I lazy slept til seven—The Boys seem sick of their yesterdays Voyage—I rode to Nomini-Church—The Parson invited me home but we have company—Mr Turberville, Mr Cunningham, George & Lancelot Lee dined with us—After the ordinary Toasts we were call'd on to Toast Ladies: I gave Miss Jenny Washington—The Lee's came over to our School-Room I swear says George, there is no Devil!—There is no Devil, I swear!—He went on in such an impious, & at the same time whimsical & foolish manner, that I left the Room, and went over to Mr & Mrs Carter, with whom nothing is heard indecent or profane—After the Company were gone as we were walking near the Poplar Avenue, says Mrs Carter how sweet, & pure the Air is; how much the weather resembles September!—Indeed I think it feels like the fever & Ague!—Bob in the Evening brought me Colonel Taylors[191] compliments, who begs I will wait on him soon; He wants to know if I have provided a Tutor for Mrs Thornton Mr Leek told me something about coming, but not til next Spring, & I judge that Mrs Thornton will be impatient before that time—Do you now indeed, sincerely, in your Heart, Sir says Ben to me after we had retired to our Chamber, believe that there is a Devil?—For my part, tho' I made George Lee think otherwise, I do not—I told him that it was universally allowed by writers of the greatest reputation for Learning and Religion in the established Church of England, whose Canons he profess'd to believe & adhere to—And that, if he would attend to my advice, he ought not to doubt its Reality.
Monday 25.
Harry & Bob go shrugging up their backs with their Coats Buttoned about the School, first one then the other complaining of the cold—The Girls too, in their white Frocks, huddle close together for the benefit of warming each other, & look like a Flock of Lambs in the Spring—I wish they were half as innocent—I myself, after having added a Waistcoat, am notwithstanding disagreeably Cold—The air is clear, the wind strong from the West—I proceeded in my Latin Exegesis, & shall, I hope, shortly be through it—I gave to Nancy at her Request, my Scetch of Nominy-Hall—I propose to take off one for myself—
The morning cool enough—Order me a Horse & Chair, says the Colonel after Breakfast, for I must go to Westmoreland-Court—I piddled at my Exegessis, but (as they say here in Virginia) I did a mighty little—Priscilla after School invited me to ride with her, but I had preengaged to go on Board the Harriot; She now lies in Nominy about half a mile Distant—Bob conducted me on board, She is a neat vessel, carries 1400 Bushels—Bob strip'd & swam round us half an hour—Coffee; Well, Sir, says the Colonel at las I can treat you with several Letters—My heart jumped—A fine Repast indeed, valuable because exceeding rare! But shall I hear any thing from—Laura?—On this he gave me Letters from,
1. Rev'd Enoch Green, Dated Feb: 1774.
2. From Laura, Dated Feb: 13th 1774.
3. From John Peck Dated Nassau Hall July 2. 1774
4. From John Peck dated Feb: 25th 1774.
5. From the Revd: Andrew Hunter, dated Cohansie June 24th. 1774.
6. From Andrew Hunter Junr: Dated June 24th. 1774. Cohansie.
7. From Mr James Ewing, Dated Bridge-town July 7th. 1774.
For these Letters I paid—12s 5d—Pennsylvania Currency, & I am very proud of my Bargain—
Mr Peck informs me that he is to succeed me in this place—Mr Hunter & Mr Ewing inform me of the Death of Uncle Ephraim Seeley! That he died of a Diabetes which has long troubled him! He has left no Doubt a mourning Family—Mr Hunter writes me word that Andrew was licensed to preach about the middle of June. Laura says—They all express with Concern the great Commotions which at present exist through the Colonies.
Wednesday 27.
Somehow I have taken a bad Cold, & am low-spirited to Day—The Colonel was all the forenoon down at the Harriot in the Sun, so that when we went in to dine he seem'd fatigued & eat nothing—We have an Addition to our numerous Family, one Mr —— I forget his name, he is a Cooper, tho', & an Irishman, & seems to be pretty smart; I sat the Evening with him in Mr Randolphs Room.