Title: Enclosure: Crop Rotations for Mount Vernon Farms, 1793
From: Washington, George
To:

              [1793]

                                                              Rotation of Crops for Dogue Run Farm
──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
                                                       Crops wch will be in each of those fields, in the years
 Fields                                                           at the head of each column
 distingd      ───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
 by Nos.          1793               1794               1795               1796                1797          1798              1799             1800
──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
      1         B: Wheat           Wheat              Manurg           Oats                Manurg           Corn &            Wheat &          Clover
                for Manure                                                                                Potats.           Clover
      2         Wheat              Oats               Pasture          Wheat &             Oats             Manurg            Corn &           Wheat &
                                                                       B. Wheat                                               Potats.          Clover
      3         Corn               Wheat &            Clover           Clover              Wheat &          Oats              Manurg           Corn &
                                   Clover                                                  B. Wheat                                            Potats.
      4         Pasture            Corn &             Wheat &          Clover              Clover           Wheat &           Oats             Manurg
                                   Potats.            Clover                                                B. Wheat
      5         Pasture            Manurg             Corn &           Wheat &             Clover           Clover            Wheat &          Oats
                                                      Potats.          Clover                                                 B. Wht
      6         Pasture            B. Wheat           Wheat            Corn &              Wheat &          Clover            Clover           Wheat &
                                   for Manure                          Potats.             Clover                                              B.Wht
      7         Wheat              Pasture            Oats             Manurg              Corn &           Wheat &           Clover           Clover
                                                                                Potats.          Clover
──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
    The above fields are not exactly of the same size, but the average of them is 70 Acres—and when cultivated in regular succession, agreeably
 to the above course, the annual plowing in each will be, both as it respects seasons, and the number of days required for each working, nearly
 as follow.
──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
 acres      Crops         Kind of Plowing                                         Seasons at wch these plowings shd be given
 in the     annually      necessary                  ─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
 Fields     growing       for these Crops              Fall       Winter      Mar:        Aprl        May     June     July    Augt     Sepr     Total
──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
 70         of Corn       Flushing                      70                                                                                70
            &             Listing 2 furrows                                    15                                                                  15

            Potatoes      Crossing to Plant                                                 9                                                       9
                          Plowing balks                                                   25                                                      25

                          Harrowing                                                                     9                                           9
                          Roundg with Plow                                                             15                                          15
                          Plowg out same way                                                                   30                                  30
                          Crosg last Plowing                                                                            36                         36
                          Levellg with Harrow for seeding                                                                       15                 15
                          Sowing Wheat                                                                                30       30        60
                                                       ──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
                                                        70                     15          34          24      30       36      45       30       284

 70         of Wheat      The above work in quantity, & seasons, does for this Crop
            & Clover
 70         of Clover     nothing being sown on the Wheat in February
            for Wht on    Clover lay plowed for Wheat in Sepr                                                                            70        70
                          Harrowg in Do                                                                                12        12
 70         of Wheat      nothing being put in as above
 70         B. Wheat      Plowing as soon as the Wht comes off                                                          70                         70
                          Harrowing before sowg to level the grd                                                        12                         12
                          Harrowing in the Seed                                                                         12                         12
 70         Oats          Flushing                      70                                                                                70
                          Crossing                                             70                                                                  70
                          Harrowg before sowg                                  12                                                                  12
                          Harrowg in the Seed                                  12                                                                  12
 70         Pasture       to Manure on for the Crop of Corn—nothing
──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
 490                                                   140                    109          34          24     300      130      45      112       624
──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
     The annual yield of the foregoing fields—cultivated in the manner, and for the purposes there mentioned—may reasonably be calculated as
  follow—and it is hoped they will become more and more productive every year, from the mode of cropping them—and from the advantage this
  Farm will have in an abundance of Mowing ground—and the increase of stock consequent thereof.

  70 Acres in Corn           a 12½ bushls        875 Bushls      a 2/6           £109.7.6
     same in Potatoes          Do      Do        875 Do            1/              43.15
  70          Wheat            10      Do        700 Do            5/             175
              Clover             fed the yr the Wheat comes off
  70          Ditto              Mowed or fed accordg to cir[cumstance]s.
  70          Ditto              Mowed—½ a Ton pr acre
                                 amountg to 35 Tons             a £3               105
  70          Wheat            10                700               5/              175
              Buck Wht         10                700               2/               70
  70          Oats             12½               875               2/               87.10
  70          Pasture            to Manure on                                     __________
Total 490 Acs. in 7 fields producing                                             £765.12.6.
                                             The probable consumptn of Corn on this Farm will be—for

                                                            Negros       600 Bushls
                                                            Overseer      30
                                                            Hogs         250
                                                                         ---
                                                            Total        880

  The horses will be fed with Oats & Buck Wheat; the latter chopped at the Mill. Other animals will be supported on Hay, Indian Corn fodder,
and Straw.
  Besides the produce of the above fields, there will be three lots adjoining the Barn as may be seen by the plan of about 5 acres each—one of
which will be in Potatoes, succeeded the Spring following by Oats; with clover sown thereon for the purpose of soiling the work horses &ca the
year following & affording good pasturage in the mean while. The 3d year this field will be in prime order for cutting, either for Hay, or for the
purpose of feeding green as above, to the horses. The other two fields follow the same course in Rotation.
  When No. 5 is cultivated in Corn & Potatoes in 1795, as may be seen by the foregoing table, the woodland part of it (about 15 acres) must
be cleared and tilled in these articles along with the rest of the Inclosure, to replace the difficiency therein, occasioned by taking from it the
ground for the Barn, the Barn yard, and two of the three lots abovementioned for Clover amounting altogether to 12½ acres. 2½ being for
the Yard.

                                                        Rotation of Crops for Union Farm.
 ───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
                                                       Crops which will be in each of those fields in the years
 Fields                                                       mentiond at the head of each column
 distingd      ─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
 by Nos.        1793           1794              1795               1796              1797              1798          1799             1800
 ───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
 1             Past[ur]e      Mang             Corn               Wheat             Buck Wht          Wheat         ½ B. Wht          Paste
                                                                                for Manure                      & ½ Oats
 2             Corn           Wheat            Manug              Corn              Wheat             Buck Wh.      Wheat             ½ B. Wh.
                                                                                for Manure                      & ½ Oats
 3             Half           ½ B. Wht         Paste              Manug             Corn              Wheat         Buck Wh.          Wheat
               Wheat          & ½ Oats                                                                              for Manure
 4             Paste          Paste            ½ B. Wht           Paste             Manurg            Corn          Wheat             Buck Wh.
                                               & ½ Oats                                                                               for Manure
 5             Wheat           Buck Wht        Wheat              ½ B. Wht          Paste             Manug         Corn              Wheat
                              for Manure                          & ½ Oats
 6             Corn           Wheat            Buck Wh.           Wheat             ½ B. Wh.          Paste         Manurg            Corn
                                               for Manure                           & ½ Oats
 7             Paste          Corn             Wheat              Buck Wht          Wheat             ½ B. Wh.      Paste             Mang
                                                                  for Manure                          & ½ Oats
 ───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
   The above fields like those of the preceeding Farm at Dogue run are not exactly of a size, but the average of them is 118 acres and when
 cultivated in regular succession agreeably to the above course the annual ploughing will be nearly as follow.

 ─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
          Crops
 Acres    acctualy     Kind of Plowg
 in the   thereon      necessary for                                          Seasons at wch these plowings shd be given
 Fields   annually     these Crops                       Fall      Wintr      Mar.    Aprl     May     June     July     Augt   Sep   Total
 ──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
 118      Corn         Flushing                            118                                                                          118
                       Listing 2 furrws                                       25                                                         25
                       Crossg to Plant                                                 15                                                15
                       Plowg balks                                                     42                                                42
                       Harrowing                                                               15                                        15
                       Roundg with the Plow                                                    25                                        25
                       Plowg out the same way                                                           50                               50
                       Crossg the last plowing                                                                  60                       60
                       Levellg with the Harrow for Seeding                                                                25             25
                       Plowg in Wheat                                                                                50     50     100
                                                         118                  25       57      40       50      60        75     50     475
 118      Wheat        The above work in qty, & Seasons, does for this Crop
 118      Buck Wht     Flushing                          118                                                                            118
          for Manure   Crossing for sowg                                              118                                               118
                       Harrowg to level                                                15                                                15
                       Harrowg in the Seed                                             15                                                15
                       Plowing in B. Wheat                                                             118                              118
                       Harrowg to level the grd                                                                 15                       15
 118      Wheat        Plowed in on B. Wht man[ur]e                                                                      118            118
 118      Oats &       Flushing                          118                                                                            118
          B. Wheat    Crossing for Oats                              59                                                                 59
                       Harrowg for the same                            7                                                                  7
                       Harrowg to cover them                           8                                                                  8
                       Crossing for B. Wheat                                                   59                                        59
                       Harrowg to level                                                                  8                                8
                       Harrowing in Seed                                                                         8                        8

 236      In Pasture—& for Manuring                     ─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
 826                                                     354                  99      205      99      176      83       193     50    1259
 ────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
   When the fields at this Farm (Union) come to be cropped in the order mentioned in the preceeding Table, it is presumed the yield of them
 may be estimated as follow
               118 acrs in Corn      a 12½ bushls    1475 B.         a 2/6     £184.7.6
               118         Wheat     Corn ground    1180              5/       295
               118         Buck Wheat for Manure
               118         Wheat                     1180              5/       295
 59            118         Oats        12½            737½             2/        73.15.0
 59                        Buck Wht    10             590              2/        59
               118         Pasturage
               118         Manuring by Penning &ca
               ───────                                                         ────────
 Total         826        amount of the fields—& produce                      £907.2.6
                          ═════════════════════════════════════════════════
      The probable consumption of Corn on this Farm will be
                                                      For Negros               800 Bushls
                                                           Overseer             30
                                                           Hogs                300
                                                                               ───
                                                                              1130
                                                         Surplus               345
                                                                               ───
                                                      Made as above           1475

                                                                Rotation of Crops for River Farm
───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
 Fields                                                      Crops which will be in each field in the years
 distingd                                                           at the head of each column
 by Nos.       1793           1794               1795                 1796               1797              1798               1799          1800
───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
 1             Paste        Buck Wh.            Wheat                ½ B. Wht           Paste           Manurg            Corn            Wheat
                            for Manure                               & ½ Oats
 2             Corn         Wheat               Buck Wh.             Wheat              ½ B. Wht        Paste             Manurg          Corn
                                                for Manure                              & ½ Oats
 3             Paste        Corn                Wheat                Buck Wht           Wheat           ½ B: Wht          Paste           Manurg
                                                                     for Manure                         & ½ Oats
 4             Paste        Manurg              Corn                 Wheat              Buck Wh.        Wheat             ½ B. Wht        Paste
 now 9                                                                                for Manure                        & ½ Oats
 5             Past.        Paste               Manug                Corn               Wheat           Buck Wh.          Wheat           ½ B. Wht
 now 8                                                                                for Manure                        & ½ Oats
 6             Wheat        Paste               Paste                Manug              Corn            Wheat             Buck Wh.        Wheat
                                                                                for Manure
 7             Wheat        Paste               ½ B. Wh.             Paste              Manug           Corn              Wheat           Buck Wh.
                                                & ½ Oats                                                                                for Manure
───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
   The above fields, like those of Dogue run and Union Farm are a little varient in point of size—but not essentially so—The average of them is
 125 acres. The annual ploughings, when brought into regular succession will be as follow.
─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
 Acres                         Kind of Plowgs                                  Seasons at wch these Plowgs shd be given
 in the     Crops annualy      required for               ───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
 Fields     growg thereon      these Crops                Fall     Wintr      Mar.      Aprl     May        June   July     Aug.   Sep.     Total
─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
 125        Corn               Flushing                   125                                                                                125
                               Listing–2 furrows                               27                                                             27
                               Crossing to Plant                                          17                                                  17
                               Plowing balks                                              45                                                  45
                               Harrowing                                                          17                                          17
                               Roundg with Plows                                                  27                                          27

                               Plowg out—same way                                                            53                               53
                               Crossing the last Plowg                                                              64                        64
                               Levellg with Harrow for sowing Wheat                                                         27                27
                               Plowing in Wheat                                                                             53      54       107
                                                       ──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
 125       Wheat               The above work            125                   27         62      44         53     64      80      54       509
                               sows this Crop
 125       B: Wheat            Flushing                  125                                                                                125
           for Mane            Crossg for Sowing                                         125                                                 125
                               Harrowg to level                                           16                                                  16
                               Harrowg in the Seed                                        16                                                  16
                               Plowg in B: Wheat                                                            125                              125
                               Harrowg to levl grd                                                                  16                        16
 125       Wheat               Plowed in, on B: Wheat Manure                                                               125               125
 125       Oats &              Flushing                  125                                                                                125
           B. Wheat            Crossg for Oats                                 63                                                             63
                               Harrowg for the same                             8                                                              8
                               Harrowg them in                                  8                                                              8
                               Crossg for B. Wheat                                                63                                          63
                               Harrowg to level                                                               8                                8
                               Harrowg in Seed                                                                       8                         8
 250       In Past[ur]e and for Manuring               ──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
 875                                                     375                  106        219     107        186     88     205      54      1340
─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
    The rotation of Crops at the River farm being precisely the same (when the fields are brought into a regular course) as that of Union farm, it
 is unnecessary to repeat the observations, and to suggest the same things over again as are there mentioned; because they apply without the least
 variation equally to this Farm. And the lands differing but little in quality the yield—to the Acre—must be nearly the same—as follow. viz.

                                       125 acs.    in Corn      a 12½ bushls 1562½ B.     a 2/6   £195.6.3
                                       125            Wheat in Corn gd       1250           5/     312.10.0
                                       125            Buck Wheat—for Manure
                                       125            Wheat                  1250           5/     312.10
                               62½     125            Oats        12½         781           2/      78.2.0
                               62½                    B: Wheat    10          620           2/      62
                                       125            Pasturage
                                       125            Manuring by Penning &ca
                                       ───                                                        ────────
                              Total 875 acs. in 7 fields producing                              £960.8.3
                                             ═════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════
 The quantity of Corn required at this Farm may be estimated as follow

                                                        For Negros       800     Bushls
                                                            Overseer      30
                                                            Hogs         300
                                                                         ───
                                                                        1130
                                                            Surplus      432½ Mansn He 400
                                                                         ────
                                                      Made as above     1562½

─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────

                                                    Rotation of Crops for Muddy hole Farm
─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
                                                   Crops which will be in each field in the years mentioned at
 Fields                                                            the head of each column
 distingd         ───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
 by Nos.           1793          1794              1795              1796               1797             1798             1799            1800
─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
     1            Corn         Wheat             Buck Wh.          Wheat             ½ Oats &          Paste             Manug           Corn
                                                 for Manure                          ½ B. Wht
     2            Paste        B. Wheat          Wheat             B: Wheat          Wheat             ½ Oats &          Paste           Mang
                               for Manure                          for Manure                          ½ B. Wht
     3            Paste        Mang              Corn              Wheat             B. Wht            Wheat             ½ Oats &        Paste
                                                                                for Manure                          ½ B. Wht
     4            Wheat        Paste             Mang              Corn              Wheat             B. Wht            Wheat           ½ Oats &
                                                                                for Manure                        ½ B. Wht
     5            Paste        ½ B. Wh.          Paste             Mang              Corn              Wheat             B. Wheat        Wheat
                               & ½ Oats                                                                                for Manure
     6            Paste        Paste             ½ B. Wh.          Paste             Mang              Corn              Wheat           B. Wht
                                                 & ½ Oats                                                                                for
                                                                                Manure
     7            Paste        Corn              Wheat             ½ B. Wh.          Paste             Mang              Corn            Wheat
                                                                   & ½ Oats
─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
   The above fields like those of the other Farms, differ a little in size, but the average number of acs. in each is 64—The annual Plowings in
 each when the fields are in regular rotine will be as follow

─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
          Crops
 Acres    growg      Kind of Plowgs                                  Seasons at wch these plowings shd be given
 in the   thereon    necessary for                ───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
 Fields   annually   these Crops                  Fall      Wintr   Mar.        Apl      May      June      July      Aug.   Sep.   Total
─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
 64       Corn       Flushing                      64                                                                                64
                     Listing—2 furrows                              14                                                               14
                     Crossing to plant                                           8                                                    8
                     Plowing balks                                              23                                                   23
                     Harrowing                                                           8                                            8
                     Roundg with Plows                                                  14                                           14
                     Plowg out—same way                                                          28                                  28
                     Crossing the last Plowg                                                                33                       33
                     Levellg with the harrow to sow wheat                                                             14             14
                     Plowing in wheat                                                                                28     28      56
                                                  ───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
                                                   64               14          31      22       28         33        42     28     262
 64       Wheat      The above work puts in this Crop of Wheat
 64       B. Wht     Flushing                      64                                                                                64
          for Mane   Crossing for sowg                                          64                                                   64
                     Harrowg to level                                            8                                                    8
                     Harrowg in the Seed                                         8                                                    8
                     Plowg in B. Wheat                                                           64                                  64
                     Harrg to level grd                                                                      8                        8
 64       Wheat      Ploughed in, on B. Wheat Manure                                                                  64             64
 64       Oats &     Flushing                      64                                                                                64
          B. Wt      Crossg for Oats                                32                                                               32
                     Harrowg for the same                            4                                                                4
                     Harrowg them in                                 4                                                                4
                     Crossg for B. Wht                                                  32                                           32
                     Harrowg to level                                                             4                                   4
                     Harrowg in Seed                                                                         4                        4

128      In Pasture—& for Manuring
───                                               ───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
448                                               192        —      54         111      54       96         45       106      8     686
─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
   The rotation at this Farm being the same as at the last two, in all respects; and the suggestions and observations applying equally to it nothing
 further is necessary than to refer to them.

                                                        Corn for Negros        450 Bushls
                                                                 Overseer       20
                                                                 Hogs          230
                                                                               700

   Yield of the foregoing fields may be computed—& the land being indifferent & much exhausted as below

                                               64 acs. in Corn     a 10 Bushls      640        a 2/6      £80.0.4
                                               64         Wht in Corn grd           384          5/        96
                                               64         B. Wht for Man[ur]e
                                               64         Wheat or B. Wht           384          5/        96
                                     32        64         Oats       10             320          2/        32
                                     32                   B. Wh.      8             256          2/        26.12.0
                                               64         Pasturage
                                               64         Mang by Penng &ca
                                               ──                                                        ─────────
                                  Total       448 acs. in 7 fields—producing                             £330.12.4
─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
   Toll Corn received by the Mill will contribute in a degree towards the supply of my demands for this article; but as there are contingent ex-
 penditures & waste that cannot be accurately calculated this resource may be placed against them upon a supposition that they will be adequate
 thereto.


Title: To George Washington from George Clinton, 19 December 1793
From: Clinton, George
To: Washington, George

              Sir,
              New York 19th December 1793

            Although Mr Williamson mentions in his Letter to me of the 26th of November that he
              has transmitted to the secretary of state the affidavit of George Rankin yet I have
              thought proper to enclose a duplicate of it together with a Copy of his said
                Letter It is my duty at the same time not only to
              solicit redress from the Union of the Injury this State sustains from a foreign
              power’s continuing to hold military posts within our territory but also to express to
              you my apprehensions that the repeated insults which our Citizens experience from
              those garrisons may at length provoke a retaliation which it will not be in my power
              to prevent and which may involve consequences of the highest national concern.
            Permit me sir to remind you of the exposed condition of our Frontiers—To the Westward
              we are accessible to the depredations of the Indians now in actual hostility against
              the United states—and perhaps our only immediate security against
              their incursions arises from the friendly disposition of the six nations, which ought
              not to be too much confided in.
            The Caughnawagas of lower Canada (a settlement of whom, has, as I am informed since
              the peace been established under the patronage of the British Government at
                Oswegotchie on our side of the River st Lawrance)
              have joined the confederacy of Hostile Indians—which places our Northern Frontiers in
              a critical situation—and what increases the danger is that our Militia in those
              exterior settlements are generally destitute of fire arms and many are without the
              means of procuring them.
            There is reason to believe that considerable inattention has taken place in this
              respect from an expectation that Congress would have made some efficient provision for
              arming the Militia.
            Nor is our sea-board in a more eligible condition—This Port which is so easy of
              access and on which the public revenues so mu⟨ch⟩ depend, has no fortifications to
              defend it from the insults even of a single Pirate. I am with the highest respec⟨t⟩
              Your most humble and most Obedt serv⟨t⟩

              Geo: Clinton


Title: Enclosure I: Charles Williamson to George Clinton, 26 November 1793
From: Williamson, Charles
To: Clinton, George

              Sir
              Bath Ontario County 26 Novr 1793

            I have the Honor to inclose you an Affidavit taken before me as a Magestrate of this
              County—as the outrage complained of has been attended with the most distressing
              consequences to some of the sufferers, and a most dangerous Precident to the safety of
              the Settlers on this Frontier—I thought it my duty to lay it before your
              Excellency.
            As I consider this unwarantable stretch of Local power on the part of the British
              goverment—as a gross insult to the goverment of the United States—I took the liberty
              of transmitting to Mr Jefferson a Copy of the Affidavit enclosed to your
              Excellency—requesting of him to lay it before the President of the United States.
            That spirited Exertion which has ever marked your Excellencys goverment will I hope
              on this Occasion lead you to recommend to the Executive of the United States such
              measures as will at once put an end to such Authorised Insults and show to the
              goverment of Upper Canada that however insignificant they may suppose the County of
              Ontario—that its Inhabitants have the Honor of living under a free goverment that will
              protect its Citizens from Insult—I have the Honor to be with great esteem Sir your
              most Obet and humble Sert

              Chas Williamson(Copy[)]


Title: Enclosure II: Affidavit of George Rankin, 26 November 1793
From: Rankin, George
To:

              [26 November 1793]

            Personally appeared before me Chas Williamson one of the judges of the Court of
              Common Pleas for the County Ontario in the State of New York. Geo. Rankin of
                Newtonpoint in the County and State aforesaid who
              being duly sworn, deposeth and saith that he this deponent with three other Men in Two
              boats passed the British Garrison at oswego within the jurisdiction of the State of
              New York, About 20th August last, that said Boat had on board Cargoes consisting of
              Castings, Tar, Iron, and one Barrel Gin; valued at about 500
              Dollars, that he this Deponent with said Boats proceeded to a place called the 18 Mile
                Creek, where about one half of said Cargoes were
              landed—and from there proceeded with the remaining part of said Cargoe to a distance
              of about 12 Miles from the Garrison at Niagara both of which said places, where the
              Cargoes were landed is within the jurisdiction of the County of Ontario in the State
              of New York.
            And he this deponent further saith that he went to Tarento now in the possession of
              the British with a view to obtain permits for Entering said cargoes in the British
              lines—that permits were Granted, and now in possession of this Deponent—but that in
              the Intermediate time a Seizure was made of said Cargoes at the several places, where
              they had been landed by Men (as this Deponent was informed) under the direction and
              orders of a Revenue Officer of Upper Canada.
            And he the Deponent further saith that in Consiquence of said Seizures he personally
              applyed to a Sheriff of one of the Counties in said Upper Canada for a writ of
              Replevin—that said Sheriff replyed that he could not grant a writ of Replevin as the
              seizure had been made within the jurisdiction of the Goverment of the United
              States.
            And further this Deponent saith that the Cargoes mentioned as Aforesaid had not to
              his knowledge while as his property been out of the jurisdiction of the United States
              and that he saw an advertisement at Niagara exposing to sale said Cargoes as
              Contraband property and as such he believes was actually sold—which said advertisement
              was signed by a Mr McKnab whome this Deponent believes to be a revenue Officer under
              the Goverment of Upper Canada.
            And this Deponent further saith that a Mr Lafferty and James McDonald were Chief
              Owners in the property together with this Deponent—that said permits were granted in
              their Several Names that he this deponent veryly believes that said Men will be
              materially affected by loss of said property—as being men in low Circumstances in
              Life.
            And further this Deponent saith not.
            George Rankin
            Sworn before me Chas Williamson this Twenty sixth Day of Novr 1793 at Bath in the
              County of Ontario and the State of New York.

              Chas Williamson


Title: To George Washington from Richard Dobbs Spaight, 19 December 1793
From: Spaight, Richard Dobbs
To: Washington, George

            Sir
            North Carolina Fayetteville Dec:

                19
              th 1793.

          By the last post I received the Secretary of wars letter of the 12th Novem: in answer
            to my letter to you of the 21st of October last respecting the trunk of money which was
            taken from Captain Hervieux by the revenue officers and lodged in the hands of the
            deputy Marshal at Wilmington, and which I had given him in order to detain on a
            presumtion, it had been taken from on board the Spanish brig a prize to L’Amee
              Margueritte.
          From the depositions which I sent you in novem: I have no doubt but that the money was
            the property of the Spaniards and taken from them by Captain Hervieux, but in order to
            get every information that can be obtained to prove the fact, I have directed the
            Marshal (which I did not think myself authorized to do before I knew whether any part of
            the prize was to be secured, that was within the jurisdiction of the State.) to have the
            invoices and such other of the shipping papers as are in the trunk fait[h]fully
            translated and authenticated and sent on to me: and if they cannot be translated there
            to send the original papers that I may have it done.
          Should those papers make it fully appear that the property was taken from on board the
            Spanish brig, which I am confident will be the case, I shall be glad to know to whom I
            shall cause the trunk money and papers to be delivered: as the brig
            her Captain and crew, have been carried into Charleston So. Carolina where they at
            present remain and there is no Spanish Consul in this State.
          I should further wish to be informed whether the expence and trouble of the deputy
            Marshall, in detaining and Securing the property (he having as I understand employed
            some persons to assist him to guard it) is to be paid by the persons to whom the
            property is restored or by the United States.
          The Secretary of War in his letter of the 12th of Novem: and that of the 16 August last
            makes a difference of two months, between the time, after which prizes brought or sent
            into the ports of the United States by proscribed vessels shall be secured for the
            purpose of restoring them to their former owners. In his letter of the 16th August, the
            5th of that month was the time specified in that of the 12th of Novem: he goes back to
            the fifth of June last.
          As the instructions are contradictory I shall not take any steps to secure the L’Amee
            Margueritte formerly the Sloop providence untill I shall receive further instructions
            from you on that head: the more so, because in my letter to you of the 24th June last I
            particularly mentioned that the Vanqueur de la Bastille, sailed from the port of
            Charleston on the 7th day of June last, and afterwards captured the Sloop providence of
            Montego bay, and brought her into the port of Wilmington.
          The Secretary of wars letter of the 7th August which conveyed to me the general
            instructions respecting the conduct I should persue, in regard to Vessels arm’d and
            equipped in the United States as privateers on behalf of any of the parties at War, did
            not contain any instructions to secure the Sloop providence for her former owners: nor
            did I receive any instructions to secure any prize whatever ’till it was communicated to
            me by the Secretary’s letter of the 16th Augt. I am
            therefore induced to conclude that he has made a mistake in his letter of the 12th
            Novem: by inserting the 5th June instead of the 5th Augt.
          The Sloop L’Amee Margueritte remains still in the port of Wilmington but near the mouth
            of Cape Fear river, where the Militia without the assistance of an armd Vessel cannot
            readily take her. The revenue cutter I have reason to beleive is neither armed or well
            manned—As Capt: He[r]vieux will wait the decision respecting the money and his
            commission being likewise in the hands of the marshal, it is probable
            he will not leave the port before I have an answer from you. I have the honor to be wt. respect Sr yrs &c.

            Rd D. Spaight


Title: From George Washington to John Hyde, 20 December 1793
From: Washington, George
To: Hyde, John

          Letter not found: to John Hyde, 20 Dec. 1793. In a letter to GW of 23 Dec., Hyde
            mentioned receiving “your Letter of the 20.”


Title: To George Washington from Frederick Augustus Conrad Muhlenberg, 20 December 1793
From: Muhlenberg, Frederick Augustus Conrad
To: Washington, George

            Sir
            Philada Dec. 20th 1793.

          Permit me to lay before You a Recomendation of Jno. Witman of the Borough of Reading
            for the Office of Inspector of the Revenue of that District & to assure You that I am with the highest Respect Sir Your
            most obdt humble Servt

            Fredk A. Muhlenberg


Title: To George Washington from Thomas Jefferson, 22 December 1793
From: Jefferson, Thomas
To: Washington, George

            Dec. 22. 1793.

          Th: Jefferson has the honor to return to the President Govr Clinton’s letter. also to send him a statement of mister Genet’s conversation
            with him in which he mentioned Gouvernr Morris. this paper Th: J. prepared several days
            ago, but it got mislaid which prevented it’s being sent to the President.


Title: From George Washington to John Christian Ehlers, 23 December 1793
From: Washington, George
To: Ehlers, John Christian

            Mr Ehler,
            Philadelphia Decr 23d 1793.

          By a Vessel which left this City ten or twelve days ago I sent you Grafts of several
            kinds of fruit, according to a list which was enclosed to Mr Lewis, & which I
            presume he gave you.
          I now give you a letter to a Gentleman living about 12 miles from you, where there used
            to be, and I dare say still is, a great variety of choice apples and other fruits—Go then when you find it convenient, for them, & it
            may be done by land or water, as you like best. Do not omit grafting a good many of the
            Golden Pippin which grows in my own Orchard.
          I expect Mr Pearce who is to superintend my business will be at Mount Vernon by the
            time this letter will get to your hands, and I expect you will observe his directions,
            & pay the same attention to any regulations he may establish, as if they were given, and made by myself; the same will be expectd from your wife, and
            from John—The last of whom, that is John, you may inform, has displeased me, by giving
            himself impudent airs, in saying he would not have this thing, nor he would not have
            that thing, because they were either not good enough, or not made to his liking. You may tell him from me, that this is neither the way to
            make me his friend, or to get better things. The way to obtain them is to ask for what
            he wants modestly; without wch he will not get them at all—or at least nothing more than
            what is absolutely necessary.
          I hope, and do expect, that you will use your best exertions in planting out
            trees—making good the hedges—Keeping the Gardens—the Lawns—and the Vineya⟨rd⟩ in order,
            with such other things as was to have been done last winter but was not then
            accomplished. And as I have desired Mr Pearce to have cuttings of the Lombardy Poplar,
            & the Willows planted along the ditches at the Plantations, for hedges do not trim
            those along the Walks, or elsewhere until they are wanted for this purpose.
          I shall not close this letter without exhorting you to refrain from spiritous
            liquors—they will prove your ruin if you do not. Consider how little a drunken Man
            differs from a beast; the latter is not endowed with reason—the former deprives himself
            of it; and when that is the case acts like a brute; annoying, and disturbing every one
            around him—But this is not all—nor as it respects himself the worst of it; By degrees it
            renders a person feeble & not only unable to serve others but to help himself—and
            being an act of his own he fall from a state of usefulness into contempt and at length
            suffers, if not perishes in penury & want.
          Don’t let this be your case. Shew yourself more of a man, and a Christian, than to
            yield to so intolerable a vice; which cannot, I am certain (to the greatest lover of
            liquor) give more pleasure to sip in the poison (for it is no better) than the
            consequences of it in bad behaviour at the moment, & the more serious evils produced
            by it afterwards, must give pain. I am—Your friend

            Go: Washington


Title: From George Washington to Thomas Green, 23 December 1793
From: Washington, George
To: Green, Thomas

            Thomas,
            Philadelphia 23d Decembr 1793

          It is eight weeks this day since I left Mount Vernon—and what have you done? Not a
            stroke to Crows House so late as the 15th of this month (the date of the last
            report)—Not a stroke to the sheds at Dogue run Barn. Very little that I can discover to
            the Barn itself; and scarcely any thing else, except running to Alexandria and repairing
            your own house. In doing which (by your own reports) you have employed Tom Davis &
            Muclus  days: at a time too, when, on account of the season of the year, not one
            man out of their labour ought to have been withdrawn from the out doors work on Crows
            house, and the Walls of the Barn sheds.
          Is it possible for any misconduct, or impudence to exceed this transaction? when you
            knew how extremely anxious I was to get the Brick work of these buildings done before
            the frosts set in; & when I had told you in the most explicit language I was able,
            that my Carpenters should stick close to those works until they were compleated; and
            that this was the case while I remained at home you know—yet, notwithstanding my anxiety
            on this head; notwithstanding my express orders on the occasion: No soone⟨r⟩ was my back
            turned than every man set about what pleased him best; and, as usual, I have got little
            or nothing done.
          I know full well, that to speak to you is of no more avail, than to speak to a bird
            that is flying over one’s head; first, because you are lost to all sense of shame, &
            to every feeling that ought to govern an honest man, who sets any store by his
            character; and secondly, because you have no more command of th⟨e⟩ people over whom you
            are placed, than I have over the beasts of the forists: for if they chuse to work, they
            may; if they do not you have not influence enough to make them; or if they incline to do
            one sort work (only for an excuse to be idle or, to be after their own pranks) you can
            not compel them to do another: why else has Is⟨aac⟩ been the Lord knows how long getting
              ⟨illegible⟩ when I expressly ordered that Nothing should take
            them from the work I left you engaged in, until it was compleated?
            And how durst you, take Tom Davis from the Brick work I directed him to execute, before
            it was done in order to execute your own projects.
          Although you pay so little regard to my orders at a distance, and your time, and those
            of my Carpenters are so miserably mispent, it may be well for you to know that, I have
            got a person now, who is not only a man of character, but is also a good judge of Work;
            and, that he has not only the authority, but he has my express orders, if he finds you
            inattentive to your duty, in any respect whatsoever, unable to govern the people who are
            placed under you, or to regulate their work to the best advantage; or finds you
            departing from the articles of your agreement, to discharge you that momt; and to
            disposses your family of the house they are in; for I
            cannot, nor will not submit to such infamous treatment as I meet with from you, how ever
            well disposed I may be to befriend them—or wish to be your friend, if you would let
            me.

            Go: Washington


Title: To George Washington from Alexander Hamilton, 23 December 1793
From: Hamilton, Alexander
To: Washington, George

            Treasury Depart. Decr 23d 1793.

          The Secretary of the Treasury has the honor respectfully to submit to the President of
            the U. States a communication from the Commissioner of the revenue of the 18 inst:
            enclosing a provisional Contract for the Stakage of Neus River in North Carolina; the
            ratification whereof appears to be for the interest of the Ud States.

            Alexandr HamiltonSecy of the Treasy


Title: To George Washington from John Hyde, 23 December 1793
From: Hyde, John
To: Washington, George

            Honor’ed Sir
            New York Decer 23. 1793

          your Letter of the 20 I am favour’d with, I have
            communed with Mr Baur on the Several parts of it he Excepts the fortytwo Guineas a year,
            I have taken the Liberty to send him to philadelphia, he will deliver this Letter to
            your Excellence, and I hope he will be a good and faithfull Sart. I am your Excellence’s most obliged most Humble Sart to
            Command

            John Hyde


Title: To George Washington from Thomas Johnson, 23 December 1793
From: Johnson, Thomas
To: Washington, George

            sir.
            Washington 23d Decemr 1793.

          We are just about finishing the Business of this Meeting. it has been very important,
            much influenced by the Considerations hinted in our general Letter and I hope will meet
            your Approbation—Funds are now secured, I think, to
            carry on the public Buildings to a considerable Length under the most disagreeable
            Events and if our public Affairs should brighten a powerful Influence is secured to do
            what is right and proper and which ought to have been done in the Outset.
          Mr Blodget has involved us in unpleasant Circumstances Doctr Stuart and I cannot quit
            our Post to our own Satisfaction till we see the present Lottery in a Way of being
            settled and we had all determined that another should not be offered in the present
            Temper of the public or at all ’till without a farther Security than mere Honor—I will
            deal frankly with you, Sir, tho’ I dare say your own Observation renders mine
            unnecessary Mr Blodget will not be useful in the Affairs of the City he wants Judgment
            and Steadiness I cannot think of leaving him to a Successor we all wish to part from him
            and that quietly.

          As soon as the Lottery Business is smoothed, and I hope it will be so by the first of
            March, I wish to be relieved: my Affairs are pretty extensive and require much of my
            Attention: I wish too to avail myself of the Moment which I saw and has almost past away
            to benefit myself by the rise of the City to which a long Friendship for Potomack and
            every Exertion in my power in it’s favor fairly intitle me. I am sir. with the most
            perfect Esteem and Respect. Your very affectionate Servant.

            Th. Johnson


Title: From George Washington to Henry Knox, 23 December 1793
From: Washington, George
To: Knox, Henry

            Dear Sir,
            Philadelphia 23d Decr 1793

          I have read the proposed message to the “Sachems, Chiefs and Warriors of the Six
            Nations” and approve of it, except that I question whether the 8th and the 11th
            paragraphs are expressed quite strong enough. The 8th gives too
            much ground, in my opinion, to expect a compliance with their request in its full
            extent; and the 11th although the sense is plain, seems hardly decisive enough for
            Indian comprehension & there shd be no misconception. Yrs always

            Go: Washington


Title: From George Washington to Henry McCoy, 23 December 1793
From: Washington, George
To: McCoy, Henry

            Mr McKoy
            Philadelphia Decr 23d 1793.

          You may well conceive how di⟨s⟩appointed and vexed I have been at the manner in which
            your plowing has been carried on since the rains, which set in the
            latter end of October, put the ground in order to be flushed. Had you forgot the
            repeated charges I gave you on this head, and the early attempts that were made, but
            discontinued, on account of the drought, and the hardness of the ground? Did you forget
            that I told you there were three fields to flush up this fall; and that all of them, but
            one in particular was so wet that it was almost impos⟨sib⟩le to work it after the rains
            set in, ⟨unti⟩ll late in the Spring? And did you forget moreover that I charged you to
            have your ⟨illegible⟩ in order, that not a moment might be lost
            when the ground was in such a state as to admit plowing to advantage? How durst you ⟨illegible⟩ disobey this order, and instead of bringing the whole
            force of your plows to ⟨illegible⟩ employ them now & then
            only—or one or two a week, as if it were for amusement? thereby doing everything which
            was in your power to derange my whole plan for the next year; the probability now being,
            that the frosts—the Snows and the Rains of the Winter, which makes the ground at Dogue
            Run extremely wet & heavy, will prevent your plowing till the spring months; when
            the Oats, & Buck Wheat for Manure, ought to be sown; & Corn planting will be
            coming on.
          What excuse can you have fo⟨r⟩ this neglect? Was it the great quantity of Corn you
            made? God knows there will be little enough of that I fear; Was it the great quantity of
            Meadow you prepared in the Mill swamp? Of this you did nothing—In short, since the month
            of October, the principal part of your work seems to ha⟨ve⟩ been to level a little dirt
            that was thro⟨wn⟩ out of the Ditch below your House. I bore more of this when I was at
            home ⟨than⟩ I should have done, on account of the ⟨ill⟩ness with which you were
            afflicted. but I now desire you to be impressed with this belief; that the person who
            has now undertaken the superintendency of my Estate is a man of property, of good
            character, and well skilled in the business he is employed in; and that he is not only
            vested with authority, but has it in positive orders, that if you are not attentive to
            your business in all its parts. If you are not constantly at home, & with your
            people; and executing with fidility & strictness, the articles to which you are
            bound by the agreement you have entered into (and which he is in possession of) to turn
            you of[f] the Plantation at any season of the year without paying you a shilling. My money is to be paid, and the allowances are to be
            made, for services which are expressed, & stipulated on your
            part—If these are rendered with industry and good faith, the obligations on mine shall
            be fulfilled with great punctuality. But If I suffer by your neglect, you shall not
            benefit by the money of one, who wishes to be your friend, if your conduct will entitle
            you to it from Yours

            Go: Washington


Title: From George Washington to William Pearce, 23 December 1793
From: Washington, George
To: Pearce, William

            Mr Pearce,
            Philadelphia [23d] Decr 1793

          The letter which I wrote to you on the 18th and the papers therein enclosed with the
            Plans of the several farms (which Mr Lewis was directed to leave with you) were designed
            to give you a general view of the business entrusted to your care. I shall now, as
            intimated in that letter, give you my sentiments on many other matters of a more
            particular nature.
          Among the first things to be done after you are well fixed yourself, will be, I
            presume, that of taking an exact account of the Stock of every species—Tools—and
            implements on each of the farms: charging them therewith; that a regular account thereof
            may be rendered whenever called for. Buy in Alexandria a proper (bound) book for this
            purpose, and another to enter the weekly reports in. The latter is required not only for
            my present satisfaction, but that it may also, at any time hereafter shew in what manner
            the hands have been employed; and the state of the Stock and other things at any past
            period; and it is my wish, as this is intended as a register of the proceedings on the
            farms, that they may be made with correctness; always comparing the last with the
            preceeding weeks report and all differences satisfactorily accounted for. The Overseers
            are allowed paper for these Reports. Suffer no excuse therefore for their not coming
            into you every Saturday night, that you may be enabled
            to forward a copy of them to me by the wednesday’s Post following. And as it is not only
            satisfactory, but may be of real utility, to know the state of the weather as to heat
            & cold, but drought or moisture; prefix, as usual, at the head of every weeks report
            a meteorological account of these; The Thermometer which is at Mount
            Vernon will enable you to do the first.
          The work essentially necessary to be done by my Carpenters, & which presses
            most—is—compleating the New Barn at Dogue Run, & the sheds there for horses
            &ca—building the house for Crow—Repairing my house in Alexandria for Mrs Fanny
            Washington—which must be done before the first of
            May—Inclosing the lot on which it stands for a Garden or Yard. Repairing the Millers
            house. Removing the larger kind of the Negro quarters (the smaller ones or cabbins, I
            presume the people with a little assistance of Carts can do themselves) to the ground
            marked out for them opposite to Crows New house. Repairing at a proper time those he
            will remove from. Lending aid in drawing the houses at River farm into some uniform
            shape, in a convenient place. Repairing the Barn & Stables at Muddy hole.
            Compleating the Dormant Windows in the back of the Stables at Mansion house and putting
            two in the front of it agreeably to directions already given to Thomas Green—after
            which, and perhaps doing some other things which do not occur to me at this moment, my
            intention is to build a large Barn, and sheds for Stables upon the plan of that at Dogue
            run (if, on trial it should be found to answer the expectation wch is formed of it) at
            River Farm.
          I give you this detail of Carpenters work, that by having the subject before you in a
            collected view, you may be the better able to direct the execution; and to prevent Green
            from flying from one thing to another without order or system; and thereby judging
            whether he carries it on with that dispatch & judgment which is necessary.
          As you know my anxiety with respect to the Substitution of live fences in place of dead
            ones (as soon, & as fast as the nature of things will admit) I should not again
            mention it, were it not that this is the Season for saving the Haws of the thorn—Berries
            from the Cedar trees—and such things as are fit for the purpose of hedging; and to
            prevent trimming the Lombardy Poplar and Willows, that the cuttings may be applied to
            this use—for as these two last are of very quick growth, I am of opinion fences might soon be raised by means of them, that will be
            competent against every thing but Hogs, whilst those of slower growth may be coming on
            to supply their places; and whether it is not better to raise Porke in Styes, is a
            matter worthy of serious consideration—for I believe by the common
            mode I never get the half of what is raised by the Sows; especially if they are kept in
            good order; to do which is attended with no small expence, & to have them stolen afterwds is vexatious.
          When I left home, Davy at Muddy hole had finished getting out his wheat, and had
            nothing but the security of his Corn & some fencing, to employ his people about,
            during the fall and Winter—I was induced from this consideration, and the anxious desire
            I have to reclaim, and lay to grass my Mill Swamp, to order him to give all the aid he
            could to McKoy in the accomplishment of this work but it really appears to me that the
            fall, fine as it has proved, has actually been spent About I know not what. What can be
            done with those swamps, must now be left to you—& the state the weather will put
            them in. My hope, & expectation once, was, that the second lot might have been laid
            to grass next spring if not this Fall, and that the one above it, would have been
            ditched—grubbed—& planted in Corn—but as the matter now stands, you must be governed
            by circumstances and your own view of the case; with this caution, not to undertake in
            this, or any thing else, more than you can accomplish well: recollecting always, that a
            thing but half done is never done; and well done, is, in a manner done for ever.
          At McKoys, I staked out two Clover lots adjoining the Barn yard, and gave him & Tom
            Davis (who was present) my ideas respecting them. The sooner these can be
            inclosed—especially that on the West side, next the Wood—the better; as it is my wish to
            plough it this fall, & plant Potatoes therein in the Spring. Serving that on the
            East side of the Barn in like manner next year—and the Spot which was in oats, adjoining
            thereto the year following. It is my intention also to run a lane from the first Gate
            you enter going into this Farm up to the Barn yard—and another lane from the Wood to No.
              4 across the Meadow, and between fields No. 3 &
            5. I do not expect that all these things can be accomplished in a moment—but having them
            in your view at the sametime you will know better how to proceed—As the Wood in No. 5
            will be to be cleared when that field comes into Corn, it will be proper that all the
            Timber, Rails and wood that is wanted on the farm, should be taken from hence as far as
            it will go—and cut with an eye to this event.
          One of the Grass lots at Muddy hole, the South western one (pointed
            out to Davy) ought to be plowed up this fall, & planted with Potatoes in the Spring.
            And at Union farm it is intended to take of four five acre lots from field No. 2
            directly in front of the Barn as will appear more clearly by the Sketch herewith
            enclosed—The lots marked No. 1 & 2 in which, should be sowed in Feby or beginning of
            March with clover seed on the Wheat. At the Rive[r] farm I propose three lots for Grass,
            South of the lane in front of the Barn, as you will perceive by another Sketch also
              enclosed. What will be done with the ground between
            the Barn at that place & No. 6 when the fence comes to be run there, is left to
            yourself to decide, after taking a full view of things & seeing what the force is
            competent to in fencing (of which much is wanting) &ca—Stuart wished much for
            another fellow at this place, and as that boy Cyrus, at Mansion house, is now nearly a
              Man, and very unfit I believe to be entrusted with
            horses, whose feed there is strong suspicions he steals, I have no objection to your sending there. nor indeed have I any to your disposing of
            any of the others, differently from what they are, after you have taken time to consider
            what arrangements can be made for the best, & most advantageous purposes. Thomas
            Davis & Muclus must however be considered as among the tradesmen; & when not
            employed in making & laying of Bricks & other jobs in that way, may be aiding
            the Carpenters. and the fellow called Muddy hole Will, as he has for many years been a
            kind of Overseer, had better remain in his present Station; with respect to the rest, I
            have no choice about them.
          There is nothing which stands in greater need of regulation than the Waggons &
            Carts at the Mansion House which always whilst I was at home appeared to me to be most
            wretchedly employed—first in never carrying half a load; 2dly in flying from one thing
            to another; and thirdly in no person seeming to know what they really did; and
            oftentimes under pretence of doing this, that, and the other thing, did nothing at all;
            or what was tantamount to it. that is—instead of bringing in, or carrying to any place,
            full loads, and so many of them in a day; the Waggon, or a Cart, under pretence of
            drawing wood, or carrying Staves to the Mill wd go the places from whence they were to
            be taken, and go to sleep perhaps; and return with not more than half a load. Frequently
            have I seen a Cart go from the Mansion house, or from the river side to the new Barn
            with little or no more lime or sand in it, than a man would carry on
            his back—the consequence of this was that the Brick layers were half their time idle;
            for it required no more time to make the trip with a full load than it did with half a
            load—of course, double the qty would be transported under good regulation.
          You will perceive by my agreemt with Ehler, the Gardener, that he & his wife were
            to eat of the Victuals that went from my Table (in the Cellar) instead of having it
            Cooked by his wife as had been the custom with them.
            At the time that agreement was made I kept a Table for Mrs Fanny Washington, but as she
            has resolved to live in Alexandria, this will no longer be kept up; and therefore it
            would be best I should conceive, to let them return to their old mode, & for the
            young Gardener to eat with them—but as the agreement
            is otherwise I would not force this upon them, unless it was their own choice—especially
            if Butler remains there, for in that case as Lucy (the Cook) must get Victuals for him,
            it will make but little difference whether she gets for one or more; you will therefore
            do what seems best, & most agreeable in this matter taking care that they have a
            sufficiency without waste, or misapplication—I am very willing to allow them enough, and
            of such provisions, day by day, as is wholesome & good, but no more—they have, each
            of them been allowed a bottle of Beer a day—and this must be continued to them—that is a
            quart each, for when I am from home the Beer will not be bottled though it may be brewed
            as the occasion requires—The Gardener has too great a propensity to drink, and behaves
            improperly when in liquor; admonish him against it as much as you can, as he behaves
            well when sober—understands his business—and I believe is not naturally idle—but only so
            when occasioned by drink—His wife has been put in charge of the spinners—that is, to
            deliver out the Wool & flax, & receive the thread yarn &ca; she seems well
            disposed, but how far she is worthy of trust, or is capable of having the work done
            properly, you will be better able to judge after a while, than I am now. Method, in all
            these things, is desirable, and after it is once adopted, and got into a proper train
            things will work easy.
          Do not suffer the Quarter Negro Children to be in the Kitchen, or in the yards unless
            brought there on business—As besides the bad habit—they too frequently are breaking
            limbs, or twigs from, or doing other injury to my shrubs—some of which at a considerable
            expence, have been propagated.

          From some complaints made by my Negroes, that they had not a sufficent allowance of
            meal, and from a willingness that they should have enough, the quantity was increased by
            Mr Whiting so as to amount (by what I have learnt from Mr Stuart) to profusion. This is
            an error again on the other side—My wish & desire is that they should have as much
            as they can eat without waste and no more. Under these Ideas I request you would examine
            into this matter & regulate their allowance upon just principles. I always used to
            lay in a great quantity of Fish for them—and when we were at home Meat, fat, & other
            things were now and then given to them besides; But it would seem (from their accts at
            least) that the Fish which were laid in for them last Spring have disappeared without
            their deriving much benefit from them.
          By this time I expect the Hogs that were put up for Porke, either are killed—or are fit
            to kill. I request, after every person has had their allowance given to them, that the
            residue may be made into Bacon, and due attention given to it; for allmost every year,
            since we left home, half of it or more, has been spoilt—either for want of salt, or want
            of proper attention in smoking it; if not spoiled in the pickle. Davy at Muddy hole, has
            always had two or three hundd weight of Porke given to him at killing time, & I
            believe the Insides of the Hogs—that is—the Hastlets, Guts (after the fat is stripped
            of) &ca is given among the other Negroes at the different places.
          After the drilled Wheat at Union farm is taken off, let particular care be used to
            prevent its being mixed with any other; as, if it answers the character given of it, it
            will be a great acquision. that, & the drilled Wheat at Stuarts are of the same
            kind, and were sown in drills that the ground might be worked whilst it was growing, and
            the most made of it that can be. Whether to sow the ground which is at Union farm (in
            this Wheat) with Buck Wheat and grass Seeds immediately after harvest or with Buck Wheat
            alone to be plowed in for manure & grass seeds afterwards I shall leave to you to
            decide. I shall want all the ground within that Inclosure laid down with grass &
            leave the manner of doing it to you. And as the other parts within the same Inclosure—as
            also in that of McKoys, was sown very late in the fall with grass-seeds pray examine
            them attentively, from time to time, and if you shall be of opinion that the Seed is not
            come well, or is too thin, sprinkle as much more over it as you shall deem necessary, as
            I am very anxious to have them well taken, & without delay with
            grass. The Wheat fields at Dogue run are to be sown in the Month of February or March
            with grass Seeds—No. 3 with Clover alone—The other with Clover & Timothy or Clover
            & Orchard grass mixed, as it is intended to be laid to Grass.
          It is indispensably necessary that the alteration marked out in the Mill Race should be
            accomplished as soon as possible—1st because the waste of Water in the old part (which
            it avoids) is more than can be afforded except at times of the greatest plenty—and 2dly because I am at more expence and trouble in
            repairing (after every heavy rain) the breaches, in the part that will be thrown out,
            than in digging the new. There is another job that is
            essential; and that is, to make the Post & Rail fence from the Millers house up to
            the trunnel fence which runs across the meadow, or to the next cross fence, if that lot
            is cultivated next year of such stout & strong materials and of such a height as to
            bid defiance to trespassers of every kind, among wch the worthless people who live near
            it are the worst as I am satisfied they give every aid in their power which can be done
            without discovery to let in their Hogs—The whole of this outer fence, will be, I am
            sure, to be done anew; but it can only be accomplished by degrees—but let that which is
            done, be compleated effectually as well by a good and sufficient ditch as by a stout Post & rail fence—along which if a hedge of Honey
            locust could be got to grow entirely round it would form a sufficient barrier against
            bad neighbours as they would hardly attempt to cut them down to let their stock in upon
            me which, I am sure is the case at present as without the aids some of them derive from
            my Inclosures and their connexion with my Negroes they would be unable to live upon the
            miserable land they occupy.
          Whenever the field No. 3 at Union farm is prepared for a Crop, which was intended to be
            the case next year—if the piece of Wood within, is touched at all, let there be a
            handsome clup of trees left at the further end of it—or more than one—according to the
            shape & growth of the Wood.
          I have, for years past, been urging the Superintendant of my business at Mount Vernon
            to break a number of Steers to the yoke, that no set of Oxen may be worked low—but do not believe it is yet done to the extent I wish.
            My reasons for this measure are, that the Oxen may never be worked after they are eight
            years of age, but then fatted for marked; that by having a number of
            them, they may, by frequent shifting, always be in good order; and because, when they
            are only fed, when they do work—and at other times only partake of the fare which is
            allowed to the other Cattle, twenty yoke is not more expensive than five yoke.
          The Potatoes which were made last year, except such as you may require for your own
            eating, which you are welcome to, must all be preserved for Seed; & will be short
            enough, I fear, for the purposes they are intended. It has been intimated that several
            of the large stone Jugs which were sent to the different farms with spirits in them at
            Harvest has never yet been returned. Call upon the several Overseers to give them in
            immediately, or they will have to pay for them. Enclosed is an Inventory of the several
            articles which are in the Store house at Mansion house which I send for your
            information—Take an account of what is delivered from thence—to whom—and for what
            purpose—that it may be known how things go.
          There is one thing I wish to impress you pretty strongly with, that you may use every
            precaution in your power to guard against—and that is—suffering my horses to be rode at
            unseasonable hours in the night without your knowledge or that of the Overseers—No doubt
            rests upon my mind that this is too much practiced and is one, if not the primary cause
            of my loosing a number of horses—the poverty of others—and the slinking of foals which
            happens so frequently that I make a miserable hand of breeding Mules. It must be
            remembered in time, that the Jacks and Stud horse are advertised for covering the
            ensuing Season—February or beginning of March; however, will be in time.
          I am told that the Well by the Quarter is rendered useless for want of a proper rope.
            It is sometime since I wrote to Mr Lewis to get a hair one (for none other answers well)
            from the rope maker in Alexandria—but what he has done in it I know not. He will be able to inform you; and he, and the Gardeners wife,
            will let you know what Negroes have been cloathed & who are yet to Cloath, with the
            means of doing it.
          My Superfine, & fine flour always waits for directions from me, to be sold; but the
            midlings & Ship stuff you will dispose of whenever you can get a suitable price, and
            your want of money may require. And this also may be done with Beeves, Mutton &ca;
            after supplying the several demands upon the former, where it has not
            already been done. The Miller and Thomas Green, I understand, have each had a Beef the
            weights of which will, I presum⟨e⟩ be given to you by Mr Lewis; and as it will exceed
            their allowance of this article they must account for it by lessening the quantity of
            Porke, or be charged the (Alexandria) market price for it. And as Thomas Green has drawn
            in the course of last year more Meal from my Mill than his allowance let him be charged
            with the Overplus and It is necessary you should know that he is always craving money
            and other things but let him no more than his dues—for he is in debt I believe to every
            body and what ever is advanced beyond would probably be lost.
          I have directed Mr Lewis to leave with you an Acct of all the money he has paid, &
            what (if any) may remain in his hands. And it is my request that you will pay no Accts
            (not of your own contracting) without learning from him that they are due, or first
            sending them on to me; for Mr Whiting always paid as he went, & what was left unpaid
            either by him, or contracted after his death, was paid to the utmost farthing whilst I
            was at home. So that I know of nothing remaining unpaid except the Overseers wages, and
            to the Weaver, but what has fallen under Mr Lewis’s management since I left home &
            of course can be explained by him.
          Send me an exact account of the quantity of Corn made at each farm and the yield of
            each field. I directed Mr Lewis to have a certain quantity, at each farm put into
            seperate Corn houses for the use thereof; and the residue in other houses for the
            Mansion house, and other purposes—& I hope it has
            been done, but wish to be informed. The keys of the last mentioned houses I did not
            intend should be left in the care of the Overseers, but the doors well secured and, the
            keys remain in your own custody.
          As your family may be the better accomodated by it, I wrote Mr Lewis sometime ago that
            you might lodge, yourself, in the room which he now occupies; and I repeat it to you, as I am willing to make your situation
            as comfortable as may be.
          It would be well to have the Seins overhauled immediately, that if new ones are
            wanting, or the old ones requiring much repair, they may be set about without loss of
            time; for if this work is delayed until the Spring the Sein Netters will be so much
            employed, as to disappoint you altogether & of course my people of Fish. If twine is not to be had in Alexandria let me know it, and I will, by the first
            vessel afterwards send it from hence.
          If I recollect rightly, Thomas Green is allowed a certain quantity of Wood, by the
            agreement which has been entered into between us (by the old one I know it was so) it
            would be well therefore to have the quantity carried to his house and corded up at once,
            otherwise he will be always complaining, and denying that the quantity (Six cord I think
            it is) has been recd by him.
          I shall write to you if nothing extraordinary prevents it, by every Mondays Post, and
            shall expect a copy of the weekly reports by the Mail which leaves Alexandria on
            Thursday if no change has taken place—by which means I shall write to you, & receive
            a letter from you every week when the occurrences (not contained in the reports) may be
            mentioned. And now, having given you my sentiments upon all those points with which my
            recollection has furnished me I have only to add that the enclosed letters (which are
            sent open for you to peruse & then to put wafers in) will shew the person to whom
            they are directed what it is they have to expect, & the ground they stand upon. Wishing you well I remain Your friend &ca

            Go: Washington


Title: From George Washington to William Stuart, 23 December 1793
From: Washington, George
To: Stuart, William

            Mr Stuart,
            Philadelphia Decr 23d 1793

          I am extremely dissatisfied at your not commencing your fall Plowing the moment the
            Rains, which began the latter end of October, and continued all through the Month of
            Novr, put the ground in a proper state for it. This neglect, and having your Wheat yet
            to tread out, will, with the frosts, snows, & Rains of Winter, inevitably defeat all
            my plans for the next year; for instead of having the ground which was intended for Oats
            and Buck wheat, ready to receive the first early in March, & the other shortly
            after: & the Corn Ground ready for listing; all
            will be to be broke up at that time. This is an extremely mortifying circumstance to me, as I did not intend that any thing should, any longer, prevent me
            from adopting my system of rotation, which I have been preparing to carry into affect
            for some years past.
          I have given Mr Pearce full power & authority to manage my business the same as if
            I was present myself; you will therefore apply to him for what is wanting on the farm,
            and follow his directions in the same manner as if they came from my own mouth.
          You will shew him the places ⟨we⟩ had viewed as the best for the reception of the Negro
            quarters, that when the time shall arrive at which they can be moved conveniently, they
            may be placed to the best advantage. Shew him the place on which the fence between No. 6
            and the Orchard Inclosure used to run, and where it ought still to go, to keep the said
            No. 6 to the size it originally was. What use he will put the ground to, which lye
            between that fence (whenever it is run) an⟨d⟩ the lane, must be determined by
            circumstances. He may be shewn too, in wh⟨at⟩ manner it was proposed to enlarge the lot
            just before your door. I am—Your friend &ca

            Go: Washington


Title: From George Washington to the United States Senate and House of Representatives, 23 December 1793
From: Washington, George
To: United States Senate and House of Representatives

            Gentlemen of the Senate, and of the House of Representatives.
            United States 23d December 1793.

          Since the communications which were made to you on the affairs of the United States
            with Spain and on the Truce between Portugal and Algiers, some other papers have been
            received which making a part of the same subjects are now communicated for your
              information.

            Go: Washington


Title: To George Washington from Elizabeth Foote Washington, 23 December 1793
From: Washington, Elizabeth Foote
To: Washington, George

            Dear Sir
            Hay-Feild [Va.] Dec. 23d 1793.

          Your letter of the 9th covering Doctor Tates opinion came duly to hand—Mr Washington acknowledges himself very much oblig’d to you for
            the part you have taken in this business, & highly approves
            of your sending him forword immediately—he has anxiously look’d for him on every Stage
            day Since, but as yet has seen nothing of him, he begs if he has not yet left
            Philadelphia for the purpose of coming to Virginia you will urge him to as speedy
            departure for that purpose as is possible—Mr Washington is much in the same situation as
            he has been for some length of time past, except we think he sees less & less every
            day almost, indeed it may be said he cannot see any thing more than the light, mr
            Washington joins in most respectful compliments to Mrs Washington & her children,
            & believe us dear Sir to be yours most affectionately

            Eliza. Washington


Title: To George Washington from Edmund Randolph, 24 December 1793
From: Randolph, Edmund
To: Washington, George

            My dear sir
            German Town [Pa.] Decr 24. 1793.

          Permit me either to have a personal interview with you on thursday, if the eruption on my hand will permit, or to write to you a
            candid opinion upon your kind, and always too friendly conduct towards me. I hope, that
            this delay will not be too long. I have the honor to be, Dear sir, with sincere and
            affectionate attachment and respect yr obliged humble serv.

            Edm: Randolph