Journal and Letters of Philip Vickers Fithian Part 20

_Wednesday 6._

Ben is making a great Bustle about going to Philadelphia--He almost counts the Hours--We propose to go next Wednesday. But with composure, & Patience, yet with great Satisfaction I antic.i.p.ate the near approaching Day. _Ben_ begs me to acquaint him with the manners of the People in regard to Religion, and he swears he can suit himself to any serious, or formal Visage--

Mrs _Carter_, & Miss _Corbin_, after Breakfast rode to Colonel Frank-Lee's--We dine alone. I informed the Colonel that I do not think it will be convenient for me to continue with him longer than one year--He discovered some dissattisfaction; I told him my reason & he a.s.sented--he honours me, by putting in me so much confidence as to commission me to find out and recommend to Him some young Gentleman to succeed me in the instruction of his Children--He flattered my vanity also by reading a Letter to me which I am to bear to Dr Witherspoon, the contents of it as follows--

"Robert _Carters_ compliments to Dr _Witherspoon_: He has the pleasure to acquaint Him that Mr Fithians Method of teaching, & his conduct are highly approved here; He is about to visit his friends in _New-Jersey_, & will bring these from Sir,

Your humble Servt"--

He informed me that he does indeed prefer a Tutor for his Children who has been educated upon the Continent, not on a supposition that such are better Schollars, or that they are of better principles, or of more agreeable Tempers; but only on account of p.r.o.nunciation in the English Language, (as most of his Children are to be taught chiefly in this) in which he allows young Gentlemen educated in good Schools on the Continent, to excel the Scotch young Gentlemen, & indeed most of the English.--Evening came in & staid the Night Captain Blackwell.

[Ill.u.s.tration: man in horse-drawn cart]

_Thursday 7._

Breakfasted with us Miss _Corbin_. The Day pleasant--Mr Carter proposes to set away soon after Dinner--He seems, however, to prepare himself for his Journey with all the sedateness of a philosopher--Besides the Commands he gave me yesterday, he desires me to wait on Mr Willing[146] Merchant in Philadelphia & know if he will trade here for either Flour or Bread in any Quant.i.ty.--He has given Ben & me an Invitation to ride & spend this Evening with him at Colonel _Tayloe's_--We set out about three; Mr _Carter_ travels in a small, neat _Chair_, with two waiting Men--We rode across the Country which is now in full Bloom; in every field we saw Negroes planting Corn, or plowing, or hoeing; we arrived at the Colonels about five, Distance twelve miles. Here is an elegant Seat!--The House is about the Size of Mr. _Carters_, built with Stone, & finished curiously, & ornamented with various paintings, & rich Pictures. This Gentleman owns _Yorick_, who won the prize of 500 last November, from Dr Floods Horse _Gift_--In the Dining-Room, besides many other fine Pieces, are twenty four of the most celebrated among the English Race-Horses, Drawn masterly, & set in elegant gilt Frames.--He has near the great House, two fine two story stone Houses, the one is used as a Kitchen, & the other, for a nursery, & Lodging Rooms--He has also a large well formed, beautiful Garden, as fine in every Respect as any I have seen in _Virginia_. In it stand four large beautiful Marble Statues--From this House there is a good prospect of the River _Rapahannock_, which opposite here is about two miles across; We can also from the chambers easily see the Town Hobbes-Hole & the s.h.i.+ps which lie there. I was introduced by Mr _Carter_ to the Colonel, to Miss Polly, & to Miss Kitty his Daughters--& to a Lady (Mrs Thornton,)[147] that happened there, & to a young Gentleman, Mr Corvin[148]--The young Ladies played several tunes for us, & in good Taste on the _Harpsichord_; We supp'd at nine; & had the usual Toasts.

[146] Thomas Willing (1731-1821) was a.s.sociated with Robert Morris in the house of Willing and Morris. He was later president of the Bank of North America and the Bank of the United States.

[147] Mrs. Charlotte Belson Thornton was the widow of Colonel Presley Thornton (1722-1769) of Northumberland County. Mrs. Thornton had been born in England and she returned to the mother country with her children just prior to the outbreak of the Revolution. Her three sons served in the British forces during the War. At the conclusion of hostilities two of them, Presley and John Tayloe Thornton, returned to Virginia.

[148] Perhaps a member of the Corbin family. Elizabeth Tayloe, sister of Colonel John Tayloe, had married Richard Corbin of "Laneville," in King and Queen County.

_Fryday 8._

The Ladies before breakfast gave us several tunes on the Harpsichord--About ten Mr Carter set out for _Williamsburg_, to the general Court, which sits twice a year, each Time twenty four Days Sundays excluded--We had some agreeable Conversation this morning; Horses seem to be the Colonels favourite topic--He inquired of me however, where I was born; where educated; & if I am pleased with _Virginia_--He told me he saw Dr Witherspoon, & conversed with him an Evening last Fall, & is much pleased with his manner, & Qualities--He informed me that Dr _Morgan_[149] of Philadelphia breakfasted with him a few Days ago; he calls the Docter facetious, sensible, & prudent.

The Colonel desired me to enquire for some Gentleman of undoubted ability to teach in a Family--I shall apply to Mr _Saml Leek_ junr[150] & if he declines I will look no further--Ben & I took our Leave about Eleven, and returned Home--The Day is cloudy and cold, the wind hard at North, & threatens Snow--This evening Ben met with a sad repulse; Mrs _Carter_ proposes going to Williamsburg soon, & says She must have his company! Poor Boy, he feels the Force of Disappointment!

And I confess I am a little vexed--

[149] Dr. John Morgan was one of the founders and most eminent professors of the medical school at Philadelphia which is now a part of the University of Pennsylvania. Morgan later served as director-general of hospitals and physician-in-chief of the American army from 1775-1777.

[150] Samuel Leake, Jr., of Cohansie, New Jersey, was at this time a student at Princeton. Leake apparently did not accept the position in Mrs. Thornton's home.

_Sat.u.r.day 9._

Mrs Carter gave Ben liberty to go with me as far as Anopolis, provided we set out soon, & accordingly we propose to set off to-morrow or Monday morning, I begin therefore to prepare for the Ride. The Day is rainy & cold, & I am in a vastly disagreeable Humour--

_Sunday 10._

Mrs _Carter_ yesterday, in the Character of a truely fond Mother, altered her mind concerning _Ben_ many Times and in several different manners: At first she agreed for him to go with me as far as Anopolis without a waiting Man; then She concluded he was not well and had better decline going entirely; towards Evening She gave him full liberty if he will take a Waiting-Man; & will not set away till Monday morning; This I urged not being pleased from the Begining with going on the Sabbath--I gave yesterday to the Shoemaker a Bit--& a Bit to the Wash woman; half a Bit to her little Girl; & half a Bit to _Nelson_ the Boy who waits on our School; the whole is 11. This morning is extremely pleasant the Country full of Flowers, & the branches full of lovely singing Birds.--Before Breakfast, I saw a Ring of Negroes at the Stable, fighting c.o.c.ks, and in several parts of the plantation they are digging up their small Lots of ground allow'd by their Master for Potatoes, peas &c; All such work for themselves they constantly do on Sundays, as they are otherwise employed on every other Day. Sermon to Day, is at Ucomico, too far for my Horse immediately before his Journey--Neither Mrs _Carter_ nor any of the Family go--At Dinner I received a Letter from Mr _Lowe_, with his Testimonials from the College in Edinburg which I am to present to the Presbytery of Philadelphia and if it shall be accepted, I am to bring such Exercises as they may appoint--

_Monday 11._

Bens Mare lame; Nat must stay, Ben & I set out at eight Rode by Westmoreland Court-House, Mattox Church; fed at Mattox-Bridge,[151]

Rode by round-hill Church,[152] to Tylors Ferry[153] by three o-Clock 36 Miles--pa.s.sed over the Ferry 7 Miles Ferriage 6/2--At a small House in Virginia for a gallon of Corn 1/4.--At a small Tavern at the Ferry on the Maryland side Expence 9d rode from thence three Miles to Squire Lees who has the Naval office here--Spent the Evening with young Mr _Lee_, Miss Lee, Miss Booth, & Miss Was.h.i.+ngton--Toasts--I gave Miss Nancy Galloway--Between the Ferry & Mr Lees we pa.s.sed through four gates.

[151] Mattox Bridge was some eighteen miles from Westmoreland Court House, and twenty-eight from "Nomini Hall."

[152] Round Hill Church was the "upper church of Was.h.i.+ngton Parish"

and stood at the site of what is now the town of Tetotum.

[153] Tyler's Ferry in Westmoreland County, Virginia, was opposite Cedar Point on the Maryland side of the Potomac River.

_Teusday 12._

Up soon, expence to Boy 3d. Rode to Port Tobacco[154] 13 Miles good Road--Fine Hill near the town; betwen Mr Lees & Port Tobacco 13 Gates--This is a small Town of not more than twenty or twenty Houses mostly of one story--Expence for a gallon of Oats ... 8d, for bitters 4d, the Day fine--Rode thence to Piscataway;[155] the road good 15 Gates--ma[n]y fine streams of pure water--and many beautiful hills--This is a small Town of low Houses not more than two in it two Stories High; It lies however in a fine rich valey--Expence for Dinner, Wine & Oats 5/ ... from Piscataway we rode to upper Marlboroug[156] the road something hilly, we pa.s.sed through 15 Gates, two elegant Seats Mr Wests, & Mr Diggs[157]--arrived at Marlborough[158] by six it is a pleasant levil spot, 16 Miles from Alexandria[159]--they have a Presbyterian Meeting House which Mr Hunt supplies--They have a latin School also here; & an elegant Ball-Room--Piscataway is seven miles from Alexandria. In bed by nine--

[154] Port Tobacco, Maryland.

[155] Piscataway, Maryland.

[156] Upper Marlborough, Maryland.

[157] The Digges family was a well known one in both Maryland and Virginia.

[158] Marlborough, Maryland.

[159] Alexandria, Virginia.

_Wednesday 13._

Up early, the morning fine. Expence here 4/11 Rode thence through a pleasant country four miles to a small Ferry over Patuxen,[160]

Ferriage /6. then 12 Miles to South River three quarters of a Mile over Ferriage 6d then we rode thro a piny sandy road four miles to Anopolis 32 Gates--This is a pleasant situated Town: the Inhabitants appear gay & cheerful--I put up at the Coffee-House--An agreeable Woman keeps it Expence to a Barber for shaving & dressing _1/6_--For oats Coffee &c 3/1--To Boy /10. I roved through the Town til five then I entered into a Boat the wind South West & Sailed over the Bay for _Rock-Hall_[161] distance 25 miles--the Boats are extremely good, well built, & strongly manned, & indeed there is need, for the Bay is broad, & often boistrous; we arrived at Rock Hall by half after nine; I was very sick on the pa.s.sage, & I never was sick before on the water--The ferriage here for a Man & Horse is 15/.--To the Ferry Men for a Quart of Rum 1/3. And for my footing never having crossed the ferry before I paid 1/. The whole expence of this Day is 1 8s 7d.

[160] Patuxent River.

[161] Rock Hall, Maryland.

_Thursday 14._

The morning fine. I have from this place a view of the broad Chesapeek--Expence here for Tea in the Evening, Oats Cordial &c 4/10, set away half after Six--To Boy /3d. Rode from Rock Hall over a delightful part of the country to Chester-Town 13 Miles[162]--this is a beautiful small Town on a River out of the Bay navigable for s.h.i.+ps.

The Situation is low & I apprehend it is subject to summer Fevers--It has an elegant I may say grand Court-House, in which is the town Clock--Mr _Wall_[163] the Commedian, has been for several Evenings past exhibiting Lectures in Electricity, & I understand with some considerable applause. They have a lottery here on foot & to be drawn in May next for to a.s.sist them in building a market-House Town-Wharf &c.--I breakfast here, & feed, Expence 2/3. to Boy 2d--In this Town & the neighbouring Country rages at present a malignant, putrid Fever, & what is generally called the spotted Fever!--From chester Town I rode to George-Town, 16 miles--The Land levil, fertile, & vastly pleasant--In this Town I visited Mr _Voorhees_, an eminent Merchant here, & he seems to be a Gentleman of peculiar smartness Industry & Oconomy--The Fever I now mentioned, is also here, & the whooping-Cough is very general & malignant--I lodged with this Gentleman--We had Evening prayers--Since I left Cohansie I have not heard the like--This is a small Town, & lies on a fine River, which divides it from another small Town directly opposite call'd Frederick.[164]

[162] Chestertown, Maryland.

[163] Wall gave a lecture on electricity in Williamsburg, Virginia, the following year. He is doubtless identical with the comedian and "Mental Physician," Dr. Llewellyn Lechmere Wall, who was described as "of Orange County," North Carolina in 1797. He appeared in numerous comedies in Newbern that year. Cf. _Virginia Gazette_ (Pinckney, ed.), January 5, 1775; original playbill in Department of Research, Colonial Williamsburg, Inc., Williamsburg, Virginia.

[164] Frederick, Maryland.