I would have the spelling of your name corrected, but the catalogue is sent off, and I suppose by this time is in the press. I must thank you for the good news you give me concerning the young lady's health. I was very uneasy about the account we heard before you left princeton. We go on pretty well in College, but I hope we shall have two or three of the _possessed swine_ turned off when the Doctor comes home. Do write me every week and give what news you can. I am, Sir, Your friend. ANDW HUNTER. [JOURNAL] _Wednesday Sept: 8._ Received a Letter from Mr Hunter--No News from Princeton--Nor Virginia--Evening Mr Paterson came home with Uncle.[38] [38] Probably Samuel Fithian, the brother of Philip's father. Philip refers to him as "Uncle Fithian" on other occasions. * * * * * [LETTER OF PHILIP V. FITHIAN TO ELIZABETH BEATTY] Greenwich. Sept: 10th: 1773. TO LAURA. I hope the World is using you very well, & that you enjoy yourself in Contentment; & the Society of your Friends with Pleasure. The Reason of my saying this, is, because many People here are often enquiring about you; Where you live? How you do? When you will return? The Cause of your Absence?--And forty other things that none knows, or ought to speak of, but yourself. You inform me that you propose to be at the approaching Commencement: It will not be in my Power, with any Convenience, to go--I can, however, give you a Caution; Let not Pity so much affect you, nor Fear so much alarm you, as again, (you remember last Fall) to excite Tears in your Eyes, or one sorrowful Ake in your Breast, if any of Nassau's bold Sons shall attempt once more, to support their Right by suppressing Impertinence & Violence. There are many going from Philada &, I am told, some Ladies of Note & Eminence--There are many expected from the Southern Colonies--And, because of the Connexions, many from York, & the New-England Goverments. The Assembly, no Doubt, will be large, & splendid--And I hope the Exercises may be worthy their Attention & Approbation. Nothing hinders my being there but only my Purpose of going soon to the Southward. I may not omitt telling you that--Smith as we were returning Home, pitied you from his Heart; An agreeable, & sensible young Lady, separated from genteel Society, & prisoned in a Room in the Woods, in the Midst of an unpleasant Country, like a penitent Virgin conscious of her Sins, voluntarily retiring to a lonely Monastary!--But he forgot, Laura, that infelt Peace, makes us always happy, even tho' our Circumstances be apparently distressful. I am, Eliza, yours PHILIP. V. FITHIAN. [JOURNAL] _Wednesday. Sept: 15._