Thursday 1st. Thermometer at 34 in the Morning—44 at Noon and 42 at Night. A frost this morning which crusted the grd. and formed Ice. Early it was calm & not unpleasant but the Wind blew fresh from the No. Wt. & grew cold afterwards.
Rid by the way of Muddy hole where the people were taking up Turnips to transplant for Seed to Alexandria to attend a meeting of the Directors of the Potomack Company. Also the exhibition of the Boys of the Academy in this place. Dined at Leighs Tavern & lodged at Colo. Fitzgeralds after returning abt. 11 Oclock at Night from the performance which was well executed.
the exhibition of the boys: part of “the public Examinations of the several Schools in the Alexandria Academy, antecedent to the autumnal Vacation. . . . In the Evening the Pupils of the Rev. Mr. M’Whir delivered public Orations before a large and respectable Audience, among whom were present General Washington, and the greater Part of the Principal Inhabitants, Ladies and Gentlemen, of the Town and the Neighbourhood: After which Prizes were distributed” (Va. Journal, 8 Nov. 1787). George Steptoe Washington, GW’s nephew, won a prize in Latin and ancient geography. leighs tavern: George H. Leigh operated the Bunch of Grapes Tavern on the corner of Fairfax and Cameron streets.