upon me--I dare say they are thicker at Cohansie!--Each Wednesday & Saturday we dine on Fish all the Summer, always plenty of _Rock_, _Perch_, & _Crabs_, & often Sheeps-Head and Trout!-- _Thursday 18._ Very ill most of last night with a violent Dysentery; I fear a frequency of this disease will at-length fix & ruin me--It continues to Day, & with no less rage, I cannot eat nor drink, am low Spirited Think constantly of Home;--Sometimes repent my having come into this Colony, & blame myself for having been persuaded to turn out of my road to public Business--But when I reflect closely I justify the Conduct, & resign myself _Body_ & _Soul_ & _Employment_ to God who has the Hearts of all in his hand, & who I am persuaded, if he has any thing for me to do in Life, will preserve, & in a measure fit me for it, if not, I am in his Hand, let him do as seemes good in his Eyes--At Dinner the Colonel invited me to ride with him to a Mill of his which is repairing, about eight miles Distance; I accepted his Invitation, gave the children a few Hours for Play, & went with the Colonel _Ben_ was along--The Face of the earth seems covered with mocking-Birds, but not one of them sing, they seem vastly busy but it is in collecting Food--Not a bird, except now & then _Robbin-Redbreast_ is heard to sing in this Feverish Month--Nature seems cheerless and gloomy! The Evening is hot, but the Ride was agreeable, it was useful too; for I grow much better; The Jolting of the Horse seemed salutary, my Pain subsided, I returned almost wholly relieved in the evening, drank my Coffee, went soon to my Room, gave thanks to my divine _restorer_ & laid me down to rest-- _Fryday 19._ I slept through the night in _quiet_ and ease, & rose perfectly relieved Mr _Carter_ at Breakfast advised me to take with him Some _Salt-Petre_, as a useful Dieuretick but I declin'd--Mr _Grubb_ came in about twelve o-Clock from _Sabine-Hall_. Colonel _Carter_ gave an Entertainment Yesterday to celebrate his Birth-Day; & had a numerous & gay Company.--This young Gentleman (Mr _Grubb_) appears to be a person of Capacity & Improvement; he was Educated in England, & has been assistant to a Merchant on _James's River_ in this Colony for some time past. This Summer he has been totally Idle--He proposes week after week to set out for Williamsburg, & Sail thence home, but he stays. He has much good nature, is an agreeable companion--I pity him.--He seems fond of Miss _Betsy Lee_--But he is too fluctuating in his mind to settle there, or with any Girl whatever Yet-- _Saturday 20._