Nominy-Hall Virginia June 5: 1774.
To Laura.
I have the Pleasure, since you allow me the Honour of corresponding with you, to acquaint you that I had a speedy & delightsome Passage from Home to this Place: It was you know, in the best Time of the lovliest of Months.
The Delaware, the broad Chesapeak, & the beautiful Potowmack were mild & lovely as a handsome, Woman's Presence when her Mind is at Rest—But are fine Women, Laura, as easily thrown into Confusion & Tumult as they—?
I expect these, if you receive them at all, will find you at N—n. If they should, please to make my kind Respects to your Brother—& compliment him on his new Alliance.
I shall wish, very much, to see you at C—e in the Fall, but if it be inconvenient I do not ask you to pay any Manner of Regard, in this Case, to my Inclination. The Face of this Part of Virginia is now indeed beautiful. I wish often that you was here for a While to see, because I am unable to describe, the charming Landskips, & long delightsome Prospects of our winding River which we have from the high Hills! But especially in the Evening when I commonly (as it is the Custom of the Family) walk for half an hour through the Garden in Company generally with three brisk mischievous Girls you would I am certain, for you delight in Gardens, & love the Company of noisy, gay, & agreeable young Girls, be highly entertain'd.—And as for myself, if you was here, I should take these Walks & Arbours to be a verdant flowery Elysium!—I must not omit to thank you for your Letter of Feb: last; because a Line from you is rare & valuable as the Phenix of Arabia.
Write to me, best of Girls, the Moment you receive this, that I may know how, & where you be; & let me hear often from you this Summer.
You may rest assured of my Constancy in continuing a free & full Correspondence.
Philip V. Fithian.
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