West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1888-06-21
LETTER FROM WASHINGTON,
MOUNT VERNON,
March, 1850. I
mr.. John FdirJa1:

As l am now in the act of bidding
an adieu 20 my home-for longer
time perhaps than l wish-I will in
form you that il is my intention (if
your exertions shall appear TO de-
serve iO TO make the wages of the
year you are engaged for fifty pounds
instead of forty, although l consider
myself under no legal or honorary
obligations TO do sony only motive
for it, being, to encourage you 10
use every endcavour in your power
to promote my interest, under the or
ders and directions Of my newaew,
the Major, who will be entrusted with
the general management of all my
concerns during my absence.
have very good opinion of your
honesty, sobriety and industry-and
now is the time to give me proofs of
your capacity and skill, for however
necessary and important the three
first are. they will not be sufficient
without the latter. / have often re.
marked TO you, and l repeat it once
more; that continuance in the ar
rangement of busidess, and happy
mack in having it executed by an ob.
servance Of method arc the distin-
gushing characteristics of good
manager. Indeed they are of such
Infinite consequence that no estate
can be we'll conducted without; for
unless the different kinds of business
which occupy the labourers of every
plantation or farm can be brought
into one view, and seen in time, and
a due proportion OF work exacted'
from the hands that are performing
it, the different kinds of work will
forever be interfering with and in the
way of each other. Nor is there any
way TO avoid but by looking forward
in time by judicious arrangement,and
by making those who are to execute
1t, do what is reasonable and proper
without suffering so much time to be
spent in the house under pretence of
sickness, which is, in many cases, no
other than the effects of night walk
in5 and fatigue.
IL is with pain receive the Satur-
day nights report, for no week passes
away without diminution of my
stock. Nor is it less painful to me
to SEQ the condition of my work
horses-somo dying and orhers
scarcely able TO walk alone. And to
these l might add as n matter Of no
less concern and establishment, that
it is idle and vain for mo TO attempt
10 stall feed any kind OF meats when
| have only my expense for my
trouble, without q Joint Of meat which
is fit to appear at a gentleman's ia
BILE. Aut / will rest and hope that
all these things will undergo q change
for the better.
am not inclined to your bringing
any horse here of your own. Mine
are adequate to all the services that
my business will require and more
would only add cxpence without
profit far ] need not tell you that
there must he no more running about
whilst am absent than if / was on
the spot. Indeed 1 have too good an
opinion of you to suppose it neces-
sary to remind you of this act Of jug
tiee.
AS / have already given you plans
of those plantations which are placed
under your immediate care, and haYe
detailed the business OF each in the
best manner my time and Judgment
would enable me to do, l shall add
nothing more on this head than briefly
10 observe 10 you, thaL NJ 10 from the
Major, with whom shall correspond,
that you will receive further instruc-
tons with respect to such matters as
have not been detailed or concerning
any alterations in these which have.
II you have any matrimonial
scheme in view. do not wish To be a
let or hindrance to the accomplish
ment Of It, or to your bringing a wife
into tho family. She may eat with,
and N all respects fare as you do.
In all that are reasonable and not in-
convenient, am ready and willing
to indulge you, being your friend,
GEO. WAsHINGrON.