I had an Invitation to go to night to hear Mr Worth, a Baptist Minister preach; Polley, Salley, Ruth, Sister, Dr King were to be along-- But it storms, & has been storming all Day so violently that I have not dared yet to venture myself so far as the Stable to see my Horse--Nature is like your Pulse Laura; There is a constant Succession of black & white, Pain & Ease, Good & Evil--Yesterday was as fair, & to Day as directly the contrary as ever I saw two--Had you ever a Swellyng on your Finger--? It throbb'd--The Pain came & went by turns--This is not my Thought, I stole it from Mr Addison--He tells us of the Conversation & Behaivour of the great Socrates the morning he was to die. "When his Fetters were knocked off, being seated in the midst of his Scholars, and laying one of his Legs over the other in a very unconcerned Posture, he began to rub it where it had been galled by the Iron: And willing to improve every Oppertunity of instructing them he observed the Pleasure of that Sensation which now arose in those very Parts of his Leg that just before had been so much pained by the Fetter. Upon this he reflected on the Nature of Pleasure & Pain in General that they constantly succeed each other"--If you are curious you may read the whole beautiful Story of their Alliance & Marriage in the Spect: No: 183. We poor earthly Creatures are, as to fortune & Feeling, exactly like the Nails in a turning Wheel, to Day up, to morrow Down--Always either sinking or rising. I have been descending for several Days, & am this very Moment down on the cold Earth in which lowly Posture I sincerely tell you I am in good or evil Fortune--fortune kind or cross. forever yours PHILIP. V. FITHIAN. [LETTER OF PHILIP V. FITHIAN TO ELIZABETH BEATTY] Greenwich Decem: 1. 1774. TO LAURA. --"From a Settlement made May 12: 1774 there appears a Balance due from Laura of N. n to Lucius, fifteen Letters & a Visit; the whole to be paid on or before the 20th: of Novem. next ensuing--Which Payment if not well & truely made by the said Laura, within the Time above limited, then the said Lucius is, & by these Presents shall be now & forever possest of the full Liberty of siezing, destraining, or taking any or every Part of the said Delinquents Goods & Chattels, & disposing of the same, as he shall think proper til the said Balance be made up--And in Case there shall be failure of Effects, then it is & Shall be lawful for the said Lucius to take under his immediate Direction the Person of the said Laura--