Title: To George Washington from Matthew Whiting, 10 August 1786
From: Whiting, Matthew
To: Washington, George

Dear Sir
Snow Hill 10th Augt 1786

I recd yours and am very sorry that it did not come ten days sooner as I had parted with all the money that I had by me however the first that comes into my hands will take care to pay you. Should of been glad to of let you had wheat for sowing if I had any that I could recommend. I had parted with all my old wheat and the new I think but very Indifferent. I am with Complements to your good Lady and am Dear Sir Yr mo. Obt Hble Servant

M. Whiting


Title: To George Washington from John Ariss, 12 August 1786
From: Ariss, John
To: Washington, George

Sir
Berkeley [County] 12th August 1786

I am now to inform your Excellency that a Mr John Beale came to my house on the 3th Instant and deliver’d me a Decree of the High Court of Chancery, Hites & others, against the Executors & heirs, of Thos Lord Fairfax Decd, and that on Thursday the 10th the Commissioners With Colo. John Green & Mr Isaac Hite came to my house and Asked me What Improvements was on the Lands Suppos’d to be in dispute and which was Once Surveyed by Colo. Thos Marshall. my Answer was that I had been Informd by James McCormack that Saw the Line Run that Between 2 & 300 Acres was on the Backside of that Line & that their was no Improvement on it but about 200 Acres of Clear’d Land & which was now fenced in. They Further informd me that They were to Meet at Winchester the 4th day of September, in Order for the Different persons to put in their Claims for the Lands in dispute. I thougt it my duty to Inform your Excellency of the Above. I am, Sir Your Excellencys Most Obt Hbe Servt

Jno. Ariss


Title: To George Washington from Henry Lee, Jr., 12 August 1786
From: Lee, Henry Jr.
To: Washington, George

dear Genl
New York 12h Aug. 1786

Since writing my last I have an opportunity of sending the small box given to me by Mr Gardoqui for you under care of Mr Wilson of Petersburgh by the stage, to be delivered to Mr C.

Lee. I prefer this conveyance to the one intended, & now enclose the letter which accompanyed the box. It is probable that the China will leave New York for Norfolk next week. I am most respectfully Yours

Henry Lee Junr


Title: From George Washington to John Francis Mercer, 12 August 1786
From: Washington, George
To: Mercer, John Francis

Dr Sir,
Mount Vernon 12th Augt 1786.

The Clerks notes in the Suits ordered by you on the Bonds taken at Colo. Geo: Mercer’s sale, are (many of them) brought against me; some of wch without adverting thereto, I have paid, supposing them to have arisen on distresses made by Mr Muse for my rents. A few days ago a Bill from the Clerk, I believe, of Berkley, was handed to me amounting to near six hundred pounds of Tobacco, which not being convenient for me to pay, was returned. I shall be obliged to you in future when writs are ordered, to direct these notes into some other channel. I am threatened also (as you may see by the enclosed) in another manner on the same Accot.
I am led from these circumstances to hope that the suits have been, or soon will be productive; for, tho’ painful to reiterate, the fact is that I am really in want of money. The almost total loss of my Corn last year, the scantiness of my Crop of wheat this (in which I am only a common sufferer) & the probable destruction of my Corn by the Chinch-bug, in which I stand almost alone, deprives me of all hope of aid from these sources; which is the more distressing to me as I am at this time involved in more than common expence to finish my house & to make the repairs which were found wanting when it come to be examined. I am Dr Sir Your Obt Hble Servt

Go: Washington


Title: To George Washington from Edward Newenham, 12 August 1786
From: Newenham, Edward
To: Washington, George

Dear Sir,
Bell Champe near DublinAugust 12th 1786

   May I presume to solicit your friendship in obtaining the wish of a whole family; Viz.; to have one of them honoured by the Congress of American Patriots—The idea originated with my Son—he is so good and virtuous a young Man, that I can boldly assert, he never will dishonour any confidence reposed in him—he has been warm in yours and your Countrys cause from the beginning; his future life is fixed at Marsailles, where his fortune is vested; his third Sister is married there—he wants no sallery—it is the honor he solicits for.
I cannot express how anxious I am to obtain his wish—the mode I have adopted is novel but it occurred to me as the most respectfull; I have acquainted Doctr Franklin and Mr Jay with this affair, and had time been allowed, I am confident that the Marquis De Fayette would write most warmly in our favor, but as this is the only opportunity, of a safe conveyance, that I can

have for some time, I could not delay it—the Ship Dublin Packet Captain Alcorn, sails tomorrow, for Philadelphia, and this will be committed to his care.


Title: To George Washington from Clement Biddle, 13 August 1786
From: Biddle, Clement
To: Washington, George

[Philadelphia] August 13th 1786.

I have before me your Esteemed favour of 31st Ulto—at present there is a Suspension of paying the Indents for Interest of Certificates in this State, owing to a misunderstanding between the Controller of our State and the Treasury Board. but it is supposed that it will before long be settled when I will draw the Indents for Interest on the Certificate of 339 53/90 D[ollar]s which you sent me as they will be usefull to you for paying Taxes in Virginia after which I will Loan the Certificate to our State—draw one years Interest in our paper Money and return you the State Certificate—this mode I conceive to be most for your Interest, as the State Certificate will afterwards draw Interest here every Six Months, yet the price of your Certificate of which kind, hundreds are bought here and sold here daily, don’t vary Sixpence in the pound from what I advised you in Case of actual

Sale—But for a Settlement with the person you received it from I have stated an Account of the Specie Value at the time I wrote you the 24th of June last.
At present there is by no means a plenty of goods at this Market especially of the kinds you mention—Blankets, Oznabrigs and Linen are realy scarce & will be so till our fall Vessels arrive—Paints may sometimes be had at Vendue Cheap, but only the Close of Sales of that article and those insorted, but Hyson Tea is plenty and very good at or under two Dollars but a Superior kind from 17/6 to 20/ p. lb.—Inclosed is an answer from Arthur Howell who is reckoned an honest Tanner respecting the price of Leather—I delivered your Letter into the hands of Mr Thomas Smith who happened to be in Town and I forward you his answer herewith.
As he was going through Lancaster I put your Letter for that place in his Charge—Mrs Biddle joins in respectful Compliments to Mrs Washington—I am—dr General &c.

C. Biddle


Title: From George Washington to Theodorick Bland, 15 August 1786
From: Washington, George
To: Bland, Theodorick

Dear Sir,
Mount Vernon 15th Augt 1786.

By Colo. Fitzhugh I had the satisfaction to receive the humorous accot you were pleased to give me of your nocturnal journey to Fredericksburg. I recollect very well, the Lady whom you mention to have had for a fellow traveller, & if you should chance to be in her company again, I should be much obliged by your presenting my compliments to her. The even tenor of my life (in which I can expect to meet with few extraordinary adventures) as well as my long seclusion in a great measure, from the exhilirating scenes of mixed society, must be an apology for my not attempting (with such provocatives to gaiety) to say some more sprightly things in reply to the brilliancy of her dialogue; or the vivacity with which you have reported it. I commend you, however, for passing the time in as merry a manner as you possibly could; it is assuredly better to go laughing than crying thro’ the rough journey of life.
I have mentioned your request to Colo. Humphreys, who is still at Mt Vernon & who has put a copy of his last poem into my hands to be forwarded with his compliments to you. He has farther desired me to inform you, in answer to the civil things you have said of it, that he feels himself singularly happy whenever he finds that his works are honored with the approbation of men of taste & liberallity. He regrets that he cannot send you the copy of a former poem, which after being several times reprinted in Europe, has lately been translated by the Marqs de Chastellux, & received with a great deal of applause at Paris.
I shall always be happy to give & receive communications on improvements in farming, & the various branches of agriculture. This is in my opinion, an object of infinite importance to the country; I consider it to be the proper source of American wealth & happiness. Whose streams might become more copious & diffusive, if gentlemen of leisure and capacity would turn their attention to it, & bring the result of their experiments together? Nothing but cultivation is wanting—our lot has certainly

destined a good Country for our inheritance—we begin already to attract the notice of foreigners of distinction. A French general officer whose name is Du Plessis is now at Mount Vernon on his way to Georgia, with a design to settle there—as a farmer.
Sequestered as I am, from the bustlings & intrigues of the world, in the calm walks of private life; I can hardly flatter myself with being able to give much light or assistance, to those who may be engag’d in passing thro’ the dark & thorny paths of politics. I can only repeat what I have formerly told my countrymen in a very serious manner “that honesty will be found, on every experiment, the best policy.” How far arguments deduced from this topic, and from the present alarming troubles in Rhode Island, can with pertinancy & force be made use of against any attempts to procure a paper currency in the State, I leave to your judgment to decide. The advantages which are to be derived from Seminaries of learning—from the improvement of our roads—a proper establishment of our militia—the extension of inland navigation &c. must have struck you in too forcible a manner to need a remembrancer.
My sentiments respecting fœderal measures, in general, are so well known that it is unnecessary to reiterate them.
The two Mrs Washingtons & my nephew join in compliments with me to Mrs Bland & yourself, & I am &c.

G: Washington


Title: From George Washington to John Jay, 15 August 1786
From: Washington, George
To: Jay, John

Dear Sir
Mount Vernon 15th Augt 1786

I have to thank you very sincerely for your interesting letter of the 27th of June, as well as for the other communications you had the goodness to make at the same time.
I am sorry to be assured, of what indeed I had little doubt before, that we have been guilty of violating the treaty in some instances. What a misfortune it is the British should have so well grounded a pretext for their palpable infractions?—and what a disgraceful part, out of the choice of difficulties before us, are we to act?
Your sentiments, that our affairs are drawing rapidly to a crisis, accord with my own. What the event will be is also beyond the reach of my foresight. We have errors to correct. We have probably had too good an opinion of human nature in forming our confederation. Experience has taught us, that men will not adopt & carry into execution, measures the best calculated for their own good without the intervention of a coercive power. I do not conceive we can exist long as a nation, without having lodged somewhere a power which will pervade the whole Union in as energetic a manner, as the authority of the different state governments extends over the several States. To be fearful of vesting Congress, constituted as that body is, with ample authorities for national purposes, appears to me the very climax of popular absurdity and madness. Could Congress exert them for the detriment of the public without injuring themselves in an equal or greater proportion? Are not their interests inseperably connected with those of their constituents? By the rotation of appointment must they not mingle frequently with the mass of citizens? Is it not rather to be apprehended, if they were possessed of the powers before described, that the individual members would be induced to use them, on many occasions, very timidly & inefficatiously for fear of loosing their popularity & future election? We must take human nature as we find it. Perfection falls not to the share of mortals. Many are of opinion that Congress have too frequently made use of the suppliant humble tone of requisition, in applications to the States, when they had a right to assume their imperial dignity and command obedience. Be that as it may, requisitions are a perfect nihility, where

thirteen sovereign, independent⟨,⟩ disunited States are in the habit of discussing & refusing compliance with them at their option. Requisitions are actually little better than a jest and a bye word through out the Land. If you tell the Legislatures they have violated the treaty of peace and invaded the prerogatives of the confederacy they will laugh in your face. What then is to be done? Things cannot go on in the same train forever. It is much to be feared, as you observe, that the better kind of people being disgusted with the circumstances will have their minds prepared for any revolution whatever. We are apt to run from one extreme into another. To anticipate & prevent disasterous contingencies would be the part of wisdom & patriotism.
What astonishing changes a few years are capable of producing! I am told that even respectable characters speak of a monarchical form of government without horror. From thinking proceeds speaking, thence to acting is often but a single step. But how irrevocable & tremendous! What a triumph for the advocates of despotism to find that we are incapable of governing ourselves, and that systems founded on the basis of equal liberty are merely ideal & falacious! Would to God that wise measures may be taken in time to avert the consequences we have but too much reason to apprehend.
Retired as I am from the world, I frankly acknowledge I cannot feel myself an unconcerned spectator. Yet having happily assisted in bringing the ship into port & having been fairly discharged; it is not my business to embark again on a sea of troubles. Nor could it be expected that my sentiments and opinions would have much weight on the minds of my Countrymen—they have been neglected, tho’ given as a last legacy in the most solemn manner. I had then perhaps some claims to public attention. I consider myself as having none at present. With sentiments of sincere esteem & friendship I am, my dear Sir, Yr most Obedt & Affecte Hble Servant

Go: Washington


Title: From George Washington to Lafayette, 15 August 1786
From: Washington, George
To: Lafayette, Marie-Joseph-Paul-Yves-Roch-Gilbert du Motier, marquis de

My Dr Marqs
Mount Vernon 15th Augt 1786.

I will not conceal that my numerous correspondencies are daily becoming irksome to me; yet I always receive your letters with augmenting satisfaction, and therefore rejoice with you in the measures which are likely to be productive of a more frequent intercourse between our two nations. Thus, motives of a private as well as of a public nature conspire to give me pleasure, in finding that the active policy of France is preparing to take advantage of the supine stupidity of England, with respect to our commerce.
While the latter by its impolitic duties & restrictions is driving our Ships incessantly from its harbours; the former seems by the invitations it is giving to stretch forth the friendly hand to invite them into its Ports. I am happy in a conviction that there may be established between France & the U.S., such a mature intercourse of good offices & reciprocal interests as cannot fail to be attended with the happiest consequences. Nations are not influenced as individuals may be, by disinterested friendships: but when it is their interest to live in amity, we have little reason to apprehend any rupture. This principle of union can hardly exist in a more distingushed manner between two Nations, than it does between France & the United States. There are many articles of manufacture which we stand absolutely in need of & shall continue to have occasion for so long as we remain an agricultural peoples, which will be while lands are so cheap & plenty, that is to say, for ages to come. In the meantime we shall have large quantities of timber, fish, oil, wheat, Tobo, rice, Indigo &c. to dispose of: Money we have not. Now it is obvious that we must have recourse for the Goods & manufactures we may want, to the nation which will enable us to pay for them, by receiving our Produce in return. Our commerce with any of the great manufacturing Kingdoms of Europe will therefore be in proportion to the facility of making remittance, which such manufacturing nation may think proper to afford us. On the other hand, France has occasion for many of our productions & raw materials—let her judge whether it is most expedient to receive them by direct importation & to pay for them in goods; or to obtain them thro’ the circuitous channel of Britain & to pay for them in money as she formerly did.

I know that Britain arrogantly expects we will sell our produce whereever we can find a Market & bring the money to purchase goods from her; I know that she vainly hopes to retain what share she pleases in our trade, in consequence of our prejudices in favor of her fashions & manufactures; but these are illusions which will vanish & disappoint her, as the dreams of conquest have already done. Experience is constantly teaching us that these predilections were founded in error. We find the quality & price of the French goods we receive in many instances, to be better than the quality & price of the English. Time & a more thorough acquaintance with the business may be necessary to instruct your Merchants in the choice & assortment of Goods necessary for such a country. As to an ability for giving credit, in which the English merchants boast a superiority, I am confident it would be happy for America if the practice could be entirely abolished.
However unimportant America may be considered at present, & however Britain may affect to despise her trade, there will assuredly come a day when this country will have some weight in the scale of Empires. While connected with us as Colonies only, was not Britain the first power in the World? Since the dissolution of that connexion, does not France occupy the same illustrious place? Your successful endeavours my Dr Marqs, to promote the interests of your two Countries (as you justly call them) must give you the most unadulterated satisfaction: be assured the measures which have been lately taken with regard to the two Articles of Oil & Tobacco, have tended very much to endear you to your fellow Citizens on this side of the Atlantic.
Altho’ I pretend to no peculiar information respecting commercial affairs, nor any foresight into the scenes of futurity; yet as the member of an infant-empire, as a Philanthropist by character, and (if I may be allowed the expression) as a Citizen of the great republic of humanity at large; I cannot help turning my attention sometimes to this subject. I would be understood to mean, I cannot avoid reflecting with pleasure on the probable influence that commerce may here after have on human manners & society in general. On these occasions I consider how mankind may be connected like one great family in fraternal ties—I endulge a fond, perhaps an enthusiastic idea, that as the world is evidently much less barbarous than it has been, its melioration must still be progressive—that nations are becoming

more humanized in their policy—that the subjects of ambition & causes for hostility are daily diminishing—and in fine, that the period is not very remote when the benefits of a liberal & free commerce will, pretty generally, succeed to the devastations & horrors of war. Some of the late treaties which have been entered into, & particularly that between the King of Prussia & the U[nite]d States, seem to constitute a new era in negotiation, & to promise the happy consequences I have just now been mentioning.
But let me ask you My Dr Marquis, in such an enlightened, in such a liberal age, how is it possible the great maritime powers of Europe should submit to pay an annual tribute to the little piratical States of Barbary. Would to Heaven we had a navy able to reform those enimies to mankind, or crush them into nonexistence.
I forbear to enter into a discussion of our domestic Politics, because there is little interesting to be said upon them, & perhaps it is best to be silent, since I could not disguise or palliate where I might think them erroneous. The British still hold the frontier Posts, & are determined to do so. The Indians commit some trifling ravages, but there is nothing like a general or even open war. You will have heard what a loss we have met with by the death of poor Genl Green. General McDougal & Colo. Tilghman are also dead.
It is a great satisfaction to have it in my power to pay some attention to Monsr Du Plessis, by whom I had the happiness of receiving your last letter: he is now at Mount Vernon on his way to Georgia.
You will see by the length to which I have extended this letter, that I can never find myself weary of conversing with you. Adieu, my Dr Marqs—Mrs Washington & the family desire to be most respectfully presented to Mad[am]e de la Fayette—to whom, I pray you also to offer my very best homage; & to believe that I am, My Dr Marqs &c. &c. &c.

G: Washington


Title: From George Washington to David Stuart, 15 August 1786
From: Washington, George
To: Stuart, David

Dear Sir,
Mount Vernon Augt 15th 1786

Mrs Washington is prevented from dining with you tomorrow by the arrival of a French Gentleman of Rank—Genl Duplessis—who is introduced, and very warmly recommended to me by the Count de Estaing, the Marqs de la Fayette &ca—in consequence I have persuaded Colo. Humphreys to Postpone his visit to Abingdon. Wishing to shew this Gentleman (Genl Duplessis) all the Civilities in my power, I should be glad if you & Mrs Stuart would dine with us tomorrow. other Company are also invited from Alexandria at Dinner, at this time. That Mrs Stuart may be accomodated, George’s Phæton, & a pair of my horses (two others being sent to Fredericksburgh) is carried up by Charles. Yrs affectly

Go: Washington


Title: From George Washington to Clement Biddle, 18 August 1786
From: Washington, George
To: Biddle, Clement

Dr Sir,
Mount Vernon 18th Augt 1786.

This letter serves to acknowledge the receipt of your favor of the 13th & to inform you that I have this day, sent a small box to Alexandria to go from thence by the Packet, or first conveyance to Philada to your address. It contains two window curtains which I pray you to get new dyed of the same color, green, & returned to me as soon as may be.
I am obliged by your care of my letters; & thank you for the attention paid to the other requests of my former letter. The price of Mr Howells leather is not cheaper than it is sold at in Alexandria, & the freight would make it come higher. I am Dear Sir &c. &c.

G: Washington


Title: From George Washington to Chastellux, 18 August 1786
From: Washington, George
To: Chastellux, François-Jean de Beauvoir, marquis de

My dear Marquis
Mount Vernon 18th Augt 1786

I cannot omit to seize the earliest occasion, to acknowledge the receipt of the very affectionate letter you did me the honor of writing to me on the 22d of May; as well as to thank you

for the present of your Travels in America and the Translation of Colonel Humphreys’ Poem, all of which came safely to hand by the same conveyance.
Knowing as I did, the candour liberality & philanthropy of the Marquis de Chastellux, I was prepared to disbelieve any imputations that might militate against those amiable qualities. For characters & habits are not easily taken up, or suddenly laid aside. Nor does that mild species of philosophy, which aims at promoting human happiness, ever belye itself by deviating from the generous & godlike pursuit. Having, notwithstanding, understood that some misrepresentations, of the work in question, had been circulated; I was happy to learn that you had taken the most effectual method to put a stop to their circulation, by publishing a more ample and correct Edition. Colo. Humphreys (who spent some weeks at Mount Vernon) confirmed me in the sentiment, by giving a most flattering account of the whole performance. He has also put into my hands the translation of that part in which you say such, & so many Handsome things of me; that (altho’ no sceptic on ordinary occasions) I may perhaps be allowed to doubt whether your friendship & partiality, have not, in this one instance, acquired an ascendency over your cooler judgement.
Having been thus unwarily, and I may be permitted to add, almost unavoidably betrayed into a kind of necessity to speak of myself, and not wishing to resume that subject, I chuse to close it forever by observing; that as, on the one hand, I consider it as an indubitable mark of mean-spiritedness & pitiful vanity to court applause from the pen or tongue of man; so on the other, I believe it to be a proof of false modesty or an unworthy affectation of humility to appear altogether insensible to the commendations of the virtuous & enlightened part of our species. Perhaps nothing can excite more perfect harmony in the soul, than to have this string vibrate in unison with the internal consciousness of rectitude in our intentions, and an humble hope of approbation from the supreme disposer of all things.
I have communicated to Colo. Humphreys that paragraph in your letter which announces the very favourable reception his Poem has met with in France. Upon the principles I have just laid down he cannot be indifferent to the applauses of so enlightened a nation, nor to the suffrages of the King & Queen

who have been pleased to honour it with their royal approbation.
We have no news on this side the Atlantic, worth the pains of sending across it—The Country is recovering rapidly from the ravages of War—The seeds of population are Scattered far in the wilderness—Agriculture is prosecuted with industry—The works of peace such as opening rivers, buildg bridges &ca are carried on with spirit—Trade is not so successful as we could wish—Our state govermts are well administered—Some objects in our fœderal system might probably be altered for the better. I rely much on the good sense of my Countrymen & trust that a superintending Providence will disappoint the hopes of our enemies—With sentiments of the sincerest friendship I am, my dear Marqs Yr Obedt and Affecte Servt

Go: Washington


Title: From George Washington to Josiah Parker, 18 August 1786 [letter not found]
From: Washington, George
To: Parker, Josiah

Letter not found: to Josiah Parker, 18 Aug. 1786. On 9 Sept. Parker wrote GW: “Your favor of the 18th Ultimo reached me a few days since.”


Title: From George Washington to Metcalf Bowler, 19 August 1786
From: Washington, George
To: Bowler, Metcalf

Sir,
Mount Vernon 19th Augt 1786.

I have received your letter of the 21st of July together with the Treatise on Agriculture & practical Husbandry. I consider the latter as a mark of attention which merits my warmest acknowledgments.
It is a subject highly worthy the attention of every gentleman in this country who has leisure, abilities, or opportunity to improve it. It is the only source from which we can at present draw any real or permanent advantage; & in my opinion it must be a great (if not the sole) means of our attaining to that degree of

respectability & importance which we ought to hold in the world. I am Sir &c.

G: Washington


Title: From George Washington to Thomas Newton, Jr., 19 August 1786
From: Washington, George
To: Newton, Thomas Jr.

Dr Sir,
Mo[un]t Vernon 19th Augt 1786.

Inclosed is a duplicate of my letter to you of the 26th of May which was forwarded by Peter Kirwins who received fifty barrels of superfine Flour to be deliver’d to you at Norfolk. It is now almost three months since the flour was sent: as I have not heard from you, and am unacquainted with Mr Kirwin, I do not know whether it has come to your hands or not. If you have received it, & it is sold, I should be glad to know what it sold for; if it is not sold, should wish to know what it will sell for, as, from the short crops of wheat, I think it must now fetch a pretty good price. I am Dr Sir &c.

G: Washington


Title: From George Washington to William Hunter, Jr., 20 August 1786
From: Washington, George
To: Hunter, William Jr.

Monday Morng [Mount Vernon, 20 August 1786]

G: Washington presents his Compliments to Mr Hunter and would thank him for recommending the letters herewith sent to the particular care of his Corrispondent at Havre de Grass, to be forwarded by him to Paris.


Title: From George Washington to Thomas Hutchins, 20 August 1786
From: Washington, George
To: Hutchins, Thomas

Sir,
Mount Vernon 20th Augt 1786.

You will see by the enclosed letter from the Marqs de la Fayette to me, that the Empress of Russia is desirous of obtaining some authentic documents respecting the languages of the natives of this Country, for the purpose of compiling an universal Dictionary. As I have thought no person was more in condition to accomplish that essential service for the republic of letters than yourself, I have taken the liberty of transmitting a specimen of the vocabulary to you, together with a request that you will do me the favor of paying as early & accurate attention to the completion of the matter, as your avocations will admit. Persuaded that a gentleman of your taste for science in general, & particularly of your capacity for acquiring the information in question, will enter upon the task with pleasure, I make no apology for troubling you with it. Nor do I think it necessary to add any thing farther, than that it may be expedient to extend the vocabulary as far as, with the aid of your friends, you conveniently can; & that the greatest possible precision & exactitude will be indispensable in committing the Indian words to paper, by a just orthography. With sentiments of esteem & regard I have the honor to be &c.

G: Washington


Title: To George Washington from William Jackson, 20 August 1786
From: Jackson, William
To: Washington, George

My dear General,
Philadelphia August 20. 1786

It was not till last evening I discovered that a packet, which I had done myself the honor to address to you by a private conveyance, had been forgotten by the person to whom it was entrusted. To prevent a similar accident, and to avoid any farther delay, I take the liberty to forward the enclosed pamphlets (which are transmitted at the request of our State Society) by post.
Unable to decline, though very unequal to fulfil, the task which was assigned me on the fourth of July—I hope it will be unnecessary to bespeak your indulgence of an essay produced at the pressing instance of friends, whose partiality prejudiced their discernment. With every wish for your happiness, which the most respectful esteem and affection can suggest, I am, my dear General Your obliged obedient Servant

W. Jackson.


Title: To George Washington from James Monroe, 20 August 1786
From: Monroe, James
To: St. Clair, Arthur

[In the letterpress edition this letter was erroneously identified as being from James Monroe to George Washington.]

Dear General
New York Augt 20. 1786

May I take the liberty of our former acquaintance to confer with you freely upon the following propositions—You seem’d

satisfied with those presented to the view of Congress on friday by Colo. Grayson viz. that exports be admitted down the Missisippi to N. Orleans as an entrepot—to pay there a duty of 2½ pr centm or more if necessary to the crown of Spain ad valorem, to be carried thence in Sp[anis]h, American & french vessels to other countries—that imports be prohibited—in short that any arrangments on this subject be made w[hic]h shall hold up the U.S. to those people, our ultra-montane brethren, as the patrons of their interest, and not give the sanction of Congress to a measure which suspends for a day expressly their just rights—with these objects in view we will go as far as those who are the most anxious to obtain a Spanish treaty & cultivate the good wishes of that branch of the house of Bourbon—the point then upon which I wish particularly to consult you is simply this—the puting the negotiation of this treaty in the hands of Mr Jefferson & Mr Adams, that the former be instructed to repair to Madrid under the mediation of France for that purpose in character of Envoy extraordinary. This I presume may be done without giving offence to the gentn here, either Mr Jay or Gardoqui, since it is in difficulties of this kind the usage of courts to proceed thus & this line of negotiation must be particularly respectful to the court of Spain as it will be the highest evidence of our disposition of it as will form the manner as the terms upon which we are willing to make the treaty. Without this believe me I have the most satisfactory evidence nothing will be done—Mr Jay has within my knowledge since Deer last been negotiating with Congress to repeal his instructions (or rather with particular members) so as to occlude the Missisippi, & not with Spain to open it—I trust you have sufficient knowledge of me to be satisfied I wo’d not make this allegation if I had not the most satisfactory evidence in my own mind of what I say—This evidence you shall possess whenever you please—I therefore calculate with certainty upon losing every thing whilst the business is in his hands—If in this free communication, I deviate from any of those rules of friendship & respect I have always entertain’d for you, & which I mean this as an evidence of, you will attribute it to no motive of that kind since I am not influene’d by it—I am dear Sir with real esteem & regard yr very humble servt

Jas Monroe


Title: From George Washington to Henry Knox, 21 August 1786
From: Washington, George
To: Knox, Henry

Dr Sir
Mount Vernon 21st Augt 1786

The inclosed letter I received a short time since. As I am wholly unacquainted with the writer, & circumstances therein mentioned; I can only say, that if the facts are such as there alledged, I think the sufferer is entitled to some redress; but how far it may be in the power of Congress to comply with petitions of this nature I am not able to say. You undoubtedly know much better than I do, & I am sure your exertions will never be wanting to have justice done to those who have suffered by adhering to the cause of our Country. I am Dr Sir &c. &c.

G: Washington


Title: To George Washington from Samuel Powel, 21 August 1786
From: Powel, Samuel
To: Washington, George

Dear Sir
Philadelphia 21st August 1786

I have now to acknowlege the Receipt of your Letter, of May 25, in Answer to mine inclosing Col. Morgan’s Essay. I beg you will not imagine that the transcribing it was troublesome to me. The Pleasure arising from a Communication in which you were interested abundantly compensated for the Time employed in making it; &, I hope, I need not add that I shall think myself happy to be of use to you on any Occasion.
Dr Griffith delivered me your Letter of the 5th of April. I should have been pleased to have had it in my Power to have furthered his Views with Convenience to myself; but, to have fallen in with his Plans, I must have withdrawn from the national Bank, what would have [been] requisite to accomplish them. Had my Situation corresponded to his Wishes your Recommendation would have proved an additional Inducement.
Mrs Powel begs Leave to join me in offering our best Thanks to you & Mrs Washington for your obliging Invitation. Be assured that should we ever determine upon visiting Virginia, the pleasure of paying you a Visit will not be the least of the Gratifications we should expect to derive from such a Journey. Our best Wishes attend you both, and I am Dear Sir, Your most obedt humble Servt

Samuel Powel


Title: To George Washington from Samuel Vaughan, 22 August 1786 [letter not found]
From: Vaughan, Samuel
To: Washington, George

Letter not found: from Samuel Vaughan, 22 Aug. 1786. On 12 Sept. GW wrote Vaughan: “A few days ago I had the honor to receive your favor of the 22d ulto.”


Title: From George Washington to Jonathan Loring Austin, 23 August 1786
From: Washington, George
To: Austin, Jonathan Loring

Sir,
Mo[un]t Vernon 23d Augt 1786.

I have received your Oration of the 4th of July, which you did me the honor to send me; & am much obliged to you for so polite a mark of attention. I have perused it with a great deal of pleasure, & hope that the anniversary of that day will ever be commemorated in this Country as the era from which we may date our happiness & importance. I am Sir, &c.

Go. Washington


Title: To George Washington from George Lewis, 25 August 1786
From: Lewis, George
To: Washington, George

Dr Sir
Bath 25th of August [17]86

By the particular request of Doctor Lemare, I have examin’d your houses at this place, and from the discription which the Doctor sayes you gave him of them he is induced to think you have been impos’d on[.] this supposition prompts him to wish of me an accurate and impartial discription of them, in there present situation. On viewing the houses I find them to be two of logs 19 by 17 each, hew’d inside and out, in hight what they call here, Story and half, cover’d wth long shingles, one of them floor’d above and below with a wall’d Cellar, which the Doctor sayes was intended for a Stable to contain nine horses; I think four might stand in it and no more; the other house has a floor above only, some stone under one end and side. The other logs

lay on the ground; this house has a Chimney but Slightly built, and from appearances must certainly burn the house whenever there is a warm fire made in the harth. in Short the houses are esteem’d badly built, and of bad timber. The Doctor call’d in a Workman to examine the work, who agreed in opinion that it was badly done.
I hope to have it in my power to pay you a visit with Mrs Lewis this fall, she is at this place for her health, and has receiv’d considerable benifit from the trip, and flatters herself another season will be the means of establishing her halth, she joins me in Love to my Aunt and yourself. Am Dr Sir with the warmest esteem and Afft. Yr

G. Lewis


Title: From George Washington to Thornton Washington, 25 August 1786
From: Washington, George
To: Washington, Thornton

Dear Thornton,
Mount Vernon Augt 25th 1786

I wrote so fully to you at the time I inclosed the Papers which respected the Land on which you live, that I did not intend to have said any thing more on the subject of Hites claim—but the other day one of the Tenants on the same land (living near the head spring of Bullskin) informed me that he had been forewarned

from sowing Winter grain on his place. It will behove you, to make use of all the means I put in your power to oppose their claim. I think they were ample if properly set to view, against every other claim than the original purchase money. If therefore you do not exert yourself in bringing these forward with such other lights as can be thrown upon them, you may not only suffer yourself, but will disappoint me; for relying entirely on you I have taken no step to oppose the late decision of the General Court, or high Court of chancery in which the matter was determined. I understand that Commissioners are appointed who are to examine the legal objections to the judgment, where there are any. It would be well for you therefore not only to appear before these—but to get some able Lawyer to consider the papers I sent you, state the case with all the advantages it admits—and if allowed—appear in support of it. I have applied, as I wrote you in my last that I should do, to the representative of George Johnston (of whom I bought the Land) for the Original Bond of Joist Hite, but it is not to be found among his Papers—and ought in my opinion to be searched after in the Proprietors Office; It being highly probable it was deposited there, as the Deed from thence recites that the Land was purchased from Hite by Thomas of whom Johnston had it.
I wish to hear from you, and to know precisely what has been, or is likely to be done, in this business. A letter thrown into the line of the Winchester Post will come safe, and is better than private opportunities when the conveyance is not direct to the person. My best wishes attend you & your wife, in which the family here all join. I am affectionately Yrs

Go: Washington

P.S. If your Uncle John is in Berkeley, be governed by his advice in the mode of proceeding which may be best for you to adopt in exhibiting your right before the Commissioners.


Title: To George Washington from Jean Le Mayeur, 28 August 1786
From: Le Mayeur, Jean-Pierre
To: Washington, George

sir
Bath August 28. 1786.

i should have wrote thre weks ago to your Excellancy had not mr Rumsey deceivd me in his departure from this place. probably he suspected my informing you of the situation of your Building—which he has not done well—Colo. jno. Washington and Mr Georges Lewes agree with me in oppinion of mr Rumsey performance.
should your Excellancy proper to write to me i shall get it at the post office in Philadelphia as i Expect to be there in ten or twelve days at farthest—and i hope to be at mountvernon by the first days of octobr when i Entend to Give to General a narration of all the civelities i have recived from Generl smallwood but for that i make him fine Gentleman in transplanting front teeth in his head. of which he wrot me he is Extremely satisfay.
i Shall refers to Mr Randolph ow will set of from here in 5 or 6 days on his way to mountvernon, & for the news at Bath.
i hope Lady Washington and Major and all Washingtons are well. I have the honour to be with Great Respect and veneration of your Excellancy his most obt and humle serviteur

j. Le Mayeur


Title: From George Washington to James Hill, 29 August 1786
From: Washington, George
To: Hill, James

Sir,
Mo[un]t Vernon 29th Augt 1786.

I have been in continual expectation ever since my return to private life (now near three years) of receiving a statement of the accots between us. This not having yet happened, and finding sums which I expected were due to me (especially in the case of Mr Newton of Norfolk from whom I thought a large balance was due to me) charged as having been paid to you, it makes it indispensably necessary for me to be furnished with a precise & compleat accot of all the transactions of my business

which had been committed to your care from the date of the last settlement which I made with you myself, to the present moment. Shewing, if monies have been paid to others on myself, the sums, & by what authority it was done. Without these it is impossible for me to adjust my own accounts, or bring my business to a close with others. I pray you therefore not to delay complying with this request, & it will oblige yrs &c.

G: Washington


Title: From George Washington to Gardoqui, 30 August 1786
From: Washington, George
To: Gardoqui, Diego Maria de

Sir,
Mount Vernon 30th Augt 1786.

The day before yesterday gave me the honor of your Excellency’s favor, written on the 12th of June, with a postscript thereto of the 22d of July. It was accompanied by the cloth made of the wool of the Vicuna, which indeed is of a softness & richness which I have never seen before, & is truly worthy of being called his Majesty’s true manufactured cloth. For your Excellency’s goodness in presenting me with this specimen of it, I pray you to accept my best acknowledgements. I received it Sir, as a mark

of your polite attention to me, & shall wear it with much pleasure as a memento thereof. The color is really beautiful, & being natural can never fade.
I feel myself much indebted to your Excelly for communicating the testimonies of my gratitude to the King, thro’ the medium of His Excelly Count de Florida Blanca, for his royal present of the Jack Asses; one of which arrived very safe, & promises to be a most valuable animal. I am endeavouring to provide a female, that the advantages which are to be derived from this Jack may not end with his life.
I can omit no occasion of assuring your Excellency of the high sense I entertain of the many marks of polite attention I have received from you; nor of the pleasure I should feel in the honor of expressing it at this seat of my retirement from public life, if you should ever feel an inclination to make an excursion into the middle States. I have the honor to be &c.

G: Washington


Title: To George Washington from Battaile Muse, 31 August 1786
From: Muse, Battaile
To: Washington, George

Honourable Sir,
Alexandria Augt 31st 1786

Ten days Billious Fever and wet weather prevented my arriveing at this place untill yesterday—My weak state—wet weather—and Being obliged To Winchester next Monday prevented My waiting on you at this Time, I expect To be down Some Time in October at which Time I hope I shall be able To waite on you To represent the Sittuation of your Business in my Care—I do not Expect To receive any money untill Late in the fall as the Tenants depend on the Sales of this years crops To raise money—I have been Fortunate in geting £20.6.0 from Mr R. Rutherford—the Ballance of his note He Prayes Indulgence on untill next year—your acct is now Indebted To me about my Commision. I shall be much oblige To you To Contrive Some of the Enclosed Advertisements Towards Port Tobacco—your Ferry and mill—also Please To get Mr Shaw To date them Sept 1st[.] after my return from the Commissioners at Winchester I shall write you about your Lands, the Commissioners and Colo.

Hite was at my House—they were of opinion your Lands are Safe Never the less I shall attend them as well on your acct as Colo. Fairfaxes.
Colo. Charles Washington desired me To Enquire of you whether you Should have Ocation to Call for money soon for the Expences of Colo. S. Washington’s Sons at this place as the Estate is Likely to be distressed for £800 by a Colo. Alexander—all the money that can be raised Colo. Washington desires To be applyed To Save the Estate unless your Sittuation require money—I am Sir your Obedient Humble Servant.

Battaile Muse

I shall be Thankfull If you will Sell my Flour with yours & give me Credit for it—I am as before. B.M.


Title: From George Washington to George Gilpin and John Fitzgerald, 1 September 1786
From: Washington, George
To: Gilpin, George,Fitzgerald, John

Gentn,
Mount Vernon 1st Septr 1786.

Nothing but sickness would have prevented my attendance at the Seneca Falls on Monday next agreeably to appointment. On sunday last (occasioned by an imprudent act) I was seized by an ague & fever. on Tuesday & yesterday they returned with great violence, with scarce any intermission of the fever. Whether the Doctors efforts will baffle them tomorrow, remains to be determined; but at any rate he thinks it would be improper for me to leave home. The fevers, moreover, have made such havock of my mouth, nose & chin that I am unable to put a razor to my face. Thus circumstanced, I have given up all idea of meeting the Board the 4th instant.
Besides the business which is the immediate occasion of this meeting, it might be well, as we are every day thrown back in our operations on the bed of the river, to prepare the draft of a Petition which will be necessary to hand to the respective Assemblies

for prolongation of the time for that part of the undertaking; and, as there may be difficulties in the way yet unforeseen, I should incline to enlarge it to the greatest extent it is thought we can obtain. I submit for consideration also, the propriety (if the waters should get low enough in the course of the Fall) of a thorough investigation of the river, by a skilful person, from the Shannondoah falls to Fort Cumberland at least; that by having the matter fully before us, we may be enabled to form some precise judgment of the difficulties which lie in the way, & prepare for them accordingly.
As I cannot do greater justice to the sentiments of the Company respecting its approbation of the conduct of the Directors, than it conveyed by the Address of the Committee, I have the honor of forwarding a copy of that letter to me, which I beg the favor of you, Gentn, to lay before the Board at the Meeting which is about to take place. With great esteem & regard, I am Gentn &c.

G: Washington


Title: From George Washington to David Humphreys, 1 September 1786
From: Washington, George
To: Humphreys, David

My dear Humphreys,
Mount Vernon Septr 1st 1786.

Enclosed are all the documents Mr Lear could find respecting the confinement, & treatment under it, of Captain Asgill. For want of recurrence to them before I wrote to Mr Tilghman, I perceive that a bad memory had run me into an error in my narrative of the latter, in one particular. For it should seem by that, as if the loose and unguarded manner in which Captn Asgill was held, was sanctioned by me; whereas one of my letters to Colo. Dayton condemns this conduct, and orders Asgill to be closely confined. Mr Lear has given all the letters at length. Extracts might have answered. But I judged it better, that the whole tenor of the Correspondence should appear, that no part might seem to be hidden. I well remember Major Gordon’s attending Asgill; and by one of my letters to Dayton it is evident that Gordon had written to me; but my letter-books have registered no reply.
In what manner it would be best to bring this matter before the Publik eye I am at a loss, and leave it to you to determine under a consideration of the circumstances which are as fully communicated as the documents in my hands will enable me to do. There is one mystery in the business which I cannot develop, nor is there any papers in my possession which explain it. Hazen

was ordered to send an unconditional prisoner. Asgill comes. Hazen or some other must have given information of a Leiutenant Turner. (under the former description) Turner is ordered on, but never came. Why? I am unable to say; nor is there any letter from Hazen (to be found) that accounts for a noncompliance with this order. If I had not too many causes to distrust my memory I should ascribe it to there having been no such Officer—or that he was also under capitulation, for Captn Shaack seems to have been held as a proper victim after this.
I will write as soon as I am able to Mr Tilghman requesting him to withold my first acct of Asgill’s treatment, from his corrispondent in England, promising an authentic one from original papers. It may however have passed him, in that case, it will be necessary for me to say something to reconcile my own Accts.
I write to you with a very aching head, and disordered frame, and Mr Lear will copy the letter. Saturday last, by an imprudent act, I brought on an ague and fever on Sunday, which returned with violence Tuesday & Thursday; and if Doctor Craik’s efforts are ineffectual, I shall have them again this day. The family join me in every good wish for you. It is unnecessary to assure you of the friendship & affection with which I am yr’s

Go: Washington

P.S. We have found Gordon’s letters. They contain a remonstrance and demand of Asgill as an officer protected by the Capitulation of York-Town. This I suppose is the reason they were never answered.


Title: From George Washington to James Tilghman, 2 September 1786
From: Washington, George
To: Tilghman, James

Dr Sir;
Mount Vernon 2d Septr 1786.

If the Account I handed to you respecting the treatment of Captn Asgill (in confinement) has not passed from you, I should

be obliged to you for withholding, & suffering no copies to be taken from it; to counteract such an injurious & ill founded calumny which obtains credit as it rolls on.
I have it in contemplation to inspect my registers, & to give something from authentic documents relative to this matter. The former being drawn up in a hasty manner, & from memory, may contain something inconsistent with the latter, which will be substantiated. With great esteem & regard, I am Dr Sir, &c.

G: Washington


Title: To George Washington from James Rumsey, 5 September 1786
From: Rumsey, James
To: Washington, George

Dr General.
Alexandria Septr 5th 1786

I was Verry Sorry to hear that it was Sickness prevented you from Comeing to The meeting at Seneca, Go venor Johnson and

Lee was also Sick and Could not attend therefore Their was no Board. It would Oblige me much if The next meeting was to be at the great falls as their is Several persons whose presence will Be Nescessary that Objects to going Over to the maryland Side an account of the Bad attention to that ferry, and Dearness of it, I am Convinced that the maryland gentlemen would wish to See the works at the great falls, and therefore think that they will have no Objection to meeting their.
Inclosed is an account of the Expence of your Buildings at Bath It amounts to a Considerable Sum higher than I Expected the ac[c]t is Stated in penns. Currencey. The Stone work of the Celler is Extended at an astablished price that I had from Every person that I had work of that kind Done for, when I found Every thing. The underpinning the kitchen and kitchen Chimney I Estamated at ten pounds ten Shillings a particular account of it Being Neglected, But I Beleive it To Be Set Loe, The nails, Glass Locks and hinges are high, But they are at the prices that we was Obliged to give at Bath for them, I am not Quite as To the amount of the money I have Receivd of you But I think it is as follows,—Viz.

                  paid to Mr Herbert
                  £40.0.0

                  my first Devidend to potomack Co.
                  3.6.8

                  Receivd for Rent of houses
                  9.0.0

                  paid me at your house
                  20.0.0

                  72.6.8

I am not Very Clear but the money I got at your house was twenty five pounds but I gave a Receipt for it which will Show the amt—the Boat will be tryed this week on the Oreginal plann you Shall Immediately Hear what Suckcess—I am with Every Sentyment of Regard your most obt Very hbl. Servt

James Rumsey


Title: To George Washington from Henry Lee, Jr., 8 September 1786
From: Lee, Henry Jr.
To: Washington, George

My dear Genl
New York Sept. 8th 1786

By Col. Humphrey I had the pleasure to receive your letter acknowledging the receipt of the china account paid here by me, and at the same time got one hundred and fifty dollars payment in full for the money advanced. Before this Mr Gardoquis box must have reached you; it was sent to the care of Mr C. Lee in Alexandria and I hope your China has also got to hand—It had left this for Norfolk addressed to Colo. Parker before your letter respecting the mode of conveyance got to me, or I should have obeyed your wishes.
The period seems to be fast approaching when the people of these U. States must determine to establish a permanent capable government or submit to the horrors of anarchy and licentiousness—How wise would it be, how happy for us all, if this change could be made in friendship, and conducted by reason. But such is the tardiness of the virtuous and worthy part of society in matters of this importance, and such the conceit & zeal of the vicious, that it is to be apprehended that wickedness and audacity will triumph over honor & honesty—The enclosed proclamation just come to hand will shew you the temper of the eastern people—it is not confined to one state or to one part of a state, but pervades the whole. The decay of their commerce leaves the lower order unemployed, idleness in this body, and the intriguing exe[r]tions of another class whose desperate fortunes are remediable only by the ruin of society produce schemes portending the dissolution of order & good government—

Weak and feeble governments are not adequate to resist such high handed offences—Is it not then strange that the sober part of mankind will continue to prefer this incertitude & precariousness, because their jealousys are alarmed and their envy encited when they see the officers of the Nation possessing that power which is indispensably necessary to chastise evil and reward virtue. But thus it is, and thus it has been, and from hence it follows that almost every Nation we read off, have drank deep of the miserys which flow from despotism or licentiousness—the happy medium is difficult to practice.
I am very unhappy to hear by Mr Shaw that your health declines; I must hope he is mistaken and cannot help thinking so, as Col. Humphreys tells me that you look very hearty, and use vigorous exercise—if the potomac navigation succeeds in the manner these gentlemen mention, it is another strong evidence that difficultys vanish as they are approached, and will be a strong argument among the politicians, in favor of the Spanish treaty and the occlusion of the Mississippi—Mrs Lee joins me in most respectful compliments to Mount-Vernon—with unceasing and affectionate attachment I am dear Genl your Most ob. h. ser.

Henry Lee Junr


Title: From George Washington to John Fitzgerald, 9 September 1786
From: Washington, George
To: Fitzgerald, John

Dear Sir,
Mount Vernon Septr 9th 1786.

Have you heard from Annapolis since Monday? Have the Commercial Commissioners met? Have they proceeded to business?

How long is it supposed their Session will last? and is it likely they will do anything effectual?
Is Colo. Gilpin returned? Was there a meeting of the Board? What was the result of the enquiry into the charges exhibited against Stuart?
I hope Mrs Fitzgerald & yourself are quite recovered. I am tolerably well again, but obliged to make use of Scissars instead of a Razor, for part of my face, when shaving. I am Dr Sir Yr obedt Hble Servt

Go: Washington


Title: To George Washington from Henry Hill, 9 September 1786
From: Hill, Henry
To: Washington, George

Dear Sir
Philad[elphi]a 9th Sepr 1786

Being much in the Country with Mrs Hill who is yet almost confin’d by indisposition, my acknowlegements of your favor of the 3d past will come later than could happen through want of Attention—This I am certain will appear on all occasions where my respect can avail you any thing.
No payment could be more acceptable than your Bill which I remitted by the last packet on the 6th instt tho’ I had a good mind to convert it into Cash & therewith build part of the walls of my new house in town, that if possible your Claims to the best reception in it might be strengthened, but they appear’d already quite sufficient.
I must leave my Madeira friends to account for the difference of price in the two wines you imported, and shall only observe that age however essential to the perfection of an original good growth, exposes a mean one, as appeard by some wine we lately tasted here that came by China & shipd I believe for the best by the house you allude to.

You will find no small difference in comparing the two qualities or I shall have greatly err’d in my Expectations—& if so I request you will candidly undeceive me. With the most Affectionate respect to you & Mrs Washington I am Sir Your obedt humb. Servt

Henry Hill


Title: To George Washington from Josiah Parker, 9 September 1786
From: Parker, Josiah
To: Washington, George

Dear Sir
Portsmouth September 9th 1786

Your favor of the 18th Ultimo reached me a few days since, and a day or two after the china arrived from New York, which shall be sent by the first safe Conveyance to your seat on potowmack. I lamented much the death of one of the pair of Gold fish, as I am sensible they would have bred had you have provided them an enclosure in a runing pool. I deemed it best to send them to Fredricksburg as the Captain of the Packet promised especial care of them & the conveyance from thence might have been very easy by puting them in a Bucket ⅓rd full of Spring Water, they require no food but the surface of the Water, that should be shifted dayly if they are confined. I have a pair

which I am sure would increase if they were at liberty. Should they, I shall do myself the honor of offering you a share or should one of them die the other will be sent to you. they are beautiful little fish and in this Country a real curiosity.
I did not expect you would have troubled yourself to have answered my letter of the 23rd May as it was only a companion for the box from New York, and I am very sensible that you can have very little leisure to attend to every little transaction. Its enough for me to be satisfied with your doing me the honor of transacting any little matter for you here which will ever give me pleasure to attend to. I have one wish very much at heart which is that you sometimes cast your Eyes to this part of the Country and further the Canal business as the importance of it to us here & to the Community in general as well as you who have property in the neighbourhood must be particularly conspicuous—a Single Visit from you with an explanation of the advantages attending a canal would give it more credence than any patronage it can expect from this quarter: I am very sensible that if a proper conveyance was made from the head of Pasquotank throug the lake and to empty its waters into the Southern Branch of Elizabeth River that the waters would be fresh enough to kill the Worm—the only Enemy to our harbour. Let me pray you to believe that this long scrawl is not intended to draw you into an Answer, unless you should find a leisure moment, when you can thing of any thing to say, or any thing that I can do for you. May you live long and be happy is the wish of My dear Sir your obliged, humble Servant

J: Parker


Title: To George Washington from Thomas Ridout, 10 September 1786
From: Ridout, Thomas
To: Washington, George

Sir,
Bordeaux, 10 Septemr 1786

I had the Honor to receive, the 1st Ulto your Excellency’s letter of the 20 May, together with the Packet & Barrel for the

Marquis de la Fayette—the former I forwarded him immediately pr post, & I sent the Barrel last week in very good condition. I could not get it sooner from the Custom House & Brokers.
The wine you are pleased to order will be sent you by the next opportunity for the Potowmack & I hope it will be such as will please you.
As I propose revisiting America very soon my Friends. Mess. W. & N. Johnston of this place will transact my Business during my absence & will with pleasure execute any orders you may have in this place.
I have the Honor to be with the greatest respect Your Excellency’s Most Obedient Humble Servant

Thos Ridout


Title: To George Washington from Leven Powell, 12 September 1786
From: Powell, Leven
To: Washington, George

Dear Sir
Loudoun Sepr 12th 1786.

I should have done myself the Pleasure of Answering your favor of the 20th of July earlier, if I had not then expected it would have been in my power to send you the Timothy seed wrote for in the course of a few weeks; for immediately upon the receipt of your letter I sent to a man in Frederick much to be depended on & from whom I have hitherto been supply’d, who readily engaged your Quantity.
Eight or ten days ago I had information from him that he had secured a sufficiency of Timothy, but the continual rains had prevented his getting the seed out.
We have now an appearance of fair weather & I do expect it here in a few days, but as my son informs me it will be more agreeable to you not to take it, I shall endeavour to dispose of it in the mean time, if I cannot do so I shall immediately upon its coming to hand send it down to him.
He informs me you wish to know whether I can purchase 100 or 150 Bushels of Buck wheat for you.
I can readily get you either of those Quantities of the New Crop which will soon be in & which I presume will be in time for your purpose. Be pleased to inform me the exact Quantity & when you will want it & be assured it will give me pleasure to

serve you in that or any other respect in my power & that I am with due regard Dear Sir yr Obt & Hble Servt

Leven Powell


Title: From George Washington to Samuel Vaughan, 12 September 1786
From: Washington, George
To: Vaughan, Samuel

Dr Sir,
Mount Vernon 12th Septr 1786.

A few days ago I had the honor to receive your favor of the 22d ulto.
At the same time that I regret not having had the pleasure of testifying under my own roof the respect & regard I had imbibed for your Lady & family before their departure from this Continent, I beg you to be assured that every wish which I can offer for a short & agreeable passage, & happy meetings with their friends in England, attends them. Although I can now no longer look for the pleasure of the Ladies companies at this seat of my retirement, I will not despair of seeing you at it, when it can be made to comport with your other pursuits. It is unnecessary I persuade myself to repeat the assurances of the pleasure it would give me you, or such of your family as remain in this Country, here, or of the sincere esteem & respect with which I have the honor to be &c.

G: Washington


Title: To George Washington from Charles Lee, 13 September 1786
From: Lee, Charles
To: Washington, George

Sir
Alexandria Sepr 13. 1786

This is accompanied with instruments of writing which I hope you will find agreeable to your intentions.
Mr Lund Washington is said not to have qualified as exr of

Manley in which case he need not be a party to the deed but I conceive it necessary that he should in open court renounce the execution thereof and that his renunciation should be recorded if already this has not been done—After this the deed of Manleys exrs as drawn by me ought to be executed and not before Mr L. Washington’s renunciation—If Mr L. Washington ever did qualify as exr of Manley, he must be a party to the deed.
Mrs Sanford having some time ago qualified as exr it became necessary to make her a party and this occasions her husband to be joined with her in the deed.
One of Manleys children having arrived to full age has not altered the trust.
The lease to Robertson not having been recorded, it is void in law and equity against purchasers without notice, and in the present case void in law if the assignment accepted from Mrs French shall not make it valid, which I think it will do.
The clause in that lease respecting the nonpayment of rent doth not avoid or forfeit the lease, till there be a demand of the rent and an actual reentry for the non payment thereof.
You have by Mrs French’s assignment the same power over Robertson that she had. To save trouble I joined in the same deed the assignment of Robertson’s lease and the demise of the residue of Mrs French’s estate in the plantation & slaves. I have the honor to be with every sentiment of esteem and respect your most obed. hble serv.

Charles Lee

P.S. A blank is left in Triplett and Sanfords deed for the name of the patentee because the deeds to Manley mention Nicholas Spencer and your letter Spencer and Washington which you will please to fill up as may be right. C. Lee


Title: To George Washington from Comtesse d’Anterroches, 18 September 1786
From: Anterroches, Jeanne-Françoise Teyssier (Tessier) de Chaunay, comtesse d’
To: Washington, George

General,
18th Septr 1786

Fame has informed me that you are the friend of humanity—that your generous heart delights in doing good. I take the liberty to claim your protection for the Chevalier D’Anterroches my son, who is settled in Elizabeth Town, near New York. Altho’

I have no right to make a request of this nature, which is altogether an idea of my own; yet whoever dares to accuse me of imprudence, has never experienced, as you have General, the force of sensibility. If, from the feelings of a heart alive to the misfortunes of others, you deign to give my Son access to you, he will himself have the honor to relate his history to you—a history painful & affecting to a Soul so delicate as your’s—You must have the goodness to desire him to come to you, because he is ignorant of my resolution to write to you; & that you may take an interest in him, I dare to assure you General that you will find him an engaging man, a comely man, & a man who can render himself beloved & esteemed; You will be touched with his misfortunes & distresses, and the more, I dare say, as his birth is distinguished in this kingdom, as having descended from a family of military men who have borne high Command—he bears a name well known both in church & State—the D’anterroches have from time immemorial held an elevated rank. For these 12 years my Son has groaned under the weight of Misfortunes, & has thereby given me great pain—the time has appeared long to us both, & we have no prospect of terminating our sufferings unless you lend your aid—It requires an Arm powerful as your’s, General, to succour us—I trust in you who are as good as you are great—all the world admires you, & you have only to say the word to change our Condition; I wait for that with the most lively impatience; I already perceive General that the hours of Affliction glide off more gently—but to pass them as those of prosperity, nature will not permit—Alass! who can feel the sufferings of a Child as poignantly as a Mother—my soul, deeply wounded, knows no repose! Restore it to that tranquility which it has lost, & which I perceive is so necessary for it—you will make it compleatly happy if you comply with my earnest prayers—I will not enter into a detail of what concerns my son, he will do it himself if you will permit him; permit him & give him an opportunity, & you shall be informed of every thing.
Mr Otto Charge des Affaires de France in New-York has passed the highest encomiums upon his good behaviour—he can give you, General, the same favourable account of him; all the people of distinction who have seen him in your country speak of him in the same manner—I beseech you to interest

yourself so far in him as to give him an existance, whether in America or in France—you can easily do it in either. What would I not do myself to effect what I ask of you—if nothing would procure it but my life I would give that—Altho’ my Husband, Good man, loves his son dearly, yet he is so oppressed by Age that he is incapable of doing as he would—he tells me that he wishes him all happiness, & if he could obtain it he should partake of it with him—You have too much penetration not to see all the uneasiness which so long an absence & at so great a distance must have given his friends—You, General, can do what he would have you—you are powerful in your own Country, & there is nothing at our Court that would be refused you—Your own Genius furnishes resources—your penetrating Eye discovers all—you will not suffer my son & his family to suffer longer in your latitude—being once informed of their situation. By applying to the Court of France you may obtain for him a lucrative employment which will make him & his family easy—he will then be induced to return & you will give a son to his Mother, a Citizen to his Country, & enable a man to give aid & succour to his Parents who have much need of it; all this is worthy of you—Take the trouble of conferring with him—I entreat you to compleat my wishes, (if the time is not yet arrived in which I shall have the sweet satisfaction of seeing my son) by succouring & supporting him—&, when he may come to you, by shewing him this letter which is no equivocal proof of my tender sollicitude for him—& may your benefactions cause the tears of Joy & Gratitude to flow instead of those of sorrow which we have shed for 12 years past. I have the Honor to be with respect, General, Yr very humble & obedient Servt.

De chauni Comtisse D’anterroches.

My Address is the Comtisse de Chauni D’Anterroches at her house at Puydarnac near—
If you do me the honor of Answering this, I request you to address to Mr Van Berchem of Nantes in Brittany—a City of France—he is an eminent Merchant, a man of merit & will take care of it for me.


Title: To George Washington from James Rumsey, 19 September 1786
From: Rumsey, James
To: Washington, George

Dr General
Shepherd town Septr 19th 1786

When I wrote you from alexandria on the Sixth Inst I was on my way to the Southward and Did not Return to this place untill Last Evening which was the Reason you Did not hear from me Sooner what Suckcess we had in the Experiment I mentioned to you in that Letter that We Expected to have with the Boat. Mr Barnes got her Readey on Saterday the 9th Inst and put about three tuns of Stone in her and Could not avoid Takeing in nine or ten persons that was waiting To See her Tryed which made near four tuns on Board, when he Set out, the River being a Little up was in his favor as it was not naturally Rapid where tryal was made, he went up about two hundred yards Greatly to the Satisfaction and Admiration of the Spectators, But not so to himself, for the following Reasons, first the machinery Being fixed on But one Boat, Instead of two, as first Intended prevented her from going So Steady as She Ought To have Done, the people on Board Shouting and Running Backward and forward aded much to this Inconvenance, In the next place the poles, or Shovers, was made of Wood w’th Iron Spikes at their Lower End, to Sink them, which Spikes proved too Light, and Caused the poles Very frequently to Slip on the Bottom, But the Greatest Deterrent was, that when a pole got a good holt on One Side and not on the Other, it had a Tendencey to give Her a Heel, which would throw part of the wheel out of water, which weakned the power, and would often Loosen the foot of the pole, so as to make it Slip. These Inconvenanceys Mr Barnes Related to me, they were what I too much Expected from a tryal with one Boat, But not haveing time, nor yet being Able to Build another at the present, was therefore Obliged to Risk the one, It was on wensday on my way Up that I got these accounts from Mr Barnes, we then went on Board for an Other Experiment, But the water had got So Lowe that It Did not move But Little more than Two miles per hour, which by my Calculations I had caused only sufficient to overcome the friction of the Machine, we Moved up Slowly for Sum distance during which time two or three persons (acquaintances) Colected on the Shore and Informed me that many Others would be Down Very Soon I Therefore thought it Best to put to Shore

and take of[f] Sum of the Macheinery, as the first Impression Received of her going was favourable, the Current then ⟨too Slack⟩ To Impress them again with an Openion that She would make much progress, the Company Came Down and Insisted much on Seeing her go. I Excused myself from it, Altho almost Induced to push up to pains falls which was not far Above us But on Considering the Lightness of our poles and the Strenth of the Current in (that place) I Doubted their Sinking, Besides there is (you know) many Rocks in that place that Lye But Little under water that might Break the wheel, and Spectators Generally give their openion according to what they See, without any alowance for Accidents, which Determined me not to attempt It Publicly, nor have I made any farther Experiment Since. It is Evedant from what has Been Done that She would make a tolarable progress in all Currents that is Strait and Clear of Rocks, and moves three miles per hour, or upwards, But will go But Slow in Currents Under that Velocity. It is also Certain that It will never Answer a Valuable purpos Except when put upon two Boats (as it Cannot be Steady on One) In which Case their is not the Least Doubt But it will answer Every purpos that was Ever Expected from it. I Cannot with propriety Expect you to Come to See her in her present Situation, But if you would wish to See he⟨r⟩ Before any alteration is made, and will Let me hea⟨r⟩ It by a Line, I will bring her Down to Sum Conveni⟨ent⟩ place and will Send you word where to Come to See her. I am Sir with great Regard your most abt and Very hbe Servt

James Rumsey


Title: From George Washington to Clement Biddle, 23 September 1786
From: Washington, George
To: Biddle, Clement

Dr Sir,
Mount Vernon 23d Septr 1786.

It is sometime since my window curtains were sent to you to get dyed; I should be glad to have them back as soon as an opportunity offers of forwarding them to me. Let me beg you to send by Mr Porter, (who will deliver you this letter) if he can bring it, or with the curtains if he cannot—16 yards of Stuff of the same kind & colour of the curtains, to cover two dozen chairs, the front of which will require cloth near 2½ feet wide, & the hinder part near two feet: this I fear is wider than that kind of Stuff generally is, but it is to be hoped that the gores which come off the latter, will be sufficient for the former.
Do the prices of the articles mention’d in my former letter still keep up? I pray you to cause the enclosed Advertisement to be published three weeks in one of your Gazette’s which has the most general circulation. With great esteem, I am Dr Sir &c.

G: Washington

P.S. Add if you please 3500 good brass nails for the chairs.


Title: To George Washington from James Tilghman, 23 September 1786
From: Tilghman, James
To: Washington, George

Dear & honred Sir
Chester Town [Md.] Sept 23d 1786

I yesterday received your favour of the 2d of this month which came in time to stop the transmissal of your Paragraph relating to Capt. Asgils confinement I had not met with any opportunity proper for the Conveyance of it And you may relye on its not being known to any person living but myself.
Miss Anderson furnished me with a letter from Mr John West to Mr Hollyday, which may afford you some insight in this matter of the Legacy by Col. Colvilles will I send you a Copy. I am with much respect yr most obt hble Servt

James Tilghman


Title: To George Washington from James Hill, 24 September 1786
From: Hill, James
To: Washington, George

Sir
King William Sepr 24th 1786

Your favor of the 29th August came to my hands a few days ago, & in answer thereto, I have long since closed all my Accots respecting such of your Business as had been committed to my Care & delivered up the Books & papers to Mr posey & the late Bartho. Dandridge Esqrs it is now out of my power to comply with your request, The first Book in which I kept the Accounts of Mr Custis’s Estate, as well as yours, I delivered to Mr Posey when he first took Possession & entered on the Management of that Estate, and I then procured another Book for the purpose of keeping your Accounts, but when I was called on early in the year 1779 by Mr Posey to bring my Transactions of your business in Mr Davenports & my care to a close, I directed Mr Davenport to Accot with Mr Posey & I did the same on my part. and having paid such sums of Money that came into my hands of yours to him, that Book with some Vouchers remained in my hands until a Settlement was about to take place Between Mr Dandridge & Mr Posey, when Mr Dandridge wrote to me for this Book & all the papers in my hands which I delivered to him in presence of Mr James Quarles.
With respect to Mr Newton I never received a Shilling of him that I recollect on your Accot. it appears by my Pocket Memo. Book that he gave me an Order on one Jacob Williams in Williamsburg for £180—on your Accot which I received at two paymts the first £50—the 12th day of Augt 1778 which I paid the same day to Mr Lund Washington in Williamsburg, and the Second £130—the 3rd day July 1779 which I also paid the same day to Mr posey. I am with respect your mo. Obdt Servt

James Hill


Title: To George Washington from David Humphreys, 24 September 1786
From: Humphreys, David
To: Washington, George

My dear General,
Hartford [Conn.], Septr 24th 1786

I had the pleasure, before I left New York, to receive your favor containing the enclosures respecting Asgil’s affair, and am taking measures for their publication—Interested, as I feel myself in your wellfare & happiness, I could not but be extremely affected by the account of your ill-health; and beg you will let me know in what condition your health is, as I shall not find myself at ease until I hear of its re-establishment.
Not having found in my journey Genl Knox, (who was at the eastward) or any of our particular friends, with whom I might converse unreservedly on the subject of the Cincinnati; I have delayed writing to you until I could have an opportunity of advising with Colo. Trumbull, Colo. Wadsworth & Mr Trumbull of this town—and now I have to inform, that it is their unanimous sentiment, it would not be of any good consequence, or even advisable for you to attend the next General Meeting. Agreeably to your desire in this case, I forward you the draft of a circular letter, of which you will, of course, My dear General, make such use as you shall judge most expedient, either by altering, suppressing, or communicating it. I am sensible the subject is a very delicate one, that it will be discussed by posterity as well as by the present age, and that you have much to lose & nothing to

gain by it in their estimation—Under this persuasion, caution was the primary point, & it has consequently been the object to avoid as much as possible, every thing that will be obnoxious to censure on the part of the public as well as of the Society. Whatever communication is made, it ought to have the property of a two-edged weapon, & to cut both ways. We have had a State Meeting at New Haven since my return, in which, I found there was no disposition to adopt the Institution as altered and amended—I moved therefore to postpone the discussion until after the next General Meeting, this was unanimously carried, and they appointed Genl Parsons, Col. Wadsworth, Mr Pomeroy, Dr Styles (Presidt of the College) & myself their Delegates. Having learnt it was wished & expected the General Meeting would be holden at New York, I have ventured to propose that place accordingly.
As to the subject of politics, they wear so unpleasing an aspect, I hardly dare enter into a disquisition of them. You will have seen by the public papers that every thing is in a state of confusion in the Massachusetts. Our freind Cobb, who is both a General of Militia & a judge of the Court in the County where he resides, is much celebrated for having said, “he would die as a General, or sit as a Judge.” This was indeed a patriotic sentiment. His firmness in principles, & example in conduct effected a suppression of the mob—but the Court was adjourned in consequence of the Governor’s order. I have just now seen an account of the tumults in New Hampshire: Genl Sullivan has behaved nobly, & put a period to a very considerable insurrection, without the effusion of blood. Rhode Island continues in a state of phrenzy & division on account of their paper currency. A useful example to such of their neighbours as wish to profit by it. This State, which seems rather more tranquil & better disposed than those before mentioned, has had an election of representatives for the Assembly since my arrival. More gentlemen lately belonging to the Army, have been elected than on any former occasion. Amongst these are Genl Huntington, Colos. Wadsworth, Wyllys, Bradly, myself, & many others who may be personally unknown to you. But what appears most singular & proves some revolution of sentiment, is, that Major Judd, who 3 years ago was driven by an armed Mob out of the town to which he belonged on account of commutation, should now

have a seat in the Assembly from the same town.
The Assembly will sit at New Haven, through the months of Octr & Novr at which place, I request you will advise me of the receipt of this letter. Colo. Trumbull is in town & desires to be presented most affectionately to yourself, Mrs Washington & the family at Mt Vernon. For myself, having wrote a poem expressive of the satisfaction I experienced in my residence there, & having since been told by some better judges than myself, it is not destitute of merit, I take the liberty of offering a Copy & wish it may be acceptable to my amiable & dear friends under your roof—they are entitled to all my gratitude for their hospitality & freindship—to you, My dear Genl, I need only say that no one is more entirely & sincerely devoted than your faithful friend & hble Servt

D: Humphreys


Title: To George Washington from Benjamin Lincoln, Jr., 24 September 1786
From: Lincoln, Benjamin Jr.
To: Washington, George

Sir
Boston Sep. 24 1786

Enclosed is one of two Bills sent on to my father by your Excellency to be handed to the Agent of Dr Gorden. This was done immediately on the receipt of them and Mr Mason the agent forwarded the first directly to the drawers for acceptance of payment. Being altogether in the paper money system of that State they were willing to discharge the draught in that currency but in no other. Many efforts have been made to perswade them to be honest and honourable but to no purpose. It was with difficulty that a protest could be obtained and it was finally taken by a Justice of the Peace who appears to be quite a stranger to the business. My father being obliged to be much absent left this business to my care. I wish it was in my power to render your Excellency a more agreeable account of it.
I requested the agent to give me a receipt for the bills. He was unwilling to do this being uncertain as to their payment and in expectation every day of either receiving the monies or the bills protested. He was finally obliged in order to have the matter closed to attend to the business in person. I have the honour to be with the highest respect your Excellencys most obedient servant

Benj. Lincoln Jun.


Title: From George Washington to William Triplett, 25 September 1786
From: Washington, George
To: Triplett, William

Sir,
Mount Vernon 25th Septr 1786.

If Mr Lund Washington has not misconceived the conversation which passed between you & me the day you lay ill in bed; or if you understood the matter in the same light he seems to have done, I find there is another mistake between us respecting Mrs French’s land, which it behooves me to clear up as soon as possible.
He thinks you asked me if I meant to take the Land for the term of robinson’s lease; and that I answered yes. If such a question, & such an answer passed, we must some how or other have been at cross purposes; for clear & evident it might be, even to yourself, that I could have no intention of being concerned with the land at all, unless it was for Mrs French’s life. You may well recollect Sir, that I declared this in explicit terms in the conversation I had with you at my own house, & assigned reasons for it to you—namely—that if I got this and Mr Manley’s Land, it was my intention to blend them & my other plantations together, & to form entire new ones out of the whole; that I meant to go into an entire new course of cropping, & would lay off my fields accordingly in a permanent & lasting form by Ditches & Hedges; & that it was for this reason I was desireous of knowing this fall (before I went into such arrangement & expence) whether I had any chance of getting these places or not, because it might be too late afterwards to make any change in my plan. With this object in view, I must have been insane to have taken the plantation for the remainder of Robinson’s lease only; first, because it is uncertain whether I could get possession of the land

or not, never having exchanged a word with Robinson on the subject, nor never intending to do it unless I had got the place to myself entirely; and, secondly, if I did, because I should not probably be able to compleat the plan of enclosures by the time the Lease would expire. What situation should I be in then? A new bargain under every disadvantage to make, or go back to my former grounds?
In the latter case all my labour & expence would have been thrown away & my whole plan defeated. In the former (that is supposing Robinson could not be got off by fair means, and Mr Lee is of opinion, which opinion I had in my pocket at the time I call’d upon you in expectation of meeting Mrs French that without a regular demand of rent & reentry, which might be a tedious & expensive process in Courts, the Lease cannot be set aside)—under these circumstances I say, I should have made myself liable for the payment of Robinson’s rent, without deriving a single advantage. Will any body think this reasonable; or suppose that whilst I retain my senses, I would do it?
As I do not recollect that in the course of my life I ever forfeited my word, or broke a promise made to any one, I have been thus particular to evince (if you understand the matter in the same light that Lund Washington did) that I was not attending to, or did not understand the question.
I am sorry any mistake has happened, & to convince you & Mrs French that through the whole of this business, I meant to act upon fair, open & honorable grounds, I will, as mistakes have taken place, & as there is a difference of opinion respecting the annual value of the Lands & negroes, leave it to any person of her own choosing (Major Little if she pleases) to say, whether the rent after the expiration of Robinson’s lease shall be £136 or £150 pr ann: if he thinks one too much & the other too little, any sum between. Mrs French has declared that she neither wanted, nor would take more than the intrinsic worth of the place. I on the word of a man of honor declare that I do not desire it for a farthing less than the value; for to make money by it was never my object; but we differ in our sentiments of this. Is there any mode then so fair, as for an impartial person to see the place, and to hear what Mrs French, or you in her behalf & myself will say on the subject, & then to decide according to his best judgment from the facts? And can there be anything more

favourable to her wishes than to have this determined by her friend in whom she places, I presume, implicit confidence? I never exchanged a word directly nor indirectly with Major Little on the subject; but believing him to be a gentleman who will decide according to the dictates of his judgment, I am not afraid to entrust the matter to him, notwithstanding the family connexion between him & Mrs French. In a word, I am so conscious of the rectitude of my intentions in the whole of this business, that it is a matter of the most perfect indifference to me, to whom it is left; and tho’ it may be supposed I have some sinister views in saying it, yet without the gift of prophecy, I will venture to pronounce, that if Mrs French misses me as a Tenant, she will repent, long before Robinson’s Lease expires, for having done so: for I can assure her from an experience of more than twenty five years that there is a very wide difference between getting Tenants & getting rents. She may get a dozen of the first (& I have not the smallest doubt but she may); but if there is one among them who (having no other dependence than the produce of the Plantation) who will pay her the latter without hard working & pinching her negroes, & a great deal of trouble & vexation to her, I shall be more mistaken than I ever was in any thing of the kind in my life.
This may not appear so to her at first view; because it is but too common to compare things without attending enough to the circumstances of them. I have no doubt but that Mrs French thinks it very strange that I should receive £120 a year rent from Mr Dulany, & scruple to give her £150 for rather more land, and twenty odd negroes: but has she considered that the one is accompanied by no charge except the land tax, & the other with many & heavy ones? And do not every body who have Meadows, & have ever made an estimate of their value, know that an acre of tolerable good grass will pay all the expences of cutting, curing & stacking, & will put at least 40/ in the owner’s pocket annually? What then has Mr Dulany to do more than to keep up his fences to pay the rent? By his Advertisement of pasturage for Horses at 3/ pr week he has  acres. Suppose it  only the Meadow alone without a single hand, will yield him at least  pr ann. Is there a single acre of land on Mrs French’s plantation, from which, (besides cropping, so precarious) this is

to be expected? Is there a single acre which can be converted into meadow? Is not the Land much worn, greatly exhausted & gullied in many places? None can deny it. But why need I enumerate or dwell on these things? Have I not put the matter upon as fair a footing as a man possibly can do? If Mrs French wants no more than the value, as she has declared, what objection can she have to Majr Little’s saying what that value is? If this proposition is acceded to the sooner it is communicated to me the better. I have never yet opened my mouth to Robinson on the subject of his Lease, nor never intended to do it unless I had got the Plantation for Mrs French’s life. When I sent the papers to Mr Lee to draw the writings, I asked his opinion of the lease which he gave, to the effect already mentioned.
It was for my private satisfaction I asked it, for as I told you before & now repeat, I never had an intention to get him off otherwise than by fair means, this year or any other. This year will convince him, or I am mistaken, that his inevitable ruin (if he has any thing to loose) will follow his holding it another year, if it is not the case already. With esteem, I am Sir &c.

G: Washington


Title: To George Washington from Bushrod Washington, 27 September 1786
From: Washington, Bushrod
To: Washington, George

Bushfield, September 27th [1786]

We have lately instituted a society in these lower counties, called the Patriotic Society. As it is something new, and there are a few men both good and sensible who disapprove of it, it will be a high gratification to me to know your sentiments of it, if you will be so kind as to communicate them. The object of the institution is to inquire into the state of public affairs; to consider in what the true happiness of the people consists, and what are the evils which have pursued, and still continue to molest us; the means of attaining the former, and escaping the latter; to inquire into the conduct of those, who represent us, and to give them our sentiments upon those laws, which ought to be or are already made.
It will also be a considerable object to instil principles of frugality into the minds of the people, both by precept and example. If any real good should result from such a society, we hope similar ones will be generally instituted through the State; and, if so, they may establish a very formidable check upon evil-disposed men, who, clothed with power, make interested motives, and not public good, the rule of their conduct. These are the general outlines of the institution; and, whether in the event it may be beneficial or not, I think that it has taken its rise in virtuous motives. We have had a considerable meeting of the most sensible and respectable gentlemen in this part of the country, and another is to be held on Tuesday next, previous to the meeting of the Assembly. Our design is to hold another as soon as the Assembly has risen; the first to instruct our delegates what they ought to do, the next to inquire what they have done.


Title: From George Washington to Leven Powell, 30 September 1786
From: Washington, George
To: Powell, Leven

Dear Sir,—
Mount Vernon, 30th Sept., 1786.

I have received your favor of the 12th inst. Some mistake must have happened in delivering my message to your agent respecting the Timothy seed, I never wished to decline taking the whole; having saved 14 or 15 Bushels of seed myself more than I expected to do, less than I desired you to procure for me would have sufficed, say half; but I am equally willing & ready to take the whole, if it is provided. Be it more or less, I should be glad to receive it soon, that having it in possession I may use it as occasion presents.
I will take 100 Bushels of Buckwheat, the new crop I shall prefer, as it is for seed next year. This also I should be glad to have in my own possession for the reason above.—Not being much acquainted with the culture of this crop, you would do me a favor, by informing me of the best time or times for sowing it, for the different uses it is applied, how much seed is usually given to the acre & what cultivation it generally receives.
If you will accompany the seed with an acct. of the cost, I will pay the amount to your agent. With much esteem & regard, I am Dr. Sir, Yr. Obedt. & Hble. Servt.

Go. Washington.