Diary Entry by Edmund Ruffin, October 11, 1857

Oct. 11. Sunday. Began & at night finished rough draft (12 pages) of a peace on “The Great Error of Southern Agriculture.” Went to the Presbyterian church, where a young stranger preached. All the talk there about our loss by the fire, & speculations as to the cause. We have nothing to induce suspicion. It may have been accidental, by the dropping of fire from a passing & careless negro’s pipe–or it may have been the incendiary act of a secret enemy….