SIR，——IwasatColo。PeterRandolph’saboutaFortnightago，&mySchoolingfallingintoDiscourse，hesaidhethoughtitwouldbetomyAdvantagetogototheCollege，&wasdesirousIshouldgo，asindeedIammyselfforseveralReasons。InthefirstplaceaslongasIstayattheMountainstheLossofonefourthofmyTimeisinevitable，byCompany’scominghere&detainingmefromSchool。AndlikewisemyAbsencewillinagreatMeasureputaStoptosomuchCompany，&bythatMeanslessentheExpencesoftheEstateinHouse-Keeping。AndontheotherHandbygoingtotheCollegeIshallgetamoreuniversalAcquaintance，whichmayhereafterbeserviceabletome；&IsupposeIcanpursuemyStudiesintheGreek&Latinaswellthereashere，&likewiselearnsomethingoftheMathematics。I
　　shallbegladofyouropinion。
　　OLDCOKEANDYOUNGLADIES
　　_ToJohnPage_
　　_Fairfield，December25，1762_
　　DEARPAGE，——Thisveryday，toothersthedayofgreatestmirthandjollity，seesmeoverwhelmedwithmoreandgreatermisfortunesthanhavebefallenadescendantofAdamforthesethousandyearspast，Iamsure；andperhaps，afterexceptingJob，sincethecreationoftheworld。Ithinkhismisfortunesweresomewhatgreaterthanmine：foralthoughwemaybeprettynearlyonalevelinotherrespects，yet，IthankmyGod，IhavetheadvantageofbrotherJobinthis，thatSatanhasnotasyetputforthhishandtoloadmewithbodilyafflictions。Youmustknow，dearPage，thatIamnowinahousesurroundedwithenemies，whotakecounseltogetheragainstmysoul；andwhenIlaymedowntorest，theysayamongthemselves，comeletusdestroyhim。IamsureifthereissuchathingasaDevilinthisworld，hemusthavebeenherelastnightandhavehadsomehandincontrivingwhathappenedtome。Doyouthinkthecursedratsathisinstigation，Isupposedidnoteatupmypocket-book，whichwasinmypocket，withinafootofmyhead?Andnotcontentedwithplentyforthepresent，theycarriedawaymyjemmy-workedsilkgarters，andhalfadozennewminuetsIhadjustgot，toserve，Isuppose，asprovisionforthewinter。ButofthisI
　　shouldnothaveaccusedtheDevil，because，youknowratswillberats，andhunger，withouttheadditionofhisinstigations，mighthaveurgedthemtodothis，ifsomethingworse，andfromadifferentquarter，hadnothappened。Youknowitrainedlastnight，orifyoudonotknowit，IamsureIdo。WhenIwenttobed，Ilaidmywatchintheusualplace，andgoingtotakeherupafterIarosethismorning，Ifoundherinthesameplace，it’strue！but_Quantummutatusabillo！_allafloatinwater，letinataleakintheroofofthehouse，andassilentandstillastheratsthathadeatmypocket-book。Now，youknow，ifchancehadhadanythingtodointhismatter，therewereathousandotherspotswhereitmighthavechancedtoleakaswellasatthisone，whichwasperpendicularlyovermywatch。ButI’lltellyou；it’smyopinionthattheDevilcameandboredtheholeoveritonpurpose。Well，asIwassaying，mypoorwatchhadlostherspeech。Ishouldnothavecaredmuchforthis，butsomethingworseattendedit；thesubtleparticlesofthewaterwithwhichthecasewasfilled，had，bytheirpenetration，soovercomethecohesionoftheparticlesofthepaper，ofwhichmydearpictureandwatch-paperwerecomposed，that，inattemptingtotakethemouttodrythem，goodGod！_Menshorretreferre！_Mycursedfingersgavethemsucharent，asIfearInevershallgetover。
　　This，criedI，wasthelaststrokeSatanhadinreserveforme：heknewIcarednotforanythingelsehecoulddotome，andwasdeterminedtotrythislastmostfatalexpedient。_”Multisfortunaevulneribuspercussus，huicunimeimparemsensi，etpenitussuccubui！”_Iwouldhavecriedbitterly，butIthoughtitbeneaththedignityofaman，andamantoowhohadread{tononton，tamenephemin，tadokephemin}。However，whatevermisfortunesmayattendthepictureorlover，myheartyprayersshallbe，thatallthehealthandhappinesswhichHeavencansendmaybetheportionoftheoriginal，andthatsomuchgoodnessmayevermeetwithwhatmaybemostagreeableinthisworld，asIamsureitmustbeinthenext。
　　Andnow，althoughthepicturebedefaced，thereissolivelyanimageofherimprintedinmymind，thatIshallthinkofhertoooften，I
　　fear，formypeaceofmind；andtoooften，Iamsure，togetthrougholdCokethiswinter；forGodknowsIhavenotseenhimsinceI
　　packedhimupinmytrunkinWilliamsburg。Well，Page，IdowishtheDevilhadoldCoke，forIamsureIneverwassotiredofanolddullscoundrelinmylife。What！aretheresofewinquietudestackedtothismomentarylifeofour’s，thatwemustneedbeloadingourselveswithathousandmore?Or，asbrotherJobsays，who，bythebye，I
　　thinkbegantowhinealittleunderhisafflictions，”Arenotmydaysfew?Ceasethen，thatImaytakecomfortalittlebeforeIgowhenceIshallnotreturn，eventothelandofdarkness，andtheshadowofdeath。”Buttheoldfellowssaywemustreadtogainknowledge，andgainknowledgetomakeushappyandadmired。_Merejargon！_Isthereanysuchthingashappinessinthisworld?No。
　　Andasforadmiration，Iamsurethemanwhopowdersmost，perfumesmost，embroidersmost，andtalksmostnonsense，ismostadmired。
　　Thoughtobecandid，therearesomewhohavetoomuchgoodsensetoesteemsuchmonkey-likeanimalsasthese，inwhoseformation，asthesayingis，thetailorsandbarbersgohalveswithGodAlmighty；andsincethesearetheonlypersonswhoseesteemisworthawish，Idonotknowbutthat，uponthewhole，theadviceoftheseoldfellowsmaybeworthfollowing。
　　Youcannotconceivethesatisfactionitwouldgivemetohavealetterfromyou。Writemeverycircumstantiallyeverythingwhichhappenedatthewedding。Wasshethere?because，ifshewas，IoughttohavebeenattheDevilfornotbeingtheretoo。Ifthereisanynewsstirringintownorcountry，suchasdeaths，courtships，ormarriages，inthecircleofmyacquaintance，letmeknowit。
　　Remembermeaffectionatelytoalltheyoungladiesofmyacquaintance，particularlytheMissBurwells，andMissPotters，andtellthemthatthoughthatheavyearthlypartofme，mybody，beabsent，thebetterhalfofme，mysoul，iseverwiththem；andthatmybestwishesshalleverattendthem。TellMissAliceCorbinthatI
　　verilybelievetheratsknewIwastowinapairofgartersfromher，ortheyneverwouldhavebeensocruelastocarrymineaway。Thisveryconsiderationmakesmesosureofthebet，thatIshallaskeverybodyIseefromthatpartoftheworldwhatprettygentlemanismakinghisaddressestoher。IwouldfainaskthefavourofMissBeccaBurwelltogivemeanotherwatch-paperofherowncutting，whichIshouldesteemmuchmore，thoughitwereaplainroundone，thanthenicestintheworldcutbyotherhands——however，Iamafraidshewouldthinkthispresumption，aftermysufferingtheothertogetspoiled。Ifyouthinkyoucanexcusemetoherforthis，I
　　shouldbegladifyouwouldaskher。TellMissSukeyPotterthatI
　　heard，justbeforeIcameoutoftown，thatshewasoffendedwithmeaboutsomething，whatitisIdonotknow；butthisIknow，thatI
　　neverwasguiltyoftheleastdisrespecttoherinmylife，eitherinwordordeed；asfarfromitasithasbeenpossibleforonetobe。
　　Isupposewhenwemeetnext，shewillbe_endeavouring_torepayanimaginaryaffrontwitharealone：butshemaysaveherselfthetrouble，fornothingthatshecansayordotomeshalleverlessenherinmyesteem，andIamdeterminedalwaystolookuponherasthesamehonest-hearted，good-humored，agreeableladyIeverdid。Tell——tell——inshort，tellthemalltenthousandthingsmorethaneitheryouorIcannoworevershallthinkofaslongaswelive。
　　Mymindhasbeensotakenupwiththinkingofmyacquaintances，that，tillthismoment，IalmostimaginedmyselfinWilliamsburg，talkingtoyouinouroldunreservedway；andneverobserved，tillI
　　turnedovertheleaf，towhatanimmoderatesizeIhadswelledmyletter——however，thatImaynottireyourpatiencebyfurtheradditions，Iwillmakebutthisonemore，thatIamsincerelyandaffectionately，DearPage，yourfriendandservant。
　　P。S。Iamnowwithinaneasyday’srideofShadwell，whitherI
　　shallproceedintwoorthreedays。
　　AVISITTOANNAPOLIS
　　_ToJohnPage_
　　_Annapolis，May25，1766_
　　DEARPAGE——IreceivedyourlastbyT。NelsonwhomIluckilymetonmyroadhither。surelyneverdidsmallheroexperiencegreatermisadventuresthanIdidonthefirsttwoorthreedaysofmytravelling。twicedidmyhorserunawaywithmeandgreatlyendangerthebreakingmyneckonthefirstday。onthesecondIdrovetwohoursthroughascopiousarainaseverIhaveseen，withoutmeetingwithasinglehousetowhichIcouldrepairforshelter。onthethirdingoingthroughPamunkey，beingunacquaintedwiththeford，IpassedthroughwatersodeepastorunoverthecushionasIsatonit，andtoaddtothedanger，atthatinstantonewheelmountedarockwhichIamconfidentwasashighastheaxle，andrendereditnecessaryformetoexerciseallmyskillinthedoctrineofgravity，inordertopreventthecenterofgravityfrombeingleftunsupportedtheconsequenceofwhichwouldaccordingtoBob。Carter’sopinionhavebeenthecorruitionofmyself，chairandallintothewater。whetherthatwouldhavebeenthecaseornot，letthelearneddetermine：itwasnotconvenientformetotrytheexperimentatthattime，andI
　　thereforethrewmywholeweightonthemountedwheelandescapedthedanger。IconfessthatonthisoccasionIwasseisedwithaviolenthydrophobia。IhadthepleasureofpassingtwoorthreedaysonmywayhitheratthetwoWill。Fitzhugh’sandCol’o。Harrison’swherewereS。Potter，P。Stith，andBenHarrison，sincewhichtimeIhaveseennofaceknowntomebefore，exceptCap’t。Mitchell’swhoishere——butIwillnowgiveyousomeaccountofwhatIhaveseeninthismetropolis。theassemblyhappenstobesittingatthistime。
　　theirupperandlowerhouse，astheycallthem，sitindifferenthouses。Iwentintothelower，sittinginanoldcourthouse，which，judgingfromit’sformandappearance，wasbuiltintheyearone。I
　　wassurprisedonapproachingittohearasgreatanoiseandhubbubasyouwillusuallyobserveatapublickmeetingoftheplantersinVirginia。thefirstobjectwhichstruckmeaftermyentrancewasthefigureofalittleoldmandressedbutindifferently，withayellowqueuewigon，andmountedinthejudge’schair。thisthegentlemanwhowalkedwithmeinformedmewasthespeaker，amanofaveryfaircharacter，butwhobythebye，hasverylittletheairofaspeaker。
　　atoneendofthejustices’benchstoodamanwhominanotherplaceI
　　shouldfromhisdressandphishavetakenforGoodallthelawyerinWilliamsburgh，readingabillthenbeforethehousewithaschoolboytoneandanabruptpauseateveryhalfdozenwords。thisIfoundtobetheclerkoftheassembly。themobforsuchwastheirappearance
　　satcoveredonthejustices’andlawyers’benches，andweredividedintolittleclubsamusingthemselvesinthecommonchitchatway。I