Mrs Carter informed me last Evening that this Family one year with another consumes 27000 Lb of Pork; & twenty Beeves. 550 Bushels of Wheat. besides corn—4 Hogsheads of Rum, & 150 Gallons of Brandy. Breakfasted with us Mr Warden, at twelve, with Mr Randolph, I went a fishing, but we had only the luck to catch one apiece. Dined with us Mr Cunningham, he has lately had a severe turn of the Pleurisy—I supped with Mr Randolph on Fish—
Fryday 11.
The finest morning we have yet had: the Robbins, & blue Birds singing all around us. Prissy, Nancy, & Bob go this day to the Dance which is at Mr Turburville's—It come here next—I wrote a Letter to Mr Rees[134] at Trenton—At twelve with Ben I rode to Mr Lanes to see young Mr Lane, he happened to be at Home, & introduced to me Mr Middleton an old facetious but pofane Gentleman. We dined with Mr Lane. When call'd on for my Toast I gave Miss Sally Hollinshead, of Philadelphia Dined at three—
I heard a mocking Bird sing this Day. supped at eight & in Bed early for I am much fatigued with riding.
Saturday 12.
I rose by six—Breakfasted with us Captain Blackwel; master of a Ship lying in Ucomico—I heard Harry, Miss Fanny, & Besy repeat their catechism—At ten Mr Lane called on us to go on Board Captain Blackwels Ship to Dine—We consented and set off by Eleven; We rode to a place called Horn-Point, which is about a Mile up the River Ucomico, & in sight of the wide Potowmac, off this point at about a Quarter of a miles Distance lay Captain Griggs, & Captain Blackwels Ships, they sent immediately a Boat to carry us on board, but on telling us that neither of the Captains were at Home, we chose rather to turn Back—The distance from Mr Carters to this Point, is called twelve miles; the Land seems to be exceeding poor, as it is covered for most of the way with Large Pines, & shrubby Savins, & destitute almost intirely of Cultivation—From Horn-Point we agreed to ride to one Mr Camels, who is Controller of the customs &c. here; cheifly to see a Daughter of his to whom we were equally strangers, we arrived at Mr Camels about two o-Clock, & were severally introduced to Miss Pinkstone Camel, a young woman of about sixteen, neat, handsome, genteel, & sociable; & in my opinion she possesses as much of these as any young Lady in Virginia whom I have yet seen—It has been Mr Camels misfortune, in the course of trade, to be reduced to low circumstances, on which account his Family does not now meet with so great respect, as I am told they formerly did—
From Horn Point to the Comptrolers, the distance is call'd four miles. Before Dinner we Borrowed the Comptrolers Barge, which is an over grown Canoe, & diverted ourselves in the River which lies full fronting the House; & we were the better pleased with the sport as all our motions were in the sight of Miss Camel—We dined at half after three on Fish, & wild Duck—our drink Grogg, & Water. From the Comptrolers at 5 o-Clock we set of Homewards; we call'd on our way at Captain Meddletons,[135] whom I take to be exceedingly Profane in his Language; we were introduced to his two Daughters; they seemed however aukward in their Behaviour, & dull, & saturnine in their Disposition—The distance from the Comptrolers to Captain seven Miles—We left there at eight in the evening, & rode to Mr Joseph Lanes Esqr which distance is called five miles, & arrive at 9 o-Clock—here we had an elegant Supper—with good Porter & Madeira—after Supper, when call'd on for my Toast, I gave Miss Betsy Beaty of Newington, Pennsylvania—At half after ten we set off and rode home; Distance three miles, Our poor Horses went the distances which I have laid down and were not fed in the course of the day; as they have no taverns in these parts—Our whole Distance 31 Miles Expence to the Sailors for their trouble is 1s 10d. Exceedingly fatigued with Riding.
Sunday 13.
Soon after Breakfast Captain Scott (master of a Schooner laden with Wheat, & bound from Alexandria for Philadelphia, which about ten days past in a gale of wind run aground and is like to lose her Cargo) come to hire Mr Carters Schooner to assist in unloading her that the vessel may be saved; the vessel run aground, & now lies nearly opposite the mouth of the River Nomini in Potowmack!—The Colonel is engaged in taking off a Description of the River Ucomico; the Road from hence to Horn-Point; & Mondays-Point[136] with the Houses on the several ways—This day I declin'd going to Church, chiefly on account of my Horse, who went so far yesterday—It is however the first time that I have kept myself at home in good weather—Evening Mr Carter received a Packet of Letters from Anopolis by the Post, but none comes to me this long Winter—Bob to-day rode to Richmond Church, & in the Evening brought from Counsellor Taylor[137] a strong invitation to come and see him.