Mrs _Carter_, & the young Ladies came Home last Night from the Ball, & brought with them Mrs _Lane_, they tell us there were upwards of Seventy at the Ball; forty one Ladies; that the company was genteel; & that Colonel _Harry Lee_,[115] from _Dumfries_, & his Son _Harrey_ who was with me at College, were also there; Mrs Carter made this an argument, and it was a strong one indeed, that to-day I must dress & go with her to the Ball--She added also that She Desired my Company in the Evening when she should come Home as it would be late--After considering a while I consented to go, & was dressed--we set away from Mr Carters at two; Mrs _Carter_ & the young Ladies in the Chariot, Mrs Lane in a Chair, & myself on Horseback--As soon as I had handed the Ladies out, I was saluted by Parson _Smith_; I was introduced into a small Room where a number of Gentlemen were playing Cards, (the first game I have seen since I left Home) to lay off my Boots Riding-Coat&c--Next I was directed into the Dining-Room to see Young Mr _Lee_; He introduced me to his Father--With them I conversed til Dinner, which came in at half after four. The Ladies dined first, when some Good order was preserved; when they rose, each nimblest Fellow dined first--The Dinner was as elegant as could be well expected when so great an Assembly were to be kept for so long a time.--For Drink, there was several sorts of Wine, good Lemon Punch, Toddy, Cyder, Porter &c.--About Seven the Ladies & Gentlemen begun to dance in the Ball-Room--first Minuets one Round; Second Giggs; third Reels; And last of All Country-Dances; tho' they struck several Marches occasionally--The Music was a French-Horn and two Violins--The Ladies were Dressed Gay, and splendid, & when dancing, their Silks & Brocades rustled and trailed behind them!--But all did not join in the Dance for there were parties in Rooms made up, some at Cards; some drinking for Pleasure; some toasting the Sons of america; some singing "Liberty Songs" as they call'd them, in which six, eight, ten or more would put their Heads near together and roar, & for the most part as unharmonious as an affronted--Among the first of these Vociferators was a young Scotch-Man, Mr _Jack Cunningham_; he was nimis bibendo appotus; noisy, droll, waggish, yet civil in his way & wholly inoffensive--I was solicited to dance by several, Captain Chelton, Colonel Lee, Harry Lee, and others; But George Lee,[116] with great Rudeness as tho' half drunk, asked me why I would come to the Ball & neither dance nor play Cards? I answered him shortly, (for his Impudence moved my resentment) that my Invitation to the Ball would Justify my Presence; & that he was ill qualified to direct my Behaviour who made so indifferent a Figure himself--Parson Smiths, & Parson Gibberns Wives danced, but I saw neither of the Clergymen either dance or game[117]--At Eleven Mrs Carter call'd upon me to go, I listned with gladness to the summons & with Mrs Lane in the Chariot