Title: [January 1796]
From: Washington, George
To:

1. Remarkably mild and pleasant—perfectly clear.
Received the National Colours from Mr. Adet the Minister Plenipo. to day.
Much company visited.

   Pierre Auguste Adet, French minister plenipotentiary, had arrived in the United States on 13 June 1795 to replace Fauchet. He brought with him a French flag, a gift of the French Committee of Public Safety, and an accompanying speech of warm friendship for the United States. His awareness of the anti-French bias in the American government, however, caused him to delay presenting the flag. In Dec. 1795 he finally notified GW that he desired to make the presentation, and GW chose New Year’s Day for the ceremony. GW answered the French address in a friendly manner, but he included the statement that the French flag would be placed in the archives. Adet took violent exception to this. An American flag presented earlier by James Monroe to the French National Convention was on prominent display in the French chamber, and Adet had expected the French flag to be accorded a conspicuous place in the halls of Congress. The Federalists, however, felt that Adet’s presentation was a flagrant attempt to sway American feeling during the discussion of the Jay Treaty (deconde, 424, 435–36).

2. Equally fine with yesterday. Saw the Stem of the Frigate raised.

   On 27 Mar. 1794 Congress passed “An Act to provide a Naval Armament,” providing for the construction of six frigates, to be built in various shipyards around the country. This measure was designed to protect American shipping from marauding Algerines (1 STAT.Richard Peters, ed. The Public Statutes at Large of the United States of America, from the Organization of the Government in 1789, to March 3, 1845 . . .. 8 vols. Boston, 1845-67. 350–51 [27 Mar. 1794]). The frigate mentioned here was being built at Southwark, near Philadelphia. It was the United States, 44 guns, and was to be commanded by Commodore John Barry. After the treaty with the Dey of Algiers in 1795, three of the frigates, including the United States, were ordered to be completed immediately, and work on the other three was to be put off for an indefinite period (ASP, Naval Affairs,Walter Lowrie et al., eds. American State Papers. Documents, Legislative and Executive, of the Congress of the United States. 38 vols. Washington, D.C., Gales and Seaton, 1832–61. 1:6, 18, 25). The visit to the shipyard with GW that George Washington Parke Custis later recalled was probably this one: “I well remember visiting with Washington the United States Frigate at Southwark, when her Keel was laid, & stem & starnpost only up. The Chief expressed his admiration at the great size of the Vessell that was to be. Commodore Barry was present, & Mr. [Joshua] Humphreys [naval constructor] explained to the President, several of his cabinet, and other persons who were present, the great principle which he had originated & was now by consent of the authorities putting into successful practice, all of which met with Washington’s

approbation, & he expressed himself on the return in his coach, much gratified with all he had seen & heard in this, his First visit to an American Navy Yard” (HUMPHREYSHenry H. Humphreys. “Who Built the First United States Navy?” Pennsylvania Magazine of History and Biography 40 (1916): 385–411., 391).

3. Rain in the night—foggy till Noon—then clear. Wind S.W.

4. Remarkably mild—clear & pleasant. Wind So. Wt.

5. Very white frost—Southerly Wind & lowering sun.

6. Rain in the Night and violent Storm—variable wind & a little Snow.

7. Clear forenoon—lowering afternoon. Wind No. Wt.

8. Clear but cool. Wind at N.W.

9. Clear & cold. Wind at Do. lowering towards night.

10. Lowering all the forenoon—about 2 oclock begun to Snow. Wind at So. Wt.

11. Snowing very moderately till Noon with the Wind at No. Et. Then Rain—wch. carrd. all off.

12. Clear with the Wind at West and moderate.

13. Clear in the forenoon, lowering afterwards. Wind at No. Et.

14. Raining all day moderately & Steadily. Wind at No. Et. but warm.

15. Cloudy most part of the day. Wind Westerly.

16. Similar to yesterday in all respects.

17. Snowing more or less all day with the wind at No. Et.

18. Cloudy, & now and then Snowing. Wind Westerly.

19. Clear in the forenoon, cloudy afterwards with great appearances of Snow.

20. Some Snow fell in the night and at intervals & with a mixture of rain through the day. Wind Easterly.

21. Clear with the Wind Westerly.

22d. Clear—wind westerly. Mercury in the morning at 16 degrees.

23. Perfectly calm, clear and pleastant. Mercury 18 in the morning.

24. Clear in the forenoon—a little lowering afterwards. Wind at So. West. Mercury at 30 & falling.

25. Lowering all day with appearances of Rain. W[in]d No. Et.

26. Thick weather, but mild & thawing. Wind at So. Wt.

27. Rain fell in the night. Fine Snow all the forenoon. Wind Easterly.

28. Light Snow in the morning. Clear afterwards & mild. Wind So. Wt.

29. Clear & turned much colder. Mercury at 18. Wind at No. Wt.

30. Quite clear—mercury at 8 degrees. Wd. at No. Wt. but not strong.

31. Very cold. Mercury at 4 degrees—very clear with little wind but a piercing Air.


Title: [Diary entry: 2 February 1796]
From: Washington, George
To:

2. A sprinkle of Snow in the morning—cloudy afterwards with appearances of Rain. Wind So. W.


Title: [Diary entry: 3 February 1796]
From: Washington, George
To:

 3. A slight Snow fell in the Night. Clear day. Mild in the forenoon—Cooler afterwards. Wind at N.W.


Title: [Diary entry: 4 February 1796]
From: Washington, George
To:

4. Clear and rather cold. Not much wind & that N.W.


Title: [Diary entry: 5 February 1796]
From: Washington, George
To:

5. Very clear & pleasant with but little Wind from the No. Et.


Title: [Diary entry: 7 February 1796]
From: Washington, George
To:

7. Clear all day with but little wind from the Eastward.


Title: [Diary entry: 9 February 1796]
From: Washington, George
To:

9. Clear with the Wind at No. Wt. and rather cold—but fine notwithstanding for the Season.


Title: [Diary entry: 10 February 1796]
From: Washington, George
To:

10. About 7 Oclock it began to Snow and kept steadily at it until 11, then changd. to rain & contd. all the day afterwards. Wind Easterly.


Title: [Diary entry: 11 February 1796]
From: Washington, George
To:

11. Raining in the Morning. Clear afterwards and as mild as April. Wind at So. Wt.


Title: [Diary entry: 14 February 1796]
From: Washington, George
To:

14. Warm in the forenoon with the Wind Southerly. Cooler afterwards—Wind getting r[oun]d to the No. Wt.


Title: [Diary entry: 16 February 1796]
From: Washington, George
To:

16. A little variable with the wind westerly.


Title: [Diary entry: 17 February 1796]
From: Washington, George
To:

17. Clear, & remarkably fine with the Wind Southerly.


Title: [Diary entry: 21 February 1796]
From: Washington, George
To:

21. Clear in the forepart of the day but lowering afterwards. Wind So. Wt.


Title: [Diary entry: 22 February 1796]
From: Washington, George
To:

22. Snow abt. 2 Inches deep fell in the Night—forenoon cloudy; afternoon clear. Wind westerly.


Title: [Diary entry: 24 February 1796]
From: Washington, George
To:

24. Cold & towards evening lowering & likely for Snow. Wind at No. Wt.


Title: [Diary entry: 25 February 1796]
From: Washington, George
To:

25. Thick foggy morning with appearances of Wet, but none fell. Wd. at West.


Title: [Diary entry: 26 February 1796]
From: Washington, George
To:

26. Much such a day as yesterday—but Wind more Southerly.


Title: [Diary entry: 27 February 1796]
From: Washington, George
To:

27. Very thick morning again, but clear afternoon. Wind Southerly.


Title: [Diary entry: 29 February 1796]
From: Washington, George
To:

29th. A good deal of Rain fell in the Night. Fine Rain all day with the Wind at East.


Title: [Diary entry: 1 March 1796]
From: Washington, George
To:

1. Thick heavy morning with the Wind at North. The afternoon not much better.


Title: [Diary entry: 3 March 1796]
From: Washington, George
To:

3. A little Snow fell in the Night—heavy and thick all day. Wind abt. North.


Title: [Diary entry: 6 March 1796]
From: Washington, George
To:

 6. Thick morning but very pleasant afternoon with but little wind.


Title: [Diary entry: 7 March 1796]
From: Washington, George
To:

7. Cloudy morning but clear afternoon. Wind West—shifting more Northerly & Easterly, & clouding towards Night.


Title: [Diary entry: 8 March 1796]
From: Washington, George
To:

8. Snow 4 Inches deep fell in the Night & continued Spitting until 10 or 11 Oclock—then cleared & grew cold. Wind at No. Wt.


Title: [Diary entry: 9 March 1796]
From: Washington, George
To:

9. Cold & clear. Wind No. Wt. & Westerly.


Title: [Diary entry: 10 March 1796]
From: Washington, George
To:

10. Cold & cloudy in the forenn. but clear & mild afterwds. Wind getting to the So. Wt.


Title: [Diary entry: 11 March 1796]
From: Washington, George
To:

11. Clear & pleasant all day. Wind getting more Westerly.


Title: [Diary entry: 13 March 1796]
From: Washington, George
To:

13. Forenoon clear & still. Afternoon very windy from the So. West.


Title: [Diary entry: 14 March 1796]
From: Washington, George
To:

14. Lowering ⟨ ⟩ likely to rain with the Wind in the same place. Cloudy more or less all day.


Title: [Diary entry: 15 March 1796]
From: Washington, George
To:

15. Tuesday clear and warm. Wind still Southerly and pretty brisk.


Title: [Diary entry: 18 March 1796]
From: Washington, George
To:

18. Dull & heavy forenoon with light falls of Snow from the No. Et. Clear afternoon.


Title: [Diary entry: 19 March 1796]
From: Washington, George
To:

19. Clear & cold all day with the Wind fresh from No. W.


Title: [Diary entry: 20 March 1796]
From: Washington, George
To:

20. Clear morning. Wind Westerly—pleasant all day.


Title: [Diary entry: 21 March 1796]
From: Washington, George
To:

21. Morning lowering—but clear afterwards. Wind So. Et. growing warm.


Title: [Diary entry: 23 March 1796]
From: Washington, George
To:

 23. Clear and warm Wind fresh from So. Wt.


Title: [Diary entry: 24 March 1796]
From: Washington, George
To:

24. Cloudy morning & cooler. Wind at No. Wt. and clear afternoon.


Title: [Diary entry: 25 March 1796]
From: Washington, George
To:

25. Wind in the Same place. Clear & cool all day.


Title: [Diary entry: 26 March 1796]
From: Washington, George
To:

26. Wind Easterly—but clear & very pleasant notwithstanding.


Title: [Diary entry: 28 March 1796]
From: Washington, George
To:

28. Thick, foggy morning with moderate rain about Noon, with the Wind at East. About 3 Oclock it cleared & was pleast. but afterwds. grew cloudy & cold.


Title: [Diary entry: 29 March 1796]
From: Washington, George
To:

29. Very pleasant all day with the Wind westerly but variable.


Title: [Diary entry: 30 March 1796]
From: Washington, George
To:

30. Clear in the forenoon with the wind mostly at west—cloudy afternoon.


Title: [March 1796]
From: Washington, George
To:

1. Thick heavy morning with the Wind at North. The afternoon not much better.

2. Same kind of day, & Wind as yesterday—with spitting of Snow.

3. A little Snow fell in the Night—heavy and thick all day. Wind abt. North.

4. Again a little Snow fell in the Night—but not eno’ to cover the ground.

5. Heavy morning with clouds all day. Wind at North, a little Easterly.

6. Thick morning but very pleasant afternoon with but little wind.

7. Cloudy morning but clear afternoon. Wind West—shifting more Northerly & Easterly, & clouding towards Night.

8. Snow 4 Inches deep fell in the Night & continued Spitting until 10 or 11 Oclock—then cleared & grew cold. Wind at No. Wt.

9. Cold & clear. Wind No. Wt. & Westerly.

10. Cold & cloudy in the forenn. but clear & mild afterwds. Wind getting to the So. Wt.

11. Clear & pleasant all day. Wind getting more Westerly.

12. Clear and warmer than yesterday—Wind more South.

13. Forenoon clear & still. Afternoon very windy from the So. West.

14. Lowering ⟨ ⟩ likely to rain with the Wind in the same place. Cloudy more or less all day.

15. Tuesday clear and warm. Wind still Southerly and pretty brisk.

16. A good deal of Rain fell last night and this morning. About 7 P.M. it cleared & blew violent from abt. No. Wt. all day & Night.

17. Clear with the Wind from the same point.

18. Dull & heavy forenoon with light falls of Snow from the No. Et. Clear afternoon.

19. Clear & cold all day with the Wind fresh from No. W.

20. Clear morning. Wind Westerly—pleasant all day.

21. Morning lowering—but clear afterwards. Wind So. Et. growing warm.

22. Heavy morning but clear afterwards and warm. Wind still at So. Et.

23. Clear and warm Wind fresh from So. Wt.

24. Cloudy morning & cooler. Wind at No. Wt. and clear afternoon.

25. Wind in the Same place. Clear & cool all day.

26. Wind Easterly—but clear & very pleasant notwithstanding.

   pleasant: MS reads “pleasand.”

27th. Clear all day. The Wind at East & pleasant tho’ a little cool.

28. Thick, foggy morning with moderate rain about Noon, with the Wind at East. About 3 Oclock it cleared & was pleast. but afterwds. grew cloudy & cold.

29. Very pleasant all day with the Wind westerly but variable.

30. Clear in the forenoon with the wind mostly at west—cloudy afternoon.

31. Clear and warm but little Wind & that Easterly.


Title: [Diary entry: 1 April 1796]
From: Washington, George
To:

1st. Thick morning but clear afterwards & warm—very little wind & that No. Et.


Title: [Diary entry: 2 April 1796]
From: Washington, George
To:

2. Hazy & smoaky—very little wind & that westerly. In the night a little rain.


Title: [Diary entry: 4 April 1796]
From: Washington, George
To:

4. Same wind & weather as yesterday.


Title: [Diary entry: 5 April 1796]
From: Washington, George
To:

5. Clear and still cooler. The Wind, tho’ not fresh, at No. W.


Title: [Diary entry: 6 April 1796]
From: Washington, George
To:

6. Clear & rather cool—Wind being at No. Et. in the Morning. Warmer in the Afternoon wind being at So. W.


Title: [Diary entry: 7 April 1796]
From: Washington, George
To:

 7. Cool in the morning, but warmer afterwards wind getting to South West.


Title: [Diary entry: 10 April 1796]
From: Washington, George
To:

10. Again very thick and Smoaky in the morning. Wind Easterly & fresh last night—afterwards Northerly.


Title: [Diary entry: 12 April 1796]
From: Washington, George
To:

12. Thick morning, but clear afterwards, rather cool wind Easterly in the morning & westerly afterwards.


Title: [Diary entry: 13 April 1796]
From: Washington, George
To:

13. Just such a day as yesterday & Wind the same.


Title: [Diary entry: 16 April 1796]
From: Washington, George
To:

16. Wind at No. Et. and from Nine until 11 a close and constant rain—clear afterwards.


Title: [Diary entry: 17 April 1796]
From: Washington, George
To:

17. Wind at East & clear all day—a little cool.


Title: [Diary entry: 18 April 1796]
From: Washington, George
To:

18. Clear & serene with very little wind.


Title: [Diary entry: 19 April 1796]
From: Washington, George
To:

19. Clear forenoon—with the wind pretty fresh from the So. Wt.


Title: [Diary entry: 21 April 1796]
From: Washington, George
To:

21. Clear with the wind at No. Et. but warm & pleast. notwithstanding.


Title: [Diary entry: 22 April 1796]
From: Washington, George
To:

22. Clear morning with the wind at East, wch. shifted in the afternoon to So. Wt. & grew warm.


Title: [Diary entry: 24 April 1796]
From: Washington, George
To:

24. Thick heavy morning with drops of Rain, Wind at So. W. In the afternoon there was pretty good Shower—Cool.


Title: [Diary entry: 25 April 1796]
From: Washington, George
To:

25. Cloudy morning but clear afterwards & cool all day. Wind at No. Et.


Title: [Diary entry: 27 April 1796]
From: Washington, George
To:

27. Wind at No. Et. About 8 Oclock in the morning it began a fine Rain and continued till Noon. Towds. Night there was a very fine rain for an hour or two.


Title: [Diary entry: 28 April 1796]
From: Washington, George
To:

28. Clear and pleasant with the Wind Westerly.


Title: [Diary entry: 1 May 1796]
From: Washington, George
To:

1. Clear and cool all day. Wind at No. Wt.


Title: [Diary entry: 2 May 1796]
From: Washington, George
To:

2. Much such as yesterday: both in wind & weathr.


Title: [Diary entry: 3 May 1796]
From: Washington, George
To:

3. Wind at So. Wt. and warmer.


Title: [Diary entry: 4 May 1796]
From: Washington, George
To:

4. Clear morning. Wind variable from So. Et. to South.


Title: [Diary entry: 6 May 1796]
From: Washington, George
To:

6. About 6 oclock it began a moderate rain, with the wind from East and continued raining moderately but steadily until 7 oclock in the evening.


Title: [Diary entry: 9 May 1796]
From: Washington, George
To:

9. Cloudy with appearances of Rain—some of which fell in the night. Wind Easterly.


Title: [Diary entry: 10 May 1796]
From: Washington, George
To:

10. Cloudy with the Wind Westerly.


Title: [Diary entry: 11 May 1796]
From: Washington, George
To:

11. Weather variable, with small Showers. Wind abt. So. Wt. & growing warm.


Title: [Diary entry: 12 May 1796]
From: Washington, George
To:

12. For the most part clear but at times threatning rain. Wind Westerly.


Title: [Diary entry: 15 May 1796]
From: Washington, George
To:

15. Wind in the same quarter, with clouds, & sometimes Sprinkling of Rain; in the afternoon a pretty heavy Shower with Sharp thunder.


Title: [Diary entry: 17 May 1796]
From: Washington, George
To:

17. Cloudy more or less all day with light drippings now & then of Rain. Wind at S. Et.


Title: [Diary entry: 19 May 1796]
From: Washington, George
To:

19. Wind at East in the forenoon with constant rain from 6 till 12 Oclock. Wind westerly afterwds.


Title: [Diary entry: 20 May 1796]
From: Washington, George
To:

20. Wind Southerly & weather. Rain in the afternoon.


Title: [Diary entry: 21 May 1796]
From: Washington, George
To:

21. Clear with little or no Wind—until the afternn.


Title: [Diary entry: 23 May 1796]
From: Washington, George
To:

23. Brisk Wind from South all day with great appearances of Rain.


Title: [Diary entry: 24 May 1796]
From: Washington, George
To:

24. Wind Northerly and cool and for the most part of the day clear.


Title: [Diary entry: 25 May 1796]
From: Washington, George
To:

25. Wind at No. Et., & fresh with constant rain until 4 O’clock—thick & mistg. afterwds.


Title: [Diary entry: 26 May 1796]
From: Washington, George
To:

26. Wind in the same place with constant rain till abt. 4 oclock when it ceased & began at Night.


Title: [Diary entry: 28 May 1796]
From: Washington, George
To:

28. Wind at So. Wt. in the Morning—varying to West and No. Wt. with changeable weather & a Shower.


Title: [Diary entry: 30 May 1796]
From: Washington, George
To:

30. Rain in the Night—wch. continued steadily till Noon when it cleared. Wind still at So. West.


Title: [Diary entry: 31 May 1796]
From: Washington, George
To:

31. Variable—with rain at times and wind at So. West.


Title: [Diary entry: 1 June 1796]
From: Washington, George
To:

1. Clear, with the Wind varying, but chiefly Westwardly.


Title: [Diary entry: 2 June 1796]
From: Washington, George
To:

2. Clear all day with the wind at So. West & Warm.


Title: [Diary entry: 5 June 1796]
From: Washington, George
To:

5. Clear morning & showery afternoon—with variable wind from So. W. to N. Et.


Title: [Diary entry: 7 June 1796]
From: Washington, George
To:

7. Wind Easterly—very heavy morning and raining more or less all day with the Wind at East.


Title: [Diary entry: 9 June 1796]
From: Washington, George
To:

9. Tolerably clear all day with the wind at So. & Warm but rain in the Night.


Title: [Diary entry: 10 June 1796]
From: Washington, George
To:

10. Wind at East in the Morning with Rain. In the Evening and Night a great deal fell.


Title: [Diary entry: 11 June 1796]
From: Washington, George
To:

11. Wind at East with a little Rain. Very warm.


Title: [Diary entry: 12 June 1796]
From: Washington, George
To:

12. Cloudy all day with great appearances of Rain. Wind Easterly in the Morning and Westerly afterwards.


Title: [Diary entry: 13 June 1796]
From: Washington, George
To:

13. Cloudy for the most part of the day—but no Rain.


Title: [Diary entry: 14 June 1796]
From: Washington, George
To:

14. Clear Morning—but Rainy afternoon. Wind vary[ing].


Title: [Diary entry: 15 June 1796]
From: Washington, George
To:

15. Cloudy but no Rain and tolerably cool.


Title: [Diary entry: 17 June 1796]
From: Washington, George
To:

17. Clear all day and very warm—especially in the afternoon.


Title: [Diary entry: 18 June 1796]
From: Washington, George
To:

18. Clear & very warm all day with sprinkling Rain in the Afternoon.


Title: [Diary entry: 19 June 1796]
From: Washington, George
To:

19. Very warm with very little wind.


Title: [Diary entry: 20 June 1796]
From: Washington, George
To:

20. Slight rain in the Morning but fair before and after noon.


Title: [Diary entry: 21 June 1796]
From: Washington, George
To:

21. Clear and warm all day and but little wind.


Title: [June 1796]
From: Washington, George
To:

1. Clear, with the Wind varying, but chiefly Westwardly.

2. Clear all day with the wind at So. West & Warm.

3. Clear & warm with but little wind and that Southerly.

4. Warm with but very little Wind. In the afternoon there was appearances of Rain but none fell.

5. Clear morning & showery afternoon—with variable wind from So. W. to N. Et.

6. Raining a little in the forenoon—clear afterwards. Wind Easterly.

7. Wind Easterly—very heavy morning and raining more or less all day with the Wind at East.

8. Heavy morning with the Wind at East, variable afterwards & Wind South.

9. Tolerably clear all day with the wind at So. & Warm but rain in the Night.

10. Wind at East in the Morning with Rain. In the Evening and Night a great deal fell.

11. Wind at East with a little Rain. Very warm.

12. Cloudy all day with great appearances of Rain. Wind Easterly in the Morning and Westerly afterwards.

13. Cloudy for the most part of the day—but no Rain.

   GW left Philadelphia for Mount Vernon on 13 June and remained there until 17 Aug.

14. Clear Morning—but Rainy afternoon. Wind vary[ing].

15. Cloudy but no Rain and tolerably cool.

16. Thick heavy Morning & heavy Showers of Rain in the afternoon.

17. Clear all day and very warm—especially in the afternoon.

18. Clear & very warm all day with sprinkling Rain in the Afternoon.

19. Very warm with very little wind.

20. Slight rain in the Morning but fair before and after noon.

21. Clear and warm all day and but little wind.


Title: [Diary entry: 1 January 1797]
From: Washington, George
To:

1. Clear—Wind Westerly. Went to church. [23]


Title: [Diary entry: 3 January 1797]
From: Washington, George
To:

3. Snowing from 10 oclock until 4—Wind westerly. Went to see Davenports Duck Manufy. [18]


Title: [Diary entry: 4 January 1797]
From: Washington, George
To:

4. Wind Southwesterly, and cold moderating; a large Company of Gentlemen & ladies dined with me. [10]


Title: [Diary entry: 7 January 1797]
From: Washington, George
To:

7. Wind at No. West and cold with clouds. Road to German Town with Mrs. Washington to see Mr. Stuarts paintings. [14]


Title: [Diary entry: 8 January 1797]
From: Washington, George
To:

8. Clear & Cold—wind at No. Wt. Went to a charity Sermon in Christ Church. Alarmed by a cry of fire while there. [6]


Title: [Diary entry: 9 January 1797]
From: Washington, George
To:

9. Clear & very cold—wind in the same place. Went to the Theatre, for the first time this Season. The Child of Nature & The Lock & Key were performed. [2]


Title: [Diary entry: 10 January 1797]
From: Washington, George
To:

10. Clear. Wind Westerly—or rather Southerly & moderating. [0]


Title: [Diary entry: 11 January 1797]
From: Washington, George
To:

 11. Wind at No. Et. Sprinkling of Snow in the Morning and raining soberly afterwds. [24]


Title: [Diary entry: 12 January 1797]
From: Washington, George
To:

12. Clear & pleasant all day. Wind at So. Wt. All the Diplomatic Corp (except France) dined with me. [34]


Title: [Diary entry: 13 January 1797]
From: Washington, George
To:

13. Wind still Southerly. Exercised on horseback, on the River Delaware Crossing to Cowpers Tavern & recrossing below. [24]


Title: [Diary entry: 14 January 1797]
From: Washington, George
To:

14. Wind Southerly. Morng. very heavy, with rain from Noon. Company dined with 5 Gent[leme]n. [32]


Title: [Diary entry: 15 January 1797]
From: Washington, George
To:

15. Wind at So. Wt. mild & pleasant. [36]


Title: [Diary entry: 16 January 1797]
From: Washington, George
To:

16. Wind Westerly with Sunshine & Clouds alternately thro’ the day. [34]


Title: [Diary entry: 17 January 1797]
From: Washington, George
To:

17. Clear with the wind at No. Wt. [36]


Title: [Diary entry: 18 January 1797]
From: Washington, George
To:

18. Snowing until abt. 11 Oclock then clear & pleast. wind at So. Wt. [27]


Title: [Diary entry: 20 January 1797]
From: Washington, George
To:

20. Wind at No. Wt. Colder than yesterday—clear until evening then cloudy.


Title: [Diary entry: 21 January 1797]
From: Washington, George
To:

21. Three or 4 Inches of Snow fell last Night. Cloudy all day Wind at No. Et. Large compy. dined here. [26]


Title: [Diary entry: 23 January 1797]
From: Washington, George
To:

 23. Wind at So. Wt. & thawing. Small compy. dined here. [21]


Title: [Diary entry: 24 January 1797]
From: Washington, George
To:

24. Wind in the same quarter & thawing fast. Went to the Pantheon in the evening. [26]


Title: [Diary entry: 26 January 1797]
From: Washington, George
To:

26. Wind Northerly—then So. Westerly. Clear. Large Compa. dined. [24]


Title: [Diary entry: 27 January 1797]
From: Washington, George
To:

27. Wind Southerly—thawing fast. [30]


Title: [Diary entry: 28 January 1797]
From: Washington, George
To:

28. Do. Do. Do. Rain last Night [42]


Title: [Diary entry: 30 January 1797]
From: Washington, George
To:

30. Clear, & somewhat cooler than yesterday &ca. [28]


Title: [Diary entry: 31 January 1797]
From: Washington, George
To:

31. Snowing in the Morning & raining the remainder of the day or rather misting. Wind at No. Et. [22]


Title: [Diary entry: 1 February 1797]
From: Washington, George
To:

1. Wind No. Easterly in the Morning—So. Westerly afterwards and raining more or less all day. Mercury at 34 in the morning.


Title: [Diary entry: 2 February 1797]
From: Washington, George
To:

2. A good deal of rain fell last [night]. Cloudy Morning but clear & very pleasant afterwards. Wind westerly. Mercury 42.


Title: [Diary entry: 4 February 1797]
From: Washington, George
To:

4. Wind at So. West—weather pleasant. Mercury at 32 in the morning.


Title: [Diary entry: 5 February 1797]
From: Washington, George
To:

5. Clear & pleasant with the Wind Westerly. Mery. 28. Morn.


Title: [Diary entry: 6 February 1797]
From: Washington, George
To:

6. Fine Rain most part of the day. Wind So. Wt. Mer: 48. Went to the Play of Columbus in the evening.


Title: [Diary entry: 7 February 1797]
From: Washington, George
To:

7. Clear & cool. Wind at No. Wt. Mercury 34 in the Morn.


Title: [Diary entry: 8 February 1797]
From: Washington, George
To:

 8. Clear & pleasant but Cool. Wind westerly. Mercury at 26.


Title: [Diary entry: 11 February 1797]
From: Washington, George
To:

11. Clear after the morning & Wind Westerly Mer: 35.


Title: [Diary entry: 12 February 1797]
From: Washington, George
To:

12. Clear & pleasant. Wind Westerly—Mercury at 35.


Title: [Diary entry: 13 February 1797]
From: Washington, George
To:

13. Cloudy morning, and fine rain all day afterwards. Wind Easterly—Mery. 38.


Title: [Diary entry: 14 February 1797]
From: Washington, George
To:

14. Fine Rain—Wind in the same quarter. Mercury 38.


Title: [Diary entry: 16 February 1797]
From: Washington, George
To:

16. Clear & pleasant. Wind Westerly. Mercury at 28. Large company dined here.


Title: [Diary entry: 17 February 1797]
From: Washington, George
To:

17. Wind still westerly. Cloudy forenoon & rainy afternoon & Night. Mercury at 38. A very crouded drawing Room.


Title: [Diary entry: 18 February 1797]
From: Washington, George
To:

18. Heavy morning & variable all day—Wind West. Mercury at 30. One third of the Pennsylvania Ho. of Representatives dined here.


Title: [Diary entry: 20 February 1797]
From: Washington, George
To:

20. Cloudy with a little rain in the forenoon—variable afterwards. Wind So. West. Mercury 39. Another third of the Penna. Reps. dined here.


Title: [Diary entry: 22 February 1797]
From: Washington, George
To:

22. Rain in the Night cloudy forenoon with the Wind at East—afterwards at S. W. clear & very fine. Went in the evening to an elegant entertainmt. given on my birth night. Mery. 38.


Title: [Diary entry: 23 February 1797]
From: Washington, George
To:

23. Clear & pleasant forenoon. Wind brisk at So. Wt. lowerg. aftds. W. at So. Et. Mer. 36. The last third of the Pennsa. Assembly dined with me.


Title: [Diary entry: 24 February 1797]
From: Washington, George
To:

24. Rain fell last Night & a little this Morng. Cloudy until afternoon Wind Westerly. Mery. 50.


Title: [Diary entry: 25 February 1797]
From: Washington, George
To:

25. Wind pretty fresh from the No. W. and cool with lowering clouds towards evening—Mercury 32.


Title: [Diary entry: 26 February 1797]
From: Washington, George
To:

26. Clear & cold all day Wind at No. Wt. & Mercury 19. All the Military & Naval Officer[s] dined with me yesterd. Mercury at 19 degs.


Title: February [1797]
From: Washington, George
To:

1. Wind No. Easterly in the Morning—So. Westerly afterwards and raining more or less all day. Mercury at 34 in the morning.

2. A good deal of rain fell last [night]. Cloudy Morning but clear & very pleasant afterwards. Wind westerly. Mercury 42.

3. Much such a day as yesterday but rather cooler. Wind same place. Mer. 30.

4. Wind at So. West—weather pleasant. Mercury at 32 in the morning.

5. Clear & pleasant with the Wind Westerly. Mery. 28. Morn.

6. Fine Rain most part of the day. Wind So. Wt. Mer: 48. Went to the Play of Columbus in the evening.

   Columbus; or a World Discovered, a historical play, was presented at the New Theatre at six o’clock this evening “by particular desire.” Also on the bill was a farce called Barnaby Brittle; or a Wife at Her Wit’s End. The production of Columbus was an unusually ambitious one. The theater had been closed for several days before the first performance on 30 Jan., “on account of the extensive preparations” necessary for the new scenery, machinery, and decorations. Included in the production were a representation of a storm, an earthquake, a volcano eruption, and “a procession of indians and the first Landing of columbus” (Gaz. of the U.S. [Philadelphia], 23 Jan. and 6 Feb. 1797).

7. Clear & cool. Wind at No. Wt. Mercury 34 in the Morn.

8. Clear & pleasant but Cool. Wind westerly. Mercury at 26.

9. Cloudy all day. Wind Southerly. Mercury 34.

10. Morning Rainy & stormy afterwards—Wind at So. Wt. Mercury at 50 in the Morn.

11. Clear after the morning & Wind Westerly Mer: 35.

12. Clear & pleasant. Wind Westerly—Mercury at 35.

13. Cloudy morning, and fine rain all day afterwards. Wind Easterly—Mery. 38.

14. Fine Rain—Wind in the same quarter. Mercury 38.

15. Cloudy forenoon with flakes of Snow—clear afterwards. Wind Westerly. Mercury 34. Large Compy.

16. Clear & pleasant. Wind Westerly. Mercury at 28. Large company dined here.

17. Wind still westerly. Cloudy forenoon & rainy afternoon & Night. Mercury at 38. A very crouded drawing Room.

   a very crouded drawing room: That the drawing room, or levee, was particularly crowded on this day was undoubtedly the result of a rumor that this was to be Mrs. Washington’s last levee before the Washingtons retired to Mount Vernon. John Adams was to be inaugurated as the new president on 4 Mar., and GW’s last weeks in office were marked by a hectic round of visits and addresses from various groups including congressmen, merchants, the Pennsylvania governor and legislature, the Society of the Cincinnati, and army officers. There were also elaborate dinners and entertainments given in his honor. The Washingtons themselves on 3 Mar. gave a farewell dinner followed by Mrs. Washington’s last drawing room. On 4 Mar. at noon GW attended the inauguration of the new president.

18. Heavy morning & variable all day—Wind West. Mercury at 30. One third of the Pennsylvania Ho. of Representatives dined here.

   Jacob Hiltzheimer, one of the members of the Pennsylvania legislature, listed in his diary Speaker George Latimer and 20 other members as present. “Our Speaker sat between the President and his lady, and I on the left of the President” (HILTZHEIMERJacob Cox Parsons, ed. Extracts from the Diary of Jacob Hiltzheimer, of Philadelphia. 1765–1798. Philadelphia, 1893., 240).

19. Clear, Wind Westerly in the Morning but cloudy afterwards. Mer: 30. Went to church.

20. Cloudy with a little rain in the forenoon—variable afterwards. Wind So. West. Mercury 39. Another third of the Penna. Reps. dined here.

21. Wind westerly & remarkably pleasant in the forenoon—but lowering afterwards. Mery. at 30.

22. Rain in the Night cloudy forenoon with the Wind at East—afterwards at S. W. clear & very fine. Went in the evening to an elegant entertainmt. given on my birth night. Mery. 38.

   The “elegant entertainment” took place at Ricketts’s Amphitheatre and was followed by dinner and a ball “which for Splendour, Taste and Elegance, was, perhaps, never excelled by any similar Entertainment in the United States.” This entertainment was the culmination of a whole day of celebration which had begun by the ringing of bells and the firing of cannon (Claypoole’s Adv. [Philadelphia], 23 Feb. 1797). See the description of the events of the day in MCREEGriffith J. McRee. Life and Correspondence of James Iredell, One of the Associate Justices of the Supreme Court of the United States. 2 vols. New York, 1857–58., 2:493.

23. Clear & pleasant forenoon. Wind brisk at So. Wt. lowerg. aftds. W. at So. Et. Mer. 36. The last third of the Pennsa. Assembly dined with me.

24. Rain fell last Night & a little this Morng. Cloudy until afternoon Wind Westerly. Mery. 50.

25. Wind pretty fresh from the No. W. and cool with lowering clouds towards evening—Mercury 32.

26. Clear & cold all day Wind at No. Wt. & Mercury 19. All the Military & Naval Officer[s] dined with me yesterd. Mercury at 19 degs.

27. Wind at So. Et. & lowering but no fall, Mer: 36. Went to the theatre in the Evening.

   Playing at the New Theatre were a comedy, The Way to Get Married; a farce, Animal Magnetism; and “a new Pantomime Ballet Dance ... called Dermot & Kathleen,” composed by Mrs. Byrne, a member of the theater company (Gaz. of the U.S. [Philadelphia], 27 Feb. 1797; SCHARF [1]J. Thomas Scharf and Thompson Westcott. History of Philadelphia. 1609–1884. 3 vols. Philadelphia, 1884., 2:971).

28. Wind variable and grt. appearances all day of Snow. Mer. 35. Went to Mrs. Grattons concer[t] in the Evening.

   “Mrs. Grattan Respectfully informs the Ladies and Gentlemen of the City, that the 5th ladies’ concert will be on tuesday, the 28th day of February, at the Assembly-Room.” The concert was to begin at 6:30, and “at half past eight, the music will attend for the ball.” The program, part instrumental and part vocal, consisted of selections by Haydn, Handel, and others. Mrs. Grattan was among the vocalists. This was the same Mrs. Grattan who opened a linen and muslin warehouse on North Sixth Street (Gaz. of the U.S. [Philadelphia], 28 Feb. 1797).


Title: [Diary entry: 1 March 1797]
From: Washington, George
To:

1. Mercury at 24. Wind Westerly and cold all day.


Title: [Diary entry: 2 March 1797]
From: Washington, George
To:

2. Wind as yesterday; cloudy, cold & Raw all day. Towards night it began to Snow. Mercury at 26.


Title: [Diary entry: 3 March 1797]
From: Washington, George
To:

3. Mercury at 34. Morning very lowering & threatning but clear & pleasant afterwards. Wind fresh from the So. Wt.


Title: [Diary entry: 4 March 1797]
From: Washington, George
To:

4. Much such a day as yesterday in all respects. Mercury at 41.


Title: [Diary entry: 5 March 1797]
From: Washington, George
To:

5. Not unlike the two preceding days. M. at 50.


Title: [Diary entry: 6 March 1797]
From: Washington, George
To:

6. The wind Shifted to the No. Wt. and turned Cold M: 24.


Title: [Diary entry: 7 March 1797]
From: Washington, George
To:

7. A hard No. Wt. [wind] all day. Hard frost this morning & but little [sun] all day—snowing at times. Mer. at 24.


Title: [Diary entry: 8 March 1797]
From: Washington, George
To:

8. Very thick morning with sprinkling rain clear afterwards with a brisk So. Westerly wind. Mer. 52.


Title: [Diary entry: 9 March 1797]
From: Washington, George
To:

9. Wind changed to No. Wt. blew very hard & turned very cold. Mer. at 28. Left Phila. on my return to Mt. Vernon—dined at Chester & lodged at Wilmington.


Title: [Diary entry: 11 March 1797]
From: Washington, George
To:

11. Snowing from day light until 10 Oclock—in the Afternoon a little rain. Breakfasted at Susquehanna—dined & lodged at Hartford.


Title: [Diary entry: 15 March 1797]
From: Washington, George
To:

15. Recd. the Compliments of the Citizens of George Town as I had done the day before of those of the City of Washington. Stopped in Alexa. & got to Mt. V. to dinner.


Title: [Diary entry: 16 March 1797]
From: Washington, George
To:

16. At home all day alone. Wind at East & very cloudy all day.


Title: [Diary entry: 18 March 1797]
From: Washington, George
To:

18. Clear—with the Wind fresh from So. Wt. in the forenoon and at No. Wt. in the afternoon.


Title: [Diary entry: 19 March 1797]
From: Washington, George
To:

19. Wind at No. Wt. and fresh after the morning continuing so all day & cold.


Title: [Diary entry: 21 March 1797]
From: Washington, George
To:

21. Wind Southerly and fresh all day—clear.


Title: [Diary entry: 22 March 1797]
From: Washington, George
To:

22. Wind still Southerly and fresh with appearances of Rain. In the Afternoon wind came out brisk at N. W.


Title: [Diary entry: 24 March 1797]
From: Washington, George
To:

24. Wind at So. Et. with Rain more or less all day.


Title: [Diary entry: 25 March 1797]
From: Washington, George
To:

25. Wind for the most part Southerly—and clear.


Title: [Diary entry: 26 March 1797]
From: Washington, George
To:

26. Wind varying from No. Et. to So. Et. and blowing very fresh.


Title: [Diary entry: 27 March 1797]
From: Washington, George
To:

27. A little rain fell last Night. Wind Southerly in the Morning & violently all day afterwards & night from No. Wt. Omitted to enter the Acct. of the Weather & Occurrences the remainder of this month.


Title: [Diary entry: 1 May 1797]
From: Washington, George
To:

1. Went to Alexandria to settle some matters at the Bank. Day warm—wind at So. Wt.


Title: [Diary entry: 3 May 1797]
From: Washington, George
To:

3. A frost in the morning—Weather variable & cold. Wind So. Wt. & fresh.


Title: [Diary entry: 4 May 1797]
From: Washington, George
To:

4. Warm, with very little Wd. and that So. Wt.


Title: [Diary entry: 5 May 1797]
From: Washington, George
To:

5. Warm in the forenoon with the wind at So. Wt. Rain in the Afternoon. Went to Alexa. on business. Retd. in the afternoon.


Title: [Diary entry: 6 May 1797]
From: Washington, George
To:

6. Warm with the Wind at So. Et.—but not hot.


Title: [Diary entry: 7 May 1797]
From: Washington, George
To:

7. Wind, after the morning very fresh from the N. W. & turning very cold.


Title: [Diary entry: 8 May 1797]
From: Washington, George
To:

8. Wind No., a little Easterly and Cool with a shower of Rain abt. 1 Oclock & squally.


Title: [Diary entry: 9 May 1797]
From: Washington, George
To:

9. Disagreeably cool—tho’ the Wind was shifting to the Southward.


Title: [Diary entry: 10 May 1797]
From: Washington, George
To:

10. Very pleasant—warm & clear.


Title: [Diary entry: 11 May 1797]
From: Washington, George
To:

11. Brisk So. Westerly Wind & warm.


Title: [Diary entry: 12 May 1797]
From: Washington, George
To:

12. Wind in the same quarter but not so much of it but very warm.


Title: [Diary entry: 13 May 1797]
From: Washington, George
To:

13. Wind No. Westerly and much cooler with appearances of Rain.


Title: [Diary entry: 15 May 1797]
From: Washington, George
To:

15. Very pleasant, & but little wind—that however was from the No. Et.


Title: [Diary entry: 16 May 1797]
From: Washington, George
To:

 16. Wind No. Easterly, & then to the westward of No. but not much of it. Appearances of Rain but none fell.


Title: [Diary entry: 18 May 1797]
From: Washington, George
To:

18. Very cloudy all day with the Wind at So. Et. Showers with thunder & lightening in the afternoon.


Title: [Diary entry: 19 May 1797]
From: Washington, George
To:

19. Wind at No. Et. & cloudy all day with moderate Rain from ½ after 10 until near two.


Title: [Diary entry: 20 May 1797]
From: Washington, George
To:

20. Wind from the So. Et. with appearances of Rain but none fell—very warm.


Title: [Diary entry: 21 May 1797]
From: Washington, George
To:

21. Wind more Southerly with great appearances of Rain but none fell here.


Title: [Diary entry: 22 May 1797]
From: Washington, George
To:

22d. Morning rather cooler but warm afterwards with but little wind.


Title: [Diary entry: 23 May 1797]
From: Washington, George
To:

23. Wind Easterly & rather Cool.


Title: [Diary entry: 24 May 1797]
From: Washington, George
To:

24. Wind Southerly and warm with appearances of Rain but none fell.


Title: [Diary entry: 25 May 1797]
From: Washington, George
To:

25. Very brisk Southerly wind & still great appearances of Rain but none fell here.


Title: [Diary entry: 26 May 1797]
From: Washington, George
To:

26. Wind at No. W. & fresh in the morning, but less of it & at So. Wt. in the Afternn. Cool till evening.


Title: [Diary entry: 27 May 1797]
From: Washington, George
To:

27. Wind at So. Wt. Clear and warm all day. In the evening Sultry.


Title: [Diary entry: 28 May 1797]
From: Washington, George
To:

28. Wind in the forepart of the day very high, from the No. W. and cold.


Title: [Diary entry: 30 May 1797]
From: Washington, George
To:

30. Cloudy & much like rain all day with the Wind at No. Et. In the afternoon & night a little rain fell.


Title: May—1797
From: Washington, George
To:

1. Went to Alexandria to settle some matters at the Bank. Day warm—wind at So. Wt.

   matters at the bank: “To Cash recd. from the Bank of Alexa. dividend on 10 Sh:—100 Dollrs.” (GW’s Cash Memoranda, 29 Sept. 1794–17 Aug. 1797, RPJCB).

2. Blew violently hard all day from the No. Wt. & grew very Cold.

3. A frost in the morning—Weather variable & cold. Wind So. Wt. & fresh.

4. Warm, with very little Wd. and that So. Wt.

5. Warm in the forenoon with the wind at So. Wt. Rain in the Afternoon. Went to Alexa. on business. Retd. in the afternoon.

   on business: GW had “Dinner &ca.” at Gadsby’s tavern today (GW’s Cash Memoranda, 29 Sept. 1794–17 Aug. 1797, RPJCB).

6. Warm with the Wind at So. Et.—but not hot.

7. Wind, after the morning very fresh from the N. W. & turning very cold.

8. Wind No., a little Easterly and Cool with a shower of Rain abt. 1 Oclock & squally.

9. Disagreeably cool—tho’ the Wind was shifting to the Southward.

10. Very pleasant—warm & clear.

11. Brisk So. Westerly Wind & warm.

12. Wind in the same quarter but not so much of it but very warm.

13. Wind No. Westerly and much cooler with appearances of Rain.

14. Wind at No. Et. & rather Cool—indeed quite so.

15. Very pleasant, & but little wind—that however was from the No. Et.

16. Wind No. Easterly, & then to the westward of No. but not much of it. Appearances of Rain but none fell.

17. Wind Easterly all day and pretty fresh & cool.

18. Very cloudy all day with the Wind at So. Et. Showers with thunder & lightening in the afternoon.

19. Wind at No. Et. & cloudy all day with moderate Rain from ½ after 10 until near two.

20. Wind from the So. Et. with appearances of Rain but none fell—very warm.

21. Wind more Southerly with great appearances of Rain but none fell here.

22d. Morning rather cooler but warm afterwards with but little wind.

23. Wind Easterly & rather Cool.

24. Wind Southerly and warm with appearances of Rain but none fell.

25. Very brisk Southerly wind & still great appearances of Rain but none fell here.

26. Wind at No. W. & fresh in the morning, but less of it & at So. Wt. in the Afternn. Cool till evening.

27. Wind at So. Wt. Clear and warm all day. In the evening Sultry.

28. Wind in the forepart of the day very high, from the No. W. and cold.

29. Clear & rather Cool with but little Wind.

30. Cloudy & much like rain all day with the Wind at No. Et. In the afternoon & night a little rain fell.

31. Wind at No. Wt. and cool.


Title: [Diary entry: 1 June 1797]
From: Washington, George
To:

1. Wind at No. Et. in the morning and at So. Wt. in the afternoon but not much of it—Cool.


Title: [Diary entry: 2 June 1797]
From: Washington, George
To:

2. Wind at So. Wt. with great appearances of rain but very little fell—rather cool.


Title: [Diary entry: 3 June 1797]
From: Washington, George
To:

3. Wind in the same quarter tho’ not much of it. Warm.


Title: [Diary entry: 5 June 1797]
From: Washington, George
To:

5. Cool again with the Wind fresh from No. Wt.


Title: [Diary entry: 7 June 1797]
From: Washington, George
To:

7. Ditto—Do. Do.


Title: [Diary entry: 8 June 1797]
From: Washington, George
To:

8. Wind at No. Et. in the Morning—but Southerly afterwards and warm.


Title: [Diary entry: 10 June 1797]
From: Washington, George
To:

10. Very warm with a Southerly wind and great appearances of rain but none fell here.


Title: [Diary entry: 11 June 1797]
From: Washington, George
To:

11. Wind at No. Wt. All day but neither hard nor cold.


Title: [Diary entry: 12 June 1797]
From: Washington, George
To:

12. Wind Southwesterly—clear & warm.


Title: [Diary entry: 13 June 1797]
From: Washington, George
To:

13. Very Warm with a brisk Southerly wind—a slight Shower of Rain. Mercury 83.


Title: [Diary entry: 14 June 1797]
From: Washington, George
To:

14. Very Warm with the [wind] Southerly. Mercury 84. Weather extremely dry.


Title: [Diary entry: 15 June 1797]
From: Washington, George
To:

15. Same Wind, & heat as yesterday.


Title: [Diary entry: 16 June 1797]
From: Washington, George
To:

16. Wind in the same quarter Mer. at 87. Clear.


Title: [Diary entry: 17 June 1797]
From: Washington, George
To:

 17. Mercury at 90—day Sultry with the wind Southerly—a scud of Rain for a minute or two.


Title: [Diary entry: 19 June 1797]
From: Washington, George
To:

19. Cool in the morning with the wind at No. Wt. Mercury 69 only.


Title: [Diary entry: 20 June 1797]
From: Washington, George
To:

20. Wind Southerly but cool Mercury 71. Two showers in the Afternoon.


Title: [Diary entry: 21 June 1797]
From: Washington, George
To:

21. Wind at No. Et. but variable. Mercury 74. Cloudy in the afternoon with appearances of Rain but none fell.


Title: [Diary entry: 22 June 1797]
From: Washington, George
To:

22. Wind Southerly & growing warmer. Cloudy & likely for rain all day. Began Wheat harvest at Union & Dogue R. Farms.


Title: [Diary entry: 23 June 1797]
From: Washington, George
To:

23. Cloudy morning with light showers, & wind Southerly until Noon then clear with the wind from No. W. M. 77.


Title: [Diary entry: 26 June 1797]
From: Washington, George
To:

26. Wind southerly & clear. Mer. 78.


Title: [Diary entry: 27 June 1797]
From: Washington, George
To:

27. Wind Easterly with some appearances of Rain but none fell. Mer. 79.


Title: [Diary entry: 28 June 1797]
From: Washington, George
To:

28. Wind Southerly and Warm. Mer. 78.


Title: [Diary entry: 30 June 1797]
From: Washington, George
To:

30. Clear & warm—Wind Southerly. Mercury 80.


Title: [Diary entry: 1 July 1797]
From: Washington, George
To:

1. Warm with variable Wind—sometimes East & sometimes West of So. M. 80.


Title: [Diary entry: 2 July 1797]
From: Washington, George
To:

2. Wind Southerly with a slight Shower 2 Oclock. Mer. 88 before the Rain.


Title: [Diary entry: 5 July 1797]
From: Washington, George
To:

5. Cool in the morning with the Wind at No. Wt.—calm afterwards. Mery. 79.


Title: [Diary entry: 6 July 1797]
From: Washington, George
To:

6. Clear until the Afternoon with but little wind then hazy clouds with the Wind at So. Et. Mer. 80.


Title: [Diary entry: 8 July 1797]
From: Washington, George
To:

8. Clear after the morning & warm. Wind Southerly Mer. 82.


Title: [Diary entry: 9 July 1797]
From: Washington, George
To:

9. Wind pretty fresh from No. Wt. all day. Weather clear and Mercury at 82.


Title: [Diary entry: 10 July 1797]
From: Washington, George
To:

10. Clear with the Wind Southerly. Mery. at 84.


Title: [Diary entry: 12 July 1797]
From: Washington, George
To:

12. Little or no wind. Mercury at 83.


Title: [Diary entry: 13 July 1797]
From: Washington, George
To:

13. Calm and clear all day—Mery. at 85.


Title: [Diary entry: 14 July 1797]
From: Washington, George
To:

14. Very little wind and clear—Mery. 91.


Title: [Diary entry: 15 July 1797]
From: Washington, George
To:

 15. Last Night extremely warm—clear & calm—Mer. 88.


Title: [Diary entry: 16 July 1797]
From: Washington, George
To:

16. Very warm with the Wind at So. Mer. 90. Fine Rain in the Afternoon—suff[icien]t to wet the g[round].


Title: [Diary entry: 17 July 1797]
From: Washington, George
To:

17. Appearances of Rain most part of the day but none fell—pleasant. Went up to the Fedl. City.


Title: [Diary entry: 18 July 1797]
From: Washington, George
To:

18. Warm with appearances of Rain in the Afternoon—but none fell. In the City all day.


Title: [Diary entry: 19 July 1797]
From: Washington, George
To:

19. Went by the bridge at the little falls to the Gt. Falls & returned home in the Afternoon.


Title: [Diary entry: 20 July 1797]
From: Washington, George
To:

20. Clear & warm. Mercury at 83.


Title: [Diary entry: 21 July 1797]
From: Washington, George
To:

21. Much such a day as yesterday—M. 83.


Title: [Diary entry: 22 July 1797]
From: Washington, George
To:

22. Warm morning & cloudy with very fine Showers from 11 Oclock in the Morning until near 3 oclock wetting the grd. thoroughly. Mery. 80.


Title: [Diary entry: 23 July 1797]
From: Washington, George
To:

23. Cloudy forenoon but clear afterwards—but little Wind. Mer. 81.


Title: [Diary entry: 24 July 1797]
From: Washington, George
To:

24. Clear & warm—Wind Southerly. A little rain in the Night. M. 85.


Title: [Diary entry: 25 July 1797]
From: Washington, George
To:

25. Great appea[ra]nces of Rain in the morning clear & warm afterwards—Mer. 83.


Title: [Diary entry: 26 July 1797]
From: Washington, George
To:

26. Clear all day with but little wind and that So. Mer. 84.


Title: [Diary entry: 28 July 1797]
From: Washington, George
To:

 28. Mercury at 82. Clear forenoon but Showers in the Afternoon.


Title: [Diary entry: 29 July 1797]
From: Washington, George
To:

29. Clear all day—Wind Easterly. Mer. 79.


Title: [Diary entry: 31 July 1797]
From: Washington, George
To:

31. Mercury at 76. Wind Easterly—and frequent Showers of Rain in the Afternoon.


Title: July [1797]
From: Washington, George
To:

1. Warm with variable Wind—sometimes East & sometimes West of So. M. 80.

2. Wind Southerly with a slight Shower 2 Oclock. Mer. 88 before the Rain.

3. Clear in the forenoon with a slight shower for a few minutes about 2 Oclock; afternoon Wind Southerly Mer. 81.

4. Wind Westerly all day with appearances of Rain but none fell. Mercury at 81.

5. Cool in the morning with the Wind at No. Wt.—calm afterwards. Mery. 79.

6. Clear until the Afternoon with but little wind then hazy clouds with the Wind at So. Et. Mer. 80.

7. Heavy morning with Rain more or less from 7 in the Morning until 2 Oclock in the afternoon but very moderate. Wind So. Easterly—Mer. 74.

8. Clear after the morning & warm. Wind Southerly Mer. 82.

9. Wind pretty fresh from No. Wt. all day. Weather clear and Mercury at 82.

10. Clear with the Wind Southerly. Mery. at 84.

11. Wind at No. Wt. all day a little rain having fallen in the Night but not on my Farms. M. 81.

12. Little or no wind. Mercury at 83.

13. Calm and clear all day—Mery. at 85.

14. Very little wind and clear—Mery. 91.

15. Last Night extremely warm—clear & calm—Mer. 88.

16. Very warm with the Wind at So. Mer. 90. Fine Rain in the Afternoon—suff[icien]t to wet the g[round].

17. Appearances of Rain most part of the day but none fell—pleasant. Went up to the Fedl. City.

18. Warm with appearances of Rain in the Afternoon—but none fell. In the City all day.

19. Went by the bridge at the little falls to the Gt. Falls & returned home in the Afternoon.

   bridge at the little falls: Pierre Charles L’Enfant’s original plan for the Federal City called for a bridge over the Potomac River at Little Falls and one over the Eastern Branch (Anacostia River). In 1791 the Georgetown Bridge Company was chartered and subscriptions taken. On 1 July 1795 the company’s books were opened for 400 shares at $200 per share. Timothy Palmer was to undertake the erection of the bridge at Little Falls. The bridge, which opened for use on 3 July 1797, was a “wooden roofed-in structure” with high stone and iron abutments (BRYANWilhelmus Bogart Bryan. A History of the National Capital: From Its Foundation through the Period of the Adoption of the Organic Act. 2 vols. New York, 1914–16., 1:243, 491–92; National Intelligencer [Washington], 16 Mar. 1808; Columbian Mirror [Alexandria], 12 Aug. 1797).

20. Clear & warm. Mercury at 83.

21. Much such a day as yesterday—M. 83.

22. Warm morning & cloudy with very fine Showers from 11 Oclock in the Morning until near 3 oclock wetting the grd. thoroughly. Mery. 80.

23. Cloudy forenoon but clear afterwards—but little Wind. Mer. 81.

24. Clear & warm—Wind Southerly. A little rain in the Night. M. 85.

25. Great appea[ra]nces of Rain in the morning clear & warm afterwards—Mer. 83.

26. Clear all day with but little wind and that So. Mer. 84.

27. Wind Southerly & warm. A fine rain about 3 Oclock for an hour. Mercury 81.

28. Mercury at 82. Clear forenoon but Showers in the Afternoon.

29. Clear all day—Wind Easterly. Mer. 79.

30. Mercy. 79—A Slight Shower abt. 2 Oclock rather cool afterwds.

31. Mercury at 76. Wind Easterly—and frequent Showers of Rain in the Afternoon.


Title: [Diary entry: 3 August 1797]
From: Washington, George
To:

3. Raining more or less from 10 Oclock—M. 77.


Title: [Diary entry: 5 August 1797]
From: Washington, George
To:

5. Warm & sultry in the forepart of the day with great appearances afterwards & a slight Shower in the evening—Mer. 85. Doctr. Stuart & daughter Nancy came here.


Title: [Diary entry: 6 August 1797]
From: Washington, George
To:

6. Showery in the morning & cloudy most part of the day. Mer. 76. Wind at No. Et.


Title: [Diary entry: 7 August 1797]
From: Washington, George
To:

7. Appearances of Rain until 10 Oclock & a sprinkle at Night. Mer. 76. Dr. Stuart & daughter returned home. I went to the annual Meeting of the Potk. Co. at George town. Dined at the Union tavern & lodged at Mr. Thos. Peter’s.


Title: [Diary entry: 10 August 1797]
From: Washington, George
To:

 10. Clear & cool all day with the wind varying from No. Wt. to No. Et. Mery. at 70. Miss Fanny Henley came.


Title: [Diary entry: 11 August 1797]
From: Washington, George
To:

11. Morning & evening cloudy but no rain—Wind shifting from No. Et. to So. Wt.—Mer. 73.


Title: [Diary entry: 12 August 1797]
From: Washington, George
To:

12. Fair until evening, when it began to rain moderately. Wind at So. West & Mer. 79. Genl. Lee, Lady & daughter came.


Title: [Diary entry: 13 August 1797]
From: Washington, George
To:

13. Wind rather variable with Showers in the afternoon. Mer. 79. General ⟨L.⟩ & ca. went away & Mr. Bourne and Mr. Lear came.


Title: [Diary entry: 16 August 1797]
From: Washington, George
To:

16. Clear wind varying from No. W. to S. W. Mer. 73.


Title: [Diary entry: 17 August 1797]
From: Washington, George
To:

17. Wind inclining to the Westward—Mer. 73. Weather clear. Went with the family to Alexa. Dined with Mr. Potts. Doctr. Stuart came home with us in the evening.


Title: [Diary entry: 18 August 1797]
From: Washington, George
To:

18. Wind Southerly—Clear—Mer. at 79. Doctr. Stuart went away.


Title: [Diary entry: 19 August 1797]
From: Washington, George
To:

19. Wind Southerly all day. Mer. at 82. Some app[earanc]e of Rain.


Title: [Diary entry: 22 August 1797]
From: Washington, George
To:

22. Clear & warm. Wind small & variable. Mer. 79.


Title: [Diary entry: 23 August 1797]
From: Washington, George
To:

23. Very little wind rather inclining to the Westward. Mer. 80. Mr. Richd. Randolph & Mr. Carter Beverly came to dinner & Captn. Blackburn & lady in the Afternoon. Clouds but no R.


Title: [Diary entry: 24 August 1797]
From: Washington, George
To:

24. The latter Gentn. & lady went away after breakfast & the former after dinner. Calm. Mer. at 80.


Title: [Diary entry: 25 August 1797]
From: Washington, George
To:

25. Very warm with but little Wind in the forenoon—Mer. at 82. Mr. Wilson & Mrs. Ramsay—Mr. & Mrs. Potts & two daughters dined here.


Title: [Diary entry: 27 August 1797]
From: Washington, George
To:

27. Clear, with the wind at No. W. all day. Mer. at 78.


Title: [Diary entry: 28 August 1797]
From: Washington, George
To:

28. Clear—Mercury at 80. Wind Southerly.


Title: [Diary entry: 29 August 1797]
From: Washington, George
To:

29. Clear—Wind Southerly. M. at 80. Mr. Bushd. Washington Mr. Fieldg. Lewis & Wife and Miss Dade dined here & went away afterwards.


Title: [Diary entry: 30 August 1797]
From: Washington, George
To:

30. Clear, with the Wind, tho little of it Southerly. Mercury 80. Ludwell Lee Esqr. & Lady & Miss Armistead dined here.


Title: [Diary entry: 31 August 1797]
From: Washington, George
To:

31. Appearances of rain in the Morning—clear & warm afterwards. Mer. at 84. Genl. Spotswoods family & ours dined with Mr. Ludwell Lee. And Mr. Nichs. Fitzhugh & his wife came here to dinner & Mr. Lawe. Lewis in the evening.


Title: August [1797]
From: Washington, George
To:

1. Wind Southerly—heavy shower in the afternoon & much rain fell in the Night. Mer. 78. Mr. Bolling & Mr. L. Washington of King George came here.

   Robert Bolling (born c.1759) of Centre Hill, Petersburg, was the son of Robert Bolling (1730–1775) and Mary Tabb Bolling of Bollingbrook. He married in 1796 his third wife, Sally Washington, daughter of Lawrence Washington of Chotank. Bolling had served in the Virginia militia during the Revolution (DAVIDSONNora F. M. Davidson. “Revolutionary Services of Robert Bolling, of Petersburg.” Virginia Magazine of History and Biography 12 (1904–5): 154–56., 154–56; Va. Mag., 4 [1897], 330–31). l. washington of king george: probably Bolling’s brother-in-law, Lawrence Washington, Jr. (see entry for 27 July 1785).

2. Wind Easterly. Showers in the Morng. & Afternoon. Mer. 77. B. & W. went away.

3. Raining more or less from 10 Oclock—M. 77.

4. Wind at So. Et. & Easterly—appearances of Rain but none fell. Warm Mer. 85. Mrs. Peake & Miss Evelin dined here.

   miss evelin: GW undoubtedly means Fanny Edelen (see entries for 28 Dec. 1771 and 7 Nov. 1785). Mrs. Peake is probably Humphrey Peake’s widow, Mary Stonestreet Peake.

5. Warm & sultry in the forepart of the day with great appearances afterwards & a slight Shower in the evening—Mer. 85. Doctr. Stuart & daughter Nancy came here.

   Dr. David Stuart (see entry for 3 Jan. 1785) was appointed by GW as one of the three original commissioners for the Federal City but resigned that office in Sept. 1794. The settlement of a long-standing dispute with Robert Alexander (see entry for 27 Mar. 1788) over the nearby Abingdon property

(see entry for 12 Mar. 1785) had necessitated the Stuart family’s removal from there about 1792. They were at this time living at Hope Park, a 2,000-acre estate about 10 miles west of Abingdon in a more isolated area of Fairfax County. Stuart’s daughter Ann Calvert (Nancy) Stuart was about 14 years old at this time.

6. Showery in the morning & cloudy most part of the day. Mer. 76. Wind at No. Et.

7. Appearances of Rain until 10 Oclock & a sprinkle at Night. Mer. 76. Dr. Stuart & daughter returned home. I went to the annual Meeting of the Potk. Co. at George town. Dined at the Union tavern & lodged at Mr. Thos. Peter’s.

   potk. co.: Work on building locks and clearing the Potomac River and its tributaries for navigation had been under way for more than a decade. When money was plentiful, the work progressed rapidly, with the employment of many Irish and German indentured servants and hired laborers; but from 1788 until the present year, funds for the work on the river gradually became harder to procure. Efforts were largely bent on obtaining enough money to complete the locks at Great Falls, the only part of the Potomac River at which a portage was still necessary. There were repeated calls on shareholders for additional contributions; the legislatures of Maryland and Virginia were petitioned at various times for the sale of more shares to be added to the capital stock; attempts were made to force delinquent subscribers to pay their quotas. Despite all efforts to raise money, funds were at this time entirely exhausted. At the 1797 annual meeting in Georgetown the shareholders of the Potowmack Company found it necessary to agree to sell the indentures of the servants and discharge the company’s laborers. Among the attempts to raise more money was an order to the directors to sell or mortgage all shares belonging to the company; to open the books for 30 additional shares at £130 each; to petition the Virginia and Maryland legislatures for permission to collect tolls at Great Falls; and “to mortgage the tolls for the amount of $16,000, all monies to be applied to the works at Great Falls” (BACON-FOSTERCorra Bacon-Foster. Early Chapters in the Development of the Patomac Route to the West. Washington, D.C., 1912., 95). For further information on the activities of the Potowmack Company during the period 1788 to 1797, see BACON-FOSTERCorra Bacon-Foster. Early Chapters in the Development of the Patomac Route to the West. Washington, D.C., 1912., 82–100 and 169–71.

   The Union Tavern, built in 1796 by the subscription of a number of Georgetown citizens, was a three-story brick structure located at the corner of Washington (30th) and Bridge (M) streets. It boasted an elegant assembly, or ball, room which was a favorite accommodation for birthday balls and other social assemblies (BRYANWilhelmus Bogart Bryan. A History of the National Capital: From Its Foundation through the Period of the Adoption of the Organic Act. 2 vols. New York, 1914–16., 1:280; EBERLEIN & HUBBARDHarold Donaldson Eberlein and Cortlandt Van Dyke Hubbard. Historic Houses of George-Town & Washington City. Richmond, Va., 1958., 10–12).

8. Returned home to dinner. Drizling at times until one Oclock—clear afterwds. Mer. 75. Wind No. W. in the Aftern.

9. No rain, but appearances of it in the afternoon. Wind Northerly—Mer. 73.

10. Clear & cool all day with the wind varying from No. Wt. to No. Et. Mery. at 70. Miss Fanny Henley came.

   Frances (Fanny) Henley (b. 1779) was the eldest child of Martha Washington’s sister Elizabeth and her second husband, Leonard Henley, of James City County. Fanny later became the third wife of Tobias Lear.

11. Morning & evening cloudy but no rain—Wind shifting from No. Et. to So. Wt.—Mer. 73.

12. Fair until evening, when it began to rain moderately. Wind at So. West & Mer. 79. Genl. Lee, Lady & daughter came.

   genl. lee: Henry (Light Horse Harry) Lee’s first wife, Matilda, died in 1790 and in 1793 Lee married Anne Hill Carter (1773–1829), daughter of Charles Carter of Shirley and his second wife, Anne Butler Moore Carter. The daughter who accompanied the Lees was Lucy Grymes Lee (1786–1860), a child of Lee’s first marriage.

13. Wind rather variable with Showers in the afternoon. Mer. 79. General ⟨L.⟩ & ca. went away & Mr. Bourne and Mr. Lear came.

   mer.: GW has inadvertently written “Mer.” twice in the MS. Mr. Bourne may be Sylvanus Bourne, who was vice-consul in Amsterdam about 1794 and in June 1797 was appointed consul general to the Batavian Republic. A notice in the Alexandria newspaper on 7 Nov. stated that he and his wife “sailed from Chester on Sunday last, in the ship Phoenix, for Amsterdam” (Columbian Mirror [Alexandria], 7 Nov. 1797).

   Tobias Lear, whose second wife, Fanny Bassett Washington Lear, had died in late Mar. 1796, seems to have been living in Washington City. Lear, now a merchant in the Federal City, was also president of the Potowmack Company and was on his way to the Great Falls on company business (Lear to GW, 16 Aug. 1797, DLC:GW). Lear wrote GW a few weeks later that he was resolved to take up residence in the fall at Walnut Tree Farm, a section of Clifton’s Neck which GW had given to Fanny and George Augustine Washington in 1787 (see entry for 10 Feb. 1787). There he would take up farming and direct the studies of his “Charming boys”—Fanny Lear’s two orphan sons, George Fayette Washington (1790–1867) and Charles Augustine Washington (b. 1791), and his own child, Benjamin Lincoln Lear (c.1791–1832), the son of his first wife, Mary Long Lear. He had hoped to rent GW’s adjacent River Farm for the coming year, but the season was too far advanced and GW had already made other arrangements to farm the land himself (Lear to GW, 8 Sept. 1797, DLC:GW; GW to Lear, 11 Sept. 1797, NN: Washington Papers).

14. Wind at No. Wt. & Cool all day. Mer. 70. Mr. Bourne & Mr. Lear went away & Mr. Ferdd. Fairfax came.

   Ferdinando Fairfax (see entry for 31 May 1769) inherited from his uncle George William Fairfax in 1787 all his property, including the Belvoir estate in Fairfax County and tracts of land in Berkeley (later in Jefferson) County. Ferdinando’s home, Shannon Hill, on the Shenandoah River was about halfway between Key’s ferry and Snickers’ ferry. During this visit to Mount Vernon, Fairfax discussed with GW the possibility of hiring one of GW’s jackasses to stand at Shannon Hill for the season and of GW’s purchasing or hiring a cook to replace one who had recently run away (Ferdinando Fairfax to GW, 22 Aug. 1797 and 2 Mar. 1798, DLC:GW).

15. Clear & Cool—wind at No. W. Mer. 71. Mr. Fairfax went away.

16. Clear wind varying from No. W. to S. W. Mer. 73.

17. Wind inclining to the Westward—Mer. 73. Weather clear. Went with the family to Alexa. Dined with Mr. Potts. Doctr. Stuart came home with us in the evening.

   Mr. Potts is John Potts, Jr., formerly of Pottsgrove (Pottstown), Pa. (see entry for 11 Sept. 1785).

18. Wind Southerly—Clear—Mer. at 79. Doctr. Stuart went away.

19. Wind Southerly all day. Mer. at 82. Some app[earanc]e of Rain.

20. But little wind & that variable. Weather clear. Mer. 79.

21. Clear with little or no wind. Mer. at 80.

22. Clear & warm. Wind small & variable. Mer. 79.

23. Very little wind rather inclining to the Westward. Mer. 80. Mr. Richd. Randolph & Mr. Carter Beverly came to dinner & Captn. Blackburn & lady in the Afternoon. Clouds but no R.

   Richard Randolph, Jr. (c.1758–1799), of Curles in Henrico County was married to Maria Beverley Randolph (1764–1824), daughter of Robert Beverley (1740–1800) and Maria Carter Beverley (1745–1817) of Blandfield. Randolph’s brother-in-law, Carter Beverley (1774–1844), was a justice of Culpeper County. captn. blackburn & lady: Richard Scott Blackburn (died c.1804–5), the eldest son of Thomas and Christian Scott Blackburn of Rippon Lodge near Dumfries, had been appointed to a captaincy in the United

States Army in 1794. Earlier, in 1790–91, he served one term in the Virginia House of Delegates. Blackburn was married first to Judith Ball and then, sometime after Oct. 1796, to Ann Blause (c.1760–c.1804).

24. The latter Gentn. & lady went away after breakfast & the former after dinner. Calm. Mer. at 80.

25. Very warm with but little Wind in the forenoon—Mer. at 82. Mr. Wilson & Mrs. Ramsay—Mr. & Mrs. Potts & two daughters dined here.

   Mr. Wilson is William Wilson, merchant, of Alexandria (see entry for 17 April 1785). Mrs. Ramsay is Mrs. Elizabeth Ramsay, mother of Eliza Ramsay Potts and widow of Patrick Ramsay, a Scottish merchant of Blandford, Prince George County. At the beginning of the Revolution, Patrick Ramsay returned with his family to Glasgow, where he died. His widow and children came back to America in the 1780s and settled in Alexandria (SLAUGHTER [3]Philip Slaughter. A History of Bristol Parish, Va., with Genealogies of Families Connected Therewith, and Historical Illustrations. Richmond, 1879., 211). William Wilson may have been married to one of Mrs. Ramsay’s daughters (deed of Elizabeth Ramsay to John Potts, Jr., and William Wilson, Fairfax County Deeds, Book T–1, 7–11, Vi Microfilm; WMQThe William and Mary Quarterly: A Magazine of Early American History. Williamsburg, Va., 1st ser., 14 [1905–6], 211–13). John Potts, Jr., and his wife, Eliza Ramsay Potts (see entry for 18 Nov. 1787), had at least three daughters: Sophia W., Anna, and W. D. Potts (SLAUGHTER [3]Philip Slaughter. A History of Bristol Parish, Va., with Genealogies of Families Connected Therewith, and Historical Illustrations. Richmond, 1879., 211).

26. Mrs. Washington dined here and in the afternoon Genl. & Mrs. Spotswood—Captn. Spotswood Miss Spotswood & Miss Thornton came. But little wind & great appearances of Rain. Mer. 81.

   Mrs. Washington is undoubtedly Lund Washington’s widow, Elizabeth Foote Washington, of nearby Hayfield.

   Alexander Spotswood of New Post and Nottingham, both in Spotsylvania County, and his wife, Elizabeth Washington Spotswood, were accompanied by two of their children and a niece; Capt. John Augustine Spotswood, a son, was captain of a schooner probably involved in the West Indies trade (see entry for 30 April 1785; John A. Spotswood’s statement of his property, 1798, DLC:GW). Miss Spotswood was probably the eldest daughter, Mary; Miss Thornton was one of the four daughters of Mrs. Spotswood’s sister Jane Washington Thornton (born c.1752) and her husband, Col. John Thornton, son of Col. Francis Thornton (d. 1784) of Society Hill.

27. Clear, with the wind at No. W. all day. Mer. at 78.

28. Clear—Mercury at 80. Wind Southerly.

29. Clear—Wind Southerly. M. at 80. Mr. Bushd. Washington Mr. Fieldg. Lewis & Wife and Miss Dade dined here & went away afterwards.

   Bushrod Washington had moved his law practice from Alexandria to Richmond in 1790. Fielding Lewis, Jr., was married to Nancy Alexander, daughter of Gerard and Mary Dent Alexander of Fairfax County. The Miss Dade who accompanies the Lewises is undoubtedly one of Mrs. Lewis’s relatives; there were numerous marriages between the Alexander and Dade families over several generations.

30. Clear, with the Wind, tho little of it Southerly. Mercury 80. Ludwell Lee Esqr. & Lady & Miss Armistead dined here.

   Richard Henry Lee’s eldest son, Ludwell Lee (1760–1836), served in the Virginia House of Delegates 1787–90 and was now speaker of the Virginia Senate. His first wife, Flora Lee, had died, and he was married again on 30 May 1797 to Elizabeth (Betsey) Armistead, daughter of Bowles and Mary Fontaine Armistead. The Miss Armistead who appears with the Lees is undoubtedly one of the bride’s sisters.

31. Appearances of rain in the Morning—clear & warm afterwards. Mer. at 84. Genl. Spotswoods family & ours dined with Mr. Ludwell Lee. And Mr. Nichs. Fitzhugh & his wife came here to dinner & Mr. Lawe. Lewis in the evening.

   dined with mr. ludwell lee: at Shuter’s (Shooter’s) Hill, Lee’s home just outside Alexandria. Nicholas Fitzhugh (1764–1814), one of 14 children of Henry Fitzhugh (1723–1783) of Bedford and Sarah Battaile Fitzhugh (1731–1783), lived at Ravensworth in Fairfax County. He served in the House of Delegates 1790–91 and 1800–3, and then was appointed judge of the United States circuit court for the district of Washington. He married in 1788 Sarah Ashton, daughter of Burdett Ashton and his wife, Ann Washington Ashton, GW’s niece.

   Lawrence Lewis, son of GW’s sister Betty, had been invited by GW to reside at Mount Vernon to help with the entertainment of the many guests. GW informed Lewis, however, that he would “expect no Services from you for which pecuniary compensation will be made. I have already as many on wages as are sufficient to carry on my business and more indeed than I can find means to pay, conveniently. As both your Aunt and I are in the decline of life, and regular in our habits, especially in our hours of rising & going to bed; I require some person (fit & proper) to ease me of the trouble of entertaining company; particularly of Nights, as it is my inclination to retire (and unless prevented by very particular company, always do retire) either to bed, or to my study, soon after candle light. In taking these duties (which hospitality obliges one to bestow on company) off my hands, it would render me a very acceptable service, and for a little time only, to come, an hour in the day, now and then, devoted to the recording of some Papers which time would not allow me to complete before I left Philadelphia, would also be acceptable” (4 Aug. 1797, ViMtvL).


Title: [Diary entry: 1 September 1797]
From: Washington, George
To:

1. Clear & extremely warm being calm—Mer. at 90.


Title: [Diary entry: 3 September 1797]
From: Washington, George
To:

3. A sprinkle of rain for a few minutes—Wind at No. Wt. Mer. at 79. Mr. & Mrs. Fitzhugh went away after breakfast & Mr. Lear came to dinner.


Title: [Diary entry: 4 September 1797]
From: Washington, George
To:

4. Wind at No. Wt. & clear—Mer. 77. Genl. Spotswood & family went away after breakfast.


Title: [Diary entry: 5 September 1797]
From: Washington, George
To:

5. Clear—Mercury at 79.


Title: [Diary entry: 9 September 1797]
From: Washington, George
To:

9. Very great appearances of Rain in the Morning with some mist—but not to lay the dust. Mer. at 68. Wind at No. Et. all day.


Title: [Diary entry: 10 September 1797]
From: Washington, George
To:

10. Clear & Cool Wind at No. Et. Mer. 68. Mr. Jno. Bassett—wife & 3 Childn. came here to Dinnr.


Title: [Diary entry: 13 September 1797]
From: Washington, George
To:

13. Some appearances of Rain in the evening but none fell. Wind southerly. Mer. 72. All the company went after breakfast.


Title: [Diary entry: 14 September 1797]
From: Washington, George
To:

14. Wind at So. Wt. Mer. at 74, a Shower for abt. 6 Minutes in the afternoon.


Title: [Diary entry: 15 September 1797]
From: Washington, George
To:

15. Great appearances of R. with light drippings in the forenoon—Mer. 78. In the Afternoon abt. 6 Oclock it began a sober rain & cond. till 11 Ock.


Title: [Diary entry: 17 September 1797]
From: Washington, George
To:

17. Clear & calm. Mercury at 72. Mr. Lear went away after breakfast.


Title: [Diary entry: 18 September 1797]
From: Washington, George
To:

18. Raining in the forenoon and afternoon—Mer. at 69. Wind Southerly.


Title: [Diary entry: 19 September 1797]
From: Washington, George
To:

19. Clear all day and Wind fresh from No. Wt. Mer. 66. Mr. Geo. Lee of Loudoun dined here.


Title: [Diary entry: 20 September 1797]
From: Washington, George
To:

20. Clear with little or no wind. A slight white frost. M. 64.


Title: [Diary entry: 21 September 1797]
From: Washington, George
To:

21. Clear & very pleasant—slight white frost. Wind Easterly. Mer. 68.


Title: [Diary entry: 22 September 1797]
From: Washington, George
To:

 22. Cloudy all day, with the Wind at No. Et. Mer. 67.


Title: [Diary entry: 23 September 1797]
From: Washington, George
To:

23. Just such a day as yesterday. Mer. at 64. Wind at No. E.


Title: [Diary entry: 24 September 1797]
From: Washington, George
To:

24. The same. Wind in the same quarter with a little sprinkling of Rain. Mer. at 62. Went to Church in Alexa.


Title: [Diary entry: 25 September 1797]
From: Washington, George
To:

25. Wind at No. West and clear. Mer. at 72. Went to Alexandria on business.


Title: [Diary entry: 26 September 1797]
From: Washington, George
To:

26. Clear in the forenoon lowering afterwards & turning cold. Wind brisk from the No. Wt. The Attorney Genl. Lee & Lady & Mrs. Edmund Lee dined here.


Title: [Diary entry: 27 September 1797]
From: Washington, George
To:

27. Cold No. Wt. Wind in the Morning—more moderate afterwards. Mer. at 62. Mr. H. Peake & a Romh. Priest—Mr. Caffray dind here.


Title: [Diary entry: 28 September 1797]
From: Washington, George
To:

28. A small white frost; clear, Calm & very pleasant. Mer. at 65. Mr. Edmd. Lee Mr. Scudder—Doctr. English & brother dined here.


Title: [Diary entry: 29 September 1797]
From: Washington, George
To:

29. A very thick & heavy fog with appearances [of rain] but none fell. But little wind & that at No. Wt. Mer. 65. Col. Gilpin & Mr. Hartshorne dined here.


Title: [Diary entry: 1 October 1797]
From: Washington, George
To:

1. Began raining in the Night and contind. to do so, more or less, until Noon—when the Wind got to the Westward & cleard—Mer. 63.


Title: [Diary entry: 2 October 1797]
From: Washington, George
To:

2. Clear, warm & pleasant. Mer. at 66. Mr. Carter & Mr. Fitzhugh went away & Mr. Washington & Mr. Foot came to dinr. & returned afterwards.


Title: [Diary entry: 3 October 1797]
From: Washington, George
To:

3. Clear & very warm. Wind Southerly—Mer. at 68. Doctr. Stuart came hear to Dinner. Washington Custis came home.


Title: [Diary entry: 6 October 1797]
From: Washington, George
To:

6. Warm & pleasant. Wind So. Mer. 65.


Title: [Diary entry: 7 October 1797]
From: Washington, George
To:

7. Calm, clear & warm in the forenoon with appearances of Rain afterwds. Mer. 66. Mr. La Colombe & a Doctr. Flood came here

to Dinner. The last returned. Mr. T. Peter & Mrs. Peter came in the Afternoon.


Title: [Diary entry: 8 October 1797]
From: Washington, George
To:

8. Clear, brisk Southerly Wind. Mer. 65. Mrs. Stuart & two of her daughters came to dinner as did Mr. Lear. Mr. La Tombe went awy.


Title: [Diary entry: 9 October 1797]
From: Washington, George
To:

9. Wind brisk from the No. Wt. & turning cold—Mer. 64. Mr. Lear & Mr. Peter went awy.


Title: [Diary entry: 10 October 1797]
From: Washington, George
To:

10. The Wind continuing at No. Wt. it brew colder—Mer. at 58.


Title: [Diary entry: 11 October 1797]
From: Washington, George
To:

11. Wind at No. Wt. & fresh after the Morning. Mer. at 56—Mrs. Stuart & Daughters & Mrs. Peters went after breakfast.


Title: [Diary entry: 13 October 1797]
From: Washington, George
To:

13. I returned home to dinner. Captn. Huie dined here & went away afterwards. Mer. at 5⟨ ⟩. Wind Southerly.


Title: [Diary entry: 15 October 1797]
From: Washington, George
To:

15. Clear & pleasant calm in the morning—wind at No. Wt. afterwds. Mer. at 58. Mr. Potts & Mr. Keith dined here & returned.


Title: [Diary entry: 16 October 1797]
From: Washington, George
To:

16. Clear & moderate with but little Wind—Mer. 55. Mr. Macdonald & Mr. Rich went away after breakfast. Mrs. Nichols & Mr. Nichols & wife & Doctr. Stuart came to Din. The 3 first returnd after it.


Title: [Diary entry: 18 October 1797]
From: Washington, George
To:

18. Clear & pleasant—Wind West. Mer. 61. Mr. Law & Cap. Turner went away after breakfast & Mr. Geo. Calvert came to Dinnr.


Title: [Diary entry: 19 October 1797]
From: Washington, George
To:

19. Calm & very pleasant—M. 58.


Title: [Diary entry: 20 October 1797]
From: Washington, George
To:

20. Cloudy morning with the wind at No. Et. Abt. Noon it began to Rain & contd. to do so more or less all day. Mer. at 56.


Title: [Diary entry: 21 October 1797]
From: Washington, George
To:

21. Wind still at No. Et. & misting all day. Mer. at 56. Mr. Calvert went away after breakfast.


Title: [Diary entry: 22 October 1797]
From: Washington, George
To:

22. Clear all day. Wind at No. Wt. M. 57. Mr. Potts & wife & Mr. Smith & wife & Mr. Lear dined here.


Title: [Diary entry: 24 October 1797]
From: Washington, George
To:

24. Constant Rain from 8 in the Morning until 4 in the aftern. with the Wind at No. Et. then No. W. Mer. 42. Spanish Minister & Mr. Barry came to dinner.


Title: [Diary entry: 25 October 1797]
From: Washington, George
To:

25. Wind moderately from So. Wt.—clear. Mer. at 52. The above gentlemn. went away after breakfast & Mrs. Craik & two sons & Mr. & Mrs. Harrison came to dinner.


Title: [Diary entry: 27 October 1797]
From: Washington, George
To:

27. Clear & pleasant—Wind Southerly—Mer. 56. Mrs. Crk. &ca. went away before dinner.


Title: [Diary entry: 29 October 1797]
From: Washington, George
To:

29. Clear & pleasant tho’ cool Wind getting to the No. Wt. Mer. at 55. Doctr. Stuart came to dinner.


Title: [Diary entry: 30 October 1797]
From: Washington, George
To:

30. Wind brisk from No. Wt. & cold. Mer. at 54. Doctr. Stuart went away after breakfast. Mr. Cottineau & Lady, Mr. Rosseau & Lady, the Visct. D’Orleans, & Mr. De Colbert came to Dinner & returned to Alexa. afterwards. A Mr. Stockton from N. Jerseys came in the afternoon.


Title: [Diary entry: 31 October 1797]
From: Washington, George
To:

31. Wind still at No. Wt. but moderate. Mer. at 55. Mr. Stockton went away after breakfast and Mr. Ford & Lady & a Mr. Richards came to dinner & proceeded on their Journey to So. Cara. afterwards.