Wednesday 22d. Mercury at 82 in the Morning—84 at Noon and 80 at Night.
Calm, and very warm in the forenoon. About one Oclock it began to cloud, and to thunder. Soon after which the clouds parted, and powerful rains went above, and below us. Very little more than laid the dust fell here, but we had a pretty high Wind from the Westward.
After Breakfast Mr. & Miss Ballendine and Mr. Bushrod Washington went away. And just as we had done dinner Colo. Bassett & his two Sons, Burwell & John, arrived.
The little rain which fell prevented my continuing to pull the Seeds of the blew or English grass altho there was not a sufficiency to wet the Earth.
Burwell Bassett was a member of the Virginia Senate, where he served from 1777 until his death in 1793. Burwell Bassett, Jr. (1764–1841), eldest surviving son of Burwell Bassett, enjoyed a long career in the Virginia House of Delegates (1787–89, 1819–21), the Virginia Senate (c.1794–1805), and the United States House of Representatives (1805–13, 1821–29). He resided at Eltham, which he inherited at his father’s death in 1793. John Bassett (1765–1826), a lawyer, lived in Hanover County. In 1786 he married Elizabeth Carter Browne, daughter of William Burnet and Judith Walker Carter Browne of Elsing Green, King William County.