Sunday 23.
Teusday evening last the people of this Town & of Baltimore obliged one Anthony Stewart a Merchant here to set fire to a Brig of his lately from London in which was 17 Chests of Tea—The People seem indeed to be full of patriotic Fire—Second Bill at Annapolis—Supper 1/6—Lodging ./9 Hay 1/3—2 Gallons Oats 1/6—Articles for the Voyage 4/.—Landed about 5 at Kent-Island,[208] rode thence to a small Ferry for Oats & Ferriage 1/.—thence we rode to Queens Town 15 miles[209]—Bill there 5/2½
Monday 24.
Rode from Queens Town over a low levil Country 7 miles to a small Tavern—Breakfasted 1/7 rode thence by a small Town call'd Churchill—thence to the Head of Chester River 22 miles here I dined my Company gone to the Chester Races which happen to morrow—Expence 2/4 Rode thence to Warwick 12 miles My Horses feet swell this Evening
Teusday 25.
Bill at Warwick—supper 1/3—Oats./8—Stable Hay & Lodging 2/.—Glass of Wine Bitters./4—Rode thence to Port Penn 15 miles expence there 1/7—Ferriage 5/.—Arrived once more by Gods Kindness in New-Jersey among my friends & relations I found many of my Acquaintances have gone off the Stage Uncle Seeley; Damon James; Mrs Reeve; James Boyd; & several others—And many are Sick—Our Family through divine Goodness are in Health.—
[Letter of Philip V. Fithian to Elizabeth Beatty]
Greenwich Novem: 30: 1774.
To Laura.
—The Widow left the Room after begging that I would stay to Coffee—I was seated near the Toilet on which Miss had thrown her Piece of Drawing.—I viewed it, She saw me, & began a fine Apology—That her Situation is so lonely, being out of the Way of Entertainment by Company!—That Music & Drawing are her chief & necessary Amusements—That She was glad of the Opportunity of an Hours Conversation even of an utter Stranger—That She came to America about the 20th: of last May, with a Brother who is since returned—That her Aunt is desirious She may stay in Mary-land & be a Companion and Intimate with her—That since July She has had the Ague and Fever, which had left her only a few Days—And, said She, I want very much to up to Philada:—I heard all this with great Attention & Patience;—When She had finished her Story, I asked her in turn several Questions which she answered with Propriety, & the greatest Apparent Frankness—Til She came to the Answer which I have before set down, then I smil'd—You came then from Britain, Miss—No Sir, I came from London!—Fearing a Proposal to wait on her down to Annapolis, & thence to Philadelphia, the moment I had drank two Dishes of Coffee, which was a few Minutes before Sunset I mounted & rode twenty Miles—