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

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 pass 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! —

Fryday 9.

Mr Stadley came in before Breakfast. He inform'd us that Governor Dunmore has gone to the Frontiers with about 400 Men to subdue the Indians – That the Indians seem disheartened, & leave their towns, & are unwilling to fight – Mrs Carter, out of Compliment, this morning presented to Ben & I for staying at home yesterday, a large fine Cake– Dined with us a Stranger —Ben with great Humour either out of a Bravado or for Revenge gave out in the Family to day that it is the opinion of a certain Female, of considerable Note in the family, that all the male Children which shall be born in this unlucky year, tho' they may be fair to the Sight, will be yet unable, from a Debility of Constitution, to do their Duty, with respect to Women, either married or single – That She has two reasons for this opinion,

1. Because the Air appears to her extremely barren, weak, & ungenerative– 2. Because the Peaches, & other Fruit, are observed this year to have in them very few Kernels, at the same time that the Peaches are sweet & fair – I think that Ben, by this stratagem, whether it be real or otherwise, is levil with the invidious Vixen which suspected him of entering the Nursery to visit black-faced Sukey —

Saturday 10.

With the Boys I Surveyed a small field lying along the Richmond Road; the Colonel has a good Theodolite & other Aparatus for Surveying – English Magazines, & Reviews arrived to Day – One of the Books lately published I am desirous to purchase viz. – Dr Henry's History of Great Britain on a new Plan. This history is to be contained in ten Books, each of which will be divided into seven chapters. In the first Chapter of every Book, the Author relates, the civil & military History of Great Britain – The second chapter contains the ecclesiastical History of the same period: the third presents us with the history of our political constitution, Government, Laws, & Courts of justice: the fourth is employed upon what relates to Learning & Learned men: the fifth investigates the State of the useful & ornamental Arts: the sixth enquires into that of commerce, Shipping, Money, with the prices of commodities: & the last Chapter of every Volume is alloted to a Detail of the Manners, Virtues, Vices, remarkable Customs, Language, Dress, Diet, & Diversions of the Great Britains – Six o-Clock, Mrs Turberville, Miss Jenny Corbin, and Miss Turberville came in; Miss Corbin has been, all the Summer, at her Brothers on Rapahanock forty miles distant.[201]– I saw, in the evening, in Mr Randalls[202] Room, a Young man about twenty years old, totally deaf, & dumb! He is well-set, lusty, & likely; he is cheerful, good natur'd, extremely dextrous, quick of apprehension, &, in short, very conversable, & sociable by signs – he was taken to the much famed Dr Graham,[203] when he was in this Colony trumpeting about his own unproved Abilities; he fumbled with the unfortunate Lad, by blooding, gouging, boreing &c. putting him to torture and expence without any possible expectation of help – He Sustains among his neighbours the Reputation of being, honest, industrious, & useful– He supports by Labour his mother, & himself; He is remarkably fond of Cloths; & vastly curious, & nice in examining every article of dress, where he has the smallest intimacy – He abstains entirely from strong Liquor. – And what most of all produced admiration in me, was his taking a Pen & writing his Name "Coley Reed" in a good legible Hand, better indeed, than the Bulk of planters are able to do! But he can write nothing more —

Sunday 11.

Ben rode out yesterday after Dinner and returned this morning; but came on foot, I begin to suspect him of being actually engaged in what several alledge against him – But I will keep off so long as I possibly can, so unwelcome, so unwelcome & so Base a thought of its Reality – After Breakfast Mr Stadley left us; I feel always Sorry when he leaves the Family; his entire good-Nature, Cheerfulness, Simplicity, & Skill in Music have fixed him firm in my esteem – None go to Ucomico Church to day – Towards evening, I took a book in my hand, & strolled down the Pasture quite to the Bank of the River – Miss Stanhope, Priss, Nancy, Fanny & Betsy Carter were just passing by – They walked to the Mill; there they entered a Boat, & for exercise & amusement were rowed down the River quite to the granary, & then went to angling – I walked to them, & together we all marched Home to Coffee.

Monday 12.

We threatned having a Fire this morning – I wrote at my Sermon – From the Ship lying at Leeds, arrived this afternoon our new Coach – It is a plain carriage, upper part black, lower Sage or Pea-Green – The Harness is neat strong, & suitable for the Country. Price 120£ Sterling – In the same Ship Mrs Carter imports about 30£ value in plate in a pair of fashionable Goblets; Pair of beautiful Sauce-Cups; & a Pair of elegant Decanter-holders —Ben introduced into our Room a plain useful Book-Case, in which we class & place our Books in order. after School, I took a Book, and walked through the Pasture strolling among Horses, Cows, & Sheep, grazing on the Hills & by the River.

Teusday 13.

We thought of Fire this morning, but put it off – Ben's mare is not yet heard of, though he has had a Boy almost constantly searching about for her – It is curious to see the Girls imitating what they see in the great House; sometimes tying a String to a Chair & then run buzzing back to imitate the Girls spinning; then getting Rags & washing them without water – Very often they are knitting with Straws, small round stockings, Garters &c – Sometimes they get sticks & splinter one end of them f[o]r Brushes, or as they call them here Clamps, & spitting on part of the floor, they scrubb away with great vigor – & often at a small game with Peach-stones which they call checks– Evening after School I rode to the much Frequented Cornfield, Mr Taylor was from Home the evening cloudy, cool, but fine, The Planters now begin to cut their Tobacco.

Wednesday 14.

Mr Carter received word to day that he has had brought very lately for his Mill 7000 Bushels of Wheat at 4s 6d pr Bushel. – I am at a Loss to know where he will dispose of such vast Quantities! – The Colonel who is often pidling in some curious experiment, is to day making some Printers Ink – He tells me the Materials are Lint-seed-Oil, Wheat-Bread, Onions, & Turpentine, a rank compound truely – then for Black, Lamp-Black, red, Vermillion —Ben, found his mare lost in last Saturday's Visit, poor Brute! She was confin'd in the Pasture where he left her, in which being very large She had been concealed. – Mr Smith, who was wounded last Spring by a Shot of his Brother is lately dead, & it is said by the Wounds which he received from his Brother! —

Thursday 15.

Ben is much better: he has return'd to his Bed in my Room, but complains often of the pain in his Breast. – I put him to begin & read some select odes in Horace – He works arithmetic but is only in Reduction – He dispises Greek, & therefore makes little or no progress in that Language – He is reading in course the Eneid Lib 3 – He has an unconquerable Love for Horses; he often tells me that he should have been a skilfull, & useful Groom; that he should be more fond & careful of a favourite Horse than of a Wife, or than his victuals, or than any thing whatever! I never saw a Person, in any Diversion, Recreation or amusement, who seemed so full of Pleasure & enjoyment as he is when on Horse back, or even in the company of a Horse! He seems to possess as warm a regard for them as Dr Swift had for the Houyhnhnms – But I cannot discover that Ben has so cordial an enmity to Mankind as Swift had for the Yahoos. —Bobs passion for the same Animal is no less strong, but it is furious, & cruel, he rides excessive hard, & would ride always —Harry's Genius seems towards Cocks, & low Betts, much in company with the waiting Boys, &, against my strongest Remonstrances, & frequent severe corrections, he will curse, at times, horribly, & swear fearfully! he always, however, omits it when I am Present. —

Fryday 16.

Mrs Carter, this morning, with Prissy, Nancy, & Bob went in the New-Coach to the Dance at Stratford, the morning is mild, fair & cool – The Colonel informed me that now his Mill-House Bake-Houses, Store Houses &c. with a clear unobstructed navigation is compleated, & that, he will rent them all to a Person properly qualified – or gladly employ a person who is capable, trusty & industrious enough to be the sole Director of so great & valuable Property – Dined with us captain Walker– He threw out several exceeding unpopular Sentiments with regard to the present amazing Disturbances through the Colonies – One in special I think proper to record because it fixes his Character, & declares him, in Spite of all pretence, an enemy to America – He asserted that no Officers (at Boston or elsewhere) are obliged, either by Law, or Right, to question or refuse any kind of orders which they receive from their Sovereign, or commanding Officer – But I account every man, who possesses, & publishes such sentiments in this Crisis of the Fate of a vast Empire, as great an enemy to America at least, as Milton's Arch-Devil was to Mankind! – After School, we took the Theodolite, the Colonel along, & run several Lines, He seems perfectly well acquainted with the Art.

Saturday 17.

At eight I dismiss'd my small charge. Immediately after Breakfast I took some Boys, & went a Surveying; Ben, impatient of tiresome scurvy Home, strain'd off through the County – I run in to Dinner, the Colonel & I dined alone, we drank a Glass of Madeira, as a Health to absent Friends, after which I went again to the Field & survey'd till six in the evening; The Business of this Day has been to go round the inner Pasture About half an Hour after Sunset (when Women who love their Husbands & Families always come Home) Mrs Carter & the Girls arrived from Stratford She informed us that there was a large, genteel, and agreeable Company at the Dance; that the Ague & Fever have been & continue troublesome in that Neighbourhood; & that Word is arrived from Boston that Governor Gage has fired on the Town, & that it is expected his orders are to burn & beat it to Destruction! Ben returned about seven from Westmoreland Courthouse – He informed us that Mr Sorrels Negroes had their trial there to Day, concerning their accusation of entering their Masters House in the night with an intention to murder Him – It was there proved (so far as Negroes evidence will go) that a Brother of this Sorrels early last Spring bribed some Negroes to Poison his Brother; & when that diabolical Attempt could not succeed, he has since tried to perswade them to murder Him! – But all Evidence against the Negroes was so weak & dark that the judges ordered them to be whiped & dismised them – Though the Law considers all Testimony given by a Negro against a White-Man as weak & unsubstantial; yet what the Negro said to Day on Oath of the younger Mr Sorrel, seems to gain much Belief with many who are candid, & unbiased Judges; & with me beyond all Scruple, it fixes on him the cursed Character of a Fratricide! —

Sunday 18.

The Colonel gave me, at Breakfast the offer of a Seat in his Boat to Church. The Morning was fine, & Nomini-River alive with Boats Canoes &c. some going to Church, some fishing, & some Sporting – Mr Smith gave us a very practical Sermon against the common vices here, in particular against the practise of abusing Slaves – The report concerning Boston is much talked off & still confirmed! – We dined all at Mr Turberville's; Miss Corbin looks fresh & plump as ever. Towards evening arose a pretty furious Thunder-Gust, which we hardly escaped on our way home I observed that several, but in special Mr Carter is not pleased with Mr Smith's Sentiments of Slavery.

Monday 19.

The morning fine & cool, & produces in our School at last a fine Fire! – Fire looks & feels most welcome; and I observe it makes our children remarkably garrulous & noisy – I took cold by Saturdays unusual exercise, & to Day have a Pain through my head, sore throat, & the other common troubles in a Cold – This Day begins the examination of The Junior class at Nassau-Hall. Every time I reflect on that Place of retirement & Study, where I spent two years which I call the most pleasant as well as the most important Period in my past life – Always when I think upon the Studies, the Discipline, the Companions, the Neighbourhood, the exercises, & Diversions, it gives me a secret & real Pleasure, even the Foibles which often prevail there are pleasant on recollection; such as giving each other names & characters; Meeting & Shoving in the dark entries; knocking at Doors & going off without entering; Strowing the entries in the night with greasy Feathers; freezing the Bell; Ringing it at late Hours of the Night; – I may add that it does not seem disagreeable to think over the Mischiefs often practised by wanton Boys – Such are writing witty pointed anonymous Papers, in Songs, Confessions, Wills, Soliliques, Proclamations, Advertisements &c – Picking from the neighbourhood now & then a plump fat Hen or Turkey for the private entertainment of the Club "instituted for inventing & practising several new kinds of mischief in a secret polite Manner" – Parading bad Women – Burning Curse-John – Darting Sun-Beams upon the Town-People Reconoitering Houses in the Town, & ogling Women with the Telescope – Making Squibs, & other frightful compositions with Gun-Powder, & lighting them in the Rooms of timorous Boys, & new comers– The various methods used in naturalizing Strangers, of incivility in the Dining-Room to make them bold; writing them sharp & threatning Letters to make them smart; leading them at first with long Lessons to make them industrious – And trying them by Jeers & Repartee in order to make them choose their Companions &c. &c – Evening after School with Mrs Carter, & the Girls I took a Walk thro the Pumpkin & Potatoe Vines. the Air is clear, cold & healthful. We drank our Coffee at the great House very sociably, round a fine Fire, the House And air feels like winter again.

Teusday 20.

Among the many womanish Fribbles which our little Misses daily practise, I discovered one to Day no less merry than natural; Fanny & Harriot by stuffing rags & other Lumber under their Gowns just below their Apron-Strings, were prodigiously charmed at their resemblanc to Pregnant Women! They blushed, however, pretty deeply on discovering that I saw them – We have to day both in the School & great-house steady Fires – Mr Thomas Edwards a reputable Planter in the Neighbourhood died this day about one o-Clock – I saw him last Sunday at Church when he was in good Health; was taken the same Evening, & hurried off at once! – Frail Man, how easily subdued! —

Wednesday 21.

We have a more particular account of the Death of Mr Edwards. About a twelve-month ago, he was suddenly siezed with a Fit of the Palsy, his Foot, Side, Arm, & part of his Face then failed, & became useless, after some time, however, he grew better, & has since been apparently well; til Sunday evening last after the Shower, as he was walking in his Garden, he fell down in an instant, there happened to be help at hand, he only said these emphatical Words – "Now I must die" – He was carried in, & expired as I mentioned yesterday! – I am told that the Flux is in the upper part of this County – My cold continues; in the Evening on going to bed, I took a dose of Honey & Rum —

Thursday 22.

A pure cold northerly wind still blows, & we all keep Fires – Peaches & Fruit are omitted at Dinners, & Soup or Broth is brought in; Milk and Hominy at Breakfast too are laid by & Coffee & Sage Tea brought in; Our Suppers are Coffee & Bred & butter —Neatness variety & Plenty are reigning Characters in our worthy oconomist Mrs Carter. I read to Day, & am charm'd with a – of Lord Chesterfield. Letters to his natural Son, which I propose to purchase – After School, with Ben, I took a walk to Mr Turberville's – He has received a line from Colonel Lee at Philadelphia that the Congress is going on – That the account concerning Boston is false – Evening Lancelot Lee came in, & staid the night – He gave Ben & myself an Invitation to dine with him tomorrow, I took out of the Library & began to read Watts's Logic —

Fryday 23.

I spent some time in reviewing Geography & Logic – Mr Lee left us about twelve, & Ben rode out with him – Evening from Mr Turberville's I saw some Barberry's, Sloes, & Pomegranates, neither of which I had seen before —

Saturday 24.

Together with my Cold I have to Day a most disagreeable gathering on my middle Finger – I keep myself at home reading Logic – Evening the Colonel invited me to walk with him; he took me to his Mill, Coopers, House, Channel, Meadows &c., and was vastly particular in describing to me their particular uses – I begin to look with eager Sollicitude to the time of my revisiting my friends & Relations – It is, happily near —

Sunday 25.

The morning clear cool & very dry – I rode to Ucomico-Church, I was surprised when the Psalm begun, to hear a large Collection of voices singing at the same time, from a Gallery, entirely contrary to what I have seen befor in the Colony, for it is seldom in the fullest Congregation's, that more sing than the Clerk, & about two others! – I am told that a singing Master of good abilities has been among this society lately & put them on the respectable Method which they, at present pursue – I dined at Mr Fishers, among others I saw there, Dr Steptoe, & Mr Hamilton who have lately been to Philadelphia – They give various Reports concerning political affairs, & as to the Congress nothing certain, so that I say nothing on that Score – Their Remarks on the City & Inhabitants; The Country &c. are curious – They allow the City to be fine, neat, & large; they complain a little of the small Rooms, Uniformity of the Buildings, & several other like faults – They call the Inhabitants grave & reserved; & the Women remarkably homely, hard favour'd & sour! – One Colonel Harrison[204] from a lower County in this Colony, offer'd to give a Guinea for every handsome Face that could be found in the City, if any one would put a Copper on every Face that did not come up to that Character! – This is an impeachment of the Ladies which I have never heard before, I do not give my opinion either for or against it – The face of the Country, & the method of farming that way delights them: but at this I dont wonder.

Monday 26.

Yesterday the Inspector, whom I have named & described before, desired the Parson to wait on them in his family and christen his Child – Is the child sick? No Sir – Why then today? it is the Mothers Desire Sir – Why was it not brought to Church? The Mother is unwell, Sir – The Parson excused himself, & promised to come some Days hence, but the long winded officer, inured to Stubbornness, hung on, &, without moderation or Apology demanded his presence! – And prevail'd. – Something in our palace this Evening, very merry happened – Mrs Carter made a dish of Tea. At Coffee, she sent me a dish – & the Colonel both ignorant – He smelt, sipt – look'd – At last with great gravity he asks what's this? – Do you ask Sir – Poh! – And out he throws it splash a sacrifice to Vulcan —

Teusday 27.

This morning the Colonel with his Theodolite observed the Centre of the Sun at his rising, & found it bore East 5° South – This he is doing to fix a true East & West Line for regulating the Needle at any time. This Bearing he corrected by finding the Suns Declination, & fixed his Points – After the morning we let our fire go down – Both yesterday, & this evening I rode out to exercise myself & horse against our approaching Journey – Mr Hodge, a Merchant of Leeds & Mr Leech a Merchant of Dumfries came Home with the Colonel from Westmoreland-Court – Both chatty, in special Mr Leech; both well-bred, sensible, & sociable – The loyal Toast was Wisdom & unity to the Conferrences now assembled – And when Women were to be toasted, I gave Miss Jenny Washington. —

Wednesday 28.

The weather remarkably dry, since Sunday sennight, we have not had a drop of Rain, nor even a cloudy Sky, and till yesterday, & steady, cold, serene northerly Wind – To Day is the annual Commencement at Nassau Hall —

[Letter of Philip V. Fithian to Mr. Larkin Randall][Nomini Hall. September 28 (?) 1774]

Mr Randall.

You will please to acquaint Mr Rigmaiden[205] that I received and looked over his Note, and should have attempted to answer it but for the following reasons. I observe that the first author of the question very rudely calls Mr Rigmaiden a fool for not working it by Cross-Multiplication.

And I observe too that Mr Rigmaiden throws back the word fool, (I suppose in revenge) upon the other, and if I should intermeddle in the case it is more than probable, that I should be called the third fool, by either the one or the other, at least I think the hazard of this too great to set against any Honour I could recieve by resolving it – But since Mr Rigmaiden intimates in his note that he is at something of a loss to know whether himself or the other have the least claim to the character; I shall propose a question in arithmetick, which will fully decide any dispute of this nature, for I pronounce the man who can work it off at once, to be no fool in figures.