While we were at Breakfast came from Hobbes-Holes Mrs _Oakly_ a Woman who has acted as nurse for several of Mrs Carters Children with great credit--All the family speak of her with Love & regard--This day is very warm, but no rain--I gave all the Girls this day to chat with their old acquaintance--Tho' the weather is warm & very Damp we have here no Musquetoes; I have not seen one, since I came into the Province as I can now recollect which seems to me a little strange; for at Princeton in Jersey some warm evenings in July & August they are so numerous as to be troublesome, & that is more than twenty miles from Salt Water, this not more than three times as many _Rod_.--In the evening, among several other things Mr Carter informed me that he has on this plantation a Negro Man called Prince who is now unwell of a Strain--This Man, he swears, he would not sell for 500£ ready Cash--I was almost ready to say it is more Money than I would give for all he owns on his Estate--The evening is very pleasant I had an oppertunity on the Pavement before the Hall Door of shewing away on Astronomy to Mrs _Carter_, I lectured for half an hour on the Milky-Way, on several of the Stars, on Jupiter in particular, & on the Course of Comets-- In bed by half after ten as usual. _Wednesday 6._ Ben seems pretty well recovered--We dined to day on the Fish call'd the Sheeps-Head, with Crabs--Twice every Week we have fine Fish, & every Day good Fruit for Dinner, caudled Apples, Hurtle-Berries with milk &c--Yes, says Mrs Carter at Supper, this hot weather takes away all my life; the small Lightning that we now have makes me uneasy & melancholy--I love to see her in such Distress--_Beauty_ & _Virtue_ when combined together & Strugling against Misfortune; O how such objects move, & awaken the most delicate sensations of our Souls--Call in Nancy to her Guitar, says the Colonel. In She minces slow & silent from her supper--She scratches her Instrument, after a long preparation, into the Air of "Water parted from the Sea." What, pray Miss Nancy, what bewitched you with a desire of clipping your Eye-Brows--The Genius of Woman shines forth in this little Girlish trick--Pray Mr _Fithian_, was you ever taught Singing? Yes Sir, I attended two years--Had you any instructions in particular for using the Shake[184]--I am giving Nancy some Lessons, but She is vastly indolent--Nancy, play over and sing the Funeral Hymn--Excuse me, Papa, I have lost the Verses--Happy Soul, thy Days are ended,--Go on--How steady & how sharp it lightens in the North too--Good Night. [184] A trill, or rapid reiteration of two notes comprehending an interval not greater than one whole tone, nor less than a semitone. _Thursday 7._