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 
