Title: To George Washington from George Clinton, 5 March 1785
From: Clinton, George
To: Washington, George

Dear Sir
New York 5th March 1785

I wrote you on the 26th December inclosing a Deed &c. which I hope came safe to Hand. In that Letter I also mentioned my having shipped on Board of a Vessel bound to Suffolk several small Articles for your Excellency, the Gentleman to whom they were addressed has since advised Colo. Walker of their safe arrival at that place, and promissed to forward them by the first safe Conveyance, so that before this I flatter myself you must have recevd them. It was not a Little unfortunate that having been disapointed by the Change of Voyage in the first Vessel on Board of which they were to have gone, that we shipped them for Suffolk, but a very few days before a Vessel of Colo. Sears’s was advertised for Alexandria and which I have since been Informed Landed some Articles for your Excellency at your own House.
I now send by the Ship Gustavis Capt.  which is to sail on Monday next for Alexandria, one Barrel of small white Indian Corn and a Box both marked GW the latter contains a Glass Case with Wax or Grotto Work, presented by Mr Francis to Mrs Washington and by him left with Mrs Clinton to forward. I have put it up with all possible Care and earnestly hope it may arrive safe, tho’ I confess I would not be willing to Insure it as it appears to me to be a very Ginger Bread piece of work—If any of the parts should get loose they must be fastened with a little Rosen and white Wax—this is the makers direction which he desired might be communicated.
In Consequence of your Excellency’s last Letter I applied to Mr Beekman for the Grape Vines in order to forward them by the present Conveyance, It being about the proper Season, but to my great disappointment I find there is no such Thing—They were put in his Garden after a very tedious passage from Europe and not a single Cion lived nor did one of the seeds which accompanied them ever come up. Mr Beekman informs me that Mr Williamous was apprized of this in July last, and

that from their bad Condition when put in the Ground he had little hopes of their growing and when he found they did not, he said he would bring over a new Assortment from France for which place he Sailed last Fall.
The River yet remains shut up with Ice so that it is not possible at present to procure the other Plants as soon as it is they shall be forwarded.
Should the Indian Corn succeed, and I presume the present will be sufficient to make the Experiment it will be best to procure at least every three years new Seed from this Quarter.
Mrs Clinton begs you to present her Affectionate respects to Mrs Washington and joins in sincerest wishes for your Felicity with Dear Sir your most Affectionate Humble Servant

Geo. Clinton

P.S. Colo. Walker will transmit your Excellency the Capt. Receipt for the Articles now Shipped with advice where to find them at Alexandria—The Box should be brought from thence by Water as it will not bear Land Carriage.


Title: To George Washington from Patrick Henry, 5 March 1785
From: Henry, Patrick
To: Washington, George

Dear sir
Richmond [Va.] March 5th 1785

The Bearer hereof Mr Alexander Donald wishes to have the Honor of presenting himself to you, & has entreated of me to sollicit for him permission to do so.

I take the Liberty therefore to introduce him to you, not doubting but you will find him agreable. With the highest Esteem & Regard I am Dear sir, your most obedient Servant

P. Henry


Title: To George Washington from Robert Lewis & Sons, 8 March 1785 [letter not found]
From: Robert Lewis & Sons
To: Washington, George

Letter not found: from Robert Lewis & Sons, 8 Mar. 1785. On 5 April they again wrote to GW: “We had the pleasure of writing to your Excellency the 8th Ulto by Post.”


Title: From George Washington to John Witherspoon, 8 March 1785
From: Washington, George
To: Witherspoon, John

revd Sir,
Mount Vernon 8th March 1785.

From the cursory manner in wch you expressed the wish of Mr Bowie, to write the Memoirs of my life—I was not, at the moment of your application & my assent to it, struck with the consequences to which it tended: but when I came to reflect upon the matter afterwards, & had had some conversation with Mr Bowie on the subject; I found that this must be a very futile work (if under any circumstances it could be made interesting) unless, he could be furnished with the incidents of my life, either from my papers, or my recollection, and digesting of past transactions into some sort of form & order with respect to times & circumstances: I knew also that many of the former relative to the part I had acted in the war between France & G:

Britain from the year 1754, until the peace of Paris; & which contained some of the most interesting occurrences of my life, were lost; that my memory is too treacherous to be relied on to supply this defect; and, admitting both were more perfect, that submitting such a publication to the world whilst I continue on the theatre, might be ascribed (however involuntarily I was led into it) to vain motives.
These considerations prompted me to tell Mr Bowie, when I saw him at Philada in May last, that I could have no agency towards the publication of any memoirs respecting myself whilst living: but as I had given my assent to you (when asked) to have them written, & as he had been the first to propose it, he was welcome if he thought his time would not be unprofitably spent, to take extracts from such documents as yet remained in my possession, & to avail himself of any other information I could give; provided the publication should be suspended until I had quitted the stage of human action. I then intended, as I informed him, to have devoted the present expiring winter in arranging all my papers which I had left at home, & which I found a mere mass of confusion (occasioned by frequently shifting them into trunks, & suddenly removing them from the reach of the enemy)—but however strange it may seem it is nevertheless true, that what with company; referrences of old matters with which I ought not to be troubled—applications for certificates, and copies of orders, in addition to the rotine of letters which have multiplied greatly upon me; I have not been able to touch a single paper, or transact any business of my own, in the way of accots &[c]. during the whole course of the winter; or in a word, since my retirement from public life.
I have two reasons, my good sir, for making these communications to you—the first is, by way of apology for not complying with my promise in the full extent you might expect in favor of Mr Bowie. The second is, not knowing where that Gentleman resides I am at a loss without your assistance, to give him the information respecting the disordered state of my papers, which he was told should be arranged, & a proper selection of them made for his inspection, by the Spring. Upon your kindness therefore I must rely to convey this information to him; for tho’ I shou’d be glad at all times, to see Mr Bowie here, I should be unhappy if expectations which can not be realized (in

the present moment) shou’d withdraw him from, or cause him to forego some other pursuits which may be more advantageous to him. My respects if you please to Mrs Witherspoon. I have the honor to be &c.

G: Washington


Title: To George Washington from Jacob Read, 9 March 1785
From: Read, Jacob
To: Washington, George

Sir
New York 9th March 1785

When I had the pleasure to See you last Summer at Mount Vernon I believe I informed you in answer to a question on the Subject that Congress had received a Copy of the Roll of Negroes &Ca taken by the Commissioners for Superintending the Embarkations at New York at the time of the removal of the Refugees and British Garrison from this City—I now find I was mistaken and that the one I had Seen in the office of the Secretary of Congress was only of 168 Negroes being the last Inspection of the Whole and made on board some Transports at that time at Anchor at Staten Island—The General roll never has been seen by Congress and is at this time wanted to enable our Ministers in Europe to proceed to execute the Instructions of Congress of 1783 on the Subject of Negroes Carried off in Contravention of the Treaty of peace.
I request Your Excellency to forward the Document alluded to as early as possible.
As I embark in a day or two for So. Carolina to be absent for 2 or 3 Months I cannot flatter myself with the pleasure of any Correspondence with you till my return unless I can tender you any Service in Charles Town—I beg you’l Command me in such Case Without reserve and assure yourself I Shall feel the greatest pleasure in obeying your Commands.
The Public Prints will ere this have informed you that Mr Jno. Adams is elected Minister to the Court of London. I had

the happiness to Succeed in my endeavours to Send Col. Wm Smith as Secretary to the Legation. Mr McHenry of Maryland now in Congress offerrd himself & there were sevl other Candidates but finding himself not likely to be elected, Mr McHenry with a wonderful dexterity rose & nominated the very man whom he in a conversation with me had offered a great many arguments to defeat, it was the Coll’s wish to Stand on the Nomination of So. Carolina, but we were Supplanted by this little Son of Esculapius, however Smith was at once Elected.
Congress Yesterday Elected Genl Knox Secretary at War. I put Coll Walker of your late Family in Nomination & he had an Honourable Support. The Sallary is Cut down to Twenty four hundred & fifty Dollars, not I am Sure Sufft to render it worth Genl Knox’s acceptance. With this Idea I brought forward Col. Walkers Name—he woud have been Elected but the New Englanders thought Genl Knox wou’d accept & rely on the future generosity of Congress to make him Some Allowances of Hou. rent travelling expences &Ca.
From the want of a full Congress the great national questions Still remain untouched & will not be attempted till late in the Spring When tis hoped we may assemble the Whole force of the Union & try if we can Act as a Nation, which by the bye I very much doubt now the Common tye of danger is removed.
Do me the favour to present my most respectful Complements to Mrs Washington.
I thank your Excellency for you[r] full Communications in answer to my Enquiries. They afforded me great Satisfaction & have confirmed sevl Opinions I had early adopted. I am with the greatest respect & regard Sir Your most obedt and most Humle Servt

Jacob Read


Title: To George Washington from William Grayson, 10 March 1785
From: Grayson, William
To: Washington, George

Dear Sir
New York March 10th 1785.

I had the honor of your favor of the 22nd of Jany just as I was setting of from Dumfries, and I should have answered it from Mr Orr’s in Loudoun, where I was detained some time on

account of Mrs Grayson’s illness, if I had not wish’d for more time to reflect on the subject matter of it: It would have giv’n me great pleasure (if my particular situation would have permitted) to have waited on you at Mount Vernon and to have convers’d with you on the occasion as I could in that case have entered more fully into the different circumstances than it is practicable to do by any communication on paper; I shall now however give you the best information in my power, as also my own sentiments with the utmost candor & sincerity; It was talk’d of by gentlemen of the House that some mark of attention and respect (not barely complimentary) should be paid you by your native Country; that the other States in the Union knew you only as an American, but that your own knew you as an American and a Virginian; the only difficulty was, how to fall on any expedient that might not wound your feelings on the one hand or be unworthy of the Legislature on the other; While matters remain’d in a situation altogether inconclusive, a gentleman of the Ass[embl]y made a motion respecting you, which it was thought adviseable to oppose on the principle of particular impropriety; however it was soon discovered from the temper of the House that if the question had been put it would have been carried without a dissentient as those in the opposition would also have voted for the measure; recourse was therefore had to intreaty & he was prevail’d on to withdraw it, on being promis’d a plan should be brought forward which should in some degree imbrace his views as well as the wishes of the House; accordingly the act which took effect was presented the next day, & immediately pass’d both Houses.
Some of the reasons which suggested it were these; It had appeared by conversations out of doors, on the passage of the river bills, that the House were anxious (as you had patronized them and opened their importance to public view) that the credit of the undertaking should be ascrib’d to yourself & it was wish’d that this might appear by some public act of the legislature; In pursuing this idea, it was thought that such an act might with propriety contain a grant of a certain number of shares to yourself which at the same time that it would be an instance of the attention of the House might also serve in part as a reason for taking up the subject and introducing the other matter; It was reasoned by those who countenanc’d this particular

plan, that the grant when measured by the European scale (the only criterion by which it could be judged) was so relatively inconsiderable, as to exclude every idea of it’s being looked upon as a reward for services; that the value of the subject was so precarious, & depended on such a variety of circumstances as almost to prevent the sensation of property in the mind; That the act would carry to Posterity an evidence of the part you had acted in this great undertaking, the remembrance of which would be kept up by the possessions which were granted by the Assembly and retained by your family; That under every view of the subject it could be considered in no other light than the Act itself set forth, an honorable testimonial of the gratitude & affection of your native Country; The gentlemen who favored this particular mode, designedly contracted the number of shares in order to guard it against the objections which you now suppose it to be liable to, as the blank with equal facility might have fill’d up in such a manner as to have comprehended objects of much greater magnitude; The idea of your being subjected to the performance of any particular service never once occurred and so far from it’s being suppos’d that you are in any degree circumscribed by the act I am perfectly satisfyed you will yourself confer the obligation by the acceptance; I will not pretend to say that the House do not wish you to devote some portion of your leisure reflections to the furtherance of this great national object; this is also I verily believe the case with every man in the State who has reflected on the matter; indeed numbers rest the success of the measure in a great degree on such an event; But then Sir this is hop’d for, not as the effect or condition of the act but merely as the result of your own inclinations; they suppose such a line of conduct will at the same time be highly honorable to yourself & that this is one of those few great objects on which you can now with propriety fix your attention; The House I am convinc’d would feel very sensibly if they suppos’d you concieved yourself to be less independant on this account, or that any act of theirs should have a tendency to prevent you from offering your advice to your Country whenever you concieved it to be necessary.
These were the ideas which prevaild in general on the occasion; there was a great variety of sentiments, and a great deal said about the matter particularly with[ou]t doors where every

man spoke his mind freely; indeed candor obliges me to inform you that there were not wanting some who thought you were plac’d in a situation which call’d for assistance of a very different nature from the present; With respect to what you hint as to it’s being considered in the light of a pension, I am satisfyed it can never be the case under any view of the subject; indeed I cannot concieve there can be any such thing in our goverments according to the ideas generally annex’d to it, and if instead of a precarious unproductive property it had been the grant of an annuity from the United States, I think it would not have been liable to this appellation, for I look upon the uninfluenced grant of a free people in a very different light from a gift which proceeds from the caprice of Princes or Ministers and which is always supposed whether true or false to be founded on the principle of favoritism; this distinction is preserved in the Brittish constitution & is productive of sensations essentially different, the one conveying the idea of personal favor and the other that of acknowledg’d merit; if then the grants of parliament in a Monarchy are looked upon as highly honorable to the person who recieves them, how much stronger ought the impression to be in a republican government, where the principle of action is always suppos’d to be Virtue. Upon the whole however as you have plac’d so much confidence in me as to consult me on the occasion, and as the subject is a very delicate one, I would rather advise that you should not accept the grant at present in any other manner than that of acting under it, leaving your ultimate decision to time & future reflection. There are persons in the world interested in defeating the whole undertaking, and from motives of resentment alone might be induc’d to misrepresent the purity of your intentions; & though I have not the least doubt myself of the propriety of your accepting the grant yet it would be a painful reflection in me to think I had recommended a measure which had the most distant tendency in lessening you in the estimation of the world; it is certain if I had thought it not  decidedly right, I never would have voted for it as a representative of the people; and I have every reason to believe that this was the case with every member of the House, who never would have offered a thing which they conciev’d it was improper in you to recieve; If you should at a future period and after the maturest consideration find yourself

unalterably determined against converting it to your own use, you will always have it in your power to appropriate either the principal or profits to public purposes of essential utility; though this will contradict the desires and wishes of your fellow Citizens, and counteract the purposes which gave rise to the measure, I think it will be less objectionable than an absolute rejection in the first instance It will shew a willingless on your part to comply with their request as far as your own sensations would permit you; I hope however that at some future period, and after you have thoroughly weighed all the circumstances, you will find yourself disposed as well from the propriety of the thing itself, as the impulse of your own feelings towards your parent State, to accept of the grant in the manner originally designed by the legislature, and that the same may go and descend to your representative agreable to their intentions; The Assembly of Virginia have no doubt a reguard for your interest, but I am satisfyed they have a much higher one for your personal fame & honor. I shall now leave this subject with observing that there are strong reasons to be urged against your parting with the favor  giv’n you by the act, and which in my opinion essentially reguards the success of the undertaking, but as your own feelings are connected with the subject I find a repugnance in pressing them in point of delicacy, I shall therefore leave them & their operations to the suggestions of your own mind making no doubt they will have such an effect as the magnitude of the object and your attachment to it’s success may with propriety point out. With respect to the Aspen & Yew trees, I beg leave to acquaint you, that I sent to Sprigg’s ford to see if the tree which the Doctr had giv’n me had produc’d any scions, and was inform’d there were none; I then applied to Mr Landon Carter who had several at his plantation on Bull run; Mrs Grayson whom I left at Mr Orr’s promis’d me to carry them behind her carriage to Dumfries & to send them from thence to Mount Vernon together with any scions of the yew tree which she with the assistance of Doctr Graham & Mr R. Graham, might be able to procure. We have very little news here, Mr Marbois has inform’d us there will be no war between the Emperor and the Dutch, & the Minister of the latter expresses himself to the same purpose, but neither have communicated the terms of the pacification.

Congress are engaged in a plan for opening their Land Office on the Western waters.
In recommending a plan for extending their powers in forming Commercial treaties.
In regulating the Post Office and in making a Peace establishment. They have directed a treaty to be form’d if practicable with the Piratical States on the Coasts of Africa; I expect a Minister will be appointed to the Court of Spain after the arrival here of Don Diego Gardoqui; & one I presume will be appointed to Holland in the room of Mr Adams who goes to the Court of St James. I have the honor to be with the highest respect Yr Affecte friend & Most Obedt Servt

Willm Grayson


Title: To George Washington from Alexander Hamilton, 10 March 1785
From: Hamilton, Alexander
To: Washington, George

Dr Sir
New York March 10:1785

I am requested by Mr Oudinarde to transmit you the Inclosed Account —I observed to him that it was a little extraordinary the account had not been presented before; and that it was probable your accounts with the public had been long since closed, and that, by the delay, you may have lost the oppurtunity of making it a public charge, as it ought to have been. But as the person was very importunate I told him I should have no objection to be the vehicle of conveyance to you. In this view I transmit the account; and remain with much respect D. Sr Yr Obed. & humb.

Alex. Hamilton

⟨Mrs⟩ Hamilton joins in compliments to ⟨Mr⟩s Washington.


Title: To George Washington from John de Neufville, 10 March 1785 [letter not found]
From: Neufville, Jean (John) de
To: Washington, George

Letter not found: from John de Neufville, 10 Mar. 1785. On 8 Sept. GW wrote de Neufville: “I have lately been honored with your favors of the 10th & 15th of March.”


Title: To George Washington from James Rumsey, 10 March 1785
From: Rumsey, James
To: Washington, George

Dear Sir
Bath [Va.] March the 10th 1785

Your favour of the 22d Ultimo has Just Came to hand And it gives me much Uneasyness that I Should though unintentionly, have gave you So much trouble abought Ryans note, as well as not Comeing up to my promis in the Repayment of the money you Lett mr Herbert have on my acount, I am also hurt that from the present apearance of things you have Reason to think me a person not posessed of the Least honor Or Delicacy, to be Capable, as you have Very Justly Observed, of Sending you the note of a Shufling player, for Shufling he Certainly is, But your goodness Sir, is Conspecuous in your Letter to me (as well as on all Other ocations,) to give me Such Indulgences as you have proposed at a time when you have Reason to think I Do not Deserve it. But although I am Senceable that nothing I Can offer as Excuse Should be Receivd as full Satisfaction as the money was not paid yet I trust that you may not think So hard of me when I give you a Detail of my proceedings after I had the honour of Seeing you Last. I Stayed at Richmond near two weeks after my buisness was Done Endeavouring to get Sum money of Ryan But To Little purpose Except Sufisiant to pay my Expences I then Toald Him the Solemn Ingagement I was under to you For the payment of fifty pounds in a few weeks and as I thought It might tend to make him punktial I took the Liberty to have the note drawn in your name But never Intended you Should See it much more to have So much troubl with it. When I was On my way home I met with a Mr Klinehoof of Alexandria knowing him to be a Safe hand, and thinking my acquantance with Mr Herbert, would Intitle me to ask him a Small favour, as I Conceivd it, I Enclosed the note in a Letter to

him and beged him In the most Serious and pressing terms to Send the note to his freind in Richmond for payment against the Day it was Due and if the money was Obtained to give it to you Immediately But by no means to present the note to you that it was only Drew in your name to urge the other to payment. my hearing no more of the matter for Sumtime gave me hopes that the money was Receivd by Mr Herbert, A bought the first of Febuary I had an Opertunity of writeing to Mr Herbert abought the matter and Sum other Buisness But to my great Surprize his answer Respecting the note was—“The note being Drawn In the Generals name I Delivered it to him,[”] This answer gave me great uneaseyness Least it Should turn out as it Realy has. I had one Chance that I thought good in Berkeley to get the money where it was Due me, But all my Indavours proved Inefectual or I Should have Immediately Came Down, I therefore waited the Event of Ryans note with great anxiety, your Letter Announced it and your Indulgence Exceeded my most Sanguine Expectations. I had an Opertunity to Richmond and pressed Ryan hard to pay the note had no answer but heard of his Sickness and his Since Removeing to Norfolk if you will be kind enough to Leave the note with Mr Herbert when I Come or Send to alexandria perhaps I may yet get in his favour to forward it to Ryan if not I Can have it home.
Respecting your houses Sir, they will Shorely be built agreeable to your Directions, and would have been had I not have heard from you at all as I had Spoke to a man before I went to Richmond that kept two or three workmen to build me the kitchens and Stables of all the houses I had to build, my Stay was So Long that before I got home the Loggs were all hewed the Shingles got and are all on the Spott Readey for Raising. I hope Sir you Will not Disaprove when I tell you of my proceedings Respecting your Big house, nor Constru it Into a Desire of me to Revive our old agreement, But I have it under way the window Shutters Doors and Sash are All made and the most of the moaldings Every Inch of the Stuff is Sawed and I have agreed with a man to frame and Raise it against the first Day of may, I Shall not Call upon you nor Draw any Orders more for money nor Do I Desire that you Should Send me any Except you Can Spare it with the greatest Convenance, and I now give you my word that I Will not Distress myself to finish it if I find I Cannot Do it without, I will Quit when I have it Inclosed which

I Can Do with But Little more Expence, and it will then Be as Secure against the weather as if it Was Done.
Respecting my Boats[,] Georgia & South Cariline I have petioned, North Carolina I have But have not heard what they have Done, maryland, I hear has gave me an Exclusive Right under a redemtion by the Legeslature, pensylvania has Done the Same, the Jerseys threw it out of the house by a majority of four, new york asembly was not Siting which was the farthest that I made applycations to northward—I have made many neat and accurate Experiments with my Boats Since I Saw you, and find She far Exceeds my Expectations on the first Experiments made Last fall I find She will go a greater proportion of the Velosity of the water in Rapid Currents than Slow ones. the Reason is, the friction is nearly the Same In Boath Cases, it therefore takes a greater part of the force of a Small Current to over Come it, when a Very Small proportion will Do it with Ease in Rapid water, I have Deduced a Rule from Experiments By which I can tell what Quantity of paddle Boards a head, to Each tun, the Boat Caryes, is nesasary to go up with any proportion you think proper to the Stream that Comes Down, by which I find that the Resistance of water against Boats Increases Exactly as the Squares of the Velosity of the Boats against it, Nether Can their be a general Rule to give the Resistance that Boats of the Same Burthen and Velosity meets with If their formes is Different for I find that Bad Shaped Boats meets with nearly three times the Resistance that good ones Do of the Same Burthen, a well Shaped Boat will move a head be her Burthen what it may, as fast as the water Comes Down with three Square feet of paddle Board ahead for Each tun weight taken Up, the Boats weight Included, the fourth part of that much paddle Board will move her up half as fast as the Current Comes Down and four times that much paddle Board will Move her up twice as fast as the Current Comes Down, it then follows that if a Boat and her Load weighing Eight tun, with twenty four Square feet of paddle Boards, a head was to move up a River as fast as the Current Came Down, that if Six tuns was taken out of Said boat which would Leave But Little more than an Emty Boat that She would then go up the River with twice the Velosity that the Current Came Down So much for the kind of Boats, the Modle of which you Saw.
I have taken the greatest pains to afect another kind of Boats

upon the princeples I was mentioning to you at Richmond I have the pleasure to Inform you that I have Brought it to the greatest perfection It is true it will Cost Sum more than the other way But when Done is more mannagable and Can be worked by as few hands the power is amence and I am Quite Convinced that Boats of pasage may be made to go against the Current of the Mesisipia or ohio River, or in the gulf Stream from the Lewerd to the Windward Islands from Sixty to one hundred miles per Day I know it will apear Strange and Improbeble and was I to Say thus much to most people in this neghbourhood they would Laugh at me and think me mad But I Can ashore you Sir that I have Ever Been Very Cautious how I aserted any thing that I was not Very Certain I Could perform Besides it is no phenomena when known, But Strictly agreeble To philosiphy, The princeples of this Last kind of Boat I am Very Cautious not to Explain, to any person, as it is Easey performed and the method would Come Very nateral to a Rittenhouse, or an Elicott. The plann I mean to persue is to Build the Boats with Boath the powers on Board on a Large Scale and then Sir if you would Be good enough Once more to See it make actual performances I make no Doubt but the asembleys will alow me Sumthing Clever which will be better for the public as well as my Self, than to have the Exclusive Rights. I am astonished that it is So hard to force an Advantage on the public. admit ⟨it⟩ Did make the fortune of one man. I Cannot help But Stare when I Look back at the Lenth of my Letter. it is a very Strikeng Representation of the propensity a man has to Say a great deal when he gets upon his favorite Theme, Least the Lenth of my Scrawl Should become tiresom to Read. I shall threfore Conclude by Returning you my most Sincere thanks for the many favours you have Done me, & am with Every Sentiment of Regard your Sincere freind and Very hble Servt

James Rumsey


Title: To George Washington from Benjamin Walker, 11 March 1785
From: Walker, Benjamin
To: Washington, George

Dr Sir
New York March 11th 1785

I had the pleasure to write to your Excellency in Decr last and at the same time to send you (Via Norfolk) some Trees and other things which must I think have got to hand as I heard of their safe arrival at Norfolk from whence they were to be immediately forwarded.
   Mr John Blagge who went supercargo of the Ship Hope for Alexandria which Sailed yesterday was so good as to take Charge of a Case and a barrell—the former containing some Wax Work and the latter some Pease delivered me by the Governor to ship to you[.] the Vessell sailed rather sooner than I expected & thereby prevented my giving the Letter to Mr Blagge—I do not know whether Gov. Clinton informd you that the Grape Cuttings left by Mr Williamos—with Mr Beekman—all Died it seems they were so far gone on their arrival that they could not be recovered tho’ great pains were taken, by Mr Beekmans Gardiner, for the purpose.
Your Excellency I doubt not has such frequent & better information than I could give—of the State of public matters, that it [is] not worth while for me to enter on them—You will have heard that Genl Knox is put at the head of the War Office—my old Friend the Baron is here and I believe is making a final Settlement with Congress—I sincerely wish they had the power and disposition to do something that would enable him to pass the remainder of his days easy but your Excellency knows as well as myself—that it is not a small matter would suffice for this—I believe he means to go to Europe if a War should break out there & he cannot get a provision here.
Colo. Smith has obtained the Post of Secy to the Embassy to the Court of London with an appointment of 3000 Dollars—without any profession but the Military and accustomed to

move in a certain Stile he really wanted something of the kind and I am heartily glad he has got it—Humphreys it seems has not lost his Military views but has written to Congress for a Regiment on any Establishment that may take place.
Permit me to present my most respectfull Compliments to Mrs Washington and to the rest of the family and be assured of the inviolable attachment with which I have the honor to Dr Sir Your Excellys obliged & Obedient Servant

Ben Walker


Title: To George Washington from Henry Lee, Jr., 12 March 1785
From: Lee, Henry Jr.
To: Washington, George

My dear Genl
Stratford [Va.] 12h March 1785

Apprehending the escape of the season before your vessel may arrive, I have got the favor of Mr Hall to permit his servant to call at Mount-Vernon.
He has twelve horse chesnut, twelve box-cuttings & twelve dwarf box-cuttings—you may have any supply of either box, you please to order—I can supply you also with cypress & holly which can be ready at the shortest notice—Perhaps we may have some fruit trees you may want—In any thing please to command me, as I feel singularly happy in adminestering to the wishes of a character I so much love and respect.
Mrs Lee joins in compliments to your lady. I am dear Genl unalterably your friend & servt

Henry Lee Junr


Title: From George Washington to Mathew Carey, 15 March 1785
From: Washington, George
To: Carey, Mathew

Sir,
Mount Vernon 15th Mar: 1785

I purposed, so soon as I understood you intended to become the Publisher of a News Paper in Philadelphia to request that a copy of your weekly production might be sent to me. I was the more pleased with this determination, when, by a letter from

my friend the Marquis de la Fayette, I found he had interested himself in your behalf.
It has so happened, that my Gazettes from Philadelphia, whether from inattention at the Printing or Post offices, or other causes; come very irregularly to my hands: Let me pray you therefore, to address those you send me, in the appearance of a letter. The common paper, usually applied, will do equally well for the cover—It has sometimes occurred to me, that there are persons who wishing to read News Papers without being of the expence of paying for them, make free with those which are addressed to others. under the garb of a letter, it is not presumable this liberty would be taken. I am—Sir Yr most obedt Servt

Go: Washington


Title: To George Washington from James Cross, 15 March 1785
From: Cross, James
To: Washington, George

Sir
Manchester [Va.] 15th March 1785

I beg leave to hand you inclosed copy of a Letter I received from Dr Patrick Wright of Glasgow respecting a tract of Land which fell to a Brother of his Leut. William Wright who was killed in Genl Braddock’s defeat and now belong’s to him or some of his other Brothers, and requests I will inform how it may be recovered and what it may be worth—as I am utterly at a loss to whom to apply for this information but to You, I have therefore taken the liberty to request the favour that You will

take the trouble to advise me what mode should be adopted for the recovery of it, what it may be worth.
I applyed at the Land office and was informed by Mr Harvey that he expected, that the right of that whole Grant Still lay in You and it was only in your power to make a Deed for it. Altho I have no power to transact the Business further then gett information respecting—Yett if a Deed could be gott for it I woud pay any expence attending it, and write for a Power of Attorney if You thought proper. I am with Esteem most respectfully—Sir Your Most Humble and Obedient Servant

James Cross


Title: From George Washington to Jacob Gerhard Diriks, 15 March 1785
From: Washington, George
To: Diriks, Jacob Gerhard

Sir,
Mount Vernon 15th March 1785.

Your letter of the 24th of January came duly to hand; but being written in French (a language I do not understand) some time elapsed before an opportunity presented to get it translated—This I hope will be received as an apology for the delay of my answer.
However much your merits deserve recommendation—& however pleasing it might be to me to offer my testimony to such facts as have come to my knowledge, respecting the services you have rendered to these States, yet to comply with your request of a letter to the Count de Maasdam, would be inconsistent with the line of conduct I have prescribed for my Government.
It is a maxim with me Sir, to take no liberties with exalted characters to whom I am not personally known, or with whom I

have had no occasion to correspond by letter: but if you shou’d think a certificate of service from me can avail you in any degree, & you would please to furnish me with your appointmts & places of service (as they have not been much under my immediate command) I shall have pleasure in furnishing one.
If circumstances had permitted, I should have been happy in the honor of a visit from you. I have a grateful sense of the polite & flattering expression of your letter; & with best wishes for you in your future pursuits, I have the honor to be Sir, &c.

G: Washington


Title: From George Washington to Arthur Lee, 15 March 1785
From: Washington, George
To: Lee, Arthur

Dr Sir,
Mo[un]t Vernon 15th March 1785.

I had the honor to receive a letter from you dated at Carlisle the 19th of Novr last, which should not have remained unacknowledged until this time, if I had known of any opportunity of addressing a letter to you in the Western Territory.
I have now heard of your passing thro’ Philada on your way to Congress, & have been honor’d with a copy of your second

treaty with the Western tribes of Indians, from the President. I am pleased to find that the Indians have yielded so much: from the temper I heard they were in, I apprehended less compliance on their part. This business being accomplished, it would give me pleasure to hear that Congress has proceeded to the disposal of the ceded Lands at a happy medium price, in a District sufficient & proper for a compact State. Progressive seating will be attended with many advantages; sparse settlements with many evils.
I congratulate you on your safe return: the season was inclement, and very unfit for the place & business you were engaged in. Mrs Washington presents her compliments to you, and I have the honor to be Yrs &c.

G: Washington


Title: From George Washington to Hugh Williamson, 15 March 1785
From: Washington, George
To: Williamson, Hugh

Sir,
Mount Vernon 15th March 1785

It has so happened, that your favor of the 19th Ulto did not come to my hands until the last mail arrived at Alexandria. By the return of which, I have the honor to address this letter to you.
Mr McMeikenss explanation of the movements of Rumsey’s newly invented Boat, is consonant to my ideas; and warranted by the principles upon which it acts. The small manual assistance to which I alluded, was to be applied in still water; & to the purpose of steering the vessel. The counteraction being proportioned to the action, it must ascend a swift currt faster than a gentle stream; and both, with more ease than it can move on dead water. But in the first there may be, & no doubt is, a point beyond wch it cannot proceed without involving consequences which may be found insurmountable.

Further than this I am not at liberty to explain myself; but if a model, or thing in miniature can justly represent a greater object in its operation, there is no doubt of the utility of the invention. A view of this model with an explanation, removed the principal doubt I ever had in my mind, of the practicability of its progressing against stream, by the aid of mechanical Powers; but as he wanted to avail himself of my introduction of it to the public attention, I chose, previously, to see the actual performance of the model in a descending stream, before I passed my certificate, & having done so, all my doubts were done away.
I thank you, Sir, for your acct of the last Indian treaty. I had received a similar one before, but do not comprehend by what line it is, our northern limits are to be fixed.
Two things seem naturally to result from this Treaty. The terms on which the ceded lands are to be disposed of; & the mode of settling them. The first, in my opinion, ought not to be delayed. The second, ought not to be too diffusive. Compact and progressive Seating will give strength to the Union; admit law & good government; & fœderal aids at an early period. Sparse settlements in several new States; or in a large territory for one State, will have the direct contrary effects. & whilst it opens a large field to Land jobbers and speculators, who are prouling about like Wolves in every shape, will injure the real occupants & useful citizens; & consequently, the public interest. If a tract of Country, of convenient Size for a new State, contiguous to the present Settlements on the Ohio, is laid off, and a certain proportion of the land therein actually seated; or at least granted; before any other State is marked out & no land suffered to be had beyond the limits of it; we shall, I conceive, derive great political advantages from such a line of conduct, & without it, may be involved in much trouble & perplexity, before any New state will be well organized, or can contribute any thing to the support of the Union. I have the honor to be Sir Yr Most Obt Hble Sert

Go: Washington


Title: To George Washington from George William Fairfax, 19 March 1785
From: Fairfax, George William
To: Washington, George

My dear General
Bath [England] 19th March 1785

Mr Thomas Corbin, now in my House, proposing to Embark in a few days for Virginia, has earnestly Sollicited, that I would give him a line to you, respecting his Conduct since his return to England. The unfortunate youth, has been most cruelly used, and barbarously aspersed by his Brother Dick, and his adherents, insomuch that Tom had a property of five thousand Pounds in the Funds, he must have rotted in a Jail, but for the interposition of his Fathers friend Mr Athawes, who stept in to save him from impending destruction. All this is not yours or my affair, I hear you say, and my good Sir it is true, but as there has been a Combination to destroy the reputation of a young Man, just setting out in Life, I cannot refuse when called upon, to give my Testimony, that from the information of a Gentn of great Probity, intimately acquainted with all the horrid transactions of Dick Corbin, Tom has acquitted himself through the whole business, as a Man of honor, honesty, and great humanity, as will appear by his paying about 1400£ for his Brother Dick and also the debts of Frank, who could not have left England but by his assistance.
I beg your forgiveness for troubling You with the above tedious detail, be assured, I have done it with the greatest reluctance, but a particular friend of mine coming from London with Mr Corbin, to ask this address of me, it was not to be parried. Since the Peace I have availd myself of several opportunities of enquiring after your, and Mrs Washingtons hea[l]th, but have received only one from you, And some time ago, I took the liberty of sending a beautiful Print of the great Revolution, in which you had so principal a part, it would give me pleasure to hear it got safe and was acceptable. Mrs Fairfax and myself has been better this severe Winter, than any one of those we have spent in England.
It would give us pleasure to hear, when your leisure will permit, that you and your good Lady enjoy health. That you may be long blessed with it, and every other felicity is the earnest wish of my Dear Sir Your Affecte and much Obliged Friend and humble Servt

Go: Wm Fairfax

Mr David Hartley (whos character you must know) has often requested, that I would present his best respects to you. he added that it would give him infinite pleasure to take by ⟨mutilated⟩ Person whoes health he has so often drunk.


Title: To George Washington from Patrick Henry, 19 March 1785
From: Henry, Patrick
To: Washington, George

Dear Sir
Richmond [Va.] March 19th 1785

The Honor you are pleased to do me in your Favor of the 27th ulto, desiring my Opinion in a friendly Way on the Subject of the Act for vesting the Shares in the Patowmack & James River Navigation, is very flattering to me. And I should ill deserve the Confidence you are pleased to place in me if I should forbear to give you my unreserved Sentiments on it.
I will freely own to you that I am embarrassed to reconcile the Law taken in its full Extent, with the Declarations you mention, & a fixed purpose of refusing pecuniary Rewards. If this was the sole Object of the Act, I should not hesitate to dissent to its propriety. The united States seem most properly constituted to take into Consideration a Matter of that Nature, for a Variety of Reasons, which I need not enumerate. But the Preamble of the Law, compared with a few Facts that preceded the enacting of it, will present it in a View different from that of rewarding past military Services. The Facts I allude to are these.
The great Business of opening the Navigation of Patowmack & James River, & connecting it with that of the western Waters, was taken up by you, & pressed with that Earnestness so interesting a Matter deserved. The Difficultys which Nature had interposed, were encreased by a Combination of Interests, hard to develope & explain, & stil harder to reconcile. To all these was added another Impediment arising from the Scarcity of Money & the exhausted condition of the Country. The Time however was critical; & your Observations sent to the Assembly, proved that it was good policy to encounter every Obstacle & begin the Work. The patronage of it seemed naturally to devolve on you Sir; & the Assembly desiring to give Efficacy to that patronage vested the Shares in you.
This Navigation depends upon private Subscription for Success: So that unless you had subscribed, you could not have been concerned. You will forgive me for supposing that your Finances could not have made it desirable, to risque a Sum of

Money on the Success of an Enterprize like this. For your Estate could not have been exempted from that Loss in its produce experienced by other Gentlemens Estates throughout the Country during the War—Considering then, that your promoting this great Affair necessarily obliged you to subscribe to it, & besides to encounter all the Difficultys arising from the Nature of it, the Variety of Interests, Veiws, & Circumstances which attended it, and that in arranging & conducting all these, not only great Labor & Attention as well as Abilitys are requisite, but also Expence of Money & Loss of Time, it would seem at Least, that you ought to be secured against the Chance of loosing by subscribing. And this is all the Law can be said to do, inasmuch as it must remain uncertain whether the Shares are worth any thing ’til the Business is compleated. If this never happens to be accomplished, your Labor Time, &c. &c, are lost, & the Donation proves an empty Sound.
Your Acceptance of it, will prevent that Shock which you justly observe will be given by a Refusal—And I submit to your Reflection how far your Resignation of the Shares may throw a Damp on that Ardor, which I have the pleasure to hear prevails at present, to promote the Undertaking. I must beleive, that at least a temporary Check would be given to its progress ’til the Means of replacing so many Shares could be found, & I am really not able to find out the Way to do it.
Your Acceptance will avoid this embarrassing Circumstance. And if after reviewing the whole Matter you shall think it inadmissable to hold the Shares in the Manner the Law gives them, You will be at Liberty to make such alteration in the Interest, or Disposition of the Use, as shall be most agreable to your self.
If I have exceeded in the Freedom with which I have treated this Subject, I must entreat your Forgiveness; For I have no Motive but to evince on every Occasion that I am with unalterable Affection & the most sincere Attachment dear sir your very obedient Servant

P. Henry

P.S. Two other large packets from Ireland accompany this. The post could not carry them all at once. No other Conveyance seems to present soon, & the Capt (Boyle) begs to receive your Commands soon as convenient.


Title: To George Washington from Lafayette, 19 March 1785
From: Lafayette, Marie-Joseph-Paul-Yves-Roch-Gilbert du Motier, marquis de
To: Washington, George

My dear General
Paris March the 19th 1785

Your letter december the 23d Has Safely Come to Hand, and Nothing short of the pottowmack plan Could Have Accounted with me for Your leaving Mount Vernon. I am glad to Hear You are likely to succeed, as it seems to me a Matter of Great Moment—and the part You Have taken in the Business Cannot fail, still more particularly to interest me in its success—I thank you, my dear General, for your information Respecting the Act of Maryland—it is an Honour Equally flattering to my pride, and pleasing to My Heart.
European politics are not Yet settled—but there is much Reason to Hope this will end without Bloodshed—inclosed you will find a declaration from the king of France to the Emperor Respecting the dutch war—Count de Maïllebois is gone to Holland where they are Raising troops, and where parties Run very High—a plan of the Emperor for the Exchange of Baviera, of which I spoke to you in my last, Has Been opposed By the duke of deux ponts Nephew and Heir to the elector—So that Upon the whole I don’t think we shall Have a war—in Case the dutch make Some sacrifices, they will Be small—the intervention of France has saved them—and Count de Vergennes deserves great Credit.
Great Britain Continues to Be very Backward in treating with America—our friend john temple is appointed British Consul to the United States—Notwistanding the ill will and Narrow policy of England they Run a way with all the Commerce of America—that total interruption of trade gives a new force to the Clamours of the French Merchants Against the late Admission of foreigners in the West indias, and Makes it impossible to obtain the addition of flour and sugars—at least in the present period—I am Very Busy about introducing the Whale oils in France, and notwistanding Every obstacle, Hope at least partially to succeed.

on my Arrival, I Have Repeated what I Had writen Respecting the Mississipy—viz.—the idea, either to get New Orleans, or to advise the Spaniards to make it a free port—the former is impossible—as to the second I Had no positive Answer—But I am sure my opinion Was not thrown a Way—I Have Requested a Conference with the duke de La Vauguion who is going to spain as an Ambassador—it will Be very difficult to get that point, and altho I would not advise America to deviate from firmness, I think they must act with Moderation in this affair.
Inclosed is the extract from a Book of Mr Necker which I thought Might give Agreable information—I send it in French, Because You will find translators enough—that Book is a Very Good one, But Has Raised Both a jealousy against, and an adoration for the Author which Runs into an Excess—He is However one of the ablest men in Europe, and certainly one of the first financeers.
The irish affairs seem to subside—in the Course of the summer, I will, I think, Visit the prussian and austrian armies, provided there is no war—my ideas about 29 are not very Unlikely to succeed—102 in this Kingdom are My present object —and I am not without Hopes, with Respect to a part of what a Rational Man Might Expect at this period. My little family Have Been writing to Yours By Mr Williams an American Gentleman —they join with Mde de lafayette and me in Most affectionate Respects to Mrs Washington and You—Remember me to all our friends—Adieu, Adieu, My Beloved General, think often of Your absent, tender friend—Never Could any Being in Creation love you more, Respect you more than I do—Be so Kind as to let me Hear from You By every packet—Adieu, My dear General, Your Respectfull and affectionate friend

Lafayette

Chevalier de Caraman presents His Best Respects to Mrs Washington and to You—I kiss Squire tub, and the young ladies.


Title: To George Washington from William Blake, 20 March 1785
From: Blake, William
To: Washington, George

Dear Sir
Charleston [S.C.] March 20th [1785]

The want of an Opportunity has prevented me from hitherto forwarding you the Seeds and Plants I promised when I had the Honor of paying you my Respects at Mount Vernon; I wish they may answer your Expectations, such a Hedge will be an acquisition.
Our State is anxious for the Honor of a Visit from you, I need not repeat, it woud gratify the summit of our Desires. Permit me, Sir, without intruding more on your Time to make a

Tendre of my best Respects to Mrs Washington, and to assure you with greatest Regard & Esteem I remain Dear Sir Your most Obedient Humble Sert

William Blake


Title: From George Washington to Patrick Henry, 20 March 1785
From: Washington, George
To: Henry, Patrick

Dear Sir,
Mount Vernon 20th Mar. 1785

Your favor of the 12th together with the letters and parcels from Sir Edward Newenham, came safe to hand. For the trouble you have had with the latter I offer you my thanks, at the sametime I beg your excuse for adding to it by causing the letter herewith enclosed to be forwarded to Captn Boyle of the ship Jane & Diana when a safe conveyance offers.
I hope this letter will find your family in better health than when you last wrote, and your Grandson perfectly restored. With very great esteem regard & respect I am—Dear Sir Yr Most Obt Hble Ser⟨vt⟩

Go: Washington


Title: To George Washington from John Francis Mercer, 20 March 1785 [letter not found]
From: Mercer, John Francis
To: Washington, George

Letter not found: from John Francis Mercer, 20 Mar. 1785. On 27 Mar., GW wrote Mercer: “Mr Stone gave me your favor of the 20th.”


Title: From George Washington to Edward Newenham, 20 March 1785
From: Washington, George
To: Newenham, Edward

Dear Sir,
Mount Vernon 20th March 1785.

I regret very much that your letters of the 2d & 13th of October should have been detained from me until this time. The last Post only, from Richmond, brought them to me.
If you should have fulfilled your intention of embarking at the early period proposed in the first of the above letters—and I hope no untoward accident will have happened to prevent it—this answer will come too late, and my silence will leave you in doubt respecting Horses; besides carrying with it the appearance of inattention. As, however, there is a possibility that this letter may yet find you in Ireland, I will relate the mode of travelling in this Country, and submit to your own Judgment the propriety of depending on it, or bringing Saddle or Carriage Horses of your own.
From the Southern parts of this State, say from Norfolk, through Hampton, Richmond, Fredericksburgh, and Alexandria (which is within a few miles of this Seat) there is regular Stages which passes thrice every week. They are not of the best, nor worst kind—From Alexandria, through the Metropolis of every State, Annapolis in Maryland excepted (which lyes a little to the right of the Post road to Baltimore) there are also regular Stages to Portsmouth in New Hampshire. These are of a similar kind, & pass as often as those last mentioned. So that not more than three days can intervene betwn one Stage day & another. A person may therefore, at any time between the first of April, & middle of November, travel from Richmond (the Metropolis of this State) to Boston in ten or twelve days, and return in the sametime. Between this State & Charleston (South Carolina) no Stages are, as yet, established; and the Country for the most part being poor, and thinly inhabited, accomodations of every kind, I am told, are bad.
So much for public convenience. I do not think I should decieve you much, were I to add that Sir Edward Newenham would find no difficulty to get accomodated in this, and some other States, with the Horses and Carriages of private Gentlemen from place to place, where inclination, or business, might induce him to go.

What the expence of transporting Horses to this Country would be, I am unable to decide; but I conceive they would not be fit for immediate use if they were brought, if the passage should be long; but at the sametime I deliver this opinion, I must accompany it with another, viz.—that if you should bring Horses, and might not incline to take them back again, you could if they are young, likely and well bought, sell them for their original cost & the charges of transportation at least, especially if they should happen to be of the female kind.
I have not had the pleasure of seeing either Mr Rutherford or Captn Boyle; but the latter accompanying your Letters & packages—for which I pray you to accept my thanks—with a few lines giving reasons for their detention, and information of his Sailing in the course of a few days; I have, in haste, wrote you this letter by return of the Post, hoping it may get to Richmond in time to receive a conveyance by the Jane and Diana, that it may repeat to you (if it should arrive in time) the pleasure I shall have in seeing you, and your fellow travellers under my roof, and in paying you & them, every attention in my power.
The chances being against this letter’s finding you in Ireland, I will not, at this time, touch upon the other parts of your several favors; but leaving them as matters for personal converse beg that my respectful compliments, in which Mrs Washington joins, may be presented to Lady Newenham: With very great esteem and regard I am—Dr Sir Yr most Obedt Hble Servt

Go: Washington


Title: To George Washington from Bushrod Washington, 20 March 1785 [letter not found]
From: Washington, Bushrod
To: Washington, George

Letter not found: from Bushrod Washington, 20 Mar. 1785. On 3 April GW wrote to his nephew Bushrod: “Your letter of the 20th Ulto did not come to my hands until the 31st.”


Title: To George Washington from John Craig, 22 March 1785
From: Craig, John
To: Washington, George

Sir
Philad[elphi]a March 22nd 1785

The Knowledge I have of your Benevolence & Condescencion Encourages me to Take a Liberty, which by any other than your Excellency might be deemed unpardonable—The Request of a Self Interested Individual who has not the honor to be much Known to your Excellency requires both Preface & Apology, but Rather than Trespass on your Time, I take the Liberty to begin Rather Abruptly & doubt not but your Excellency will Dispense with the Form—The Discouraging Prospect of Trade in General here & the little Probability that it will Soon take a favourable turn has induced me to turn my thoughts towards a Country Life—I wish to Settle myself in a place of Retirement in Such a Situation as woud Soon Afford the Conveniencies of Life & ultimately promise Essential Advantages—I have heard there are Situations on the Susquehanna & Monogahela Rivers which Promise in Time to be very Valuable, but it is So Difficult to Procure Information on which one may Depend, that I have at last determined to apply to the Fountain head & Request your Excelency to favour me with a few Lines of Advice upon the Execution of my Plan —My Father has Some Lands on Cheat River which I mean to Explore this

Spring, but I think the Susquehanna which will Communicate with the Potomack promises to yield the most Profitable Settlements & Could I Procure (on tollerable easy Terms) a healthy fruitfull Place with the Advantages of Navigation & one or two Mill seats, I would Gladly Employ what little Capital I have in the purchase & Cultivation of it.
I have not yet mentioned my Plan to any Person, nor shall I till I am determined by your Excellencys Advice on what part of the Country you would think it most advantageous to Settle—Once more I beg your Excellencys forgiveness for the Liberty I take—the Wellfare of my family Depending on yr Information will I am sure be a sufficient Apology to a heart so Benevolent as yours, I have the honor to be with the Greatest Respect & Esteem yr Excellencies very hble Servt

John Craig


Title: To George Washington from Elkanah Watson, 22 March 1785
From: Watson, Elkanah
To: Washington, George

Sir
Providence [R.I.] 22d March 1785

I have bore steadily in mind the circumstance of the dutch gardener, but Mr Brown cannot recommend him so fully as he could wish.
This will be handed by Mr Howel a gentleman who is connected with Mr Brown & who intends doing himself the honour to pay his respects to your Excellency. The information you was so polite as to communicate to me, relative the plan of opening the Potowmack, the interior country &c.—I trust will not be fruitless as I took my notes, & have uniformly made it my standard of conversation along the Continent, & I cannot but hope with some success, as I find the Potowmack has now become an object of such magnitude as to draw the attention of our enterprizing genius’es to Alexandria which I am persuaded will shortly feel the effects.
Mr Brown has it seriously in contemplation to lay the foundation

of a new City between the first falls & Alexandria upon the Virginia side I am not authoriz’d by him to write your Excellency upon the subject, but I am so intimately connected with him that I am well persuaded If you thought the plan eligible, & he could obtain information respecting the debth of water near the falls that he would bend his Interest & efforts to this point which you are sensible would be an important acquisition in the infant state of your noble river.
Permit me to tender my respectfull compliments to Lady Washington & to assure your Excellency of my profound veneration & hommage.

E. Watson

I should be highly flatter’d to receive your Excellencys commands in this quarter.


Title: From George Washington to William Hunter, 24 March 1785
From: Washington, George
To: Hunter, William

Mount Vernon 24th March 1785.

G. Washingtons Compliments to Mr Hunter—would thank him for forwarding the enclosed letter by a good oppertunity when any such offers.
He would thank Mr Hunter for the Currt Cash prices of good Plank in Alexandria—Inch—Inch & Quarter—and Inch and half. this by the bearer.
If there is any Vessel in the harbor with these, & do not meet a ready Sale, he would take some, if good, of each, if the Master would call in his way down.


Title: To George Washington from Henry Knox, 24 March 1785
From: Knox, Henry
To: Washington, George

My dear Sir.
Boston [Mass.] 24 March 1785

I thank you for your kind favor of the 28th ultimo, which I received last evening with its enclosures & I sincerely hope I shall not be under the necessity of troubling you so much again. But in the present instance I am under the necessity of mentioning that Major Winthrop Sargent has repeatedly informed me, that a certificate from you would be one of the most desirable and acceptable things to him. I at length promised him that I would request it of you. He is really clever, and was an excellent Artillery officer.
I will endevor to make an arrangement of the lime stone in

the manner that shall be the least expensive; but our spring is so backward that we have but little prospect of getting the Stone from the eastward before the month of June, It shall be forwarded by the earliest opportunity to your house, or Alexandria. The weather is now as severe as at any time during the Winter, and the Snow & Ice are nearly three feet upon a level.
I am highly delighted with the delicate gratitude of Virginia, and am at the same time charmed with your sentiments, and reasoning upon it. I sincerely hope circumstanced as you are that you may find a mode of declining the intended appropriation so as to enhance the respect and affection of your fellow citizens. My jealousy for your fame is so high, that I should prefer seeing you Cincinnatus-like following your plow, rather than accept the least pecuniary reward whatever. Your services are of that nature as to demand the approbation and admiration of succeeding generations, but cannot be rewarded by money. Thank the supreme God you are happily placed above the necessity of receiving any assistance.
Perhaps my dear Sir you could intimate to the Legislature in a manner which would be clear of every indelicate imputation that should they think proper to apply the produce of this fund to the maintainance of the Widows, and the support, and education of the children of those men of their own line, who sacrificed their lives in defence of their Country, and of the maimed soldiers, that the measure would rear an eternal monument to the virtue of the Commonwealth of Virginia. An event of this kind, which I am persuaded has been among the number of expedients conceived by you, would rank Virginia higher in the annals of America than any other State, and the idea coming from you, would place your warm and disinterested attachment to suffering in a durable and glorious point of view—let my affection plead my excuse for this freedom.
The Mall in this Town has been repaird and the trees replaced. But I beleive the gravel walk is only upon the common principle without any cement whatever. I will however enquire and if there should be any improvement, I will with pleasure communicate it—You may probably have heard that Congress have been pleased to appoint me secretary at War. I have accepted of the office and expect to be in New York about the 15th of next month. From the habits imbibed during the War,

and from the opinion of my friends that I should make but an indifferent trader, I thought upon mature consideration that it was well to accept it although the salary (2450 dollars) would be but a slender support. I have dependence upon an unweildy Estate belonging to Mrs K.s family, and upon the public certificates given for my services, but neither of these are productive, and require a course of years to make them so. In the mean time my expences are considerable, and require some funds for their supply—Congress have rendered the powers, and duties of the Office respectable, and the circumstances of my appointment were flattering, being without solicitation on my part, and nine states out of eleven voting for me—for this favorable opinion of Congress I conceive myself indebted to your friendship—I do not intend to move my family to New York Untill next June—Mrs Knox who with her little ones, are well Unites with me in presenting our affectionate respects to Mrs Washington. I am my dear Sir Your truly affectionate humble Servant

H. Knox


Title: To George Washington from William Carmichael, 25 March 1785
From: Carmichael, William
To: Washington, George

Madrid 25 March 1785

P.S. As I have lately recd Letters from the Marquis & Marchioness de la Fayette which announce his arrival in Europe, I take the Liberty of sending you a Triplicate of a Letter which I had the honor to write you under cover to the Marquis the 3d of Decr 1784. His return to Europe may otherwise occasion surmises which would hurt me as a delay of this communication might appear Singular on my part. I shall have the honor to send you with the Jack Asses an acct of the mode of treating them & of rendering them useful to the propagation of Mules. Mr Gardoqui I hope will be in America & treating with Congress before this can reach you. I beg your Countenance to

this Gentleman, who Mr Jay will inform you, has had ever the most Liberal Sentiments with respect to America. I am informed the English wish to blow the flame of Discord between us & Spain in America on acct of the Navigation of the Missisippi. I can assure you that the Same Endeavours are imployed here—The Minister of G.B. has just left me, holding the Same Language, while I know he holds the Contrary to the Ministers of this Country. Union & Energy in the Representants of the States & activity in each State respectively to support the Confederation will soon show the futility of these little political maneuvres & place America on that firm basis of Political consistance which must make the United States Usefull friends or dangerous Enemies. Their Consequence in the political & Commercial scale may be accelerated by the Turn affairs are like to take in Europe. In the meantime I cannot but counsel from what I see & what I know, but firmness, a proper sense of National honor & vigor & unanimity the Most Cordial in every State.
I am not afraid of hazarding these Sentiments to you. They are your own. With the highest respect & affection I have the honor to repeat Myself your Most Obedt & Most Humble Sert

Wm Carmichael


Title: To George Washington from La Luzerne, 25 March 1785
From: La Luzerne, Anne-César, chevalier de
To: Washington, George

Sir.
Paris March 25th 1785.

I have received by the Marquis de la Lafayette, on his arrival in France, the letters your Excellency has honoured me with. I

can not express how much I am sensible of these marks of your Kindness and Friendship; I am likewise extreemely flattered by the interest you take in my future employments. Permit me to assure you that wherever the King may send me, he can not entrust me a commission as flattering as that which has rendered me a Wittness of the glory and hapiness of a people which owes it’s liberty to the superior talents and Wisdom of Your Excellency.
The King, his Court and the whole nation, Sir, had been pleased in the expectation to see you at Paris and it is with the greatest regret that I saw by your last letters that we must give up our hopes. I can assure you that you would have found amongst my Countrymen as many Friends and Admirers as amongst your own fellow citizens.
We have heared with pleasure the happy turn of the American negociations with the Indians and I hope that Your Country will enjoy at last a perfect tranquillity. However I do not see without concern the delays of England with respect to the restitution of the forts of Detroit and Niagara. I hope that the new Congress, who, I am informed, are very well chosen, will take the proper measures to terminate this business. Another very interesting object for your Nation will be to raise a fund for paying the interest of and sinking the national debt. You can not imagine how much so just an operation would encrease the credit and consideration of your Country.
They intended in England to propose in Parliament a Bill for the regulation of Commerce between great Britain and the united States; but I believe the Bill will not even be debated this Year. Ireland, the East India affairs and above all the altercations between Mr Fox and Pitt engrosse the whole attention of Parliament. Mr Pitt has had great advantages in the beginning of the Sessions but his Antagonist seems to have since gained a superiority and the King of England will perhaps be once more obliged to take him into the Ministry.
The other European affairs are not yet arranged. The Emperor requests from the States General a Step, which these think to be injurious to their dignity. However it is not likely that we shall have a War this Summer; and the preparations that had been made every where are considerably abated. Some days ago matters appeared even entirely adjusted and the difficulty

to satisfy the honor and dignity of the two powers has more retarded the business than the principal object.
I have not failed to present to the King and the Royal Family the regrets of your Excellency not to be able to offer them your respect and your acknowledgements. They participate with the whole nation the esteem and Veneration, which Your eminent qualities have inspired them, and are very sorry not to have it in their power to give you any direct proof of their sentiments.
I hope that in some moments of leisure you will remember me; you may rely upon an European Correspondent who is very devoutly attached to you and who most sincerely wishes to convince you of his veneration and of the sentiments of respect with which he has the honor to be Sir, your Excellency’s Most obedient and very humble servant

le che. de la luzerne

P.S. Will you be so obliging as to present my respectful Compliments to Mrs Washington.


Title: To George Washington from Frederick Weissenfels, 27 March 1785
From: Weissenfels, Frederick
To: Washington, George

Sir.
New York March 27th 1785.

Your Exellencys favour of the 15th instant, With which I was honored, leaves my Mind in the most perfect tranquility, that I may Expect the honor to recieve your Certificate, when your Exellency is furnished with one from his Exellency Governor Clinton, Which I here inclose.
The Governor has mentioned my derangement, from the Continental Line, and although no Date by him Citet, I beg leave to Say, that it wass in the year 1780, after I had without intermission Served from the year 1775, (When in Canada with the late General montgomorie,) to that Periode. as upon the Journals of Congress will appear, that I wass promoted by their authority to a Lt Colo. in the year 1776.

I have with Chearfulness So Early Complied with your Exel’cys request, and mentain a pleasing prospect on its return. I am with Sentiments of great respect Your Exellencys most obiedent most humble Servant

Fredk Weissenfels


Title: To George Washington from William Gordon, 28 March 1785
From: Gordon, William
To: Washington, George

My Dear Sir
Jamaica Plain [Mass.] March 28. 1785

Your obliging favours of the 8th inst. were recd on the Saturday. From them I infer not only the continuance of your friendly assistance, but that the papers are regularly received; as yet I have not missed sending, tho’ the post has at times been delayed thro’ the snows: The face of the earth is still covered with them, in these parts, a few trifling spots excepted; & should a thaw come on rapidly, the floods that must follow will probably do great damage. We have no prospect of gardening for some weeks.
The present of your miniature cuts is highly acceptable, as they are a token of affection; but they are indeed too imperfect to admit of my copying from them. I shall endeavour to procure a more expressive likeness, in one way or other, by which all who know the original may be at once reminded of him, & those who know him not may obtain such an idea of him, that should they meet him in the street they may know him, as happened

many years back in reference to Mrs Gordon, who when going thro’ the streets of London to her Brothers, was known by a maid servant in the family, from her having frequently seen a miniature picture in the Brother’s possession. In some cases profiles will not answer, & where I find it to be so, must have a recourse to pictures. Your mention of Mr Semitere was kind. I shall make application to some friend at Philadelphia to inquire concerning his engravings, & when the likeness is good will endeavour to procure them or the prints.
I do not recollect that the private letter alluded to takes notice that it was consequent of a resolve of Congress, that Fort Washington was so pertinaciously held, previously to the ships passing that Post. The re-capitulation of it, & other matters relating to it, is therefore serviceable. Your private letters, & the silence you observed upon the subject at the time, shew that you want not to exculpate yourself from any censure which may have fallen upon you (when justly) by charging another. Lee had a peculiar mode of writing, which was not always pleasing even when he confined himself to truth: but I believe he was right, when he imputed the loss of the Fort to your depending upon another persons judgment, instead of relying upon your own: & have been ready to think, that, had not Genls Putnam & Greene told you what they did when you met them recrossing from the Fort, & thereby encouraged you to risk it, you would have withdrawn the garrison the night before the attack. But that our military officers, tho’ not wanting in personal courage, should be deficient in experience, & thereby be led into errors, in that early stage of the war, is not to be wondered at. Scarce any had seen service upon so large a scale; & mere instructions & knowledge gained by reading will not make an adept in practice, there must also be experience. I was pleased with your wish—& the reason for it—“I hope none of the sparks will light on American ground—which I fear is made up of too much combustible matter, for its well being”—for I had the same hope, & the same fear. By what Mr Jefferson writes about the 16th of last Decr to Mr Lowell I am apprehensive that the flames of war have burst out in Europe. The purport of his letter as related to me by Mr Lowell is, that tho’ the people at large talked of an accommodation, there were no whispers of that kind from the cabinets; ⟨th⟩at the measures taken indicated the

contrary; so that he expected Holland & France would engage the Emperor for a while, that Russia would then join the latter, on which Prussia & the Turks would become the ⟨enem⟩ies of the former, while Britain from her present weakness or good policy would not take part in the quarrel, but reap from it all the benefit that a neutrality would procure. I learnt also from Mr Lowell, that the Duke of Dorset was appointed to negotiate a treaty of commerce with our Commissioners, that he had written to them, observing that while France & America were allies in war, there was a propriety in treating at Paris; but that the case being altered, it did not consist with the dignity of his Sovereign to treat now at Paris: that if the Americans chose it, an agent would be sent to America to transact the business, or that he should be ready to treat with them at London, upon which our Commissioners intended to repair to London.
My young Friend by his spontaneous answer has given me the tone of the family, for which I am much obliged to him; we know from the proverb that children speak true, not being versed in the arts of deceit. My love to him: but tho’ I recollect with pleasure the entertainments afforded me at Mount Vernon, I have little or no expectation of being in the way of a repetition. Am sorry that your Lady is so often troubled with billious complaints. I am no M.D., or might give my opinion, but as I am a lover of porter may mention having heard of its being good in such cases. I frequently drink half a pint at night, & pronounce myself better for it. Billious complaints I am not subject to. The porter I drink, tho’ bottled, is not windy; the utmost extent of its life serves only to varnish it out with a thin surface of white. Your Excellency will be pleased to present our best respects to the Family. With increasing esteem I remain Your Excellency’s sincere Friend & very humble Servant

William Gordon


Title: From George Washington to John Craig, 29 March 1785
From: Washington, George
To: Craig, John

Sir,
Mt Vernon 29th March 1785.

If I could give you any useful information on the subject of your letter to me, I would do it with pleasure; but, altho’ I have a good general knowledge of the Western Country, I am very little acquainted with local situations—& less with those on the Susquehanna than any other. Monongahela, of which Cheat river is a branch, is gentle in its current—easy of navigation—& besides, is supposed, either by the Cheat, or the Yohioganey (which is another branch of it) to approach nearest to, & to afford the best communication or portage with the Atlantic waters of any in all that extensive territory: consequently seats thereon, from this circumstance alone, must be valuable; but the quality of the Land is inferior to none, until you penetrate much further to the Westward, or much lower down the Ohio; and is besides much better settled than any part of the Country beyond the Alleghaney Mountains. Upon what terms you could buy (to rent I presume you are not inclined, or the difficulty might be less) a Seat having such conveniencies as you want, I am unable to inform you. The prices of Land there are rising every day, & if the plan which is now in contemplation for extending the navigation of Potomac & opening roads of communication short & easy, between it and the waters above mentioned, should be effected, of which I have no doubt—the price will encrease much faster. My complimts & best wishes to Mrs Craig —I am Sir &c.

G: Washington


Title: To George Washington from Robert Townsend Hooe, 29 March 1785
From: Hooe, Robert Townsend
To: Washington, George

Sir,
Alexandria, [Va.] March 29. 1785.

I had the honor of receiving Your Excellency’s favor of this date by your Man this day.
Major Jenifer writes me he intended to draw in your favor for 1000—or 1200£ Md Currency—every attention shall be paid to his draft—& I wish immediately to know the exact sum you want in New York, as I can accommodate you there, I believe—The sooner I get your demand upon that place the sooner I can make provision for it. I am sir, Yr Excellencys most Affe Servt

R. Td Hooe


Title: To George Washington from Robert Townsend Hooe, 29 March 1785
From: Hooe, Robert Townsend
To: Washington, George

Sir,
Alexandria [Va.] March 29th 1785.

It is with pleasure I sit down to do myself the Honor of giving Your Excellency an extract of a Letter I received Yesterday from Cadiz. It is as follows—“We have the pleasure to inform you that on Licence being asked of the King to Ship a Jack Ass for Genl Washington, his Majesty not only granted it, but at the same time most Graciously insisted on making a present of two of them to the Genl—adding he was happy in an oppty of Testifying his esteem and regard for so great a Character—Orders are given for the Purchase of two of the best in the Kingdom to be put under the direction of Mr Carmichael, who will send them down here or to Bilboa to be Shipt by different Vessells. Mr Carmichael & ourselves are equally pleased with the exit of this little Negotiation, & of which you will be pleased to advise his Excellency.”
I hope both these valuable Annimals will before long arrive safe—And I beg Yr Excellency to believe me to be sir, Yr most Affe hble servt

R. Td Hooe


Title: From George Washington to Lucretia Wilhelmina van Winter, 30 March 1785
From: Washington, George
To: Van Winter, Lucretia Wilhelmina

Madame
Mount Vernon 30th March 1785

The honor which your Pen has done me, so far exceeds my merits, that I am at a loss for words to express my sense of the compliment it conveys.
The Poem, in celebration of my exertions to establish the rights of my Country, was forwarded to me from Philadelphia by Mr Vogels, to whom I should have been happy to have offered civilities, but he did not give me the pleasure of seeing him.

At best, I have only been an instrument in the hands of Providence to effect, with the aid of France, and many virtuous fellow Citizens of America, a revolution which is interesting to the liberties of Mankind—and to the emancipation of a Country which may afford an asylum (if we are wise enough to pursue the paths which lead to virtue & patriotism) to the oppressed and needy of the Earth.
Our region is extensive. Our plains are productive. and if they are cultivated with liberallity and good sense, we may be happy ourselves, and diffuse it to all those who incline to participate of it.
The lady of whom you have made Such honourable mention, is truly sensible of the obligation, and joins me in wishing you every happiness which is to be found here, and met with hereafter. I have the honor to be Madame Yr most Obedt and Most Hble Servant

Go: Washington


Title: To George Washington from Daniel of St. Thomas Jenifer, 31 March 1785
From: Jenifer, Daniel of St. Thomas
To: Washington, George

Dear Sir
Intend[an]ts Office [Annapolis, Md.]March 31st 1785

Inclosed your Excellency will receive an Order on Col. Hooe & Co. for £1069.1.7 which I have not the smallest doubt will be duely honored  you have also the Account of your Certs. liquidated by the Auditor.
I shall always be made happy by the execution of any business that you may have to transact on this side of Potomack, being with the most perfect respect & esteem for all at Mount Vernon. I am Dr Sir Your Excellencys most affectionate & obedient Servant

Dan. of St Thos Jenifer


Title: From George Washington to Robert Townsend Hooe, 3 April 1785 [letter not found]
From: Washington, George
To: Hooe, Robert Townsend

Letter not found: to Robert Townsend Hooe, 3 April 1785. On the same day Hooe wrote to GW: “Your favor of this Date I have just rec’d.”


Title: To George Washington from Robert Townsend Hooe, 3 April 1785
From: Hooe, Robert Townsend
To: Washington, George

Sir,
Alexandria [Va.] April 3rd 1785.

Your favor of this Date I have just rec’d and have only to inform that you may rely on me for the Amount of twenty five Hundred Dollars in New York. I am, Sir, Yr most obdt Servant

R. Td Hooe


Title: From George Washington to Bushrod Washington, 3 April 1785
From: Washington, George
To: Washington, Bushrod

Dear Bushrod,
Mount Vernon 3d April 1785.

Your letter of the 20th Ulto did not come to my hands until the 31st —Whenever you have occasion to write to me from the line of the Post, always put your letter into the Mail. all other conveyances are uncertain; at best, irregular.
Not expecting you were going to Richmond, I did, previously to the receipt of your letter, write to the Attorney General (to whose care my letter to you had been addressed) requesting him to open it; and so far as it respected the promisary Note of Ryan, ⟨to⟩ comply with my desire on that ⟨head.⟩ Being on the spot, you can be informed of the state of this matter, & govern yourself accordingly.
By the last Post I inclosed an Advertisement to Mr Hayes (the Printer) requesting a meeting of the Proprietors of the Great

dismal Swamp. The Servant by whom I sent it to Alexandria got there after the Mail was dispatched; but meeting with the Stage, he says he put it into the hands of somebody who promised to take care of it; as this may, or may not be the case, I beg you will make immediate enquiry, & in case of failure, desire him to insert the one herewith inclosed three weeks in his Gazette. And, as the Notice will be short, to have it also published in some other Paper of general Circulation. If nothing unforeseen should happen to prevent it, I expect to be in Richmond at the appointed time, & having no other business, should regret a disappointment.
The Holly berries, Geese & Swan, are here, but no mention made of the Cotton —All here join me in best wishes for you. I am, Yr Affecte Uncle

Go: Washington

P.S. Upon second thoughts I have sent the Advertisement to the Printer himself lest this letter should lye in the Post Office for want of your knowing it is there. The one inclosed for Doctr Walker endeavor to forward by some safe hand.


Title: To George Washington from Patrick Henry, 4 April 1785
From: Henry, Patrick
To: Washington, George

Dear Sir.
Richmond [Va.] April 4th 1785

I beg Leave to introduce to you the Bearer Mr Arnold Henry Dohrman. He is of Lisbon, but has spent a year or two in America, gratifying himself with the Sight of a Country to whose Interests he devoted himself & his Fortune in the very early Periods of the late War. Hundreds (I believe I am within bounds) of our captive Countrymen, bereft of Clothes Victuals Friends & Money, found all these in his Bounty; And this at a Time & place when the Fury & Rage of our Enemys against what they called Rebellion carry’d them to Acts of Cruelty & great Inhumanity. Congress sensible of his Merit, several years ago made him Agent for the united States in Portugal, & I beleive would have gladly given him more substantial proofs of the public Gratitude had oppertunity presented. Our Senate gave him their Thanks & I beleive the Delegates would have done so, had it not been that he arrived here just at the close of a tedious Session, in very bad Weather when every Member was anxious to get away & Business of great Extent & Magnitude was crouded into the Compass of one or two Days Discussion.
Mr Dohrman has liberal, extensive, & usefull Intentions respecting America. He has a good Deal of Business with Congress & intends to spend some time at New York. I feel myself much interested in the Reception he meets with there, sensible as I am of his great Merit & amiable Disposition. And I cannot but hope, our Country may be availed of his unbounded Zeal for her Service, joined to very respectable Abilitys, & Experience in European Business & Politics.
In giving this worthy person your Countenance you will much oblige him who is with the sincerest Attachment Dear sir your most obedient Servant

P. Henry


Title: From George Washington to George Clinton, 5 April 1785
From: Washington, George
To: Clinton, George

Dear Sir,
Mount Vernon 5th Apl 1785.

A few days ago I had the pleasure to receive your favor of the 5th Ulto—Your other letter of the 26th of December came duely to hand, and should not have remained so long unacknowledged had I not been in daily expectation of accompanying my answer with a remittance.
Disappointment followed disappointment, but my expectation being kept up, I delayed writing from one Post day to another until now, that I am assured by a Merchant in Alexandria that I may depend upon a Bill, in a few days, upon a Mr Sylvanus Dickinson of the City of New York for Two thousand five hundred Dollars.
As it is probable I shall receive it before the next Weeks Post, I will, on that occasion, write you more fully—At present I will only add the sincere good wishes, & best respects of Mrs Washington to Mrs Clinton, yourself & family, in wch I sincerely unite—and with great esteem & regard remain, Dr Sir—Yr most Obedt & Affecte Hble Servt

Go: Washington

P.S. Since writing the above I have received the inclosed Bill —The Second shall be sent by next Post when I will be more particular. Go: W——n


Title: To George Washington from Sidney Lee, 5 April 1785
From: Lee, Sidney
To: Washington, George

Sr
Westminster [London] April 5th 1785

Your very obliging Letter of October 20th I had not the pleasure of receiving before the last month was pretty far advanced, when I was extremely ill, occasion’d by a cold I brought out of the Country with me, that at first seemed very insignificant, but afterwards brought on a severe indisposition, that prevented my presenting my sincere thanks by the last packet for the many acts of kindness you have honor’d me with and that I now warmly beg your acceptance of.
Was brought here in consequence of the most satisfactory accounts from Mr White and Mr Morris of Philadelphia (of who’s integrity I have the highest Opinion) of the train they had put the business in which I am interested. And powers sufficient to give full security to Messieurs M: & W., that they could not possibly run any risque in paying the money to wch they deny not my right. But Este⟨emed⟩ Sr these Contractors bear no resemblance to Mr Morris & Mr White; therefore have catched at a slight Ommission in a matter of form to protract payment And as we must now wait for further authority from my American friends, intend to return into the country next Week. But could not bear the thoughts of removing without first assuring you I must to the end of my days, remain with the truest gratitude & respect, Sr Your exceedingly obliged, faithful & obedient humble Servant

Sidney Lee


Title: To George Washington from George Mason, 5 April 1785
From: Mason, George
To: Washington, George

Dear Sir
Gunston-Hall April 5th 1785.

I have broach’d four or five Hogsheads of Cyder, & filled Your Bottles with what we thought the best; tho’ the Difference

in any of it is hardly distinguishable, all I now have being made of the Maryland red streak, & managed in the same Manner. I hope it will prove good, tho’ my Cyder this Year is not so clear & fine, as it generally has been; from what Cause I don’t know, unless that I ground my Apples last Fall rather later than usual. As the Cyder in the Bottles will not ripen, fit for use, ’til late in May, I have also filled a Barrel, out of the same Hhd which I beg Your Acceptance of. If You use it out of the Barrel, You will find it (as all sweet Cyder is) much more grateful to the Stomach, by having a little Ginger grated upon it.
I beg pardon for having forgot the Water-Melon Seed; & now send it by the Bearer. I was a good deal alarm’d two or three Days ago, by the Gout in my Stomach; which after giving me a very uneasy Night, has gone off again, as it has done several times this Winter, without getting into my Feet; and until it does, I have little Hopes of recovering a tollerable State of Health; so that, notwithstanding the extream pain I know a regular Fit must bring with it, I most heartily wish for one.
Mrs Mason & the Family here  join in their Compliments to You, Your Lady, and Miss Bassett, with Dear Sir Your affecte & obdt Sert

G. Mason


Title: To George Washington from Edmund Randolph, 5 April 1785
From: Randolph, Edmund
To: Washington, George

Dear sir
Richmond [Va.] april 5. 1785.

Your favor of the 19th Ulto was put into my hands this evening for the first time. I accordingly opened the inclosed letter to Mr Bushrod Washington, which has remained with me to the present moment. It would give me the sincerest satisfaction to execute, what you there confided to him. But I believe it is too notorious, that Mr Ryan has quitted Virginia, utterly incompetent to discharge his debts, and that an attempt to collect the note from him would have been too late, even at the date of your letter to your nephew. I therefore now inclose the letter and its inclosures.

Mrs Randolph and myself present our best respects to Mrs Washington and yourself: and I particularly request you to believe, that I am My dear sir yr obliged and affectionate friend

Edmund Randolph.


Title: To George Washington from Robert Lewis & Sons, 5 April 1785
From: Robert Lewis & Sons
To: Washington, George

Philad[elphi]a April 5th 1785.

We had the pleasure of writing to your Excellency the 8th Ulto by Post, under cover from Coln. Biddle, & have now to acquaint you, that we have partly engaged one Joseph Davenport to serve you as a Miller for one Year on trial, or longer as may hereafter be agreed on by both parties.
He served an Apprenticeship at one of our Mills, & we have known him from a Boy, to be of good Character, is about 25 Years of Age, has a Wife, two Children, & a bound Girl of about ten Years old, who compose his Family—He is a sober Man, not by any means addicted to Drink too excess, is a good Miller & Cooper, can fasten a Gudgion, put in a Cogg, & perform other Jobs of the kind about a Mill, but is not a MillWright—He writes a tolerable hand, is capable of making Entrys in a common Day Book of the transactions in a Mill, casting up the Measure or weight of Wheat & Flour, receiving & paying Money, but is not acquainted with the method of Posting Books—We have every reason to believe him strictly honest & inoffensive, being a plain Man of few words, & no great address, but on the whole we hope he will prove a suitable Person to transact your Business. But we are much at a loss to stipulate his Wages & privileges, not having such full directions from you as we could wish on that head, The terms he proposes are, to be furnish’d with a comfortable Dwelling-House & Garden (such as you mention) rent free, keeping of one Cow the year round, a sufficient quantity of Fire Wood, standing in the Woods, as convenient as possible to the Dwelling House, six hundred weight of good Pork, or equivalent in Beef & Pork, deliver’d to him in killing time, or this present Year when he may want it, & two hundred Dollars in Cash. Also, to be supply’d with Flour, Midlings, Corn &ca as much as will support his Family from time to

time as they may have occasion, at the same rates & prices as those Articles are sold to others for Cash out of the Mill, charging himself therewith.
He will be ready to set out from hence in the course of three Weeks, & depends on your paying all reasonable Expences of removing his Family from this City to Virginia, & he will proceed in the cheapest manner, & with as few Articles of Houshold Goods as possible—We hope those terms will meet your approbation, but should you be of Opinion they are too high, we will endeavour to persuade him to lessen the sum payable in Cash if possible, but we think he cannot well do without the privileges proposed, to which we hope you will have no material objection, & should you judge the terms rather too low, he relys on your Excellency’s generosity according to his industry & good conduct, in case you should think proper to continue him in the employment next Year, or for a number of Years to come—But we should be glad to receive a line of directions from you respecting Wages & privileges, before the contract is finally closed, so that we may endeavour to give satisfaction to both parties, & commit the Agreement to Writing, in Order to prevent any after claims, or uneasiness —A number of applications have been made to us, in consequence of an Advertisement publish’d in several Papers, & other enquirys, but none in our Opinion equal to Davenport. We have done every thing in our power to serve your Excellency in this matter, & wish our endeavours may give satisfaction, which will afford great pleasure to Your sincere Friends

Robt Lewis & Sons.


Title: To George Washington from Robert Townsend Hooe, 6 April 1785
From: Hooe, Robert Townsend
To: Washington, George

sir,
Alexandria [Va.] April 6th 1785.

I am extremely sorry it was not my power to wait on Your Excellency the other day, and Yesterday I found my self so very unwell all day as to be unable to do any thing or would have sent down the Bill. I now enclose one for 2500 Dollars on Mr Sylvanus Dickenson of New York. The Ballance of Major Jenifers draft I will be Collecting together as fast as in my power. I am, sir, Yr Excellencys Most Obt Serv’t

R. Td Hooe


Title: To George Washington from Chastellux, 8 April 1785 [letter not found]
From: Chastellux, François-Jean de Beauvoir, marquis de
To: Washington, George

Letter not found: from Chastellux, 8 April. On 5 Sept. GW wrote Chastellux: “I am your debtor for two letters—one of the 12th of Decemr—the other of the 8th of April.”