Journal and Letters of Philip Vickers Fithian Part 32

_Sunday 28._

Mr _Grubb_ rose very early, having yesterday made every previous necessary preparation, & set out for Home about One hundred miles Distance. He has so much good Nature, is always so cheerful, & at the same time void of any thing malicious, clamorous & impudent, that I cannot but esteem & very much respect him--On some whimsical unsubstantial Miff or other, however, our Girls cannot endure him--he wrote them some Copies the other Day, & tho' he writes a much finer neater hand than I they would not allow it, nor hardly--Strive to imitate--I laughed at the ridiculous, the perfect Picture of Female _Caprice_, & _Obstinacy_ in Miniature--Sermon is to Day at Ucomico, so that I keep my Room--I wrote several Letters which are to be forwarded by Mr _Blain_, one to _Jack Peck_, one to _John Duffield_,[198] at Dr Shippen's[199] Junr Philadelphia, & one to _Laura_. I begun also a Sermon I understand by Mrs _Carter_ & _Ben_ who were at Church, that the _Parson_ was unable to read Prayrs or Preach, having a Fever, but that there was a thronged a.s.sembly; many I am told, have the Ague & Fever, but none are dangerous or have it fixed--

[198] John Duffield was graduated at Princeton in 1773. He served as a tutor there during the next two years.

[199] Dr. William Shippen (1736-1806) was a distinguished physician of Philadelphia. He was at this time professor of surgery and anatomy at the medical school of the College of Philadelphia. Shippen had married Alice Lee, a sister of Richard Henry, Arthur, Frances Lightfoot, and William Lee.

[LETTER OF PHILIP V. FITHIAN TO ELIZABETH BEATTY]

Nominy-Hall. August 28: 1774.

TO LAURA.

There is a Letter of yours lying before me, in which you say "that if I had continued writing to you, it is more than probable you had been as negligent as ever; but that my leaving off for a Time has at last extorted a Letter from you"--Mighty pretty! I dare say the Sentiment is genuine, & you may be a.s.sured that I allow & believe it.

You are not, therefore, to account this any thing more than the Ghost, the Shade of a Letter; for, thinking this an extraordinary Case, I have gone beyond my usual Manner of speaking, in Order to convince you of my Resolution--And _swore_ that I will not interrupt you til' I have received several.

If you receive this by the Conveyance I expect (I send it by Col: _Lee_ who attends the Congress) it will be a few Days before I leave Virginia; for I intend, by the Permission of Heaven, being at Home by the beginning of November at farthest.

In the mean Time, since I ardently wish your constant and perpetual Felicity, from a deep-rooted Friendship, which I have discovered in a thousand Variations, suffer me to borrow a Form of Mr Addison, & put up one important Prayr in your Behalf "Ye guardian Angels to whose Care heaven has intrusted its dear Laura, guide her still forward in the Paths of Virtue, defend her from the Insolence & wrongs of this undiscerning World; At length, when we must no more converse with such Purity on Earth, lead her gently hence, innocent & unreproveable to a better Place, where by an easy Transition from what She now is, She may shine forth an Angel of Light."

It would be bold & presumptuous, or I would with Earnestness & Sincerity extend the Wish a little farther, but transfer it to Fortune, & pray that She would make you mine. I ought, however, to be cautious here--In so nice a Case, Truth & Virtue are often thought impertinent.

I advise you, upon the whole, to consult & examine the Prospect you have of substantial Happiness, when you are about to change your State for Life. Inform yourself, so far as you are able, of the _Quality_ & _Measure_ of what you think your chief Happiness--Your Satisfaction & Comfort will consist in.

Place this against necessary Distress & Perplexity; You will thereby have a clearer & fuller View of both; Your Judgement will be less confused; & more likely to fix to Advantage;--You are to consider that a wrong Choice brings on a Train of Curses; but view it in the other Light, & it is almost a State of unmixed Pleasures--

I am, Madam yours PHILIP. V. FITHIAN.

[JOURNAL]

_Monday 29._

Miss _f.a.n.n.y_ in School to Day, but not entirely well of her Sores made by the _Ticks_--_Ben_ complains of a pain in his breast; he seems to have many symptoms of Weakness in his breast--I attempted to take a rough Draught of the Great House for myself--Evening after Coffee the C[o]lonel entertained us by playing on the Harmonica.

_Teusday 30._

Mr _Carter_ rides to Westmoreland Court. By him I send my Letters to Mr _Blain_, who is going to the Congress--_Ben_ seems to be no better; has a slight Fever, pain in his Breast, & Uneasiness, I fear he is bordering on a Consumption--His fond Mother discovers great Anxiety, & true affection. Once I too had a fond indulgent Mother; when I was sick, or otherwise distress'd, She was always impatient til my Health & Ease returned; & She used to urge me likewise by precept & example to strive for an habitual Preparation for Sickness and Death! But oh!

She has gone & left me, & Friendship seems to have been buried with her!--Formality & Pretence are common enough, but Sincerity & affection are exceeding rare--Mrs _Carter_ thinks it better for _Ben_ to sleep at the Great-House til he grows better, for the advantage of giving him medicine--I seem now when it is late in the Evening, lonely, & a little fearful, at least I think on what I made a Subject for a merry Hour, when I was at Home last, & a young Lady was complaining of being fearful at Night, & afraid to sleep in a Room alone--There are now (asleep I suppose) in this House, below Stairs Mr _Randolph_, & Mr _Burney_ the Cooper; two clever l.u.s.ty youngsters, & in the Room next to mine _Bob_ & _Harry_ sleep--I feel yet gloomy; _Ben_ is missing, & which is worse, he is sick--

_Wednesday 31._

Last Fryday, Sat.u.r.day, Sunday, Monday, Teusday, & this Day have been perfectly fair, but yesterday & to Day are very hot--_Ben_ quits reading & is quite unwell--Dined with us Mr _Wadman_: He is, I believe, a Man of a good understanding, but desperate in his religious Principles--

_Thursday Septemr: 1st: 1774._

One other _Calm_, _sunny_, _sweltering_ day

The Colonel says it is the hottest Day we have had--I keep myself caged up in my Room, & cannot venture out on my usual _walk_ or Ride for exercise--Through divine goodness I continue in perfect Health, but as skinny & meagre as tho' I was continually sick--_Ben_ seems a little more pert today--Evening it Lightens in the North West.

_Fryday 2._

Extreme hot to day--Yesterday a Negro Child about six years old sickened as to appearance with the Ague & Fever, & to Day about eleven in the morning it expired! It is remarkable that the Mother has now lost seven successively, none of which have arrived to be ten years old!--The Negroes all seem much alarm'd, & our School make it a Subject for continual Speculation; They seem all to be free of any terror at the Prescence of Death; _Harry_ in special signified a Wish that his turn may be next. I should be glad if his desire were wise; & he was as fit for the business of the other world, as he seems willing to leave the business of this--In the evening this unexpected Death was the Subject of Conversation in the House--Mr _Carter_ observed, that he thought it the most desirable to die of a Short Illness. If he could have his Wish he would not lie longer than two days; be taken with a Fever, which should have such an unusual effect on his Body as to convince him that it would be fatal, and gradually increase till it affected a Dissolution--He told us that his affairs are in Such a state that he should be able to dictate a Will which might be written in five Minutes, & contain the disposal of his estate agreeable to his mind--He mentioned to us the Substance--"That he would leave Mrs _Carter_ 6000 Serling; & leave the remainder of his Estate to be disposed among his children as the Law directs."--

He told us likewise, with great firmness, that if he hives [lives] to see his children grown, he will pay no regard to age, but give his wealth to Him who bids fairest to be useful to mankind--That he allows all an equal oppertunity of improvement, but the One who is found then improved shall with the Learning inherit also the Substance--_Dennis_ the Lad who waits at Table, I took into the School to day at his Fathers request, He can spell words of one syllable pretty readily. He is to come as he finds oppertunity.

_Sat.u.r.day 3._

Indeed says Mrs Carter at Breakfast, the Lightning, Rain, & Thunder, disturbed me, & kept me padding from Room to Room all Night; I first had the Girls Beds removed as far as possible from the Chimneys--then had lights placed in the pa.s.sage; and then but without _rest_ or _pleasure_, I wandered through the house silent & lonely like a disturbed Ghost!--It has however effected an agreeable change in the Air; which is now cool & agreeable. I was invited this morning by Captain _Fibbs_ [Gibbs] to a _Barbecue_: this differs but little from the Fish Feasts, instead of Fish the Dinner is roasted _Pig_, with the proper apendages, but the Diversion & exercise are the very same at both--I declined going and pleaded in ex[c]use unusual & unexpected Business for the School--By appointment is to be fought this Day near Mr _Lanes_ two fist Battles between four young Fellows. The Cause of the battles I have not yet known; I suppose either that they are lovers, & one has in Jest or reality some way supplanted the other; or has in a merry hour call'd him a _Lubber_, or a _thick-Skull_, or a _Buckskin_, or a _Scotchman_, or perhaps one has mislaid the others hat, or knocked a peach out of his Hand, or offered him a dram without wiping the mouth of the Bottle; all these, & ten thousand more quite as triffling & ridiculous, are thought & accepted as just Causes of immediate Quarrels, in which every diabolical Stratagem for Mastery is allowed & practised, of Bruising, Kicking, Scratching, Pinching, Biting, b.u.t.ting, Tripping, Throtling, Gouging, Cursing, Dismembring, Howling, &c. This spectacle, (so loathsome & horrible!) generally is attended with a crowd of People! In my opinion, (others may think for themselves) animals which seek after & relish such odious and filthy amus.e.m.e.nts are not of the human species, they are dest.i.tute of the remotest pretension to humanity; I know not how they came by their form, by the help of which they are permitted to a.s.sociate with Men, unless it has been (unfortunate for the World!) by an intermixture of the meaner kind of Devils with prost.i.tute Monkeys!--This however, I cannot determine; But I think all such should be deemed by the community infectious, & suspended at least any kind of intercourse, til, either the lineage be settled & recorded, or those shrew'd Characteristicks of a spurious, illegitimate claim to kindred with men be in a good Measure abated.

_Sunday 4._

We had last night a flood of rain, the wind North East stormy--No Church to Day--Mr Carter sent down to his Mill-Dam, & channel all his people to try if they can secure them; he gives them Rum, & a Shilling a man--

I read Prayrs, by the desire of the Parents, at the Grave over the deceased Child _Priscilla_, _Nanccy_, _f.a.n.n.y_, _Betsy_, _Ben_, _Bob_, _Harry_, & Myself, & about forty or fifty Negroes were present.

Neither the Father nor the Mother of the Child went out; imitating the example they see in others, & stay from an affectation of overflowing Grief.

_Monday 5._

There is wonderful _To do_, this morning among the Housekeeper & children, at the great house. They a.s.sert that a Man or a Spirit came into the Nursery about one o-Clock this morning--That if it was indeed a Spirit the Cause of his appearance is wholly unknown; but if it was Flesh & blood they are pretty confident that the design was either to rob the House, or commit fornication with _Sukey_, (a plump, sleek, likely Negro Girl about sixteen)--That the doors & windows were well secured, but that by some secret manner, unknown to all, the _Thing_ opened the Cellar door, went through the Cellar, & up the narrow dark Stairs (which are used only on necessary occasions, as when the great Stair way is washing or on some such account)--That it left the said Cellar door standing open, & besides unbar'd, & threw open the East Window in the little Room, in order, as they wisely supposed, to have, if it should be hurried, a ready pa.s.sage out--That it had previously put a small wedge in the Lock of the Nursery Door, where several of the young Ladies, & the said _Sukey_ sleep, so that when they were going to Bed they could not Lock nor bolt the door, but this they all believed was done in mischief by the children, & went thereupon to bed, without suspicion of harm, with the door open--That Sukey some time in the Night discovered Something lying by her Side which she knew to be a Man by his having Breeches--That She was greatly surprised, & cry'd out suddenly to the others that a Man was among them, & that the Man _tickled_ her, & said _whish, whish_--That on this She left the Bed & run & squeased herself in by the side of Miss Sally the House-keeper, but that by this time the Whole Room was awake & alarmed--That when the thing knew there was a discovery it stamped several times on the floor, shook the Bedstead by the side of which it lay, rattled the Door several Times & went down Stairs walking very heavy for one barefoot--That on its leaving the Room the Hous[e]Keeper went to Ben Carters Chamber, & that he rose & they all went down & found the Doors & window as I have mentioned--All this with many other material accidents is circulating through the family to Day; some conclude it was a Ghost because it would not speak--But, more probably it was one of the warm-blooded, well fed young Negroes, trying for the company of buxom _Sukey_--The Colonel however, at Breakfast gave out that if any one be caught in the House, after the family are at Rest, on any Pretence what ever, that Person he will cause to be hanged!--This Afternoon _Nelson_ the Lad who waits in our School, was in the woods about half a mile off, where he met with & kill'd a _Rattle-Snake_ having six Rattles--He cut off the head, & brought Home the remainder of the Body, which we have skin'd & stuff'd--Mrs Carter complains to Day of the Tooth-Ach, & a slight Fever.

_Teusday 6._

The day fine--It is whispered to Day that B... is the Ghost that walk'd in the Nursery the other night, but I think the report is false, and arises from calumny. We had an expectation of company to day, but are disappointed. We dined on Fish & Crabs, which were provided for our company, to-morrow being Fish-Day--I begun a Sermon Job XXIII. 3. 4. We have too vagrant Tinkers with us mending several articles, one of whom is this afternoon violent sick with the Fever & Ague--I rode to my old spot, the Corn field, by chance met with Mr Taylor. I walked with him among the Tobacco Cotton &c. He gave me Directions for raising the latter.--Cotton must be planted about the middle of May in rich Land, prepared with Hills, & made very mellow.

When up it must be weeded & kept clean, it must be top'd & suckered as Tobacco, otherwise it runs too much to vine. Towards the Fall it will begin to open, when the opened pods mu[s]t be gathered & laid by til dry, then the Cotton pick'd out & clean'd--

_Wednesday 7._

Mrs Carter not very well; is troubled with a small tooth-Ach Fever & a 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 pa.s.s 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.