Warm, but clear & dry--Dined with us Mr _Blain_; He gave us a large account of affairs at the Congress, of the City, Country, Manners, Persons, Trade &c--But he swears the Women are coarse & hardy--Evening I informed the Colonel that it is hardly probable I shall continue in his family til his return from the general Court, & at the same time, desired him to give me a discharge so that I expect to have all things adjusted before he leaves Home--We have now entered on the Winter plan, have Coffee just at evening & Supper between eight & nine o-Clock--It is wonderful to consider the Consumption of provisions in this family--I have before spoken of Meat, & the steady Rate of flour weekly, for the great House is 100Lb of which 50 is the finest, & 50 the Seconds--But all the Negroes, & most of the Labourers eat Corn. _Saturday October 1st. 1774._ Wind South West cloudy. After Breakfast with the Boys I went a Surveying along the River round the lower pasture at twelve, _Ben_, _Bob_, _Harry_ all gallop off--I spent the afternoon plotting my work--I paid Sam our Barber for _Blacking_, _Dressing_ &c 12/. _Sunday 2._ Parson Smith is out of the Parish so that we have no service--With _Ben_ I rode to Mr _Washingtons_. Mr Lowe again absent--Dined with us Mrs _Turberville_, Miss _Corbin_, Miss _Pierce_--we found the Colonel in the evening busy at his Instrument of Music--We drank our Coffee & retired early to our Room, & read til ten, then thanking our bountiful Preserver we retired to our bed.-- _Monday 3._ I gave Tom the Hostler, for his care of my Horse 3s--After Breakfast the Colonel settled & paid me for my Years Service 40£ Sterling--This is better than the scurvy annuity commonly allowed to the Presbyterian Clergy--He is very Busy in adjusting his affairs, he set out however, by twelve for Williamsburg, after taking final leave of me--_Ben_ accompanies him to Richmond Court--Afternoon Miss Corbin & Miss Turberville came in to stay a while with Mrs _Carter_. Bob went yesterday to Mr Lanes there was Parson _Gibbern_ ill of his last weeks Bout; he was up three nights successively drinking & playing at Cards, so that the liquor & want of sleep put quite out of his Sences--A rare tale this to relate of a Man of God!--To use the language of the vulgar, "Old Satan will sadly belabour such overgrown Sinners"!-- _Teusday 4._ Dined with us Mrs Turberville and Miss _Letty_ we were all Tete a Tete, vastly merry & garrulous--I gave Nelson for a Stirrup Buckle a Bit--I am preparing my Saddle. Cloth's, Bags, Horse, & myself for the intended Ride-- _Wednesday 5._ Dined with us Mr Taylor, he informs us that the crops of Tobacco are like to be good--Evening I wrote a Letter to Mrs Thornton Northumberland, concerning Mr Leek's coming into her Family as a Tutor--I had a fine walk with the young Ladies through the Pasture--They make me proud by expressing much concern at my necessary Departure, throwing out many Wishes that I would continue with them--