After I acquaint you that, by the kindness of providence I arrived safe and am in good health, I shall not neglect to inform you that the Virginians are warm and active in supporting the liberties of America; the first day of June throughout this Colony, by a resolve of the House of Burgesses, or Assembly of Representatives for the province was kept a solemn Fast, and kept religiously too, to invoke almighty God to assist our falling country, and save us from oppression and Tyranny--The ware-Houses are already hindring the Shipping Tobacco, and it is expected there will shortly be a general embargo laid on all exportable commodities--The people here wish for the union of all the Colonies, and for firm perseverance in what shall seem most conducive to the good of America, notwithstanding this Colony and Maryland will suffer vastly, because Tobacco is a comodity less saleable among ourselves than most of the produce of the Northern Colonies, and it is in these the staple-- I am seated once more to great sattisfaction in my business, the family and neighbourhood are well, but I propose and expect by the permission of providence to return home the latter end of October; in the mean time, I am, Dear Unkle Your most obliged Nephew PHILIP V FITHIAN P. S. Please to remember me to the family, &c. [JOURNAL] _Thursday 9._ The morning haizy, no Wind, & very warm--I wrote a Letter to Uncle _Samuel Fithian_--After Dinner Mr Carter set out for Williamsburg--by him I sent to the Post-office at _Hobbes-Hole_, My Letters to Mr _Hunter_, Uncle _Fithian_, Miss _Beatty_. & Mr _Peck_--After School in the evening I had an agreeable walk with Mrs _Carter_ in the Garden-- [Illustration: couple walking] _Fryday 10._ Cool but exceeding dry--Writing at my Lecture. Mrs _Carter_ was to day sadly frighted with a Lizard, that lives under the House--After School, with Ben I wakked over to Mr Turburville's to gather Cheries, which are there in great plenty--Mrs _Carter_ in the evening after our return, gave me a Lecture for taking _Ben_ to _Annapolis_ when I went last Home without a waiting-Man--Wrote at my Lecture til eleven. Ben sleeps at the Great-House in the absence of his _Papa_. _Saturday 11._ I was sitting in the Colonels Library I took a Catalogue of the whole of His Books--& he tells me he has left behind him at Williamsburg, with many other things 458 volumes besides Music & Pamphlets.[178] [178] See this catalogue of Carter's library in Appendix, pp. 221-229.