Began a Letter to Jack Peck, giving him advice in Respect to his coming into this Colony—The People are better, only Miss Fanny with her Sores continues in her Chamber; I bought & sent her however this evening a present a large Musk Melon—Dined with us Squire Lee, he talks of going to Philadelphia to the Congress; He informs us that in Maryland is a Tea-Ship, from the India Company—
Teusday 16.
The Colonel is summoned to a Meeting of Vestry-Men, at the Glebe—Nothing very extraordinary occurs, unless I mention that Bob in the former part of this Day kept pretty quiet in his Seat, and worked out three Sums in Reduction compound, without much direction!—About five from the South East came on suddenly a Gust of Rain & Wind, Evening the Colonel returned but a good deal vexed—One of the Members were absent so that the Remainder could do no Business—
This Day is the annual Examination at Nassau-Hall—I wish the Candidates Success & Honour. Last year I had the Pleasure to be present & hear the Examination—I saw Laura too; & the Vixen abused me! She shall repent of that insult; Indeed She must feel, tho' I wound myself in the experiment, the Consequence of Slighting good-humour & Civility—There likewise I saw Belinda my late agreeable Correspondent. She had left town this unlovely Month, for the benefit of Princeton's pure salubrious Air—She laboured in a Consumption There too I took my last fare-well!—For soon after her return to Town the disorder fixed, & in a few Months destroy'd a wise, useful, religious Girl—Her death surely was untimely, since she took with her all her virtues, which, with great pleasure & Sincerity She used to diffuse among her giddy Equals!—I am at a Loss to express my feeling for the Death of a young Lady, with whom I had only a short, yet a benificial Intimacy—The Circumstance of my first Acquaintance with her was wholly Accidental, yet I soon believed & accounted it advantageous—I thought her capable of improving me with Sentiment, & I speedily found that my expectation was true—We commenced a Litterary Correspondence, of which I only say that She always express'd herself with so much Truth, Ease & Humour as to make me read her Letters with eagerness and satisfaction—If I would record a Motto for her, it Should be—"Virtue without Melancholy." Breakfasted & dined with us two Gentlemen from Maryland—They come over for the benefit of Mr Carter's Mill; as Mills are scarce near the Potowmack in Maryland; but the reason I am a stranger to—Read some in Dr Swift—Writing on to Mr Peck—The weather is close & this evening I heard two Musquetoes, only one of which ventured to light upon me—I dare say they are thicker at Cohansie!—Each Wednesday & Saturday we dine on Fish all the Summer, always plenty of Rock, Perch, & Crabs, & often Sheeps-Head and Trout!—
Thursday 18.
Very ill most of last night with a violent Dysentery; I fear a frequency of this disease will at-length fix & ruin me—It continues to Day, & with no less rage, I cannot eat nor drink, am low Spirited Think constantly of Home;—Sometimes repent my having come into this Colony, & blame myself for having been persuaded to turn out of my road to public Business—But when I reflect closely I justify the Conduct, & resign myself Body & Soul & Employment to God who has the Hearts of all in his hand, & who I am persuaded, if he has any thing for me to do in Life, will preserve, & in a measure fit me for it, if not, I am in his Hand, let him do as seemes good in his Eyes—At Dinner the Colonel invited me to ride with him to a Mill of his which is repairing, about eight miles Distance; I accepted his Invitation, gave the children a few Hours for Play, & went with the Colonel Ben was along—The Face of the earth seems covered with mocking-Birds, but not one of them sing, they seem vastly busy but it is in collecting Food—Not a bird, except now & then Robbin-Redbreast is heard to sing in this Feverish Month—Nature seems cheerless and gloomy! The Evening is hot, but the Ride was agreeable, it was useful too; for I grow much better; The Jolting of the Horse seemed salutary, my Pain subsided, I returned almost wholly relieved in the evening, drank my Coffee, went soon to my Room, gave thanks to my divine restorer & laid me down to rest—
Fryday 19.
I slept through the night in quiet and ease, & rose perfectly relieved Mr Carter at Breakfast advised me to take with him Some Salt-Petre, as a useful Dieuretick but I declin'd—Mr Grubb came in about twelve o-Clock from Sabine-Hall. Colonel Carter gave an Entertainment Yesterday to celebrate his Birth-Day; & had a numerous & gay Company.—This young Gentleman (Mr Grubb) appears to be a person of Capacity & Improvement; he was Educated in England, & has been assistant to a Merchant on James's River in this Colony for some time past. This Summer he has been totally Idle—He proposes week after week to set out for Williamsburg, & Sail thence home, but he stays. He has much good nature, is an agreeable companion—I pity him.—He seems fond of Miss Betsy Lee—But he is too fluctuating in his mind to settle there, or with any Girl whatever Yet—