Journal and Letters of Philip Vickers Fithian: A Plantation Tutor of the Old Dominion, 1773-1774.Fithian, Philip Vickers
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Journal and Letters of Philip Vickers Fithian: A Plantation Tutor of the Old Dominion, 1773-1774.
Fithian, Philip Vickers
Carter family; Virginia -- Social life and customs -- To 1775
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.
My compliments to acquaintances--
From, Sir,
yours
PHILIP V. FITHIAN
[LETTER OF PHILIP V. FITHIAN TO THE REVEREND ANDREW HUNTER]
Nomini-Hall, Virginia. June 3d. 1774.
REVD: & DEAR SIR.
It will not be wonderful if I inform you that this Colony is in great
tumult and confusion. The general Voice is _Boston_. You will have
heard before the reception of this, that the Governor dissolved the
Assembly in this province on their making a resolve to keep the first
day of June on which the Act of Parliament is to take place at Boston,
(excepting the days of grace) a solemn fast. The people agree however
in general to unite with the people of Boston and the other northern
trading Cities, and by their example to influence all the Colonies,
not to make any resistance to the Britains, but to keep themselves
independant, and refuse to receive their comodities, and keep within
themselves, their own more valuable comodities, because they are for
the support of life--So stedfast are the people here that the Captain
of a Ship belonging to an eminent house in London was yesterday
refused any more Tobacco til' there is intelligence from the
Northward--
The frost which happened the 4th. of May, was by far more severe and
fatal here than either in Maryland, New-Jersey, or Pennsylvania--The
expected produce of Gardens and Peaches, (which were some planters
chief dependance) are not only almost wholly destroy'd, but in the
upper parts of the province Wheat and Rye are so much cut off that the
owners think it best to mow it down for fodder!--
I have the pleasure to inform you that I had a speedy and pleasant
ride; found the family in good health; that it is a time of general
health in the County--and that I am again agreeably settled to
business--
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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