Journal and Letters of Philip Vickers Fithian Part 35

I expect to return shortly to Philadelphia, and write these to acquaint you that I would willingly forward a letter to him, if you are yet desirous of employing him to instruct your family.

you will please, Madam, if you think proper to write, to direct the letter thus "To Mr Samuel Leek junr: Cohansie, New Jersey--"

I shall leave this place about the 18th instant.

I am Madam, your Most humble Servt: P V FITHIAN

TO MRS CHARLOTTE THORNTON _Northumberland_

[JOURNAL]

_Thursday 6._

I paid Natt who drives the Team half a Bit as a Forfeit for taking hold of his plough--And to Harry 18d for a stirrup-leather & sundry other Articles--The School presented me with a pet.i.tion formally drawn up for a holiday to day on account of the race at Mr Turberville's, which I granted--_Priscilla_, _Nancy_, _Ben_, & _Bob_ go Harry & I, making in my opinion the wisest choice both stay.

[PHILIP V. FITHIAN TO HARRY WILLIS AND ROBERT BLADEN CARTER]

Nomini Hall Octr: 6th. 1774.

FOR MASTERS HARRY & BOB.

I approve highly of the method you have taken in asking for liberty to attend the race this afternoon, and think myself bound to give you an answer in the same manner.

This Race happening so soon after the other, which was at the same place, and so much like it seems to promise nothing that can require your attendance, it is therefore my _desire_ and _advice_ that you stay contented at home. But if your inclination be stronger than either of these, and you still choose to go, you have my consent provided you return by Sun set in the Evening.

Yours PHILIP V FITHIAN

[JOURNAL]

_Fryday 7._

Nancy, & Bog go to the Dance at Schantille[207]--Mrs Carter after Breakfast took _Prissy_, _f.a.n.n.y_ & Harriot, & made Mrs Was.h.i.+ngton a Visit, _Ben_, _Harry_, Betsy & I are left at Home alone I spent to Day in writing off Mr Peck's Letter--Evening I am troubled with a drunken Carpenter; he saw a Light in my Chamber--up he bouzes, with a Bottle of Rum in his hand; Who keeps Home?--I asked him in--Have you any water Sir?--Not any I told him--Not a Drop, Sir?--No--My Flute was lying on the Table, he took it for a Trumpet & tooted in for two or three Minutes Then again he begs, O Sir call in a Servant & have me some Water--But I left the Room glad to be free of his foolish Impertinence. At Supper Mrs Carter informed us that Captain _Walker's_ little Son has the putrid Quinsey, but we hope it is only a bad sore Throat by a Cold--I have a Complaint of a painful Jaw, for these several Days

[207] "Chantilly."

_Sat.u.r.day 8._

Expence to the Smith for mending my Stirrup a Pisterene 1/3--Ben this morning Wrote a letter to his Papa--I finished off mine for Mr Peck The Pain in my face is a good deal troublesome. Dined with us Colonel Frank Lee & his Lady; Mr Turberville Mrs Turberville & Miss Letty.

_Sunday 9._

_Ben_ & _Harry_ ride to Ucomico Church I at home spend the day in my Room, I walked out towards evening & saw a number of Negroes very busy at framing together a small House--Sundays they commonly spend in fis.h.i.+ng making Potatoes &c, building & patching their Quarters or rather Cabins--

_Monday 10._

The General Court at Williamsburg begins to sit this Day--We have no intelligence of the carryings on of the Congress; our Papers this Summer come vastly seldom, it is said that the Post Men are bribed & give away the News Papers. I expect that Mr Peck is about setting out from Home for this place--I wish him a speedy & successful pa.s.sage, for I am now impatient of Delay til I visit again my acquaintances & Home--The day is cold, the wind at North & the ground extremely dry--

_Teusday 11._

Mr _Stadley_ came this morning. He brings no news of the Congress, but much of the great Race lately at Fredericksburg--Every Evening, for the Benefit of exercise I ride out, and commonly carry with me one of the small Girls, who partaking of the prevailing Spirit, are pa.s.sionately fond of Riding--

_Wednesday 12._

I was told often before I left Home that coming into Virginia would bring me into the midst of many dangerous Temptations: Gay Company, frequent entertainments, little practical devotion, no remote pretention to Heart religion, daily examples in Men of the highest quality, of Luxury, intemperance, & impiety: these were urged, by my kind acquaintances, as very strong dissuasions against my leaving home; the admonitions I accepted with great Thankfulness, tho' I could not allow them to turn me off from my purpose & I resolved with as much sincerity & Firmness as I could to carry them with me in every part of my behaviour. The close of the time of my Stay here is I expect now near at hand: And if I may judge myself of the carrying my resolutions into practice, I should p.r.o.nounce that I have not been wanting in my duty in this respect. Some few who frequently ask me to go from home, say I am dull, unsociable, & splenetic: But the Gentlemen generally here have a good & reasonable manner of judging in this case they are well pleased with strict & rigid virtue in those who have the management of their children, if it does not grow to factious enthusiasm; so that Levity, tho perhaps they would wink at it lessens, & in a while would take away the Reputation & business of a Family Tutor--Of this I was fully convinced in a short time after my coming into the Colony, & saw too the very great advantage of the Precaution which I received from my friends, for they a.s.sisted me in setting out on a safe, and prudent Plan, which has, I hope directed me to propriety of conduct with regard to my private character, & likewise to my little lovely Charge.

[Ill.u.s.tration: man on ladder in tree]

_Thursday 13._

Good Mr Stadley left us this morning. I took leave with great reluctance of this worthy Man, & do not expect to see him more!--After Breakfast Mrs Carter with the young Ladies, rode to Colonel Tayloe's.

My jaw continues growling & keeps me uneasy, I very much fear some hurtful humours are collecting themselves there together--To day at twelve o-Clock _Bob_ providentially escaped with his life--He went up into a tall Chesnut tree to cut down Boughs & gather Chesnuts & foolishly he began to cut the Limb on which he was standing, at a little distance from his feet--Chesnut splits extremely easy, so that when the Limb was about half cut off it split down; this so weaked the part on which Bob stood that his weight instantly split it too, & down he must have tumbled upwards of thirty feet but he happily caught a bough on his way down.--

_Fryday 14._

The Disorder in my face continues, slow, uniform, & Steady; it does not hinder me from rest by night or from any exercise or business by day; But It keeps me in continual doubt, & anxiety, whether it be not something gathering which will be peculiarly distressful--But my temper, I fear, in these respects is very phlegmatic; I find it unpleasing to myself, & it would be certainly unpleasant to any one who was interested in my complaints--I am of so strange a const.i.tution that very trifles make me utterly unhappy--A mere conceit, frivolous & unsubstantial often takes away my rest--This feeling I have possest from my infancy; I remember very well that a Cuff on my Ear would make me sullen for Several days when I was too young to go out to school; Afterwards a disappointment of an hours play would mak me disrelish for a long time both play-fellows, & all Diversion! When I was at the College one Blunder at recitation, or in any performance of my duty would make one [me] dull, low-Spiritted, & peevish; In fact any disappointment, even the most inconsiderable seems to have a general Effect on my Pa.s.sions & mingle fear, & anger, & rage, together with many others which are excited by different & disagreeable modifications of our Bodies, &, tho' I am conscious of this frailty in myself, I have not yet brought myself under so good subjection, as to make these humours give way intirely to Philosophy or Religion--It is, however, my constant study how I may accomplish this much wish'd for habit--While we are dining there is a large shower of rain but by no means plentiful, for the earth is uncommonly dry--Mrs _Carter_ to day asked me if Mr Peck is to be here before my setting out: I answered that he is--And says she, is he grave as you?--

_Sat.u.r.day 15._

I rode after Breakfast to Dr Thompsons with a settled purpose of having my troublesom tooth drawn out but on examination he found it to be too far back, & too short to be extracted--More sorry I.--Dined with us besides the family, Mr _Munro_, young Mr Was.h.i.+ngton, and Master Christien--Here is a fine Prospect from an exceeding high eminence, of the Potowmack; River Nominy; our House, which is six miles distant; Lee Hall Bush-field; all remote.--Evening I rode Home, the country pleasant Bought several articles as presents for the young Ladies, a neat gilt paper Snuff Box for Miss Priscilla, a neat best clear Hair-Comb a piece for Miss Nancy & f.a.n.n.y. A broad elegant Sash a piece for Miss Betsy & Harriot Value of all 15s. Soon after my return, when I was in the Chamber adjusting my articles Ben came bawling at my window Mr Peck's come, Mr Peck's come! I step'd to the window, & saw presently that what he said was fact, my Heart bounc'd & I with it bolted down to meet him But he comes empty of a letter, & barren of news, at least all he brings seems gloomy; none at all of the great Congress; very little of the present momentious political affairs; that it has been at Cohansie an unhealthy season; that good & useful Mr Hunter has been ill of a disorder in his head: that Mrs Reve is gone & left a Brood of infants! that young _Tom Jennifer_ of Port-Tobacco, my acquaintance at College too is dead! that matters go in their usual course at Cohansie & Princeton; that _Laura_ is not in new Jersey! All his intelligence is similar to this, which is to me harsh & unharmonious as a Ravens ominous Croak!--To Day Harry boil'd up a Compound of Poke-Berries, Vinegar, Sugar &c to make a red Ink or Liquid--I spent the evening til two in the morning in conversation.

_Sunday 16._

A fine morning--We rose by Seven but we were informed that there is no Sermon so that out of compliment to Mr Peck's weariness we kept close at home rathar than ride to Richmond. We spent the Day in our chamber til towards evening when with the young Ladies we took a turn down the River Many we saw fis.h.i.+ng--Mrs Carter with _Priss_ rode to Captain Turberville's--We all return'd and a.s.sembled by evening at the great House--

_Monday 17._

Before Breakfast I heard all the School a lesson round Mr Peck Present--After Breakfast I heard their Tables, Grammer &c & then in Spite of my resolution with great reluctance, I resigned up to Mr Peck my little much-loved Charge!--The pain in my Face is quite gone--To day I saw a Phenomenon, Mrs Carter without Stays!--She complains of a pain in her breast, that prevents her wearing them, she says that She is always supposing the worst, & fears it is a Cancer breeding there--I hope it may be only fear--I am more & more every day pleased with the manner, Temper, Oconomy, & whole management of this good Lady--Now I am to take my final Leave!--Towards evening we all went down on the River & had a pleasant exercise--

_Teusday 18._

Early to Day I wrote a Note to Mr Lowe and Harry Fantleroy to dine with us to day, & soon received their promise--After Dinner with Mr Lowe on the violin, I play'd over many tunes on the Flute, he plays with good Taste and accuracy--At five we all walk'd over to Mr Turberville's--I gave to our Wash-Woman some old Linen & as a Box 2/4--We spent the evening in Music Chat & pleasantry--But this said thing which I hear of that turn-Coat _Laura_, that She loves & courts one Mr _Rodman_ this distresses me exceedingly But this relieves me, for I have had it always in my View that--Varium & mutabile semper Feminae--Tho I have made a Solemn vow which I have no inclination at all to forego, yet if it shall appear that she has listened to another, my dearest vow is not inviolable; I will retreat from every former Promise, I will not hearken to womanish solicitations, but I shall in return for her want of goodness treat her with contempt; & Sincerely pity, instead of resent, her ineffectual Caprice--

[LETTER OF PHILIP V. FITHIAN TO JOHN LOWE]