"_Strong_, & _sweet_ are the Bands which tye us to our Place of Nativity; If it be but a beggarly Cottage, we seem not satisfied with the most rich & splendid Entertainment if we are separated totally from it.

"But if a Princess should ask me to accept together with herself, 50,000, Sterling pr Annum; I declare with as great Pleasure as Truth that the Esteem and Fidelity which I possess for my ever-dear Eliza would make me, without Reflection, evade & refuse the Offer."

This is not strained Panegyrick; it is still the faintest Image of my Heart, tho' the Sentiment may seem strong & improbable.

PHILIP. V FITHIAN.

[LETTER OF PHILIP V. FITHIAN TO PRISCILLA CARTER]

Philadelphia Octr. 12th. 1775.

MADAM.

It gave me high satisfaction when I saw your brother first in our province. I was cordially glad.--He came unexpected, and that circ.u.mstance increased my pleasure at seeing him at all. He is now in this city--Has been in several parts of East and West Jersey--Has tolerable health--And a steady cheerfulness, which I am willing to believe, arises from pretty constant entertainment.

I hear with much surprise, that none of my letters, since I left your family, have been so fortunate as to arrive safe. I impute this to the jealousy of the public, concerning the contents of letters pa.s.sing through the continen[t].

Mr Peck carries you, with these, my best wishes--That you may rise rapidly in the early improvement of your mind in each useful and ornamental undertaking to which you may be directed--That you may have much real unmixed happiness in the friendships which your age and rank will soon lead you to form--And that the transporting scenes which at a distance, you discover to be painted on your future life, may, as they rise before you one after another, give you as much peaceful enjoyment as so great imperfection can bestow.

You will please to give my best duty to your dear Mama.

I shall write to Miss Nancy. Do not fail by any means whatever, to mention me to Miss _f.a.n.n.y_, _Betsy_, and _Harriot_--Dear Harriot, Dear Betsy, dear f.a.n.n.y--Lovely, lovely Girls! And Tasker too, if he has not forgot me, O tell him,--Tell them all how much I want to see them--Tell them I will surely come for such impatience as mine cannot bear disappointment.

You will also please to give my kind respects to Miss Sally Stanhope, and to all the family without one exception.

May I ask you to send me a line? My desire of se[e]ing as well as hearing from you is so strong I will venture--O write; three lines, if you send no more, will put you to some little trouble, but none can tell how welcome three lines from you would be to

Your most obliged, And most humble Servt: P. V. FITHIAN TO MISS PRISCILLA CARTER.

[LETTER OF PHILIP V. FITHIAN TO ANN TASKER CARTER]

Philadelphia Octobr: 13th. 1775.

MISS NANCY:

No Dances, and but little music! You will begin to ask what is the world coming to?--No Tea, nor Gause, nor Paris-net, nor lawn, nor lace, nor Silks, nor Chintzes; Good Sirs--Good Sirs!--Well Nancy, in these hard times, I must want Stocks, and you must want Caps--But you look best, when I recollect, in your Hair; you look ten thousand thousand times over the best without any Cap at all, so that in spight of me I shall be outdone. I want to know how you and the Guitar agree yet--

Pray do you ride out often? If you do, who rides with you; or do you boldly ride alone?--Tell me who is yet mistress at Checks--I believe, if you will allow me to guess at so great a distance, it is f.a.n.n.y. My dear Nancy I want much to see you. I would give this moment my hand full of half-Bits, or their value in coppers, if I thought you wish to see me.

Good-by, Good-by PHILIP V. FITHIAN TO MISS NANCY CARTER.

[LETTER OF PHILIP V. FITHIAN TO ROBERT BLADEN CARTER]

Greenwich Octobr: 16th. 1775.

SIR.

It gives me pleasure to hear by your brother and Mr Peck, that, in continual health, you are growing rapidly to l.u.s.ty Manhood--I am more pleased to hear that by growing industry you are rising faster in the progress of your education. Diligence overcomes all difficulties, Be diligent, in a proper course of business, and you will be great.

Mr Peck informs me that Henry has left the school and is in an other way of business; I wish him success in whatever course fortune shall lead him in. You will give him my kind respects. I should have written him a letter but I am drove on to the last hour of your brothers stay before I finish these.

Mr Peck or your Brother can inform you farther in any questions of my place and business,

I must now write myself dear Bob always respectfully

Yours PHILIP V. FITHIAN

MASTER BOB CARTER Virginia

[LETTER OF PHILIP V. FITHIAN TO COUNCILLOR ROBERT CARTER]

Greenwich Octobr. 17th. 1775.

HON: SIR.

I was much gratified at your indulgent permission of your Son to visit, for a time, these northern Provinces. I think it will on the whole, be several ways advantageous to him. When I first saw him, he was feeble, and daily feverish; now he is better--He attended the commencement at Princeton; has been some time in Philadelphia--Seems cheerful--I think entertained--And will not return home without having made some useful observations--I am however fearful, that his const.i.tution is not sufficiently vigorous, without scrupulous attention to exercise and nourishment, to afford him lasting health.

With regard to the public concerns they are here at so high a pa.s.s, and so complex, I must refer you to _Ben_ and Mr _Peck_.

I hear with great anxiety of Mrs Carters Illness; but hope, through the kindness of auspicious Heaven, that before you receive these, She will again enjoy her usual health. You will please to remind her of my constant strong esteem; it flows from the remembrance of a succession of unmerited kindness.

I have wrote frequently since I left your family, but am surprized to hear that all my letters have been intercepted or lost.

I am, Sir, with great truth & Esteem

Your most obliged Most obedient Servant PHILIP V. FITHIAN

TO ROBT: CARTER ESQR.

Virginia.

APPENDIX

[CATALOGUE OF LIBRARY OF ROBERT CARTER COMPILED BY PHILIP FITHIAN.]

FOLIO'S

Molls large correct map of the whole world.

Chamber's Dictionary of the Arts & Sciences 2 Vols Suplement to Ditto 2. Vol.

Millers Gardeners Dictionary.

Postlethwayts Do. of Trade & Commerce 2. Vol.

Bayley's Etymological Ditto.

Laws of Maryland.

Puffendorf's Law of Nature & Nations Salmons universal Traveller 2. Vol.

Grotius on War & Peace.

Lockes Works 3 Vols.