Journal and Letters of Philip Vickers Fithian Part 15

Fair & mild but vastly muddy--About twelve Squire _Lee_ & young _Harry Lee_, who was a College-Fellow, came to see us. They staid while about five. The Toasts at Dinner were as usual--The Colonel & Mrs Carter seem Much pleased with Harry, & with his manner.

_Wednesday 2._

The weather vastly fine. At twelve o-Clock the Colonel & Miss _Prissy_ rode out for an airing--_Prissy_ This day began Multiplication. We had also a large elegant Writing Table brought to us, so high that the Writers must stand.

_Thursday 3._

Prissy, & Nancy practising music--We had last night Thunder, Lightning, & a very great shower.

_Fryday 4._

I put Ben this day into virgil--We had our Room mended & came into it--at twelve I rode out to Mr Taylors about two Miles, in again by Dinner-Time--Dined with us one Mrs Hut--This Evening, in the School-Room, which is below my Chamber, several Negroes & _Ben,_ & _Harry_ are playing on a _Banjo_ & dancing!--

_Sat.u.r.day 5:_

I spent the morning in my Room, _Ben_, & _Bob_ are gone out. About twelve came on a visit Mr _Goodlett_, & _Saml Fantleroy_;[121] I spent the remainder of the day with them.--At Dinner when call'd upon for a Toast I gave Miss _Sally Hollinshead_. Mr Goodlett told me he has had an Invitation, to accept a School in _Leeds_,[122] a town on the River Rapahannock, about 25 Miles from this up & across the Country.

[121] Samuel Griffin Fauntleroy (1759-1826) was the son of Moore Fauntleroy of "The Cliffs" in Richmond County.

[122] Leedstown was a thriving center of trade and shipping. It had been incorporated in 1742.

_Sunday 6._

I rode to Church; Mrs Carter & Miss Prissy & Nancy were out--Mr Smith gave us a Sermon 14 Minutes long on Charite--But poor Fellow he seem'd Cold as his Subject! Mr Fantleroy; & Mr Goodlett dined with us and set off for Home as soon as we rose from Dinner--This day two Negro Fellows the Gardiner & cooper, wrangled; & at last fought; It happened hard however for the Cooper, who is likely to lose one of his Eyes by that Diabolical Custom of gouging which is in common practise among those who fight here--Evening Ben returned; he has been into Northumland to see one Mr _Jones_. Mr Goodlett, to Day, shewed me a piece of his own performance, a paraphrase on part of the Book of Job, done in Lattin-Verse.

_Monday 7._

The Day pleasant, & seems to have some appearance of Spring--Mr Blain call'd this Affternoon, & told us that by a Letter he hears Lady _Dunmore_ is arrived from New-York[123]--and that many good & wealthy Families arrived in the same Ship--It is indeed amazing, & it will soon astonish the whole World, to consider the Rapidity of the growth of these Colonies--

[123] John Murray, Earl of Dunmore, served as Governor of the colony from 1771 to 1775. Lady Dunmore did not arrive in Virginia to join him until the latter part of February of 1774.

At Supper, Mr Carter informed me it is his purpose to manifacture 30.000 Bushels of wheat in his New-Mill which is yet scarcely finished.

_Teusday 8._

Before Breakfast _Nancy_ & _f.a.n.n.y_ had a Fight about a Shoe Brush which they both wanted--f.a.n.n.y pull'd off her Shoe & threw at Nancy, which missed her and broke a pane of gla.s.s of our School Room. they then enter'd upon close scratching &c. which methods seem instinctive in Women. Harry happen'd to be present & affraid lest he should be brought in, ran and informed me--I made peace, but with many threats--

Mrs Carter has ordered the Gardener to sew Lettice, & plant Peas this Day in the Garden.--

_Wednesday 9._

This day very bl.u.s.try & cold--I gave Prissy a Coppy of Secretary-Hand, at her particular Request--

_Thursday 10._

We had the Virginia Gazette[124] to day in which the accounts concerning the destroying the Tea at Boston are confirm'd--& also an account of the Burning of the House of Governor Tryon. Dined with us Colonel _Frank Lee_; his Wife & Captain _John Lee_. Toasts after Dinner, the _King_. _Queen_. Absent Friends, Governor of Virginia, & his Lady just arrived, & Success to American Trade & Commerce

[124] The _Virginia Gazette_ was founded by William Parks at Williamsburg in 1736. This journal continued to issue until 1778. In 1766 a rival sheet bearing the same name was established and was published in Williamsburg until 1776. In 1775 a third _Virginia Gazette_ had been established which continued to issue until 1780.

_Fryday 11._

The Company staid all Night--at Breakfast the conversation was on a terrible Distemper which is in this County at present; & which in Maryland last year about this time carried off hundreds, and is call'd the "_putrid Quinsy_." Mr Carter has a Man lying now dangerously ill of it!

What they do in the Disorder is, when the Inflamation is first observ'd, bleeding; then give the _Bark_ & _Salt-petre_, or _Nitre_, and _Gargles_ to cleanse the mouth--

Our company left us before dinner--Last night I took Bob to my Room, after having in the course of the Day corrected him thrice, & reasoned with him concerning the impropriety of his Behaviour; at the same time I acquainted him with my final resolution to send him over for correction every Day to his Papa's Study, which had so strong an Effect on him (as all the Children are in remarkable Subjection to their Parents) that he firmly pomised to attend to my advice, & thro'

this Day has been punctual to his word.

I spent the evening with the Family to hear the music. For every evening Prissy & Nancy play the whole Evening for practice & besides every Week half of Teusday, Thursday, & Sat.u.r.day. We were informed that the _Carter_ who goes with the Team is ill of the sore Throat!--

_Sat.u.r.day 12._

After having dismised the School I went over to Mr Carters Study--We conversed on many things, & at length on the College of William & Mary at _Williamsburg_. He informed me that it is in such confusion at present, & so badly directed, that he cannot send his Children with propriety there for Improvement & useful Education--That he has known the Professors to play all Night at Cards in publick Houses in the City, and has often seen them drunken in the Street!--That the Charter of the College is vastly Extensive, & the yearly income sufficient to support a University being about 4.000. Sterling.--That the Necessary Expence for each Scholar yearly is only 15 Currency.

Two of the officers of the Inst.i.tution, Mr Bracker, & Mr Henly[125]

Clergymen are at present engaged in a paper War published weekly in the Williamsburg Gazette's.

[125] John Bracken served as minister of Bruton Parish Church at Williamsburg from 1773 to 1818. He also served for a period as master of the grammar school at the College of William and Mary, and for two years as president of the college. At this time Bracken had just incurred the bitter enmity of Samuel Henley, professor of divinity and moral philosophy at the college, who had hoped to secure the appointment given his rival. The two men aired their grievances in a long and acrimonious controversy carried on in the columns of the _Virginia Gazette_. Henley, a Tory, left the colony for England in 1775 and never returned. He later became princ.i.p.al of the East India College at Hertford.

Miss f.a.n.n.y quite unwell of a Cold with a pain in her Breast. Evening Mrs Carter complain'd of a sore throat; and _Ben_ also, complains that his Throat is quite troublesome--Mr Randolph too is confin'd in his Room all day! We seem to be all sickning!--

_Sunday 13._

Things look better this morning Mrs Carter, & _Ben_ seem relieved, Mr Randolph, & f.a.n.n.y are better. The morning very bl.u.s.try with wind & Snow--None go to Church from here to day--In my Room I read _Pictete_.

_Monday 14._

Mr _Randolph_ this Morning happens to be Miss _Nancy's Valentine_; & Miss _Prissy_ mine,--The morning sharp & very cold--

_Teusday 15._

I have a call this morning from _Bob_ & _Harry_ for a Holiday, for Shrove Teusday; I shall dismiss them at twelve o-Clock. I gave Miss Carter my Verses for her Valentine, Dined with us Mrs _Ford_. I finished reading the first, & began the Second Volume of _Pictete_.