Journal and Letters of Philip Vickers Fithian: A Plantation Tutor of the Old Dominion, 1773-1774.

Towards Evening we rode home I observed as I rode along People are universally plowing up their Land for planting Corn & for Tobacco And in one field I saw several Women planting Corn I think however, it is early even here – They raise no Flax, their Land in general being so poor that it will not produce it – And their Method of farming is slovenly, without any regard to continue their Land in heart, for future Crops – They plant large Quantities of Land, without any Manure, & work it very hard to make the best of the Crop, and when the Crop comes off they take away the Fences to inclose another Piece of Land for the next years tillage, and leave this a common to be destroyed by Winter & Beasts till they stand in need of it again to plough – The Land most commonly too is of a light sandy soil, & produces in very great quantities shrubby Savins & Pines, unless in the Vallies (for it is very hilly) & near the Potowmack where it is often vastly rich – Mr Carter has been lately solicited & was to have gone this Day with a number of Gentlemen to Horn-Point on the River Ucomico, with an intention, if they think the Situation will be proper, to establish Ware-Houses, & form a small Town – It is however, in my opinion, a fruitless Scheme —

Saturday 2.

The morning stormy. I kept the children in til twelve o-Clock then dismissed them – I spent the greater part of this Day in reading Miscellaneous Pieces out of Magazines – The weather cleared before Evening – At five with Ben, I rode over to Mr Turburville's, chiefly to see a young Lady[144] lately from London; who has come over at Mr Turburville's Invitation in the character of Governess to Miss Turburville She seems to be young, genteel, & is not without personal excellence – I received together with Mr Carters Family an Invitation from Mr Turburville to dine with him to morrow; which I propose to accept. —

Sunday 3.

The Day pleasant; I rode to church – after the Service proper for the Day, Mr Smith entertained us with a Sermon from Pauls Defence before King Agrippa "How is it thought a thing impossible with you that God should raise the dead," He in this gave us a very plain & just Discourse on the doctrine of the resurection – This being Easter-Sunday, all the Parish seem'd to meet together High, Low, black, White all come out – After Sermon the Sacrament was administered, but none are admited except communicants to see how the matter is conducted —

After Sermon I rode to Mr Turburville's (for I found to day the true spelling of his name) There dined with him, Ladies Mrs Carter, & Mrs George Turburville: Gentlemen, Colonel Carter, Squire-Lee, Mr Cunningham, & Mr Jennings, Merchants; Mr George Lee, & Ben Carter & Myself – We had an elegant dinner; Beef & Greens; roast-Pig; fine boil'd Rock-Fish, Pudding, Cheese &c – Drink: good Porter-Beer, Cyder, Rum, & Brandy Toddy. The Virginians are so kind one can scarce know how to dispense with, or indeed accept their kindness shown in such a variety of instances. – I had again an oppertunity of seeing Miss Sally Panton which is the name of Mrs Turburville's English Governess – But the common voice seems to be against me as to her being Handsome – But her huge Stays low Head dress; enormous long Waist, a Dress entirely contrary to the liking of Virginia Ladies, these I apprehend make her in their Eyes less personable, than to any one wholly unprejudiced – Her Stays are suited to come up to the upper part of her shoulders, almost to her chin; and are swaithed round her as low as they can possibly be, allowing Her the liberty to walk at all: To be sure this is a vastly modest Dress! – She speaks French & is to teach the Language to Miss Turburville, & also Writing, & reading English – Upon the whole, if her Principles of Religion, & her moral behaviour, be as unexceptionable as her person, & her Manner, let Mr and Mrs Carters opinions go again me I shall think her agreeable – Miss Prissy Miss Nancy; & Miss Fanny all stay the night at Captain Turburville's – At Church, Mr Low, a young Scotch Gentleman, tutor in Colonel Washingtons Family, solicited me to carry his Recommendations from Scotland, to Dr Witherspoon as he is desirous to be licensed in one of our northern Presbyteries – I shall do him the Favour.[145]– The country begins to put on her Fowery Garment, & appear in gaity– The Apricots are in their fulles Bloom; Peaches also, & Plumbs, & several sorts of Cheries are blossoming; as I look from my Window & see Groves of Peach Trees on the Banks of Nomini; (for the orchards here are very Large) and other Fruit Trees in Blossom; and amongst them interspers'd the gloomy Savin; beyond all these at a great Distance the blue Potowmack; & over this great River, just discern the Woods of Maryland & conceive that beyond them all lies Cohansie my native pleasant Residence; & when I think with myself that by Gods permission, in a very few days more I shall be in the midst of Society, quite remote from formality, and from the least fear of giving offence by being familiar, or of being aw'd to silence by ostentatious vanity: how the thought fires me! Direct my Way, merciful God, and keep my Feet from falling, & my Heart from disobeying thy pure & perfect commandments – And make my Way prosperous that I may go and return again, still doing thy Pleasure, & honouring thy great Name! —

Monday 4.

Easter Monday; a general holiday; Negroes now are all disbanded till Wednesday morning & are at Cock Fights through the County; This morning I make a general payment First to Sam the Barber 8/2. Second to Tom the Hostler 7/6. third to Nelson who waits on me /3½. Sum 15/11½ —

Mr & Mrs Carter, with Mr Cunningham & Ben (as Mr Cunningham came home with us last Night) all rode to Day to Richmond Court – I was in the morning strongly solicited to go, but chose to decline it – After Breakfast, came home from Mr Turburville's our young Ladies, they inform me that Miss Panton discovered a strong inclination to be better acquainted with me; which indeed is a Curiosity that I cannot say I am altogether destitute of. I shall therefore, when I find it convenient make Miss Panton a visit —

I was before Dinner very strongly urged, by Mr Taylor, Mr Randolph, & some others to attend a Cock-Fight, where 25 Cocks are to fight, & large Sums are betted, so large at one as twenty five Pounds, but I choose rather to stay at Home. I read to day, & am much charmed with a Speech of Plato's over Alexander the Great lying dead before him – "O thou, who deceived by vain-Glory didst think of grasping at every thing, others are now going to gather the fruits of thy labours & thy Fatigues. Of so many conquests, there remains of thee but the terrible account, which thou art obliged to render unto the sovereign Judge"! —

I have also to Day with considerable attention been looking over Junius's Letters. His sentiments are strong, & bold. His language is chaste, & concise. & his Genius seems free and vast – I cannot easily omit transcribing a short passage from his Letter to the Revd Mr Horne in which he is speaking of Lord Chatham. as it pleases me vastly. "As for the common, sordid views of avarice, or any purpose of vulgar Ambition, I question whether the applause of Junius, would be of service to Lord Chatham. My vote will hardly recommend him to an increase of his pension, or to a Seat in the Cabinet. But if his Ambition be upon a levil with his understanding – If he judges of what is truely honourable for himself with the same superior Genius which animates & directs him to Eloquence in Debates, to Wisdom in Decision, even the Pen of Junius shall contribute to reward him. Recorded Honour shall gather round his Monument, & thicken over him. It is a solid Fabric, & will support the Lawrels that adorn it – I am not conversant in the language of panegyric – These praises are extorted from me; but they will wear well, for they have been dearly earned." —

Junius, however, does not seem to have been at all ignorant of his own merit; for in the close of the same letter he says "Such Artifices cannot long delude the understanding of the People; &, without meaning an indecent Comparison I may venture to foretell, that the Bible & Junius will be read when the Commentaries of the Jesuits are forgotten. We supped at nine – Mr Carter tired and early in Bed.

After Supper I had a long conversation with Mrs Carter concerning Negroes in Virginia, & find that She esteems their value at no higher rate than I do. We both concluded, (& I am pretty certain that the conclusion is just) that if in Mr Carters, or in any Gentlemans Estate, all the Negroes should be sold, & the Money put to Interest in safe hands, & let the Lands which these Negroes now work lie wholly uncultivated, the bare Interest of the Price of the Negroes would be a much greater yearly income than what is now received from their working the Lands, making no allowance at all for the trouble & Risk of the Masters as to the Crops, & Negroes. – How much greater then must be the value of an Estate here if these poor enslaved Africans were all in their native desired Country, & in their Room industrious Tenants, who being born in freedom, by a laudable care, would not only inrich their Landlords, but would raise a hardy Offspring to be the Strength & the honour of the Colony.

Teusday 5.

It is with difficulty I am able to collect the members of our School together for Business. Holidays have become habitual, & they seem unwilling to give them over. As the Negroes have this Day for a Holiday our Schollars thinks it hard that they should be compell'd to attend to Business. I summon them together however, and shall keep them to constant Study until the time of my setting away. Miss Priscilla this morning told me, of Miss Panton, a moving story: Last Sunday Evening after we left there She took a lonely Walk, & being asked why She chose to walk without a companion, she answered that she was thinking of Home & of her Friends, & indulging her fond Grief on account of their absence! – Such a feeling as this I have not been a stranger to, I therefore Sympathize with the poor young Girl. The Day agreeably pleasant – Towards Evening Miss Corbin came over to pay us a visit After School I waited on the Ladies in the Dining-Room the conversation was on Fashions, which instantly introduced the oddity of Miss Panton. But Miss Corbin with a Sneer, & with ill-nature enough, swore She would not think of imitating such a thing as her! – O! – Tantam Animis cælestibus Iræ? – I spent the Evening in cheerful chat with the Ladies. I think I have not had a more sociable & unconstrained feeling since I left Home, & my forgiving Friends.

Wednesday 6.

Ben is making a great Bustle about going to Philadelphia – He almost counts the Hours – We propose to go next Wednesday. But with composure, & Patience, yet with great Satisfaction I anticipate the near approaching Day. Ben begs me to acquaint him with the manners of the People in regard to Religion, and he swears he can suit himself to any serious, or formal Visage —

Mrs Carter, & Miss Corbin, after Breakfast rode to Colonel Frank-Lee's – We dine alone. I informed the Colonel that I do not think it will be convenient for me to continue with him longer than one year – He discovered some dissattisfaction; I told him my reason & he assented – he honours me, by putting in me so much confidence as to commission me to find out and recommend to Him some young Gentleman to succeed me in the instruction of his Children – He flattered my vanity also by reading a Letter to me which I am to bear to Dr Witherspoon, the contents of it as follows —

"Robert Carters compliments to Dr Witherspoon: He has the pleasure to acquaint Him that Mr Fithians Method of teaching, & his conduct are highly approved here; He is about to visit his friends in New-Jersey, & will bring these from Sir,

Your humble Servt" —

He informed me that he does indeed prefer a Tutor for his Children who has been educated upon the Continent, not on a supposition that such are better Schollars, or that they are of better principles, or of more agreeable Tempers; but only on account of pronunciation in the English Language, (as most of his Children are to be taught chiefly in this) in which he allows young Gentlemen educated in good Schools on the Continent, to excel the Scotch young Gentlemen, & indeed most of the English. – Evening came in & staid the Night Captain Blackwell.

Thursday 7.

Breakfasted with us Miss Corbin. The Day pleasant – Mr Carter proposes to set away soon after Dinner – He seems, however, to prepare himself for his Journey with all the sedateness of a philosopher – Besides the Commands he gave me yesterday, he desires me to wait on Mr Willing[146] Merchant in Philadelphia & know if he will trade here for either Flour or Bread in any Quantity. – He has given Ben & me an Invitation to ride & spend this Evening with him at Colonel Tayloe's– We set out about three; Mr Carter travels in a small, neat Chair, with two waiting Men – We rode across the Country which is now in full Bloom; in every field we saw Negroes planting Corn, or plowing, or hoeing; we arrived at the Colonels about five, Distance twelve miles. Here is an elegant Seat! – The House is about the Size of Mr. Carters, built with Stone, & finished curiously, & ornamented with various paintings, & rich Pictures. This Gentleman owns Yorick, who won the prize of 500£ last November, from Dr Floods Horse Gift– In the Dining-Room, besides many other fine Pieces, are twenty four of the most celebrated among the English Race-Horses, Drawn masterly, & set in elegant gilt Frames. – He has near the great House, two fine two story stone Houses, the one is used as a Kitchen, & the other, for a nursery, & Lodging Rooms – He has also a large well formed, beautiful Garden, as fine in every Respect as any I have seen in Virginia. In it stand four large beautiful Marble Statues – From this House there is a good prospect of the River Rapahannock, which opposite here is about two miles across; We can also from the chambers easily see the Town Hobbes-Hole & the Ships which lie there. I was introduced by Mr Carter to the Colonel, to Miss Polly, & to Miss Kitty his Daughters – & to a Lady (Mrs Thornton,)[147] that happened there, & to a young Gentleman, Mr Corvin[148]– The young Ladies played several tunes for us, & in good Taste on the Harpsichord; We supp'd at nine; & had the usual Toasts.

Fryday 8.

The Ladies before breakfast gave us several tunes on the Harpsichord – About ten Mr Carter set out for Williamsburg, to the general Court, which sits twice a year, each Time twenty four Days Sundays excluded – We had some agreeable Conversation this morning; Horses seem to be the Colonels favourite topic – He inquired of me however, where I was born; where educated; & if I am pleased with Virginia– He told me he saw Dr Witherspoon, & conversed with him an Evening last Fall, & is much pleased with his manner, & Qualities – He informed me that Dr Morgan[149] of Philadelphia breakfasted with him a few Days ago; he calls the Docter facetious, sensible, & prudent. The Colonel desired me to enquire for some Gentleman of undoubted ability to teach in a Family – I shall apply to Mr Saml Leek junr[150] & if he declines I will look no further – Ben & I took our Leave about Eleven, and returned Home – The Day is cloudy and cold, the wind hard at North, & threatens Snow – This evening Ben met with a sad repulse; Mrs Carter proposes going to Williamsburg soon, & says She must have his company! Poor Boy, he feels the Force of Disappointment! And I confess I am a little vexed —

Saturday 9.

Mrs Carter gave Ben liberty to go with me as far as Anopolis, provided we set out soon, & accordingly we propose to set off to-morrow or Monday morning, I begin therefore to prepare for the Ride. The Day is rainy & cold, & I am in a vastly disagreeable Humour —

Sunday 10.

Mrs Carter yesterday, in the Character of a truely fond Mother, altered her mind concerning Ben many Times and in several different manners: At first she agreed for him to go with me as far as Anopolis without a waiting Man; then She concluded he was not well and had better decline going entirely; towards Evening She gave him full liberty if he will take a Waiting-Man; & will not set away till Monday morning; This I urged not being pleased from the Begining with going on the Sabbath – I gave yesterday to the Shoemaker a Bit – & a Bit to the Wash woman; half a Bit to her little Girl; & half a Bit to Nelson the Boy who waits on our School; the whole is 11½. This morning is extremely pleasant the Country full of Flowers, & the branches full of lovely singing Birds. – Before Breakfast, I saw a Ring of Negroes at the Stable, fighting Cocks, and in several parts of the plantation they are digging up their small Lots of ground allow'd by their Master for Potatoes, peas &c; All such work for themselves they constantly do on Sundays, as they are otherwise employed on every other Day. Sermon to Day, is at Ucomico, too far for my Horse immediately before his Journey – Neither Mrs Carter nor any of the Family go – At Dinner I received a Letter from Mr Lowe, with his Testimonials from the College in Edinburg which I am to present to the Presbytery of Philadelphia and if it shall be accepted, I am to bring such Exercises as they may appoint —

Monday 11.

Bens Mare lame; Nat must stay, Ben & I set out at eight Rode by Westmoreland Court-House, Mattox Church; fed at Mattox-Bridge,[151] Rode by round-hill Church,[152] to Tylors Ferry[153] by three o-Clock 36 Miles – passed over the Ferry 7 Miles Ferriage 6/2 – At a small House in Virginia for a gallon of Corn 1/4. – At a small Tavern at the Ferry on the Maryland side Expence 9d rode from thence three Miles to Squire Lees who has the Naval office here – Spent the Evening with young Mr Lee, Miss Lee, Miss Booth, & Miss Washington – Toasts – I gave Miss Nancy Galloway – Between the Ferry & Mr Lees we passed through four gates.

Teusday 12.

Up soon, expence to Boy 3d. Rode to Port Tobacco[154] 13 Miles good Road – Fine Hill near the town; betwen Mr Lees & Port Tobacco 13 Gates – This is a small Town of not more than twenty or twenty Houses mostly of one story – Expence for a gallon of Oats … 8d, for bitters 4d, the Day fine – Rode thence to Piscataway;[155] the road good 15 Gates – ma[n]y fine streams of pure water – and many beautiful hills – This is a small Town of low Houses not more than two in it two Stories High; It lies however in a fine rich valey – Expence for Dinner, Wine & Oats 5/ … from Piscataway we rode to upper Marlboroug[156] the road something hilly, we passed through 15 Gates, two elegant Seats Mr Wests, & Mr Diggs[157]– arrived at Marlborough[158] by six it is a pleasant levil spot, 16 Miles from Alexandria[159]– they have a Presbyterian Meeting House which Mr Hunt supplies – They have a latin School also here; & an elegant Ball-Room – Piscataway is seven miles from Alexandria. In bed by nine —

Wednesday 13.

Up early, the morning fine. Expence here 4/11 Rode thence through a pleasant country four miles to a small Ferry over Patuxen,[160] Ferriage /6. then 12 Miles to South River three quarters of a Mile over Ferriage 6d then we rode thro a piny sandy road four miles to Anopolis 32 Gates – This is a pleasant situated Town: the Inhabitants appear gay & cheerful – I put up at the Coffee-House – An agreeable Woman keeps it Expence to a Barber for shaving & dressing 1/6– For oats Coffee &c. 3/1 – To Boy /10. I roved through the Town til five then I entered into a Boat the wind South West & Sailed over the Bay for Rock-Hall[161] distance 25 miles – the Boats are extremely good, well built, & strongly manned, & indeed there is need, for the Bay is broad, & often boistrous; we arrived at Rock Hall by half after nine; I was very sick on the passage, & I never was sick before on the water – The ferriage here for a Man & Horse is 15/. – To the Ferry Men for a Quart of Rum 1/3. And for my footing never having crossed the ferry before I paid 1/. The whole expence of this Day is 1£ 8s 7d.

Thursday 14.

The morning fine. I have from this place a view of the broad Chesapeek – Expence here for Tea in the Evening, Oats Cordial &c. 4/10, set away half after Six – To Boy /3d. Rode from Rock Hall over a delightful part of the country to Chester-Town 13 Miles[162]– this is a beautiful small Town on a River out of the Bay navigable for Ships. The Situation is low & I apprehend it is subject to summer Fevers – It has an elegant I may say grand Court-House, in which is the town Clock – Mr Wall[163] the Commedian, has been for several Evenings past exhibiting Lectures in Electricity, & I understand with some considerable applause. They have a lottery here on foot & to be drawn in May next for to assist them in building a market-House Town-Wharf &c. – I breakfast here, & feed, Expence 2/3. to Boy 2d – In this Town & the neighbouring Country rages at present a malignant, putrid Fever, & what is generally called the spotted Fever! – From chester Town I rode to George-Town, 16 miles – The Land levil, fertile, & vastly pleasant – In this Town I visited Mr Voorhees, an eminent Merchant here, & he seems to be a Gentleman of peculiar smartness Industry & Oconomy – The Fever I now mentioned, is also here, & the whooping-Cough is very general & malignant – I lodged with this Gentleman – We had Evening prayers – Since I left Cohansie I have not heard the like – This is a small Town, & lies on a fine River, which divides it from another small Town directly opposite call'd Frederick.[164]

Fryday 15.

I rose early – After Breakfast I rode to see Miss Rachel Stocktin,[165] now Mrs Ryley; She lives on this River, about a mile higher up, in a large very elegant brick House; in considerable grandeur – Poor Girl She herself is much indisposed either of a bad Cold, (as She thinks) or of this epidemical Fever; Mrs Ryley introduced me ceremoniously to Miss Ryley her Husbands Sister, She has a small handsome Fortune, & is perhaps agreeable – I returned to Town, & dined with Mr Voorhees, & immediately after crossed over the Ferry for Port-Penn.[166] Expence at George-Town for my Horse 2/3 to Boy 4d. I rode next to small village called Warwick,[167] a pitful place indeed – Expence here 1/11 Boy /2. then I rode on to Port-Penn, the Country beautiful, the Land apparently very rich, the Timber strait, & large; I entered Port-Penn just as the Sun went down, but could not prevail with the Ferry-Man to carry me over before the morning – In George-Town I was told the following distressing News: that Dr Ward, & my Aunt Fithian of Cohansie are both Dead; that my Aunt died in a very sudden unusual manner! – That Miss Polly Bullock of Philadelphia is dying in a Consumption! – In the Evening I called in to see Mr Steward an ancient, gray headed, wealthy Gentleman in Port-Penn, who, by some Weakness in his Back, has been unable to walk at all for four years, he is hearty, religious, cheerful, seemed much pleased, & thanked me often for calling to see him, & desired by me his kindest Compliments to Mr Hunters Family – I spend the Evening alone with quiet & content. – In Bed by nine —

Saturday 16.

I rose early, & expected to pass soon over the Ferry – The wind moderate at North West but the boat is aground, & I must wait until eleven, when She is expected to float – I was much alarmed in the night, thinking I had in Maryland taken the putrid Fever; I lay sleepless, felt feverish, had pains in my Head – But I feel wholly relieved this morning. At twelve the Boat came – We run over – Expence at Port-Penn 4/8. Ferriage 5/-. Once more through Gods Mercy in New-Jersey. The Favours of God our common Parent are innumerable, & great beyond our merit – I rod with Pleasure from Elsenborough to Greenwich; I stopt to see the forsaken Mrs Ward; She seems to be truely distress'd! I arrived by Sunset at my Uncles he also seems much afflicted, with his Loss – He informed me that many have Died in the Neighbourhood of Greenwich this winter. Dr Ward, Squire Millar, Mr Boy'd Merchant – Aunt Fithian, aunt Ware, Rachel Peck, Rachel Ware, David Mills, Mrs Mills &c. a very Mortal Winter!