Indeed says Mrs Carter at Breakfast, the Lightning, Rain, & Thunder, disturbed me, & kept me padding from Room to Room all Night; I first had the Girls Beds removed as far as possible from the Chimneys--then had lights placed in the passage; and then but without _rest_ or _pleasure_, I wandered through the house silent & lonely like a disturbed Ghost!--It has however effected an agreeable change in the Air; which is now cool & agreeable. I was invited this morning by Captain _Fibbs_ [Gibbs] to a _Barbecue_: this differs but little from the Fish Feasts, instead of Fish the Dinner is roasted _Pig_, with the proper apendages, but the Diversion & exercise are the very same at both--I declined going and pleaded in ex[c]use unusual & unexpected Business for the School--By appointment is to be fought this Day near Mr _Lanes_ two fist Battles between four young Fellows. The Cause of the battles I have not yet known; I suppose either that they are lovers, & one has in Jest or reality some way supplanted the other; or has in a merry hour call'd him a _Lubber_, or a _thick-Skull_, or a _Buckskin_, or a _Scotchman_, or perhaps one has mislaid the others hat, or knocked a peach out of his Hand, or offered him a dram without wiping the mouth of the Bottle; all these, & ten thousand more quite as triffling & ridiculous, are thought & accepted as just Causes of immediate Quarrels, in which every diabolical Stratagem for Mastery is allowed & practised, of Bruising, Kicking, Scratching, Pinching, Biting, Butting, Tripping, Throtling, Gouging, Cursing, Dismembring, Howling, &c. This spectacle, (so loathsome & horrible!) generally is attended with a crowd of People! In my opinion, (others may think for themselves) animals which seek after & relish such odious and filthy amusements are not of the human species, they are destitute of the remotest pretension to humanity; I know not how they came by their form, by the help of which they are permitted to associate with Men, unless it has been (unfortunate for the World!) by an intermixture of the meaner kind of Devils with prostitute Monkeys!--This however, I cannot determine; But I think all such should be deemed by the community infectious, & suspended at least any kind of intercourse, til, either the lineage be settled & recorded, or those shrew'd Characteristicks of a spurious, illegitimate claim to kindred with men be in a good Measure abated. _Sunday 4._ We had last night a flood of rain, the wind North East stormy--No Church to Day--Mr Carter sent down to his Mill-Dam, & channel all his people to try if they can secure them; he gives them Rum, & a Shilling a man-- I read Prayrs, by the desire of the Parents, at the Grave over the deceased Child _Priscilla_, _Nanccy_, _Fanny_, _Betsy_, _Ben_, _Bob_, _Harry_, & Myself, & about forty or fifty Negroes were present. Neither the Father nor the Mother of the Child went out; imitating the example they see in others, & stay from an affectation of overflowing Grief.