes collected themselves into the School-Room, & began to play the _Fiddle_, & dance--I was in Mr Randolphs Room;--I went among them, _Ben_, & _Harry_ were of the company--_Harry_ was dancing with his Coat off--I dispersed them however immediately.

_Monday 31._

Excessive sloppy--Miss _Nancy_ came to School to Day--I finished my verses which are to be presented as a Valantine to Miss _Prissy Carter_.

_Teusday February 1st 1774._