Our little beautiful Seminary collected They seem all glad to see me, & willing to enter on business--I am truely fond of the young growing beauties--Soon they will be the admiration of the world, & ornaments in their family--This morning I asked & received four Guineas of Mr Carter to satisfy Mr Taylor of whom I had a small Sum. Mr Randolph is yet here, & is recovered of the hurt I formerly mentioned--After Dinner my Toast was the amiable _Laura_--Evening called in & staid only a few minutes Captain Dennis, & Parson Gibbern--At Supper I had an agreeable conversation with Mr & Mrs Carter on the _Times manners_, &c.
Very warm--I feel well reliev'd of the Fatigues of my ride--The lower Class of People here are in a tumult on the account of Reports from Boston, many of them expect to be press'd & compell'd to go and fight the Britains!--Evening I asked the Colonel if he proposes to observe the fast, & attend Sermon tomorrow; he answered that "No one must go from hence to Church, or observe the Fast at all"--By this, (for it is hard to know his opinion from any thing he declares) I conclude he is a courtier.--Last Night, & this evening the Colonel sup'd with us, which is more than he has done before since I have been in the Family--
Cool & pleasant--I began my English Exegesis--or Thesis.
I took out of the Colonels Library for Assistance in making my pieces Biblia-Sacra, & Mr Hammonds Exposition of the New Testament. I toasted Miss _Beatty_ to day in a Bumpper of old Medaira--Evening Mr Carter at the Harpsichord.
The dancing School happens in course to day at Mr Washingtons--Mrs _Carter_ takes _Bob_ & _Nancy_ with her--Our School seems silent--Writing at my English Thesis--I put _Harry_ & _Bob_ this week to read Popes Homer but Homers inimitable fire cannot charm or move them!--Evening _Ben_ rode to the Dance--We were informed that in Queen-Anns in Maryland many die at present, of a Fever that follows a slight Ague!--I took a Ramble, in the evening, as usual, through the Garden.
[LETTER OF PHILIP V. FITHIAN TO JOHN PECK]
I have the pleasure to inform you I arriv'd safe and had a pleasant ride; I expect to hear from you by every post but have received no letter yet--If you did not receive my letter dated "Delaware-River, on board the Swallow," this is to request you to apply immediately to Dr Witherspoon who promised me in Philadelphia that he would recommend you here; the reason of my demanding dispatch is, that Mr Carter proposes to write to England for a Tutor if he cannot be speedily satisfied of having one from the Northward--If I attempt to write news I must inform you that the Assembly of this province is dissolved on passing a resolve to keep the first day of June through the whole province a solemn fast, the resolve past however, and the day was kept--The frost of the 4th. of May was much more fatal here than to the Northward, for not only Garden produce, but Wheat and Rye in the upper parts of the province are blasted and the owners mow them down for fodder; and here the Woods look like winter!--I expect to hear from you several times this summer, I beg you will not disappoint me.
