& unbiased Judges; & with me beyond all Scruple, it fixes on him the cursed Character of a _Fratricide_!-- _Sunday 18._ The Colonel gave me, at Breakfast the offer of a Seat in his Boat to Church. The Morning was fine, & Nomini-River alive with Boats Canoes &c some going to Church, some fishing, & some Sporting--Mr _Smith_ gave us a very practical Sermon against the common vices here, in particular against the practise of abusing Slaves--The report concerning Boston is much talked off & still confirmed!--We dined all at Mr Turberville's; Miss _Corbin_ looks _fresh_ & _plump_ as ever. Towards evening arose a pretty furious Thunder-Gust, which we hardly escaped on our way home I observed that several, but in special Mr _Carter_ is not pleased with Mr Smith's Sentiments of Slavery. _Monday 19._ The morning fine & cool, & produces in our School at last a fine Fire!--Fire looks & feels most welcome; and I observe it makes our children remarkably garrulous & noisy--I took cold by Saturdays unusual exercise, & to Day have a Pain through my head, sore throat, & the other common troubles in a Cold--This Day begins the examination of The Junior class at Nassau-Hall. Every time I reflect on that Place of retirement & Study, where I spent two years which I call the most pleasant as well as the most important Period in my past life--Always when I think upon the _Studies_, the _Discipline_, the _Companions_, the _Neighbourhood_, the _exercises_, & _Diversions_, it gives me a secret & real Pleasure, even the Foibles which often prevail there are pleasant on recollection; such as giving each other _names_ & _characters_; Meeting & Shoving in the dark entries; knocking at Doors & going off without entering; Strowing the entries in the night with greasy Feathers; freezing the Bell; Ringing it at late Hours of the Night;--I may add that it does not seem disagreeable to think over the Mischiefs often practised by wanton Boys--Such are writing witty pointed anonymous Papers, in _Songs_, _Confessions_, _Wills_, _Soliliques_, _Proclamations_, _Advertisements_ &c--Picking from the neighbourhood now & then a plump fat Hen or Turkey for the private entertainment of the Club "instituted for inventing & practising several new kinds of mischief in a secret polite Manner"--Parading bad Women--Burning Curse-John--Darting Sun-Beams upon the Town-People Reconoitering Houses in the Town, & ogling Women with the Telescope--Making Squibs, & other frightful compositions with Gun-Powder, & lighting them in the Rooms of timorous Boys, & new _comers_--The various methods used in naturalizing Strangers, of incivility in the Dining-Room to make them bold; writing them sharp & threatning Letters to make them smart; leading them at first with long Lessons to make them industrious--And trying them by Jeers & Repartee in order to make them choose their Companions &c &c--Evening after School with Mrs Carter, & the Girls I took a Walk thro the Pumpkin & Potatoe Vines.