SIR.
I have an oppertunity by some gentlemen, who go from this Colony to the Congress, of writing you a line according to promise, since I saw you, I have been in good health; The reigning spirit in Virginia is liberty--And the universal topic politicks--I suppose it to be the same with you G.o.d Almighty knows where these civil tumults will end; probably not without War & Blood!--I have but little to say but to present you my best regards, remember me to your sister--To Miss Cunningham--The Miss Armitages--Miss Cooks--I hope to see you the last of october, when I expect to be in Town--Probably you can make it convenient for you to take a ramble into the country at that time. I hope to be at leisure, and shall be proud to attend you--Mr Blain, who favours me by carrying these is a Gentleman of my acquaintance in this Colony, a Merchant of Note, I shall thank you if you will take some notice of him,--And by him, as he is to return immediately I beg you write--Tell me how matters go in Town--Tell me what you know of the Country--Tell me much about the _s.e.x_ you love--Remember to ask Mr Blain the hour he returns, and dont fail to send me a line
I am, Sir, with great regard, Yours.
PALATIAH WEBSTER.
PHILIP V. FITHIAN.
[LETTER OF PHILIP V. FITHIAN TO NATHANIEL DONNALD, JR.]
Nomini Hall. Augt: 21st. 1774.
SIR.
I wrote you a line in great haste, just before I left home, and two days before that I had the pleasure of your company with ladies in an evening excursion--We have here no artificial gardens; Nor can we select out a company of sociable equals whenever we are in a humour for a walk--Here we either strain on Horseback from home to Church, or from house to House if we go out at all--Or we walk alone into a dark Meadow, or tall wood--But I love solitude, and these lonely recesses suit exactly the feeling of my mind--I recieved lately a letter from Cohansie, in which I am informed of the Death of Uncle _Seeley_--The family and neighbourhood will have suffered a great loss!--I suppose you join in the general language, and a.s.sert your liberties and oppose oppression. I hope at least you are on the right side of the question.
The City, I dare say, is in great tumult if not in consternation. I wish it was convenient for me to be in town when the gentlemen from the respective Colonies shall meet in general Congress--This is out of my power, but I can wish for their union, and usefulness. Mr _Blain_, the gentleman who forwards my letter, is a Merchant of Note, in this Colony, you will oblige me if you take notice of him while he is in Town.--You will not fail to write me a line, and give to Mr Blain the moment you recieve mine, least he leave town and I be disappointed.
My compliments to all friends, from Sir, Yours P. V. FITHIAN.
Mr Nathl: Donnald Junr:
[LETTER OF PHILIP V. FITHIAN TO MISS RUTH WEBSTER]
Nomini-Hall August 21st 1774.
MADAM.
I send you these inclosed in a line to your Brother.
I do this that you may recieve the letter, for there seems to be little security in a letter directed to you, the youngsters are so curious to examine what is written for you--I understand that you never recieved my last dated "May 1774. Delaware River on board the swallow." I wish I could detect the impudent interceptor--You have then at last condescended to visit Cohansie! I hear by Mr _Ewing_ that you was in the Country several weeks--Does it delight you, to hear the noise of Birds, of Lowing Cows, of Sheep, and of chatt"ring poultry, instead of the City-Cries? But I forget myself--Did you see that your Merchant, who, as I mentioned to you, is so moved with youn[g] person and manner? I suppose he was your constant and unwearied gallant--I expect that according to promise, you spent some part of your time with my sister--She a little Vixen, has never scribbled me a line, but I am level with her, for I have been as silent as she--Miss Beatty, that girl you seem so pa.s.sionately fond of, is I expect, before this returned--She is indeed a lovely girl, if I say more you will call me partial--At any rate, as you correspond, I beg you will present her with my compliments, which are indeed but empty, thread-bare things--But Madam, I a.s.sure you they are the most valuable articles I can now transmit--I expect to be in town by the latter end of October, or beginning of November--If you are not too busy when you recieve this, I beg you will sit yourself instantly down and write me a friendly answer--This I think my due since I have written to you only, and to no other Lady either in town or country
I am, Madam, P. V. FITHIAN To Miss Ruth Webster.
[JOURNAL]
_Monday 22._
Mr _Grubb_ & Ben returned last evening--They spent their Day in _Richmond_[196]--I wrote to day several letters. to Philadephia One to Miss _Webster_. To her _Brother_. To _John McCalla_ junr--To Mr _Donald_--These I send by "Squire _Lee_ who is to be of the Party--After School _Ben_, _Grubb_, & Myself rode to the _"Squires_--He took us into his Garden, shewed and gave us great Plenty of fine Peaches, _Nectarines_ &c
[196] Richmond County.
He has a large Garden, & great abundance of fruit--His People were shaking the trees to prepare the Peaches for Brandy
[LETTER OF PHILIP V. FITHIAN TO JOHN MCCALLA, JR.]
Nomini Hall Virginia Augt: 22d: 1774.
SIR.
Since I left you I have heard not a syllable about you, whether the ague has left you, whether you have left the City removed to Alexandria, as you proposed in the spring, in short both yourself and fame have been, as to you, wholly silent--
I have now an oppertunity which I gladly improve of sending you a line, and I beg that by the same conveyance you will send me an Answer--There are many from this Colony to attend the general Congress, seven by appointment, the others out of curiosity, by Mr _Blain_, a gentleman of my acquaintance in this Colony, a Merchant of Note I forward this; you will oblige me if you use him with civility.--
I cannot write home at present; if you should write soon to Cohansie, please to mention to whoever you write to that I am in good health; that the neighbourhood is in good health; and that I propose to return about the latter end of october--I can transmit nothing now concerning public affairs, you will know by the gentlemen from this province that the reigning spirit is liberty--I hope Mr and Mrs Hollinshead keep clear of the fevers this fall; but I fear they will suffer in that common calamity. I think they ought to remove to the City for a few weeks in september when the disorder rages where they reside--My best compliments attend your family, and to Miss _Pratt_, Miss _Boyd_ and others of my acquaintance in town as shall be convenient.
I am, Sir, with great truth and Regard your most obedient Most humble Servt: P. V. FITHIAN
Mr John McCalla Junr:
I shall thank you if you will send me the latest Journal, Gazette, and the Packet.
[JOURNAL]
_Teusday 23._
Blessed be G.o.d who yet preserves me in perfect health--_Priss_ has another fitt of the Ague these Disorders are giving Alarms. in a few Weeks I suppose they will grow numerous & troublesome--A violent Gust of Wind, Rain, & some Thunder we had about twelve o clock, the Country seems to be afloat--A [I] received this Morning a Note from a School Master in the Village, who signs himself "Brother Quill" He sends me with his compliments a Question. To multiply 12 12s 12d by itself in Cross multiplication--And tells me the Answer is 160 1s 6d his way, viz by Decimals--I did not alter his answer, but suffered him to continue satisfied with his own performance.--
_Wednesday 24._
Stormy--A poor Man arrived from Maryland with Grain to grind. It was wet--He saw Mr Carter and Mr _Randolph_--Mr Randolph wore a red Coat--the Marylander asked _Bob_ which was the master of the House--_Bob_ with his usual impudence answered, the Man you see drest in a scarlet Coat--Who then says he is the other in a frowsled Wig?--He is says _Bob_ my fathers Clerk--The Colonel heard this Anecdote of _Bob_, which entertained him, While we were dining. I hear nothing of the Ague abroad, it seems to go by turns, sometimes brief then exceeding scarce--all this day the wind North East rainy.
_Thursday 25._
Still stormy. The Gentlemen who are sailing up the Bay to the Congress have a disagreeable time--This is a true August Northeaster, as we call it in Cohansie--_Ben_ is in a wonderful _Fl.u.s.ter_ lest he shall have no company to-morrow at the Dance--But blow high, blow low, he need not be afraid; _Virginians_ are of genuine Blood--They will dance or die!--I wrote some at my Letter for Mr _Peck_--The people here p.r.o.nounce Shower "Sho-er"--And what in New-Jersey we call a Vendue here they a "Sale"--All Taverns they call "Ordinary"s"--When a Horse is frolicsome & brisk, they, say at once he is "gayly"--she [if he] is mischievous, they call him, "vicious."--At five, with _Ben_. I rode out for exercise--After a while we arrived at _George-Lee"s_--He gave us some excellent Peaches--He returned with us to Mr Turberville"s--We met here with Miss _Betsy Lee_, Mr _Grubb_, _Lancelot Lee_ & here we spent the evening--_Fish-Feasts_, & _Fillies_, Loud disputes concerning the Excellence of each others Colts--Concerning their Fathers, Mothers (for so they call the Dams) Brothers, Sisters, Uncles, Aunts, Nephews, Nieces, & Cousins to the fourth Degree!--All the Evening Toddy constantly circulating--Supper came in, & at Supper I had a full, broad, sattisfying View of Miss _Sally Panton_--I wanted to hear her converse, but poor Girl any thing She attempted to say was drowned in the more polite & useful Jargon about Dogs & Horses!--For my Part, as I was unwilling to be singular, if I attempted to push in a word, I was seldom heard, & never regarded, & yet they were constantly refering their Cases to me, as to a supposed honest fellow, I suppose because I wear a black Coat, & am generally silent; at Home I am thought to be noisy enough; here I am thought to be silent & circ.u.mspect as a _Spy_--How different the Manners of the People! I try to be as cheerful as I can. & yet I am blamed for being stupid as a Nun--
_Fryday 26._
Mr Christian came while we were at Breakfast--Soon after came Miss _Washington_, Miss _Hale_ & the Miss _Lee"s_--I kept myself in my Room pretty Close--Towards evening Mrs _Carter_, Miss _Washington_, Miss _Hale_, Mrs _Christien_ & _Myself_ had a thorough ramble, first thro"
the Garden--We gathered some Figs, the Ladies seem fond of them, I cannot endure them--Then we stroll"d down the Pasture quite to the River, admiring the Pleasantness of the evening, & the delightsome Prospect of the River, Hills, Huts on the Summits, low Bottoms, Trees of various Kinds, and Sizes, Cattle & Sheep feeding some near us, & others at a great distance on the green sides of the Hills, People, some fishing, others working, & others in the Pasture among the Horses;--The Country emphatically in her goodly Variety! I love to walk on these high Hills where I can see the Tops of tall Trees lower than my Feet, at not half a miles Distance--Where I can have a long View of many Miles & see on the Summits of the Hills Cl.u.s.ters of Savin Trees, through these often a little Farm-House, or Quarter for Negroes; these airy Situations seem to me to be the Habitations of Health, and Vigor--We return"d, & all were apparently well satisfied with the walk--Evening was spent jovially in Dancing, at Supper, I left the Company, being not very well, & retired to my Chamber, Thanks to my heavenly Father, that I can enjoy a competent Measure of Health when many are sick around--A Note from Mr Lowe. Miss _Betsy Lee_, & her Brother came in just at night--Miss _Lee_ seems cheerful, dances well, sings agreeably, appears free of formality, & Haughtiness the Common foible here,--
_Sat.u.r.day 27._
The morning spent in setting coppies, Sums &c, for the School--After Breakfast, I spent a couple of Hours in the Dancing-Room--Mr _Lee_ in our Room raved against the Scotch--He swore that if his Sister should marry a Scotchman, he would never speak with her again; & that if he ever Shall have a Daughter, if She marries a Scotchman he shoots her dead at once!--At twelve I rode to Mr Washingtons, the Country extremely pleasant Dined with the _Parson_, his _Brother_, Mrs _Smith_, Miss Pett.i.t, Mr Blain, Mr Buckner,[197] & several of Mr _Lowes_ Boys; Mr Lowe was from home. On my return I found no company, except _Grubb_ who had come in my absence. We spent the Evening after sipping our Coffee in Chat with Mr & Mrs Carter.
[197] Richard Buckner (1730-1792) of "Albany" in Westmoreland County was a planter who sometimes had business dealings with Robert Carter.
Members of the Buckner family had been prominent planter-merchants in Tidewater Virginia since John Buckner had emigrated from England and settled in Gloucester County shortly after the middle of the seventeenth century. John Buckner had imported the first printing press into the colony.