Sup'd with us one Mr Mathews a Steward for Mr Carter in Louden. [_Monday 28_] Breakfasted with us Mr Mathews; he seems to be a man of great Gravity, says little, & Sighs often--The day is warm & vastly mild; it is the first Day we have in all our Rooms been without any Fire--At twelve I rode to Mr Taylors two miles; he was out, I sat half an hour with Miss Taylor & returned to Dinner, the Ride exceeding pleasant, and my Horse seems (as jockeys say) in good Flesh & well prepar'd for our approaching & much wished for Journey--Evening Mr _Simpson_ came in, sup'd & stays the Night. He has last Week, been destilling Mr Carter's Liquor made of Pisimonds--it is soft, mild, of a fair pure Colour, burns clear, but does not answer the Colonels Expectations; so that he does not propose to recommend it to his Neighbours in this or the Neighbouring Counties as a useful experiment. When call'd on for my Toast, at Supper I gave Miss _Jenny Corbin_; Mrs _Carter_ gave Captain _Lee_; & Mr _Simpson_ gave Miss _Jones_. _Teusday 29._ To warm to day for fire, but we have the wind very strong from the West--Mr _Carter_ rode to Court--Soon after Breakfast I receiv'd a Letter from Mr _Andrew Bryan_ of Baltimore, Maryland formerly at College my Class-Mate--the Letter bears Date January 21st 1774 Dated at _Baltimore_. He informs me of his good Health, & that, he shall soon forward my Letters inclosed to him; perhaps kind oppertunity shall have before this hour favoured my wish, & brought to Laura advices of my State--At twelve I rode out, with Ben, an hour & better, the Day vastly windy. About four Colonel Philip Lee's Chariot arrived, in which came four young Misses to be ready for the Dance which happens here tomorrow--I am informed this Evening that Smith the Villian mentioned last Sunday was to day apprehended, & committed to the prison in this County [Illustration: prisoner being taken to prison] _Wednesday 30._ Rainy & cold--The Colonel informed me this morning that the general Opinion of the Gentlemen at Court yesterday seem'd to be that the County would be free'd of three Villians if the old abused Father, the wounded Son & Brother, & the offending guilty Son were to be all hanged--The Day so bad Mr _Christian_ does not attend--Mrs _Washington_ came however, with Miss Jenny her Daughter; the two Fantleroys came also, & Miss Corbin, & Miss Turburville, & one Miss Hale[142] a new _Scholar_--Mr Carters Man play'd & the Dance goes on with great Spirit & neatness. Evening there is as common a good play. Separated all for Bed by half after nine. [142] The Heale family was a well-known one in Lancaster County where they lived on "Peach Hill" and other manor plantations. The name was apparently pronounced Hale all through the eighteenth century. Priscilla Heale was the daughter of George Heale of Lancaster County. Heale had served as a Burgess from that county. _Thursday 31._