The Morning very cold--Dined with us to-day Mr _Sanford_ a Captain of a Sloop which trades out of _Potowmack_ to _Norfolk_--I wrote out some Exercises for _Bob_ & _Harry_--In the Evening the Colonel began with a small Still to distill some Brandy from a Liquor made of Pisimmonds. I set Ben this Evening to writing. I likewise gave _Catalines_ Speech in _Salust_ to commit to memory in Latin, which he is to pronounce Extempore. In the Evening I borrowed of _Ben Carter_ 15s.--I have plenty of Money with me, but it is in Bills of Philadelphia currency & will not pass at all here. _Teusday 11._ The morning very cold--As cold I think, and the Frost seems to be as intense & powerful as I have ever known it either at Cohansie or at Princeton. This morning I put Ben to construe some Greek, he has yet no Testament, I gave him therefore Esops Fables in Greek, and Latin. I also took out of the Library, and gave him to read Gordon, upon Geography. Ben seem'd scared with his Greek Lesson, he swore, & wished for Homer that he might kick Him, as he had been told Homer invented Greek. _Wednesday 12._ I gave _Sam_ Mr Carters Barber, for shaving & dressing me, & for mending my Shoes, two pisterenes, which pass here for half a Crown--The morning is serene, pleasant, but cold yet. Miss _Hariot_ this morning being over curious tasted some Mercury Mixture in Mr _Randolph's_ Room, it made her very sick; I was frighted, the family was frighted! she puked, & threw it off her Stomach, & was soon relieved-- I gave _Martha_ who makes my Bed, for a Christmas Box, a _Bit_, which is a pisterene cut into two equal parts--I gave to John also, who waits at Table & calls me to Supper a _Bit_. So that My whole Expence to-Day has been _3/9_. Mrs Carter invited me to Day to go to the Ball, I excused myself, & declined it. _Thursday 13._ Mr Cunningham came before Noon to skait--At twelve we all went down to Mr Carters Millpond--none had skaits but Mr Cunningham--we diverted ourselves on the Ice til two, when we went up to dinner--Immediately after Dinner Mr _Carter_ Miss _Prissy_ & _Nancy_ rode out to Mr _Lanes_.--Mr _Cunningham_ staid the Night, Prissy play'd for us--She has since I came made great advances-- _Fryday 14._ The morning very foggy, & warmer--I gave to Tom the Coach-man who cured my Horse two _pisterenes_ & half a _Bit_, which is two & ninepence 2/9. Mr Cunningham breakfasted with us--When I went into School there came a complaint from Miss _Sally Stanhope_[114] of _Bob_ that he was rude, swore, & quarrell'd at Breakfast, poor untoward, unfortunate Boy he gives me great Trouble-- [114] Miss Sarah Stanhope was the housekeeper at "Nomini Hall." _Saturday 15._