GENTLEMEN ADVENTURERS 43 



their dwelling, instead of allowing the live-stock to 

 roam up to the very doors. 



Col. William Fitzhugh's description of his planta- 

 tion, written to a correspondent in the mother country 

 sometime between 1681 and 1686, reflects the life, 

 and the average planter's circumstances, so truly, that 

 I cannot do better than give it, just as it came from 

 his pen. "As first," writes he, "the Plantation where 

 I now live contains a thousand acres, at least 700 

 acres of it being rich thicket, the remainder good 

 hearty plantable land, without any waste either by 

 marshes or great swamps the commodiousness, con- 

 veniency and pleasantness yourself well knows, upon 

 it there is three quarters well furnished with all neces- 

 sary house; grounds and fencing, together with a 

 choice crew of negroes at each plantation, most of 

 them this Country born, the remainder as likely as 

 most in Virginia, there being twenty-nine in all, with 

 stocks of cattle and hogs at each quarter, upon the 

 same land is my own Dwelling house furnished with 

 all accommodations for a Comfortable and gentill 

 living, as a very good dwelling house with rooms in it, 

 four of the best of them hung and nine of them 

 plentifully furnished with all things necessary and 

 convenient, and all houses for use furnished with 

 brick chimneys, four good Cellars, a Dairy, a Dove- 

 cot, Stable, Barn, Henhouse, Kitchen and all other 



