Dam is so broad that two carriages may pass conveniently on it; & the Pond from twelve to Eighteen Foot water--at the fork Mr Carter has a Granary, where he lands his Wheat, for the mill Iron from the Works &c-- [141] A merchant mill was a mill in which flour was manufactured and packed for sale. The owner of such a mill customarily purchased wheat for manufacture. In Virginia it was a common practice for the owner of the mill to pay for the wheat in flour. A mill used exclusively for grinding grain for local consumption was called a grist or custom mill. A portion of the grist was usually allowed the owner for his services. In the Evening Mr _Carter_ sent for _Ben_ & I to play over the _Sonata_ which we have lately learn'd; we performed it, & had not only Mr Stadleys Approbation, but his praise; he did me the honour to say that "I play a good Flute." He took a Flute also and play'd; which put me in mind, at once, of the speech of the Shepherd in virgil.--Non tu in Triviis, indocte, solebas Stridenti miserum Stipula disperdere cament [carmen]. For when compared to him, the best that Ben or I can do, is like Crows among Nightingales--We play'd till ten, and separated, I gave to Miss Harriot, for saying a good lesson, half a Bit-- _Saturday 19._ The morning still wet & disagreeable--Last night I dreamed much of the Girl, which, I most of all others, esteem, & admire; of _Laura_; But oh! I dreamed She was treacherous!--If it be true, I must suppress the Greatness of my Disappointment by reflecting that I had not well enough considered this Sentiment of the _poet_, That,--Varium et mutabile Femina--I discover weakness when I am writing in this manner; but Anxiety, and mighty-Love carry me over the bounds which I set for the regulation of my conduct--Dreams indeed are vain & false; But perhaps _Laura_ may think that Lovers vows are vain & trifling as they!--I spend the day in my Room looking over the Catalogue of the _Reviewers_ for August, September, October & November 1773.--Ben, & Bob, & Harry, out tho the Day is bad--Mr _Stadley_ is yet busy with the young Ladies-- _Sunday 20._