My Mama joins with me in comp^{ts}. to M^r and M^{rs} Pinckney. I send herewith Col^l Pinckney's books, and shall be much obliged to him for Virgil's books, notwithstanding this same old Gentlewoman, (who I think too has a great friendship for me) has a great spite at my books, and had like to have thrown a vol^m of my Plutarcks lives into the fire the other day, she is sadly afraid she says I shall read myself mad. . . . Again in this strain, on the 6th of February, 1741, she writes, showing that although she would have taken a girlish pleasure in amusement, her sense of duty was too keen to allow her to leave the plantation very often: TO THE HONOURABLE C. PINCKNEY, ESQ. Feb^r 6th, 1741. _Sir_:--I received yesterday the favour of your advice as a phisician and want no arguments to convince me I should be much better for both my good friends company, a much pleasanter Prescription yours is, I am sure, than Doc^t Mead's w^{ch} I have just received. To follow my inclination at this time, I must endeavor to forget I have a Sister to instruct, and a parcel of little Negroes whom I have undertaken to teach to read, and instead of writing an answer bring it My self, and indeed gratitude as well as inclination obliges me to wait on M^{rs} Pinckney as soon as I can, but it will not be in my power til a month or two hence. Mama payes her comp^{ts} to Mrs Pinckney, and hopes she will excuse her waiting on her at this time, but will not fail to do it very soon. I am a very Dunce, for I have not acquired y^e writing short hand yet with any degree of swiftness--but I am not always one for I give a very good proof of the brightness of my Genius when I can distinguish well enough to subscribe my self with great esteem. Sir Your most obe^d humble Serv^t ELIZA LUCAS. And again: Why my dear Miss Bartlett, will you so often repeat y^r desire to know how I trifle away my time in our retirement in my father's absence; could it afford you advantage or pleasure I would not have hesitated, but as you can expect neither from it I would have been excused; however, to show you my readiness in obeying y^r commands, here it is.