to replant peas, but had not enough of the large kind to make good the deficiency, but plenty of the small, black eyed Peas.

Sheared the few sheep I had at the Ferry to day

Fanny Washington and the two children, Nelly & Geo. Washington,1 together with Miss Nancy Craik came home yesterday whilst we were at Dinner.

Thursday 8th

Mercury at 72 in the morning 76 at noon, and 73 at night.

Clear in the forenoon and calm, about one O'clock a cloud arose in the No West quarter wch spread extensively, and before 3 began to rain fast and continued to do so near half an hour during this flurry the wind blew fresh from the westward, but after the rain ceased it came back to the Southwest and continued moderate until some time in the night when it got to the No Wt & blew pretty fresh.

Rid to the Plantations at Dogue run and Muddy hole, and to the tumbling dam of Dogue run, where I had begun with two hands from each Quarter, and two carpenters, to repair the breaches which had been made by the late rains. After having got the water stopped, in order to lay the wooden frame, the run swelled so much (occasioned by the rain which fell this afternoon as to carry away the greatest part of the earth and rendered the labour of the day of little effect.

Still setting, & replanting corn at Dogue run and Muddy hole in the Drilled fields, the last of which with replanting pease in the same would be compleated this day.

Rid through My rye at Muddy hole which would have been fully equal to what might have been expected from the grd had it not been for the rains which had broken down & tangled the straw and occasioned a number of white, & unfilled heads.

The Eastern shore Peas (according to the information of my overseers in the neck) were sowed yesterday (by the barrel plow) in the ground which had been put in rib work (that never came up) — there were 10 rows of the Peas and a little being left I ordered him to dibble in what remained in additional rows.

Cut all the Clover at the Ho House to day, & the small spots of grass round the sweet brier Circles, also some under the Trees at the N° end of the House by the Smiths shop to day, and put the clover in wind rows accept the part last cut.

Mr Wallace came here to dinner & stayed all night.

1 Eleanor Parke Custis and George Washington Parke Custis, children of Martha Washington's son, John Parke Custis.

Mercury at 70 in the Morning, 77 at noon- and 74 at night.Morning clear and pleast with the wind at N° West but not fresh, nor had it changed the air cooler.

Mr. Wallace went away after breakfast. and I rid to Muddy hole & River Plantations, the heaviness of the Plowing and wetness of the land had encreased by the late rains nothing indeed but the backwardness of the season and rapid growth of the grass & weeds could justify working ground in the condition the plowed land is.

Passed through the wheat at Muddy hole this day, found it upon the whole as good as was to be expected from the impoverished state of the land. Though there is a good deal of cheat in the freshest part of the ground, and the spick, (blasted grains) more or less in all - Finished replanting the corn & Peas in the drilled ground at Muddy hole this Morning about nine O'clock, and not yesterday as was expected, & began to replant corn in the cut adjoining.

The drilled corn in the Neck had also been gone over, and the people were replanting in the other field. Tho' by much too wet for such busi

ness.

Agreed this day with Mr Thorpe to do my Plaistering in any of the rooms in, or abt the house & to repair the lathing at 7d pr Square yard. Got all the clover hay into small cocks this afternoon.

Mr Shaw went up to Town to day on my business & returned in the evening.

Saturday 10th

Mercury at 66 in the morning 72 at noon- and - at night.

A heavy lowering Morning with the wind at East. — at times the Sun appeared for a few momts but generally the clouds were heavy with distant thunder in the S° Wt quarter in the afternoon tho' no rain fell here.

Rid to the Plantations at Muddy hole, Dogue run, and Ferry, took the Mill in the way, Finished replanting corn this morning at the Ferry wholly, and yesterday at Dogue run in the ground which was drilled. Began to hoe corn at the Ferry (on the hill) which is the first plantation in order for it and here it ought to have followed the plows, the work of which is backward on acct of their having been stopped.

Turned the Cocks of clover hay today - and put all the rest of the grass except that which was cut this afternoon late into Cocks.

Major Washington returned in the afternoon from Fredericksburgh.

In my ride to day I visited the labourers at the Tumbling damfind it will employ them the greatest part of next week. - Wed with the hoes the Millet or Corn grass in the Neck today.

Sunday - 11th

Thermometer at 68 in the Morning 80 at noon and 75 at night. A heavy fog in the Morning and cloudy most part of the day, with great appearances of rain but none fell, winds At East in the Morning so' not much of it fresh afterwards from the S° West till 6 O'clock when it came out at N° Wt

Sometime after candles were lighted Col° Senf came in.

Monday-12th

Mercury at 68 in the morning 72 at noon and 69 at night

Morning early was calm, but about 7 o'clock the wind sprung up at No West and blew pretty fresh till late in the afternoon when it became calm.

I rid to the Ferry, Dogue run, and Muddy hole plantations and to the people who were working at the Tumbling dam.

Finished replanting Corn at Muddy hole on Saturday last & began late in the afternoon of Thursday to hoe the drilled Corn at that place. Also finished breaking up the cut of drilled Corn nearest the Barn, which compleated the last breaking up of the whole corn ground at that Plantation.

Began to cut the meadow near the wood, at Dogue run about 10 O'clock today. - and got all the clover & other Hay into large cocks this afternoon.

Mercury at 68 in the morning 75 at noon- and 73 at Night.

Rid to the River, Muddy hole & Dogue run Plantations — At the first found the plows in the Eastermost cut of drilled corn; where they had begun yesterday Morning and were going over it the 2d timethe hoes, which had got into it yesterday about 2 O'clock (after having finished replanting Corn) were following in the same cut - the plows would get through it about noon, and the hoes nearly, if not quite done by night.

Found the Flax Just beginning to blossum at this place where it was rankest.

At Muddy hole the plows had this Morning, finished breaking up and were beginning to cross plow in the cut next the drilled Corn.

At Dogue run the people would but just finish replanting Corn by night and would begin to weed with the hoes the drill Corn on the East side of the field where the potatoes were planted.

Finished cutting the meadow (into which 5 mowers went yesterday) 3 or 4 O'clock.

Stopped the water of Dogue run at the Tumbling dam today and turned it into the run.

On my return home found Judge Harrison1 of Maryland and Mr. Rawlins both here, the last of whom went away after dinner.

Mercury at 68 in the morning 74 at noon- and 76 at night. After an early breakfast Judge Harrison left this for his own house and In Company with Col° Senf, I set out for our Works at the great falls; where we arrived about 11 O'clock and after viewing them set out on our return & reached Col° Gilpins where we lodged.

Mr Rumsey 2 was not there (at the Falls) having gone that morning to Seneca but Mr Stuart the assistant was present.

This day was clear and warm with but little wind from the Southward.

Thursday-15th

Mercury at 70 in the morning 82 at noon and 82 at night.

Clear with little wind and very warm.

Took Alexandria - My Mill dam meadow at Dogue run and the Plantation there-as also the Ferry Plantation in my way home. Found the tumbling dam all but new laying the sheeting, and filling below it compleated directed all the Breaches in the run & the leak at Piney Branch dam, to be thoroughly repaired before the hands should quit.

Found the Hay which had been cut in the upper meadow nearly cured, and four mowers in the meadow next the Overseers House. About 2 O'clock in the Afternoon Doct' La Moyeur came in with a servant, Chaise & 3 Horses.

Friday - 16th

Mercury at 74 in the Morning 82 at noon and 80 at night.

Clear with but little wind in the Morning about 10 or 11 o'clock a breeze sprung up from the Eastward but died soon afterwards again in the Afternoon at S° West.

1 Robert Hanson Harrison.

James Rumsey (1743-1792).

-rising

Finished My Mill race and Dam this afternoon.

Began about 10 O'clock to put up the Book press in My study.

Saturday - 17th

Mercury at 76 in the Morning 85 at noon- and 83 at Night.

Calm and very warm all day with but little wind and that Southerly

at times it was a little Cloudy and at night there were thunder and lightning but no rain.

Rid to all the plantations today. In the neck the Hoes and Plows were in the last (Westerward Cut, the first got to work in it about noon yesterday, and the latter about 3 or 4 O'clock in the afternoon both having passed through the Middle Cut, compleating as they went.The Three hoed harrow would about get through the East-most cut (Alternate rows) by noon. The oats were beginning to shoot forth the heads. At Muddy hole plantation, the Hoes having overtaken the Plows, that were crossing went to weeding the drilled Peas and I directed them to replant both Potatoes and Cabbages where missing in the same field. At Dogue run the Hoes appeared to have made little progress in weeding the drilled field first because it was tedeous among the cabbages, Potatoes & Pease but principally because the ground had got so rough & matted with grass as to require much labour. - At the Ferry the Hoes had weeded the corn in the cut on the Hill and about 10 O'clock had begun in the flat below next the meadow fence & adjoining the drilled Corn examined the Wheat again to day, & concluded that at best half of it is destroyed.

Doct' La Moyeur & Maj. Washington went up to Alexandria to day. The latter on my business, they dined there & returned in the evening - just as we had dined Capt" Smith of Mr Ridout's Brig. Mr Wallace a passenger in it for Bordeaux, and Doct' Mortimer (going as far as Norfolk in her) came in and had dinner set for them.

Mr. Hough, Butcher in Alexandria, came here this afternoon & purchased from me three fatted beeves (2 in the neck & 1 at Dogue run) for which he is to pay next week £42 also the picking of 12 Weathers from my flock at 34/- p1 head-if upon consulting my Farmer & they could be spared he was to have 20.

Mercury at 78 in the Morning 84 at Noon- and 78 at night.

Calm, clear, and very warm in the forepart of the day. - At 2 O'clock a cloud arose to the Westward; and a pretty heavy shower of rain fell