Secret Diary, November 7-25, 1709

7. I rose at 7 o'clock and said my prayers. I ate chocolate for breakfast. We walked about till dinner and then I ate roast beef. We had intended to go over the river again but my sister Custis asked me to [move] her over the Bay and I said I would if Mr. Burwell would. He said he would if his wife would, and she agreed to go and drew us all into the frolic. In the afternoon we rode to my Cousin Berkeley's with designing to take him and his wife with us but he escaped by being from home. His wife was at home and gave us a good supper. I ate boiled beef. Then we had some cherries which had been scalded in hot water which did not boil and then [put] in bottles without water in them. They were exceedingly good. I neglected to say my prayers but had good health, good humor, good thoughts, and good humor [sic], thanks be to God Almighty.

8. I rose at 7 o'clock and said a short prayer. I ate chocolate for breakfast. Then we took our leave of Mrs. Berkeley and went in a [boat] to York where there is a stone church. Then we went over the river to Gloucester Town and about noon went aboard the shallop and sailed down the river with a fair wind. When we came to the mouth of the river it grew calm so that we came to anchor
but soon after the wind began to blow again. We saw a [c-l-n] sloop in the bay which soon put aboard us and the men were so rude we kept them off because we took them for privateers. I ate roast beef for dinner, but the women were frightened with the boat that they could not eat. We lay in the shallop all night but about 5 o'clock in the morning we dropped anchor in [Pigot's] Hole. I recommended myself and all the company to God Almighty and had good health, good thoughts, and good humor, thanks be to God Almighty.

9. I turned out about 7 o'clock and Mr. Burwell and I rowed ourselves ashore because the men were all gone for horses. We went to Mr. Littleton's where I ate milk for breakfast. About 10 o'clock the horses came from my brother Custis and we rode to Arlington which is a great house within sight of the Bay and really a pleasant plantation but not kept very nicely. We walked all over the plantation in which the hogs had done great damage. My brother Custis received us kindly. I ate goose for dinner. In the afternoon we walked again and in the evening Mr. Dunn and his wife came to see us. We ate oysters and were merry together till about 11 o'clock. I neglected to say my prayers but had good health, good thoughts, and good humor, thanks be to God Almighty.

10. I rose about 7 o'clock and read some Greek in Anacreon. I said my prayers shortly and ate roasted potatoes for breakfast. About 10 o'clock we rode to the Cape with design to go to Smith Island but it blew too hard. Among the [. . .] here and everywhere on this shore is a tree called [p-l] tree, a suffusion of whose bark will cause a salivation. The leaves and berries smell of spice. We were
kindly treated at George Freshwater's where I ate beef and potatoes for dinner. Parson Dunn was sick here, who is a man of no polite conversation, notwithstanding he be a good Latin scholar. From hence we rode to Mr. [Harris] who gave us a bottle of good wine, of which he was very generous. Then we went home, where we were merry till 11 o'clock. I neglected to say my prayers but had good health, good thoughts, and good humor, thanks be to God Almighty.

11. I rose at 7 o'clock and read some Greek in Anacreon. I said a short prayer and about 11 o'clock we went to breakfast and I ate goose. In the afternoon we went to visit Colonel Waters, a very honest man, who lives about six miles off. He gave us some good wine called [Saint George's] wine. We took a walk by the side of the Bay and then went to supper and I ate some roast beef. Then we returned in the dark to Arlington where we found some of the women sick and some out of humor and particularly my wife quarreled with Mr. Dunn and me for talking Latin and called it bad manners. This put me out of humor with her which set her to crying. I wholly made the reconciliation. The parson was more affronted than I, and went to bed. I neglected to say my prayers but had good health, good thoughts, and indifferent good humor, thanks be to God Almighty.

12. I rose about 7 o'clock and read some Greek in Anacreon. I said a short prayer and about 11 o'clock ate some goose for breakfast again. Then we rode on bad horses to Hungars to visit colonel Custis who is 20 miles off Arlington. It began to rain before we got there. We were very kindly received by all the family. The Colonel is an honest well-meaning man. About 3 o'clock we went to dinner and I ate boiled beef. Then we took a walk about the plan-
tation. Colonel Waters met us here. In the evening we danced and were very merry till about 10 o'clock. I neglected to say my prayers but had good health, good thoughts, and good humor, thanks be to God Almighty.

13. I rose about 7 o'clock but could read nothing because we were in haste to go to church. I ate milk for breakfast notwithstanding it was here not very good. About 10 o'clock we rode to church which is six miles off. There was the biggest congregation I ever saw in the country. The people look half dead since the sickness which they had last year. Mr. Dunn preached a good sermon. After church we returned to Colonel Custis' again. About 3 o'clock we dined and I ate boiled beef. In the evening we drank a bottle of wine pretty freely and were full of mirth and good humor and particularly Colonel Waters. However we were merry and wise and went to bed in good time by my means. I neglected to say my prayers but had good health, good thoughts, and good humor, thanks be to God Almighty.

14. Before I rose this morning I made a [Quaker] song on John Pleasants and rose about 7 o'clock. I said a short prayer and drank chocolate for breakfast. Then I read a little in Anacreon. About 12 o'clock we went to dinner and I ate goose, which are very good and in great plenty here. In the afternoon we paid a visit to Mr. Hamilton who lives across the creek. He is a man of a bad character and he got the estate nobody knows how. We walked about his plantation and saw a pretty shallop he was building. He was very courteous to us and provided a supper but we could not stay to eat it because it grew dark and it was dangerous to stay late for fear of the dogs which are fierce at Colonel Custis'. In the evening we all designed to be merry but were all out of humor by consent and would neither dance nor drink. About 8 o'clock we went to supper and I ate some mince pie. I neglected to say my prayers
but had good health, good thoughts, and good humor, thanks be to God Almighty.

15. I rose about 7 o'clock with design to return to Arlington but the rain prevented. I said my prayers and read a great deal in Anacreon. About 10 o'clock we went to breakfast and I ate some goose, of which they have great plenty here. The rain did not hold up till towards evening when I took a walk in the garden. Then we went to a play called [burning coals] at which we ran much and were very merry. However some of the women were out of humor, as was natural among so many. About 7 o'clock we went to supper and I ate mutton. Colonel Waters stayed with us to the last. I neglected to say my prayers but had good health, good thoughts, and good humor, thanks be to God Almighty.

16. I rose about 7 o'clock and said my prayers. I read a little in Anacreon. About 9 o'clock we went to breakfast and I ate goose again. It rained a little but that did not discourage us from going; but we took leave of the good company. Then we rode very hard because it rained. Colonel Custis lent me the only good horse I met with on this shore. About 2 o'clock we came to Arlington. I got a pain in my loins I suppose by cold and my brother Custis had a [remembrance] of the gripes. In the evening we were all very dull and therefore we went to bed early. I neglected to say my prayers but had good health, good thoughts, and good humor, thanks be to God Almighty. It blew extremely hard this night.

17. I rose about 8 o'clock and read in Anacreon. The wind was directly contrary so that we could not think of embarking to return over the Bay. I neglected to say my prayers. I ate milk for breakfast, which is hard to be got here. We took a walk about the plantation. About 3 o'clock we went to dinner and I ate goose again. In the afternoon we took a walk of about three miles. In the evening I read some Latin in Horace. We were very merry till about 10 o'clock, notwithstanding my wife was much incommoded with her term which came away in great abun-
dance. I neglected to say my prayers but had good health, good thoughts, and good humor, thanks be to God Almighty.

18. I rose about 8 o'clock and said a short prayer. I read some Greek in Anacreon and some Latin in Horace. I ate milk for breakfast. The contrary wind continued, at which my sister Custis was very uneasy and quarrelled with Mrs. Dunn for persuading my wife to stay so long at Hungars. Here are the worst servants that I ever saw in my life. My wife continued indisposed with a great flux of blood. I took a walk about the plantation. About 3 o'clock we went to dinner. Wine was very scarce here so that we were very moderate. I ate boiled beef. In the afternoon we walked very fast to the church and almost killed Parson Dunn, who was forced to run all the way to keep up with us. In the evening we were as merry as we could till about 9 o'clock. I neglected to say my prayers but had good health, good thoughts, and good humor, thanks be to God Almighty.

19. I rose at [. . .] o'clock on the news the wind was fair, but it soon came contrary again. I said my prayers and ate milk for breakfast. I read some Greek in Anacreon and some Latin in Horace. My sister continued out of humor with us and especially with Mrs. Dunn. About 11 o'clock I took a walk about the plantation, notwithstanding it was very cold. About 2 o'clock we went to dinner and I ate roast beef. The wind blew very cold at northwest. In the afternoon I took a walk again with my friend Horace. In the evening we were as merry as we could. I neglected to say my prayers but had good health, good thoughts, and good humor, thanks be to God Almighty.

20. I rose at 8 o'clock and I read nothing because we dressed to go to church, notwithstanding it was extremely cold, but the women did not go but only Mrs. Dunn. I deferred saying my prayers till I came to church. I ate milk for breakfast. About 11 I walked to church were Mr. Dunn gave us a good sermon. I accosted a man by mistake and put him out of countenance. Colonel Waters' daughter went home with us. About 2 o'clock we went to dinner and I ate goose. In the afternoon we took a walk
to see my sister Custis' child who had a great cold. In the evening Mistress Waters went home. We were very merry till about 9 o'clock. Then I neglected to say my prayers but had good health, good thoughts, and good humor, thanks be to God Almighty.

21. I rose about 8 o'clock and said my prayers. Then I read some Greek in Anacreon and some Latin in Horace. I ate milk for breakfast. The wind continued contrary to us. About 12 o'clock I took a walk about the plantation with my wife. I received a letter from Colonel Custis with a present of [wax] and a kind invitation to make him another visit. I returned my satisfaction by a letter. About 3 o'clock we went to dinner and I ate hashed goose. In the afternoon I took another walk with my wife. In the evening I read some Greek in Homer. About 9 o'clock we returned to our chamber where I read some more Latin in Horace. I neglected to say my prayers and had good health, good thoughts, and good humor, thanks be to God Almighty.

22. I rose about 9 o'clock because the wind continued contrary. I said my prayers and ate milk for breakfast. I read some Greek in Homer and Latin in Horace. Then I took a walk about the plantation. Mr. Dunn and his wife went away out of humor with my sister for her unkind usage. About 3 o'clock we went to dinner and I ate wild duck, which are not so good here as on our shore. In the afternoon we walked again. In the evening [I] read some English verse aloud to the ladies. I went to visit a negro of Mr. Custis' who was very sick. I said my prayers and had good health, good thoughts, and good humor, thanks be to God Almighty.

23. I rose about 8 o'clock and said my prayers. Then I ate milk for breakfast and read some Greek in Homer. The wind continued contrary to us. About 11 o'clock I took a walk with my wife and read in Collier against the stage. About 2 o'clock we went to dinner. The negro that was sick
called Ch----s died this morning. He was one of the best my brother had. I ate goose for dinner. About 4 o'clock we took another walk about the plantation. In the evening I read again in Collier. Every day at dinner we had a bottle of good wine first and then a bottle of bad. I said a short prayer and had good health, good thoughts, and good humor, thanks be to God Almighty.

24. I rose at 7 o'clock because they told us the wind was fair. I said my prayers and ate some milk for breakfast. Then I read some Greek in Homer. The women scolded at my brother Custis so much that he resolved to get the sloop out of the creek, which he did and carried her into [Pigot's] Hole, 3 miles off. We all rode there to try whether we could go, but the wind turned directly contrary. Then we rode back again and about 3 o'clock we went to dinner and I ate boiled beef. In the afternoon I took a walk and read in Homer. In the evening I read aloud to the ladies in Collier. I said my prayers and had good health, good thoughts, and good humor, thanks be to God Almighty.

25. I rose about 6 o'clock because the wind was come fair again. I said a short prayer, gave the servants money, and we all rode away to the Hole with expedition. About 8 we took leave of Mr. Custis and went on board the shallop, notwithstanding the wind was very scanty and blew hard. This made us all very sick and particularly the women. In about five hours we made a shift to reach Back River, for the wind would not permit us to reach York. We went ashore at Mr. Wallace's who was not at home himself, but his wife was very kind to us and gave us a good supper. I ate roast beef. In the evening Mr. Wallace came home and gave us some excellent cider. I said a short prayer and had good health, good thoughts, and good humor, thank God Almighty.