Journal of a Young Lady of Virginia, 1782

Journal of a Young Lady of
Virginia, 1782, by

Lucinda Lee Orr
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Title: Journal of a Young Lady of Virginia, 1782
Author: Lucinda Lee Orr

Release Date: September 1, 2007 [eBook #22487]
Language: English
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OF A YOUNG LADY OF VIRGINIA, 1782***
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JOURNAL OF A YOUNG LADY OF VIRGINIA
1782.

[Illustration]
Printed and Published For the Benefit of the Lee Memorial Association
of Richmond, By John Murphy and Company, No. 182 Baltimore
Street, Baltimore. 1871.
[Illustration]
Entered, according to Act of Congress, in the year 1871, by Emily V.
Mason, in the Office of the Librarian of Congress, at Washington.

PREFACE
[Illustration]
The following pages contain a fragment of the Journal of a young lady
of Virginia of the last century.
It seems to have been written by her while on a visit to her relatives, the
Lees, Washingtons, and other families of Lower Virginia, mentioned in
her Journal.
The friend for whom it was intended was Miss Polly Brent, also of
Virginia.

The manuscript was found torn, and discolored by age, in an old desk
at the country place in Maryland, to which Polly Brent carried it, upon
her marriage into one of the old families of that State.
The Lees, of whom so much mention is made in the Journal--"Nancy,"
"Molly," "Hannah," and "Harriet"--were the daughters of Richard
Henry Lee, of Chantilly. Molly married W. A. Washington, and
Hannah was--at the time of the Journal--the wife of Corbin Washington.
Their grandson, John A. Washington, was the last occupant of Mount
Vernon.
Harriet married the son of Mrs. Turberville, the "old lady" spoken of in
the manuscript.
Ludwell Lee, a son of Richard Henry Lee, married the "Flora" of this
chronicle. She was a daughter of Philip Ludwell Lee, of Stratford, and
sister of Matilda Lee, the first wife of "Colonel Henry Lee;" whose
little boy is mentioned as so "fine" a "child." Colonel Henry Lee was
none other than "Light-horse Harry;" the "little boy," his eldest son
Henry, half-brother to General Robert E. Lee.
It is believed the publication of this Journal will be well received, at a
period when everything relating to the family of General Lee is of
peculiar interest. It presents, also, a curious picture of the life and
manners of that day.
There will be found in it many errors, and some antiquities of
orthography, which it has not been deemed advisable to correct. It is
believed that the Journal will be more entertaining in its original state
than it would be with the aid of any amendments that we might make.
It is certainly the work of a very clever girl, and possesses all that
freedom of style and charming simplicity which is so pleasing and so
rare.
Had the writer anticipated any criticism more searching than that of her
amiable Polly, her style and orthography would doubtless have been
more correct, and her Journal quite as commonplace as most of those
that find their way into print.

The proceeds of the sale of this little volume will be devoted to the
"Lee Memorial Association of Richmond," which must further
commend it to the favor of the public.
JANUARY, 1871.

[Illustration]
JOURNAL
OF A
YOUNG LADY
OF VIRGINIA.

1782.
Sept. 16.
FROM LUCINDA TO MARCIA
THE WILDERNESS, September 16.
[Sidenote: "Wilderness" Residence of John Grymes, Esq., who married
Miss Fitzhugh, of Eagle's Nest. One of this family was Gen. Robert
Lee's grandmother.]
I hear you say, "The Wilderness! where in the world is that, Lucy?" It
is the name of this place. I can't say I was much struck with the
situation of the House; but they are as kind, good People as I ever saw.
Sept. 17.
To-day is Sunday. Old Mrs. Gordon lives in sight of this [place]. One
of her Daughters is just come--Lucy Gordon--very clever, though not a

Beauty.
A Mr. Spotswood and his Lady are come to dine here. I must dress, of
course.
They are gone.
Mrs. Spotswood, I think, is very Affable and agreeable, though not
handsome. She has invited us to see her, and we shall go day after
to-morrow.
I have spent the day pretty agreeably. Lucy Gordon is to stay with me
to-night.
[Sidenote: