Mrs _Carter_, this morning, with _Prissy_, _Nancy_, & _Bob_ went in the New-Coach to the _Dance_ at Stratford, the morning is mild, fair & cool--The Colonel informed me that now his Mill-House Bake-Houses, Store Houses &c. with a clear unobstructed navigation is compleated, & that, he will rent them all to a Person properly qualified--or gladly employ a person who is capable, trusty & industrious enough to be the sole Director of so great & valuable Property--Dined with us captain _Walker_--He threw out several exceeding unpopular Sentiments with regard to the present amazing Disturbances through the Colonies--One in special I think proper to record because it fixes his Character, & declares him, in Spite of all pretence, an enemy to America--He asserted that no Officers (at Boston or elsewhere) are obliged, either by Law, or Right, to question or refuse any kind of orders which they receive from their Sovereign, or commanding Officer--But I account every man, who possesses, & publishes such sentiments in this Crisis of the Fate of a vast Empire, as great an enemy to America at least, as Milton's _Arch-Devil_ was to Mankind!--After School, we took the Theodolite, the Colonel along, & run several Lines, He seems perfectly well acquainted with the Art. _Saturday 17._ At eight I dismiss'd my small charge. Immediately after Breakfast I took some Boys, & went a Surveying; _Ben_, impatient of tiresome scurvy Home, strain'd off through the County--I run in to Dinner, the Colonel & I dined alone, we drank a Glass of Madeira, as a Health to absent Friends, after which I went again to the Field & survey'd till six in the evening; The Business of this Day has been to go round the inner Pasture About half an Hour after Sunset (when Women who love their Husbands & Families always come Home) Mrs Carter & the Girls arrived from Stratford She informed us that there was a large, genteel, and agreeable Company at the Dance; that the Ague & Fever have been & continue troublesome in that Neighbourhood; & that Word is arrived from Boston that Governor Gage has fired on the Town, & that it is expected his orders are to burn & beat it to Destruction! _Ben_ returned about seven from Westmoreland Courthouse--He informed us that Mr _Sorrels_ Negroes had their trial there to Day, concerning their accusation of entering their Masters House in the night with an intention to murder Him--It was there proved (so far as Negroes evidence will go) that a Brother of this Sorrels early last Spring bribed some Negroes to Poison his Brother; & when that diabolical Attempt could not succeed, he has since tried to perswade them to murder Him!--But all Evidence against the Negroes was so weak & dark that the judges ordered them to be whiped & dismised them--Though the Law considers all Testimony given by a Negro against a White-Man as weak & unsubstantial; yet what the Negro said to Day on Oath of the younger Mr Sorrel, seems to gain much Belief with many who are candid,