Together with my Cold I have to Day a most disagreeable gathering on my middle Finger--I keep myself at home reading Logic--Evening the Colonel invited me to walk with him; he took me to his Mill, _Coopers_, _House_, _Channel_, _Meadows_ &c, and was vastly particular in describing to me their particular uses--I begin to look with eager Sollicitude to the time of my revisiting my friends & Relations--It is, happily near-- _Sunday 25._ The morning clear cool & very dry--I rode to Ucomico-Church, I was surprised when the Psalm begun, to hear a large Collection of voices singing at the same time, from a Gallery, entirely contrary to what I have seen befor in the Colony, for it is seldom in the fullest Congregation's, that more sing than the Clerk, & about two others!--I am told that a singing Master of good abilities has been among this society lately & put them on the respectable Method which they, at present pursue--I dined at _Mr Fishers_, among others I saw there, Dr _Steptoe_, & Mr _Hamilton_ who have lately been to Philadelphia--They give various Reports concerning political affairs, & as to the Congress nothing certain, so that I say nothing on that Score--Their Remarks on the City & Inhabitants; The Country &c are curious--They allow the City to be fine, neat, & large; they complain a little of the small Rooms, Uniformity of the Buildings, & several other like faults--They call the Inhabitants grave & reserved; & the Women remarkably homely, hard favour'd & sour!--One Colonel Harrison[204] from a lower County in this Colony, offer'd to give a Guinea for every handsome Face that could be found in the City, if any one would put a Copper on every Face that did not come up to that Character!--This is an impeachment of the Ladies which I have never heard before, I do not give my opinion either for or against it--The face of the Country, & the method of farming that way delights them: but at this I dont wonder. [204] Probably Benjamin Harrison of "Berkeley" in Charles City County, who attended the Congress in Philadelphia in 1774. _Monday 26._ Yesterday the Inspector, whom I have named & described before, desired the Parson to wait on them in his family and christen his Child--Is the child sick? No Sir--Why then today? it is the Mothers Desire Sir--Why was it not brought to Church? The Mother is unwell, Sir--The Parson excused himself, & promised to come some Days hence, but the long winded officer, inured to Stubbornness, hung on, &, without moderation or Apology _demanded_ his presence!--And prevail'd.-- Something in our palace this Evening, very merry happened--Mrs _Carter_ made a dish of Tea. At Coffee, she sent me a dish--& the Colonel both ignorant--He smelt, sipt--look'd--At last with great gravity he asks what's this?--Do you ask Sir--Poh!--And out he throws it splash a sacrifice to Vulcan-- [Illustration: man with telescope] _Teusday 27._