e cleverest plan of life that
can be imagined. You exchange your land for Edgehill, or I mine for
Fairfields; you marry S----y P----r, I marry R----a B----l, join and
get a pole chair and a pair of keen horses, practise the law in the
same courts, and drive about to all the dances in the country
together. How do you like it? Well, I am sorry you are at such a
distance I cannot hear your answer; however, you must let me know it
by the first opportunity, and all the other news in the world which
you imagine will affect me."

... "With regard to the scheme which I proposed to you some time
since, I am sorry to tell you it is totally frustrated by Miss R. B.'s
marriage with Jacquelin Ambler, which the people here tell me they
daily expect. Well, the Lord bless her! I say: but S----y P----r is
still left for you. I have given her a description of the gentleman
who, as I told her, intended to make her an offer of his hand, and
asked whether or not he might expect it would be accepted. She would
not determine till she saw him or his picture. Now, Will, as you are a
piece of a limner, I desire that you will seat yourself immediately
before your looking-glass and draw such a picture of yourself as you
think proper; and if it should be defective, blame yourself. (Mind
that I mentioned no name to her.) You say you are determined to be
married as soon as possible, and advise me to do the same. No, thank
ye; I will consider of it first. Many and great are the comforts of a
single state, and neither of the reasons you urge can have any
influence with an inhabitant, and a young inhabitant too, of
Williamsburg. Who told you that I reported you was courting Miss
Dandridge and Miss Dangerfield? It might be worth your while to ask
whether they were in earnest or not. So far was I from it, that I
frequently bantered Miss J----y T----o about you, and told her how
feelingly you spoke of her. There is scarcely any thing now going on
here. You have heard, I suppose, that J. Page is courting Fanny
Burwell. W. Bland and Betsy Yates are to be married Thursday
se'nnight. The Secretary's son is expected in shortly. Willis has left
town entirely, so that your commands to him cannot be executed
immediately; but those to the ladies I shall do myself the pleasure of
delivering to-morrow night at the ball. Tom Randolph of Tuckahoe has a
suit of Mecklenburg silk which he offered me for a suit of
broadcloth."

... "I have not a syllable to write to