Cotton or silk handkerchiefs; I was in distress for them when I first came into the Colony, for every Woman that I saw abroad, I looked upon as ill either with the _Mumps_ or Tooth-Ach!--I say, you will be often observing & comparing these things which I have enumerated, & many more that now escape me, with the manner of spending Money time & credit at Cohansie: You are young, &, (you will allow me the Expression) in the morning of Life. But I hope you have plann'd off, and entered upon the work which is necessary to be performed in the course of your Day; if not, I think it my duty to acquaint you, that a combination of the amusements which I have just now mentioned, being always before your Eyes, & inviting your Compliance will have a strong tendency to keep you doubtful & unsetled, in your notions of Morality & Religion, or else will fix you in a false & dangerous habit of _thinking_ & _acting_, which must terminate at length in Sorrow & despair. You are therefore, if you count any thing upon the value of my advice, to fix the plan in which you would spend your life; let this be done with deliberation, Candour, & precission, looking to him for direction, by fervent Prayr, who is the "Wonderful Counsellor;" & when you have done this, let no importunity of whatever kind prevail over you, & cause you to transgress your own Limitations. I have already exceeded the usual bounds of an Epistle. But you will easily pardon a little prolixity, when I assure you it flows from a heart deeply impressed with a sense of the many difficulties which you must encounter, & the dangers which will surround you when you come first out from the peaceful recess of Contemplation, & enter, young and unexperienced, into the tumultuous undiscerning World. I submit these hints to your consideration, & have nothing more than sincere & ardent wishes for your present & perpetual Felicity. I am, Sir, yours. PHILIP. V FITHIAN. TO MR JOHN PECK. On going to Virginia in Character of a Tutor. [JOURNAL] _Saturday 13._ _Prissy_ took the Ague last Night. She had an easy Fit--This Morning is quite cold, & will, I fear hasten on or at least provoke the present disorders--The good Mr _Stadley_ left us this Morning Breakfasted with us a Gentleman from _Maryland_. At Dinner he was join'd by another from the same Province they are both unknown--I rode out with Miss _Prissy_ to the Cornfield for Exercise--We gathered & brought home some good Roasting-Ears of Corn--Evening came in Colonel _Henry Lee_[195] He is chosen to be one of the seven who represent this Colony in the general Congress to be held next Month in Philadelphia--He sets out next Sunday Sennight-- [195] Richard Henry Lee of "Chantilly." _Sunday 14._