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 336 James Maury, his son by this last wife, is a boy of fine parts, and I hear goes now to the college. If the vixen's over-fondness crush him not in the bud, he will, it is to be hoped, make an excellent man, for he knows more than any boy in the country of his age. His sister, the youngest of all, is a pretty girl, but so cockered, that it will not be the old lady's fault if she doth not spoil her quite. I hope better things, however, and that she may take more after poor Socrates than Xantippe.

May God preserve you, is the hearty prayer of your affectionate brother and servant,

", 14th Feb. 1750–1.


 * —I received yours and brother John's kind letters by the Virginia Packet, Captain Aselby.

Since the middle of last August to the middle of November, we have had continual rain, which has done much mischief. As to myself and family, we have been troubled with continual colds and small fevers, but are now, thank God, pretty well recovered.

Cousin Francis Fontaine came from New Berne in North Carolina last November, to see us, and buy some tools which could not be had there, and to hire workmen—a journey of almost four hundred miles. He is well settled in that place, and has much business. He has taken his brother John and some other workmen out with him. He paid a visit to his step-mother, and though she boasts my brother Francis's estate was valued at £1500 Virginia currency, yet she neither gave nor offered him one sous. He has two children, a boy