deep from the wall which is supported by three pillars—­On the South side, or front, in the upper story are four Windows each having twenty-four Lights of Glass.  In the lower story are two Windows each having forty-two Lights of Glass, & two Doors each having Sixteen Lights.  At the east end the upper story has three windows each with 18 lights; & below two windows both with eighteen lights & a door with nine....”

“The North side I think is the most beautiful of all.  In the upper story is a row of seven windows with 18 lights a piece; and below six windows, with the like number of lights; besides a large Portico in the middle, at the sides of which are two windows each with eighteen lights....  At the west end are no Windows—­The number of lights in all is five hundred, & forty nine.  There are four Rooms on a Floor, disposed of in the following manner.  Below is a dining Room where we usually sit; the second is a dining-room for the Children; the third is Mr. Carters study, and the fourth is a Ball-Room thirty Feet long.  Above stairs, one room is for Mr. & Mrs. Carter; the second for the young Ladies; & the other two for occasional Company.  As this House is large, and stands on a high piece of Land it may be seen a considerable distance.”

Nor were these houses less elegantly furnished than magnificently built.  Chastellux was astounded at the taste and richness of the ornaments and permanent fixtures, and declared of the Nelson Home at Yorktown that “neither European taste nor luxury was excluded; a chimney piece and some bas-reliefs of very fine marble exquisitely sculptured were particularly admired.”  As Fisher says of such mansions, in his interesting Men, Women and Manners in Colonial Times: “They were crammed from cellar to garret with all the articles of pleasure and convenience that were produced in England:  Russia leather chairs, Turkey worked chairs, enormous quantities of damask napkins and table-linen, silver and pewter ware, candle sticks of brass, silver and pewter, flagons, dram-cups, beakers, tankards, chafing-dishes, Spanish tables, Dutch tables, valuable clocks, screens, and escritoires."[156]

III.  Social Activities

In such an environment a gay social life was eminently fitting, and how often we may read between the lines of old letters and diaries the story of such festive occasions.  For instance, scan the records of the life of Eliza Pinckney, and her beautiful daughter, one of the belles of Charleston, and note such bits of information as the following: 

“Governor Lyttelton will wait on the ladies at Belmont” (the home of Mrs. Pinckney and her daughter); “Mrs. Drayton begs the pleasure of your company to spend a few days”; “Lord and Lady Charles Montague’s Compts to Mrs. and Miss Pinckney, and if it is agreeable to them shall be glad of their Company at the Lodge”; “Mrs. Glen presents her Compts to Mrs. Pinckney and Mrs. Hyrne, hopes they got no Cold, and begs Mrs. Pinckney will detain Mrs. Hyrne from going home till Monday, and that they (together with Miss Butler and the 3 young Lady’s) will do her the favour to dine with her on Sunday.” (Mr. Pinckney had been dead for several years.)[157]