Title: To George Washington from Samuel Powel, 13 November 1787
From: Powel, Samuel
To: Washington, George

Dear Sir
Philadelphia 13 Novr 1787

As I am sure it will afford Pleasure to Mrs Washington and yourself to hear of our safe Arrival in Philadelphia, I embrace this early Opportunity of informing you that we had the Satisfaction of seeing our Friends in good Health on Saturday Evening last.
At Annapolis we had the Pleasure of seeing General Smallwood from whom we experienced the most polite & obliging Treatment. Indeed our Reception and Treatment, throughout our whole Journey, were such as were highly acceptable. The friendly and cordial Attentions we received at Mount Vernon have left an Impression which cannot be easily obliterated from gratefull Minds.
Our good Friends Messrs Robert & Gouverneur Morris left this City Yesterday & will probably be with you before the Arrival of this Letter. They will be able to give you a full and ample Detail of all Matters relative to our grand Question, I mean the Acceptation of the fœderal Constitution. For this Reason I shall say no more upon this Subject than just to observe that there appears to be no Cause to doubt of its Reception in Pennsylvania—All the eastern States, New York, New Jersey and Delaware are esteemed to be decided for it, In Maryland there is a secret Opposition from a Member of the Assembly; but it is believed that his Politics will not succeed. I have not heard a Doubt relative to the States to the Southward of Virginia, & even there I hope & believe there is Virtue & good Sense enough to overbalance the Arts of interested, designing &, I had almost said, dishonest Men.
It is said that R. H. Lee escaped the resentment of the People at Chester by his short Stay there, which he employed in fixing up & distributing printed Papers against the proposed Constitution. At Wilmington he harangued the Populace and cautioned them against hastily adopting it, assuring them that a powerfull Opposition was forming against it in Philadelphia and, in Confirmation of his Assertions distributed many of his inflammatory Papers. On such Conduct there can be but one Comment made.
Our Passage across the Chesapeak was tedious tho’ smooth. We embarked at Eleven in the Morning and landed at Eight

at Night. Mrs Powel bore the Voyage admirably well & without Apprehensions of Danger. She begs Leave to join me in affectionate Comps. to Mrs Washington, your good self, Major & Mrs Washington, the young Ladies, & our Friend the young Squire. She will execute Mrs Washington’s Commands, relative to the young Ladies Collars, by the first Opportunity.
I return you, dear Sir, my best Thanks for the chestnuts and Saintfoin, which I have received. The Nuts are injured by the Voyage, & some of them sprouted. They are so acceptable to my Friends, that I am tempted to request the Favor of you to send me a few more, if it will not be giving you too much Trouble.
If it is in my Power to be of Service to you here, I beg that you will, with all Freedom, honor me with your Commands—and be assured that the Recollection of the Time spent under your hospitable & friendly Roof ever affords real Satisfaction to dear Sir Your affectionate Friend & most obedt humble Servt

Samuel Powel

Mrs Morris & Family were well at Noon this Day.


Title: To George Washington from David Stuart, 14 November 1787 [letter not found]
From: Stuart, David
To: Washington, George

Letter not found: from David Stuart, 14 Nov. 1787. On 30 Nov. GW wrote Stuart: “Your favor of the 14th came duly to hand.”


Title: From George Washington to Wilson Miles Cary and George Nicholas, 15 November 1787
From: Washington, George
To: Miles, Wilson,Nicholas, George

Gentn
Mount Vernon November 15th 1787

A few days ago, the letter herewith sent from Mr Athawes, accompanying the will of our much esteemed and greatly to be lamented friend, the Honble George Wm Fairfax Esqr. came to my hands—on which melancholy occasion I sincerely condole with you.
The small package containing the watch (which is mentioned in the Will) and the two letters spoken of in Mr Athawes letter (one for Thomas Fairfax Esqr. and the other for Colo. Warner Washington) I have (presuming it would be your wish) forwarded to their respective addresses by safe conveyances.
However desirous I may be of giving unequivocal proofs of my respect for the deceased, and of my regard for, and attachment to the amiable lady he has left behind; yet, such is the peculiar situation of my own concerns so much are they deranged—and so much more attention is due to them occasioned by nine years absence and bad management than in my power to give them that it would be folly in the extreme in me, to undertake a fresh trust which I am Confident is not in my power to discharge agreeable either to the intention of the testator, or to the dictates of my own Judgment. In a word, from a variety of causes with the enumeration of which I shall not trouble you, I have not leizure to recover my own affairs (and some others which are involved with them) from that disordered state into which they have fallen. But if there are any friendly Offices in this part of the Country & within my reach in the discharge of which I can be useful, I shall have great pleasure in rendering them.
Having said thus much, it is unnecessary for me to add that the le[g]acy bequeathed me by the Will becomes a nullity.
Permit me to remind Mr Nicholas that there is an escruitore with many Papers belonging to the deceased in my possession many of them of great Value. They might be packed in a Trunk

and sent by the Stage to Richmond but a careful and responsible person ought to take charge of them. With the greatest esteem and regard. I am Gentn Yrs &c.

G. Washington


Title: From George Washington to George Mason, 15 November 1787 [letter not found]
From: Washington, George
To: Mason, George

Letter not found: to George Mason, 15 Nov. 1787. On 27 Nov. Mason wrote GW: “I this Morning received your Favour of the 15th.”


Title: To George Washington from Stephen Sayre, 15 November 1787
From: Sayre, Stephen
To: Washington, George

Sir
London 15th novr 1787

Some particular circumstances prevented my sending your Excellency the inclosed papers sooner. I am happy in being able to congratulate you on the change of Constitution, so wisely plan’d.
I could have wish’d, there had been more Members of the House of delegates for the present, & that their doors should be open to the public—great assemblies dare not do wrong, while on their natural Basis—when a man speaks to a nation, he feels himself on high & commanding ground—the people feel themselves interested in his Character—they communicate mutual aid, that leads to greatness, to honor, & to safety—an assembly of men secluded from the Ears & Eyes of their fellow Citizens (call them what you please) are but an Inquisition, just in proportion, to their seclusion, or seperation; in which, bad men will intregue, without detection, & where good men, may contend without effect.
Nothing has preserved this Country from convultion, under their intolerable weight of Taxes, but the satisfaction of knowing the causes & having, by their most favorite delegates opposed their increase. The reason why this public assembly have gone too far, is not because they are a public Body, but because they are not the real delegates of the people—they have committed

many enormities, but corruption has its limits and ceases to be destructive, where it becomes known. There is another reason why a more numerous Assembly should have now taken place—you would thereby, have taken into it, all those ambitious, or interested men, who may, to preserve their own consequence, oppose the new Constitution—for I fear there are too many members of this stamp, who compose the respective Assemblies of the 13 States. If great, & effective opposition is made—which I fear will be the Case—there will remain no remedy but that of admitting every Member, duly elected, to take his Seat in one General Assembly, or Congress, instead of siting in 13 Assemblies—the Senators forming one Senate &c. &c. But I hope the Constitution, as it is, will take place, & command the respect of those Nations, who now, virtually insult us—Since my arrival in this Country I have been drawn into an expensive Lawsuit—have given Security to bring it to issue, therefore am compel’d to remain some time Longer, either in England, or near it.
But wherever I am, your excellency may believe, I feel every sentiment of veneration, that can fill the heart of man, and am, with sincere wishes, that you may live long, & happy, to enjoy those solid honors, the world are compel’d to grant you. Yours. &c. &c.

Stephen Sayre

P.S. If I can render you any Service while I stay in this Country, write, under cover to Messrs Newnham & Co. Bankers. London.


Title: To George Washington from Bryan Fairfax, 16 November 1787
From: Fairfax, Bryan
To: Washington, George

Dear Sir
Towlston Novr the 16th 1787

This is to acknowledge Your Favor in sending me an Accot of my Brother’s Will and also the Receipt of the Watch by Mr Muse. It can’t be expected that You should act as an Executor

upon this Occasion amidst that multiplicity of Business you are engaged in. In a few Instances I was so circumstanced that I could not comply with Ld Fx’s desire as well as my Brother’s tho’ I had a great Regard for them both yet they both treated me afterwards in a loving manner: I suppose they entered into some hasty Resolutions with respect to myself and my Son Thomas who was innocent with respect to them and has behaved to me wth dutifulness as well as a proper Fortitude under difficulties which my own Negligence as well as misfortunes have exposed him to.
Mrs Fairfax joins me in respectful Compliments to Mrs Washington & I am Dr Sir with great Regard & Esteem Yr most obedt & obliged humble Servt

Bryan Fairfax


Title: To George Washington from Thomas Johnson, 16 November 1787
From: Johnson, Thomas
To: Washington, George

Sir
Annapolis 16 November 1787.

I happen to be one of a Committee to report on the petition of Mr John Fitch of Pennsylvania for an exclusive Privilege in this State, similar to what he has obtaind in Virginia and several others, to propel vessells through the water by the Force of Steam Engines—I have found a Necessity to mention to the Committee a Conversation I had with Mr Rumsay in the Month of October, I think, in 1785 on the principle he expected to effect his boat Navigation when he told me that he was to gain his first power by Steam—It was so different from what I conjectured and had been led some how to beleive that I remarked he had treated you with indelicacy by exhibiting his Model and Experiment before you on a false principle and obtaining your Certificate he told me that although he exhibited on a different

principle to prevent his being traced he mentioned and explained to you alone that he relied on the Force of Steam to gain his first power[.] I remarked that it was well he did since there might be no other way of protecting his exclusive Right but by recurring to you—In the present Situation of the Committee and with the strongest Desire to do Justice between Mr Rumsay and Mr Fitch the Committee request, if that is consistent with your Situation, that you will be pleased to inform me by a Line whether Mr Rumsay disclosed to you any Idea of gaining his first power by Steam as he asserted to me or not. I am sir, with great Respect Your most obedient & most humble Servant

Th. Johnson


Title: To George Washington from Samuel Hanson, 18 November 1787
From: Hanson, Samuel (of Samuel)
To: Washington, George

Sir,
Alexandria, Novr 18th 1787

The last time I did myself the honour to address you, I promised to take your Nephews, if it were agreeable to you, another Year. You will, I fear, suspect me of being whimsical in requesting the favour of you to release me from the obligation of that promise. I have lately engaged with some Gentlemen to dine with me by the year: and I find that the accommodating of these will clash with the attention necessary to the Boys. As the Boys must dine early, in order to attend School, we shall be under the necessity of keeping for them a separate Table. The trouble of doing this, would exceed any profits which so small a number could afford. I, therefore, hope you will not think my request unreasonable.
I make it with less reluctance, as I have been with Mr McWhir to know if he would take them, and have reason to believe that he would. I am very sincere in declaring that, from the course of my observations on boys in general, there is no situation for them so eligible as the immediate inspection of their Teacher. I should, Sir, be unjust to the confidence you have reposed in me, if I did not add that, with respect to your Nephews, they ought

to be placed under some person willing, & capable, to controul them. The difficulty of doing this appears to be encreased by a particular Circumstance which, from restraints of respect, I can but hint at—I have often had cause to suspect that your Kinsmen arrogate to themselves no Small degree of Self-Estimation from those high & distinguished Offices to which you have been appointed. It has been my endeavour to discourage any pretensions arising in them from Considerations foreign to their own merit: but not, as I conceive, with entire effect.
I beg you not to impute the freedom of this remark to any asperity remaining from some occasional disagreement with the Boys, nor to any other unworthy motive. They have, indeed, my hearty good-wishes for their wellfare and advancement in Learning; but I am persuaded their progress will be best facilitated under Some one invested with a proper Authority to controu⟨l and⟩ if necessary, to correct, the⟨m⟩. I remain, with perfect resp⟨ect⟩ and Esteem, Sir Your most obedt Servt

S. Hanson of Saml


Title: To George Washington from James Madison, 18 November 1787
From: Madison, James
To: Washington, George

Dear Sir
New York Novr 18. 1787.

Your favor of the 5th instant found me in Philada whither I had proceeded, under arrangements for proceeding to Virginia or returning to this place, as I might there decide. I did not acknowledge it in Philada because I had nothing to communicate, which you would not receive more fully and correctly from the Mr Morris’s who were setting out for Virginia.
All my informations from Richmond concur in representing the enthusiasm in favor of the new Constitution as subsiding, and giving place to a spirit of criticism. I was fearful of such an event from the influence and co-operation of some of the adversaries. I do not learn however that the cause has lost its majority in the Legislature, and still less among the people at large.
I have nothing to add to the information heretofore given concerning the progress of the Constitution in other States. Mr Gerry has presented his objections to the Legislature in a letter addressed to them, and signified his readiness if desired to give the particular reasons on which they were founded. The Legislature it seems decline the explanation, either from a supposition that they have nothing further to do in the business, having handed it over to the Convention; or from an unwillingness to countenance Mr Gerry’s conduct; or from both these considerations. It is supposed that the promulgation of this letter will shake the confidence of some, and embolden the opposition of others in that State; but I cannot discover any ground for distrusting the prompt & decided concurrence of a large majority.
I inclose herewith the 7 first numbers of the federalist, a paper addressed to the people of this State. They relate entirely to the importance of the Union. If the whole plan should be executed, it will present to the public a full discussion of the merits of the proposed Constitution in all its relations. From the opinion I have formed of the views of a party in Virginia I am inclined to think that the observations on the first branch of the subject may not be superfluous antidotes in that State, any more than in this. If you concur with me, perhaps the papers may be put into the hand of some of your confidential correspondents at Richmond who would have them reprinted there. I will not conceal from

you that I am likely to have such a degree of connection with the publication here, as to afford a restraint of delicacy from interesting myself directly in the republication elsewhere. You will recognize one of the pens concerned in the task. There are three in the whole. A fourth may possibly bear a part.
The intelligence by the packet as far as I have collected it, is contained in the gazette of yesterday.
Virginia is the only State represented as yet. When a Congress will be formed is altogether uncertain. It is not very improbable I think that the interregnum may continue throughout the winter. With every sentiment of respect & attachment I remain dear Sir, yr Affect. hble servant

Js Madison Jr


Title: To George Washington from Battaile Muse, 19 November 1787
From: Muse, Battaile
To: Washington, George

Honorable Sir,
Novr 19th 1787

The Letters Put into my Care to Mr B. Fairfax and Colo. Warner Washington is delivered.
at my arrival home I Found a Letter From you dated the 7th Instant Enclosed one From Mr W. Weathers that He Thought Mr Clymount a Tenant of yours was hard & unjustly Dealt by—I Know of no Foundation for Such a Suspicion—unless Mr Weathers Judges me to be Like His Brother E. Weathers who over charged in Taxes and Kept and Execution of yours in [h]is hands Twelve month I was a Bout To Bring Him before the Court and did notify the High Sheriff on the Ocation the Day For appearance He Setled—that Matter and all Knowing that I

will not Let the Guilty go unnoticed has ocationd these People To Put it into the Tenants mines that they are hard and unjustly Dealt By in their accts. I have been Told by the Insolent a suspicion of the Kind before. I have Indulged them near Two years under the Law and have always Limited the Sheriff in all Cases So as not To Take advantages or be oppressive. The old Man mentiond I have been Very attentive to and indeed all the rest in Setling their acct Perfectly as Fare as Circumstances would permit, and gave Such Indulgences From Time To Time as the stages of Law and Compation dictated. Indulgences I have Ever Found gave Time For deception—I Set out this day to Fauquier Court and Shall Enquire Into what may be necessary. I have the Honor To be your obedient Humble Servant

Battaile Muse


Title: From George Washington to Henry Banks, 22 November 1787
From: Washington, George
To: Banks, Henry

Sir,
Mount Vernon November 22d 1787

For the letter you did me the favor to write to me on the 21st Ult: I offer you my thanks. no application has ever been made to me or to any person on my account that has ever come to my knowledge, for the taxes of my land in Greenbrier and totally ignorant am I of the amount of them—If you can inform me, I would thank you.
I have no objection to the settlement of my Lands on the Great Kankawa, or on the Ohio above it, provided it could be done to the reciprocal benefit Landlord and tenant. Every advantage of situation and Soil is possessed by these lands in a superlative degree—full conviction of this fact—a firm belief that I can obtain no rent now which will be adequate a few years

hence to the value of the land, by which to be induced to lease it. and having thoughts of selling some, if not the whole, If I can get what I conceive to be the worth have been the means of its lying in a dormant State till this time, but if it is likely to be pressed with taxes, something must be done with it and soon—it not being convenient for me to pay these without some return—preparative therefore to this I should have no objection in the first instance to let as many families as may incline, live on it three years Rent free—on condition of their making certain Improvements which may be stipulated. but what agreement (under the circumstances I have mentioned) to make with them afterwards is a difficulty which weighs powerfully in my mind—If leases are given for money Rents, they must either commence high or rise proportionately to the increasing value of the land, otherwise I shall not receive a compensation. To let the land for ⅓ of the produce may do well for the Landlord whose eye is always on the tenant; but would not I conceive, be very productive to him who lives 3 or 400 Miles distant from them unless he should happen to hit upon a faithful and attentive agent. Some thing however as I observed before must be done, and 3 years Rent free, any families may be upon a certainty of holding it and a preference given to them at the end thereof on the terms which may be offered by others. I have none of my printed advertisements left, or I would trouble you with one of them—They offered the Land to best of my recollection, in three ways—first for 21 years at five pd⅌ Hundred Acres—2d for ever at an anual rent of £10—and 3d for 999 years the rent to commence at £5 and encrease in a certain Ratio every ⟨100⟩ years—In each case an exemption from Rent was allowed for the 3 first years and in all of them certain buildings and other improvements were required.
Your having mentioned that you hold land at the mouth of Coal River, I would beg leave to observe that I have one tract of 2000 Acres in the point of fork between that River and the Kankawa running up the 1st about 2 Miles (from the point) and up the latter more than 4—and on the opposit 2 Miles above the fork a nother of my tracts for 3000 Acres begins, and runs upwards 6 Miles bordering on the River for quantity. as these tracts are in the vicinity of yours it is possible you may have been on them in which case I would thank you for your opinion of them.

From the mouth of Pokitellica on the East side the river for 13 Miles down the Kankawa I hold the land—and on the other side, from within 2 or 3 miles of the mouth I have a tract which runs near 20 Miles along the River equal to any and I have ever seen all of which may be Seated as hath been mentioned, together with that on the Ohio above. I am &c.

G. Washington.


Title: From George Washington to Thomas Johnson, 22 November 1787
From: Washington, George
To: Johnson, Thomas

Sir,
Mount Vernon Novr 22d 1787

The letter with which you have been pleased to honor me—dated the 16th Instt, came to my hands the day before yesterday; by the Post of tomorrow, this answer will be forwarded to you.
Mr Rumsey has given you an uncandid acct of his explanation to me, of the principle on which his Boat was to be propelled against stream. At the time he exhibited his model, and obtained my certificate, I had no reason to believe that the use of steam was contemplated by him—sure I am it was not mentioned; and equally certain am I, that it would not apply to the project he then had in view; the first communication of which, to me, was made in Septr 1784 at the Springs in Berkley. The November following, in Richmond, I again met Mr Rumsey, who at that time was applying to the Assembly of this State for an exclusive Act. He then, it is true, spoke of the effect of steam, and of the conviction he was under of the usefulness of its application for

the purposes of inland Navigation; but I did not conceive, nor have I done so at any moment since, that it was suggested as part of his original plan, but rather as the ebullition of his genius. It is proper for me howev[e]r to add, that sometime after this, Mr Fitch called upon me on his way to Richmond, and explaining his scheme, wanted a letter from me introductory of it to the Assembly of this State—the giving of wch I declined; and went so far as to inform him that tho’ I was enjoined not to disclose the principles of Mr Rumseys discovery, yet I would venture to assure him that the thought of applying steam for the purpose he designed it, was not original; but had been mentioned to me by Mr Rumsey. This I conceived incumbent on me to say; that, which ever (if either) of them was the discoverer, might derive the benefit of the invention.
To the best of my recollection, the foregoing is an impartial recital of what has passed between Mr Rumsey and me, on the subject of his Boat Navigation.
Permit me to ask you, my good Sir, if a letter which I wrote to you during the sitting of your last Assembly, enclosing one from Mr Willm Wilson to me, respecting the confiscated property of (I thk) Messrs Dunlap & Co. of Glasgow, ever reached your hands? and if it did, whether any thing was, or can be done, in that business? As an Executor of the Will of Colo. Thos Colvill it behoves me to know precisely what is to be expected from that quarter, as a large sum is due from that Compy to his Estate. I am the more anxious to obtain this information immediately, as Mr Wilson who is concernd in that House, is about to leave the Country. With great esteem & regard I am—Sir Your Most Obedt Hble Servt

Go: Washington


Title: To George Washington from James Jemima Jacobina Douglas, 26 November 1787
From: Douglas, James Jemima Jacobina
To: Washington, George

Dr sir
Eden[burgh, Scotland] new Town 1787 nov. 26

I sit down to adres you as father of your Country and as one who his the pour to redres the injur’d one of your subjects Mr Glass Strahcan in virg⟨i⟩nia richmond town James river phychiuns ⟨then owse⟩ to my father andrwe Douglas in 74 6 hundre pound which with the interest upon must near double the sum[.] my fath⟨er⟩ dying sudingly with out neading up his affairs his been hard on ⟨me⟩ I am lauffaly proclaimd heir as I am all that reamains of my father if you my Dr sir will be so good as use your pour for me and write a line to me please direct to Shakespeare square new Town Edenburgh I am Dr Sir your humble servant

James Jemima Jacobina Douglas

sir inclosd is a letter to Mr Glas Strahcan which I take upon me to trouble you with as it is hard for a young woman to want that

part of my fortune which was gaind with honnour I mea say my father was a genrall freind to all whatever part they Came from excuse my freedom it is only on you I relly for the recovry of it.


Title: To George Washington from George Mason, 27 November 1787
From: Mason, George
To: Washington, George

Dear Sir
Richmond Novemr 27th 1787.

I this Morning received your Favour of the 15th and shall do myself the Honour of communicating such of our Proceedings

as are important; tho’ very little Business of that kind, has yet been compleated. The Installment Plan, after being presented to the Committee of the Whole House upon the State of the Commonwealth, & some Hours Debate upon the Subject, has been postponed from time to time; from the best Information I can collect, I fear there is a Majority for it; I shall therefore, whenever the Committee proceed upon the Consideration, endeavour to substitute the Resolve, of which I inclose a Copy; and upon which I wish to be favour’d with your Sentiments.
The performance of the Treaty, with respect to British Debts, has taken up three Days of warm debate; Mr Henry Genl Lawson & Merriweather Smith on one Side; & Colo. Geo. Nicholas (who is improved into a very useful Member) & myself on the other; the Yeas & Nays were demanded upon three Questions on this Subject; first upon an Amendment proposed by Mr Henry, for suspending the Operation until the Treaty shou’d be fully perform’d on the Part of Great Britain; which was rejected by a Majority of 33—secondly upon an Amendment proposed by Mr Ronald, tantamount to an Instalment of British Debts; knowing that Instalments were calculated to please a strong Party, we avoided going into the Subject at large, & confined ourselves to the Impropriety of instaling British Debts, before we cou’d know the Sense of the Legislature upon a general Instalment of all Debts; as any Discrimination wou’d be a palpable Infraction of the Treaty. The Amendment was rejected by a Majority of 22; the main Question was then put upon the Resolve for repealing all Laws which prevented the Recovery of British Debts, with a clause suspending the operation of the Repeal until the other States shall also pass Laws to enable British Subjects to recover Debts, & carryed by a Majority of 40; a Bill has been brought in, in Consequence of the said Resolve, once read, & committed to a Committee of the Whole House on Friday next; some of the most respectable Characters in the House were nominated a Committee to prepare the Bill; but Mr C—n with the Vanity so natural to a Young Man, took upon himself to draw it without the other Gentlemen having time to consider it, and has drawn it so very injudiciously, that in it’s present Shape, it wou’d infallibly be thrown out on the third Reading—however we will take care to regenerate it in Committee; & I make no Doubt of it’s passing the House of Delegates; there will

be a strong, but I trust a fruitless Opposition in the Senate; so soon as the Treaty Bill is secured, we will bring forward the Sequestration Business; 275,000£ Paper Curry of the average Value of about 14d. in the pound, having been paid into the Treasury, in Discharge of British Debts; In the Discussion of this Subject, I expect we shall see some long Faces. A Bill for receiving Tobo in Discharge of Taxes will certainly pass; it is in my Opinion a foolish & injurious Project; & as such it was opposed; but to no Purpose; after finding their Strength, the first Step was to raise the last Year’s Price of the James River Tobo we had then nothing left, but to endeavour to bring up the Price of our Tobo in Proportion, in which we, with some Difficulty, succeeded, & got our Tobo fixed at 28/ the James River Tobo having been previously setted at 30/.
Little Progress has yet been made on the Subject of Revenue. I shall use my best Endeavours to prevent the rect of public Securitys of any kind in Taxes, (as the only effectual Means of digging up Speculation by the Roots) and appropriating a good Fund for purchasing them up at the Market Price; by way of Experiment, & to shew the Members the Utility of such a Plan, we have this Day, against a strong Opposition, ordered about £6000 now in the Treasury, to be immediately applyed to that Purpose; which I hope will have a good Effect upon the Minds of the Members; yet I fear the Interest of the Speculators is too powerful, to suffer any regular extensive System upon this Subject.
The Bill for prohibiting the Importation of Spirits stands committed to a Committee of the Whole House, the Day after to-morrow. Dr Stuart tells me he has sent you one of the printed Bills; you will find it fraught with such Absurdities as render it perfectly ridiculous; yet I much doubt their finding them out, so as to amend the Bill in the Committee; the opposers ought to let them go on their own Way, & reserve their Attack to the passage on the third reading—as the Bill now stands, according to the strict grammatical Construction, Spirits are subject to Forfeiture after they have been swallowed, & the Informer will be equally subject to the penalty with the persons he informs against—but besides the Nonsense of the Bill, the very Principle of it is impolitic as it will affect our Commerce, & Revenue; partial & unjust in sacrificing the Interest of one part of the Community

to the other. I am afraid this Scrawl is hardly legible; being obliged, as I am, to write with bad Spectacles, bad Light, & bad Ink. I beg my Compliments to your Lady, and the Family at Mount Vernon; and am, with the most sincere Respect & Esteem dear Sir, Your affectionate & obdt Sert

G. Mason


Title: From George Washington to Gardoqui, 28 November 1787
From: Washington, George
To: Gardoqui, Diego Maria de

Dear Sir,
Mount Vernon November 28th 1787

I have received your letters of the 29th of October & 9th of Novr. The latter was handed to me by Colo. H. Lee, together with 4 Vols. of Don Quixote which you did me the honor to send to me. I consider them as a mark of your esteem which is highly pleasing to me, and which merits my warmest acknowledgment, I must therefore beg, my dear Sir, that you will accept of my best thanks for them.
You[r] wish to establish a permanent and sincere amity between these States and the Court of Spain is highly meritorious; and if, as you observe, no two nations apply more exactly to each other, a connexion between them upon the basis of reciprocal interest must be a very desireable event.
Altho no man could feel more pleasure and satisfaction than myself in seeing this Country form such connexions as would render it happy and flourishing, yet my being totally detached from all matters of government, entirely prevents my interfering,

with any degree of propriety, in an affair of this nature. I am far removed from, and have as little to do in the publick transactions of this State as any citizen in it; and in matters which come under the cognizance of the United States I have been careful not to have any concern, unless when called upon for information respecting any subject which was connected with my publick employment during the war.
I shall be exceedingly sorry to see you obliged to abandon an object which has in view the interest and advantage of both our countries, and I cannot yet despair of their being connected in such a manner as to ensure a mutual benefit. With Sentiments of the Most perfect consideration And respect I have the Honor to be, Dear Sir—Yr Most Obedt and very Hble Servant

G. Washington


Title: To George Washington from François Barbé de Marbois, 30 November 1787
From: Barbé de Marbois, François
To: Washington, George

Sir.
Port au Prince November the 30th 1787

I have so many times experienced your Excellency’s Favour that I hope you’ll forgive me for an application which I could not refuse to a brave officer who at the same time is a friend of mine. you will see by a letter of Count de la Luzerne which accompagnies this that he takes a particular interest in knowing whether Mr de Saqui des Tourets can or not wear the insignia of the Cincinnati. I heartily wish your opinion may be in his favor & I shall regard it as one conferred on myself If I am ennabled to tell him he is thougt by you, Sir, a Fit Subject for that Society. I know you cannot positively determine the question: but your opinion would considerably assist us in forming one.
Mrs Marbois who received some marks of Friendship from your Excellency has made me a very happy husband, She has given me two fine daughters half french half american. I wish I may at a future day introduce them to you, sir they may be a specimen of the good effect of the union of the two nations.
You know Count de la Luzerne has been appointed a Minister of the Navy and Sailed for France on the 13th Instant to take possession of that Department.

The Chevalier is very likely to go to London as an ambassador in case circumstances will admit of his displaying that character With great respect I am Sir, Your Excellency’s Most humble obedient Servant

Demarbois


Title: To George Washington from Richard Butler, 30 November 1787
From: Butler, Richard
To: Washington, George

Excellent Sir
Carlisle [Pa.] 30th Novr 1787

To know at any time that it is your Excellencys wish that any thing within my power should be done, will always be a Sufficient motive with me to do it. But when you were pleased to inform me that it had been required by the August Empress Sovereign of all the Russias, Through the medium of that Excellent Character the Right Honorable Major General The Marquis de La Fayette, it was an additional excitement to the completion of this work, And I only regret the difficulty of Obtaining more, which if wished for must be the work of time there being so few of our people or Uropeans Among the Indian tribes who have perseverence and understand a Sufficiency of their own tongue to be able to Translate the Indian into it—Should this be an Object of future Attention nothing will give me greater pleasure than to add my endeavours to its promotion.
With the greatest Respect I have the Sattisfaction to transmit this to your hand, and to Assure your Excellency That I am at all times and all places, Your Excellencys most Obedient Hbl. St

Richd Butler


Title: Enclosure I: Richard Butler’s Indian Vocabulary, 30 November 1787
From: Butler, Richard
To: Washington, George

[c.30 November 1787]

The following Seven pages to the word Ten markd thus #, are the words which were sent me to be translated, The Shawano I have done myself which are Spelled as nearly as possible to the real Sound of the Indian word. The Lenoppea, or Delaware, was done by a Young man Called John Killbuck, an Indian of that nation who has been Educated at Princetown College at the Expence of the U.S. & patronage of Congress, and is Spelled according to his own Idea of the Idiom—The residue of the 7th page I have filled up in Shawano to Shew their maner of counting from one, to ten thousand—Note—A in the Shawano tongue is to be Sounded broad as in All, Wall &c. Except where it follows E in the middle or at the end of a word, it is then Sounded soft as in the English. Marks, Thus (—) under a Syllable denotes that the letters are to be expressed, or Sounded, as conjunctly as possible. Thus, (,) below & between the letters, denote the division of the Syllables. The Emphasis must be placed agreeable to the combination of Sound attached to, or attendant on, the Same letters in the English, being obliged to Spell to the sound of the Indian word Ie at the beginning of a word, & ie at the end, is to be sounded like double ee—and Ia when composing a Syllable at the begining of a word is Sounded like double ee, and a broad yained, or like ya. And eh after u, e or 0, in the same syllable to be Sounded gutterally as gh in aught. And chi, cha, che are to be sounded as ch in change, che in cherry or ch in child, &c. which are the chief directions which appears to me necessary for Reading this vocabulary

R. Butler

               Indian Vocabulary

                  English
                  Shawano
                  Lenoppea, or Delaware

                  God
                  Wos,sa-Mon,nit,ta
                  Keeshalamscocup

                  Father
                  Noo,tha
                  Nuha

                  Mother
                  Nie,kea
                  Awnah

                  Child
                  Nie,chan
                  Memendid

                  Me
                  Nie, or Nie,la
                  Nee

                  Yes
                  Scea,la or Ah! Ah!
                  Cohan

                  No
                  Mot,ta
                  Matta

                  Cold
                  Wea,pie
                  Taha

                  Name
                  Os,se,tho, or
                  Lowasowocan

                  Os,se,tho,tchie

                  Circle
                  Wa,wa,we,a,kie
                  Toquahaso

                  Is
                  Ie,nie, or Ee,nie
                  Nancy

                  Mind
                  Ish,itte,he
                  Letohaocon

                  Animal
                  Mie,ken,whe
                  Anasus

                  Stake
                  Ap,pas,sie
                  Hetook, or

                  Nebatoke

                  Word
                  Pec,ki,cot,to,
                  Lewaogan

                  River
                  Mis,sie Thee,pee
                  Seapo

                  Work
                  Hosto,
                  Mekomosoogan

                  Death
                  Nep,poa
                  Ankaluogan

                  Water
                  Nip,pee
                  Nappie

                  Sea
                  Chie,kam,mi,kie
                  Hequepie

                  Hill
                  Wat,chi,wie

                  Mountain
                  Missie Wat,chi,wie
                  Keytatennunk

                  Pain
                  Och,quot,ka
                  Wanamatamen

                  Laziness
                  Mel,la,wat,ti,thie
                  Nulatawoogan

                  Summer
                  Mel,loock,com,mie
                  Neppan

                  Salt
                  Nip,pee-Pim,mie
                  Seakaha

                  Year
                  Cuch,cut,too
                  Couten

                  Ox
                  Me,tho,tho Ki,chilsi,we
                  Oxzon

                  Light
                  Wap,po,ne
                  Ohaack

                  Heart
                  Ot,to,hie
                  Weyta

                  Strength
                  Wis,sa,cut,tawie
                  Gitinasogen

                  Health
                  We,wos,sa,kie
                  Weylamulsoogan

                  Well
                  Kie,kea
                  Welamulsoe

                  Ill
                  Och,quil,loo,kie
                  Mattamulsoe

                  Handsome
                  Wil,li,thie
                  Waylosoe

                  Hand
                  Let,chie
                  Naark

                  Foot
                  Kus,sie
                  Waseed

                  Eyes
                  Kis,kees,si,qua
                  Wisking

                  Ear
                  Och,to,wa,ka
                  Weytaoak

                  Nose
                  Chas, or Chas,sie
                  Wekeyon

                  Mouth
                  Ton,nie
                  Wayt

                  Head
                  Wee,sie
                  Wile

                  Forehead
                  Kis,keesqua
                  Lawokalaa

                  Teeth
                  Peet,tal,lie
                  Weepitald


Title: Enclosure II: Extract of letter from Richard Butler, 30 November 1787
From: Butler, Richard
To: Washington, George

[c.30 November 1787]

Extract of a Letter from General Butler to General Washington (accompanying this Vocabulary).
The little which I have been able to collect of the history of the Shawanoes from oral tradition & their old men, with some observations of my own may not be unacceptable, & may probably assist, or open a door to more able Inquirers. They say they were originally from an Island, and that they came to the country of the Ohio & Susquehana (which is the most easterly point I can trace of their having resided in a body) from the Seacoast of So. Carolina & Georgia, or Florida, and I know that there are yet the remains of a tribe of Shawanoes called the ⟨Tha,wic, kel,loo⟩ among the Cherokees, who still retain the tongue in its perfection, and in my time among the Shawanoes many families came from thence to the Shawano country & found Relations in their Towns. These circumstances have led me to suspect that they were originally from the Island of Cuba & had probably fled from thence to the main from the severity of the Spanish Settlers there. And the great extent westward which this language is partly understood & is still useful in traveling, leads me to suppose that many of our western tribes are from the same, or other Islands in the Mexican Gulph & that quarter of the world, and altho’ their languages are not the Same (as was the case on those Islands when first discovered) yet there is some affinity as has been already mentioned. And it is found that the Indians & Languages from the Lakes Southward to the sea, differ very considerably from those nations which inhabit Northward & Eastward to the Sea, which has also led me to form an idea, that this certain difference of people has been the cause of the latter, as well as the former wars which have once depopulated the Ohio & other parts of the Western Country of its ancient Inhabitants; as that country was long a waste & kind of war or disputed hunting ground between the Northe[r]n & Southern tribes, even to our time, and I have it also (as a corroborant to this opinion) from Oral tradition that a very numerous people called the Spil,les did certainly inhabit the Ohio & its waters from

whom it derived the name of Spil,le,wi-Thee,pie or Mis,spil,le,wi-Thee,pie, which signifies the Spille-River, or the great River of the Spil,les: and who are supposed by the present inhabiting Indians to be the authors of all the works yet to be seen in that Country. This name for the Ohio has been generally mistaken by the Traders, who construed it into the great River of the Turkeys from the amazing plenty of that fowl wild on its banks, and the near resemblance of the names in the Shawano language, A Turkey being called (Pel,le,wa)—A River Thee,pie, & the word Missi, big, which words being combined would be Mis,si-Pel,le,wa Thee,pie—Englished—The great Turkey River and abreviated into the Indian manner of expressing it, would make it sound nearly as above Mis,spil,le,wi-Thee,pie, and their want of the information which I have had, is the force from whence this mistake arose.
These wars which I have mentioned, and the traces of antiquity, such as the large Cones or Mounds of Earth filled generally with human bones, and the Fortifications which appear on many parts of the Ohio & the Western Country, have led me to look back & think, whether the people, whose numbers agreeable to the magnitude of those works must have been very great, might not be those expelled from these waters by the ancient Iroquois, (as the same Indian tradition says they went off in a body & crossed the Mississippi westward) and afterwards the very formers of the Mexican Empire. For we find, from the historical accounts of the discovery of that Country, that such mounds were frequent & were sometimes the alters of sacrifice, which being admitted, may account for these being filled with human bones, many of which appear to have undergone the action of fire. We also find that the Fortifications bear some resemblance in both Countries, and that some of the stone Hatchets, spears & arrow points of flint &c. bear a great likeness. It is also said that some rude hyerogliphicks have been discovered on peices of stone; some very curious articles I have lately seen of stone—but their use I cannot devise; one is about three inches diameter circular & about half an inch thick, with a hole of an inch diameter in the Center, and hollowed out on the two flat sides to the center as if it had been countersunk, being thin in the middle and thick at the outside; The other is a cylindrical piece of marble about an inch & one eighth diameter, the hollow part or caliber is about as wide at one end as a musket, and tapers or

narrows at the other which terminates in a small hole as if designed to have been hung with a string; the inside evinces its having been bored or ground out with another stone or some hard substance which proves it not to be a petrefaction. There have been also discovered some rude kinds of monumental architecture such as graves or repositories for dead bodies formed by rude stones, some in the natural shape & some broken or jointed by some such instrument as the stone hatchet or hammer. The pottery is also another proof or support to the supposition that, that species of manufacture was in similar perfection and composed of the same ingredients in the Ohio & Mexican Countries.
We also find that the Indians called by the historian Iroquois (the remains of whom the five Northern nations at present claim to be) are from the East & North part of this Continent, & that they were a very warlike people, and Conquerors of all the Indian Nations from the Lakes to the Mississippi and on all the waters of the Ohio long since the arrival of the first settlers from Europe; and that they may be of Tarter Origins or descent I think not improbable, as they may have come from the Northern parts of Asia across to our Continent, and streached, some along the Seacoast by Hudson’s Bay, & others by the way of the Lakes from the high north Latitudes where the Asiatic & American Continents approach each other and their language differs exceedingly from all the Southern Indians.


Title: To George Washington from James Madison, 30 November 1787
From: Madison, James
To: Washington, George

Dear Sir
N. York Novr [c.30] 1787.

My last inclosed the seven first numbers of the paper of which I gave you some account. I now add the seven following numbers,

which close the first branch of the subject, the importance of the Union. The succeeding papers shall be forwarded from time to time as they come out.
The latest authentic information from Europe, places the Dutch in a wretched situation. The patriots will probably depend in the event on external politics for the degree of security and power that may be left them. The Turks & Russians have begun a war in that quarter. And a general one is not improbable.
I have heard nothing of consequence lately concerning the progress of the New Constitution. The Pennsylvania Convention has probably by this time come to a decision; but it is not known here.
Not more than two or three States are yet convened. The prospect of a quorum during the winter continues precarious. With every sentiment of respect & attachment I remain Dear Sir yr Affect. humble servt

Js Madison Jr


Title: From George Washington to Samuel Powel, 30 November 1787
From: Washington, George
To: Powel, Samuel

Dear Sir,
Mount Vernon Novr 30th 1787.

With much pleasure we received the acct of the safe arrival of Mrs Powell & yourself at Philadelphia; and that your journey was unattended by accidents, and less delayed than might have been expected.
The Mr Morris’s gave us the pleasure of their company two days & nights on their way to Richmond, & did not leave us without hope of their pursuing this rout back.
By this evenings Post (for the papers brot by which I am now sending to Alexanda) we expect to know the decision of your State Convention on the Fœderal Government. In this State, matters remain, I believe, nearly in statu quo.

I would with great pleasure have sent you more of the Spanish Chesnuts had not the few which I saved for my own use been planted before your letter came to hand. Next year, if the Trees bear, I will save as many as you or your friends may have occasion for—and lest I should forget it, I beg you to remind me abt the first of October.
Mrs Washington and the family join me in affectionate regards for Mrs Powell and yourself and we join in requesting you to accept our grateful thanks for the tender of kind offices you have respectively made us. With great esteem & regard I am Dear Sir Yr Most Obedt Hble Servt

Go: Washington


Title: From George Washington to Clement Biddle, 3 December 1787
From: Washington, George
To: Biddle, Clement

Dear Sir,
Mount Vernon Decr 3d 1787.

Your letters of the 23d of Septr & 15th of Novr came duly to hand. You may inform Mr Haines that my Barley, this year, shared the same fate with my other crops. The drought during the summer was so excessive that I cannot form any just opinion of what it might produce in a seasonable year; it yielded about 14 bushls to the acre which was a proportionate crop to any other kind of Grain which I sowed; and if I judge of its success from this circumstance it must be favourable. This information I would have given you sooner had I been able to have ascertained the quantity of Barley that was made.
I have requested Thomas Smith Esqr. of Carlyle, who, I expect, has, or will recover some money which is due to me in the Western Country, to put it into your hands, unless he has an opportunity of forwarding it directly to Alexandria; if you should receive it I will thank you to deposit it in the bank for me, & send me the notes that I may negociate them here as I have occasion for the Money.
I enclose to you a letter to Mr Smith which I will thank you to forward in as safe & expeditious a manner as you can.
As I imagine you have, by this time, recd the interest due on my warrant in your hands, or if you have not, Mr Smith will, upon receiving the enclosed letter, forward some money to you, I must request you to pay Mr Charles Pettit’s bill for 4 Backs &8 Jambs sent to me, which amounts to £18.5–1.
I will thank you to inform me the lowest prices for which good fresh Clover, Timothy & Orchard Grass seed can be purchased with you. I am Dear Sir, Yr most Obedt Hbe Servt

Go: Washington

P.S. The Leopard skin sent by Captn Steward arrived safe.


Title: From George Washington to Embree & Shotwell, 3 December 1787
From: Washington, George
To: Embree & Shotwell

Gentn
Mount Vernon Decr 3d 1787

Colo. Henry Lee (who called upon me as he returned home from New York) informed me that you dealt largely in grass seeds (saved in this Country)—that you sold none but what was good—and those on the most moderate terms.
Under this information I beg leave to ask the price of the following, and whether an opportunity could be depended upon for sending them by water to Alexandria before the month of March next.

                  Red Clover
                  Seed

                  Timothy
                  Do

                  Orchard grass
                  Do

He told me that he had bought some of the first from you and he thinks at 4 dollars pr Bushl but not having the Bill at hand could not be positive. Imported Seeds or the Seeds of this Country if not of the last years growth I would not purchase. the first, unless brot in the Cabbin is always injured and the latter is not to be depended upon. Your answer to this letter by the Post will oblige Gentn Yr Most Obedt Sert

G. Washington


Title: From George Washington to George Weedon, 3 December 1787
From: Washington, George
To: Weedon, George

Dear Sir,
Mount Vernon December 3d 1787

I have received your letter of the 25th Ulto enclosing the proceedings of the Cincinnati of this State, which I am much obliged to you for forwarding to me.
I will, agreeable to your request, send some cuttings of the Golden willow to Alexandria to be forwarded to you, but I imagine this is an improper season to put them out, for as they are to be propagated from the slip the spring seems to be the most suitable time for setting them; should these fail I will send you more in the spring if you will remind me of it. I am Dr Sir—Yr Most Obedt Hble Servant

G. Washington


Title: To George Washington from Battaile Muse, 4 December 1787
From: Muse, Battaile
To: Washington, George

Honorable Sir,
Berkeley County Decr 4th 1787

I was in Fauquier County Last week among the Tenaments, and have Tenants Engaged For all the Lots Excepting one which is a wood Lot on goos creek, Part of the Lot that Tompson Lived on, no one will have it on any Terms; and many of the Lots on the upper Tract are Setled with Very Poor Tenants on accot of the Poorness of the Land—on those Poor Lots I cannot get a Tenant to stay Two years, as I had Promises From Mrs Lemert and Shover To raise Some money by Christmast I thought it best not To distress at this Time if they run away the Lots will rent as they are not So bad.
the disputed Line between you and Scott I could not get run as Scott wants the Line Setled by Colo. Leven Powell. Capn Moffet & Mo⟨y⟩e who is to Fix Burgues Line To Terminate a Suit He has with one Flory—I am To have notice when these Gentn go on that Business—as Colo. Powell is at the Assembly I do not Expect the Business will do done untill next spring—their is apart of that Land not under Lease, I have not Engag’d it—nor Shall not untill the Lines are Established—and then on Such Terms as for all the Leases To Fall at once the Fauquier Tenants are Still in arrears—not a Large Sums, only Lemert & Shover. I demanded of Mr Weathers His Authority For writeing To you as He did, His asswer was that He was Sorry for it & will be more Carefull in Future.
I enclose and order on Scoth Wm Hunter Esqr. for Fifty pounds your acct When that is Paid will Stand in Debted To me

upard of Thirty pounds I do not Expect you will receive any more money From me untill next spring as the Present years rents will not be Collected before, if then.
I wish Mr Lear To Compair the Inclosed Acct with your Books. I shall be anxious to hear whether Mr Hunter pays the money—I have the Honour To be your Obedient Humble Servant

Battaile Muse


Title: To George Washington from David Stuart, 4 December 1787 [letter not found]
From: Stuart, David
To: Washington, George

Letter not found: from David Stuart, 4 Dec. 1787. GW wrote Stuart on 11 Dec. “to acknowledge the receipt of your favor dated the 4th Instt.”


Title: From George Washington to John Lewis, 7 December 1787 [letter not found]
From: Washington, George
To: Lewis, John

Letter not found: to John Lewis, 7 Dec. 1787. Lewis wrote GW on 15 Dec. that he did not receive his “favor of the 7th Inst. till yesterday.”


Title: To George Washington from James Madison, 7 December 1787
From: Madison, James
To: Washington, George

Dear Sir
New York Decr 7. 1787

My last inclosed a continuation of the Fœderalist to number 14 inclusive. I now add the numbers which have succeeded.
No authentic information has yet arrived concerning the posture of Europe. Reports, with some less doubtful symtoms, countenance the suspicions of war.
I understand that the Constitution will certainly be adopted in Connecticut; the returns of the deputies being now known, and a very great majority found to be its declared and firm friends. There will be more opposition in Massachusetts, but its friends there continue to be very sanguine of victory. N. Hampshire, as far as I can learn, may be set down, on the right list. I remain Dear Sir, with the highest respect and the most unfeigned attachment Your Obedient humble servant

Js Madison Jr


Title: From George Washington to Thomas Johnson and Thomas Sim Lee, 9 December 1787
From: Washington, George
To: Johnson, Thomas,Lee, Thomas Sim

Sir,
Mount Vernon December 9th 1787

Presuming that Colo. Fitzgerald according to his promise has communicated to you the vote of the Potomack Co. passed at the last general Meeting, held at George Town, and the measures consequent of it, taken by the directors, I shall trouble you with no more than the result which you will find in the enclosed authenticated Act of the Assembly of this State.
It is scarcely necessary to observe to you, Gentlemen, that unless a similar one is obtained from your Assembly, during its present Session that the work of navigation will soon be at a stand. You know what steps have been taken, & how ineffectually, to collect the dividends from the tardy members. The others think it hard to be further called on and some indeed have advance they will no more until the arrearages are paid up. To recover these will be a work of immense time under the existing law.
You know best under what form to bring this matter before your Assembly—If by way of Pitition you will Please to have one drawn—and if it is necessary the name of the President should be affixed thereto I hereby authorise you to give it my signature[.] with great esteem I am Gentlemen—Yr Most Obedt & very Hble Servant

Go. Washington


Title: To George Washington from Frederick Weissenfels, 10 December 1787 [letter not found]
From: Weissenfels, Frederick
To: Washington, George

Letter not found: from Frederick Weissenfels, 10 Dec. 1787. GW wrote Weissenfels on 10 Jan. 1788: “I have received your letter of the 10th of December.”


Title: To George Washington from Thomas Johnson, 11 December 1787
From: Johnson, Thomas
To: Washington, George

Sir,
Annapolis [Md.] 11 December 1787.

Your Favor of the 9th directed to Mr Lee and myself and it’s Inclosure came to Hand today very opportunely—The Gentlemen of the Assembly purpose to rise next Saturday and preparatory

to it resolved in the Morning to receive no new Business after this day this Circumstance precluded all Formality and Mr Lee being absent I moved for Leave to bring in a Bill under the same Title as the Act passed in Virginia—Leave was granted and I expect there will be no Opposition in any Stage of it—I think at present to make a small Deviation by giving the president and Directors their Choice to prosecute in the County Courts, which will generally be speedier, or in the Genl Court.
Our Affairs are so embarrassed with a diversity of paper Money and paper Securities a sparing Imposition and an infamous Collection and payment or rather non-payment of Taxes that Mr Hartshorns repeated Applications to our Treasury have proved fruitless nor can I say when there will be Money in Hand to answer the 300£ Sterl. due—Some of our Debts are so pressing that a good many of us Delegates feel very uneasy and I yet hope a serious Attempt for an immediate provision for them and that the potomack Demand may be included—The present Circumstances with respect to the future Seat of Congress in my Opinion call for vigorous Exertions to perfect the Naviga. of potomack speedily and it is truly mortifying to see so little prospect of being supplied with the essensial Means—surely 5 or 600 Miles of inland Navigation added to the Central Situation and other Advantages would decide in favor of Potomack for the permanent Seat of Congress.
Colo. Fitzgerald wrote Mr Lee and myself to mention the Time we could meet at Shannadoah to enquire into Complaints against Mr Steward in his Absence—I could only write him that I would attend at any Time that might be agreeable to you and the other Gent. after my Return home which will probably be the last of next Week—I wish sir your Convenience to be consultd and that it may be convenient and agreeable to you to make my House, in your Way very little Notice of the Time to meet will be sufficient for me and I dare say for Mr Lee.
Late in the last Session I received your Letter relative to Mr Wilsons Application to our Assembly it was next to impossible then to draw any Attention to that or to investigate any Subject in a proper Manner we had grown Impatient in the Extream—On the most diligent and repeated Searches since my Receit of your Favor of the 22d of Novemr his papers cannot be found though Mr Digges and some of the other Members have it on

Memory that on reading in the House the Business was referred—My own Diligence and that of a Gent. or two besides has been exerted to prevent the Necessity of informing you that so little Care is taken of our Papers.
The Leson of your State is working in ours—the Scale of power which I always sugested would be the most difficult to settle between the great and small States, as such, was in my Opinion very properly adjusted any necessary Guards for personal Liberty is the common Interest of all the Citizens of America. and if it is imagined that a defined power which does not comprehend the Interference with personal Rights needs negative Declarations I presume such may be added by the fœderal Legislature with equal Efficacy & more propriety than might have been done by the Convention—Strongly and long impressed with an Idea that no Governmt can make a people happy unless they very generally entertain an Opinion that it is good in Form and well administered I am much disposed to give up a good deal in the ⟨form⟩ the least essential part[.] But those who are clamorous seem to me to be really more afraid of being restrained from doing what they ought not to do and being compelled to do what they ought to do than of being obliged to do what there is no Moral Obligation on them to do—I believe there is no American of Observation Reflection and Candour but will acknowledge Men unhappily need more Government than he imagined—I flatter myself that the plan recommended will be adopted in twelve of the thirteen States without Conditions sine qua non—but let the Event be as it may I shall think myself with America in general greatly indebted to the Convention and possibly we may confess it when it may be too late to avail ourselves of their Moderation & Wisdom—You will pardon me my good Sir the Effusions which I cannot restrain when on this Subject and believe me to be with very great Respect Your most obedt Servt

Th. Johnson


Title: To George Washington from Henry Knox, 11 December 1787
From: Knox, Henry
To: Washington, George

My dear Sir
New York 11th December 1787.

I thank you for your kind favor of the 15th October which was duly received.
Notwithstanding the opposition and writings of the enemies of the new constitution it is now pretty apparent that it will be received by considerable majorities in New Hampshire, Massachusetts Connecticut New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and Delaware.
The information from Maryland is defective, but Virginia it is said will powerfully oppose it. North Carolina will be materially influenced by the conduct of Virginia[.] In South Carolina and Georgia it is presumed that it will be adopted.
Respecting this state it is difficult to determine with any precision. The City, and the enlightened and independent men of the Country are generally for it—The warm friends of the new constitution say that the majority of the people are in its favor while its adversaries assert roundly that the majority is with them. The paper money people both in this State and Rhode Island are against it.
But as a War between France and England seems inevitable, and a general War in Europe probable, the result may be highly beneficial to this Country—1st By preventing the European intrigues against our being a respectable nation, which would most probably be the case were their agents instructed by their courts on the subject—The war will find them other employment—2dly The War will impress on the fears of the people of the United States the necessity of a general government to defend them against the insults and invasions of the Europeans[.] Feeble as the powers of the federal government are in this moment, it would be difficult, if not impracticable to prevent our own people from improperly interfering in the dispute by taking one side or the other—Reprisals would be made on our commerce, and a war ensue, without a hope of success on our side[.] This subject being forcibly impressed on the public mind will have its full effect unless we are devoted to destruction.

Mrs Knox a few days ago was delivered of her eighth child a son, who with his mother are perfectly well—As an evidence of our respect and affection for you which we hope will survive ourselves, we have done him the honor of giving him your name. Mrs Knox joins me in presenting our sincere and affectionate respects to Mrs Washington and I am my dear sir with the most perfect attachment Your very humble Servant

H. Knox

If Colonel Humphreys is with you please to present my love to him—He has grown so big, that I feel quite small in comparison with him—I hope he lives solely on water gruel.


Title: From George Washington to Peterson & Taylor, 11 December 1787 [letter not found]
From: Washington, George
To: Peterson & Taylor

Letter not found: to Peterson & Taylor, 11 Dec. 1787. Peterson & Taylor wrote GW on this date: “yours ⅌ the boy came safe to hand.”


Title: To George Washington from Peterson & Taylor, 11 December 1787
From: Peterson & Taylor
To: Washington, George

Sir
Alexa[ndri]a 11 Decr 1787.

yours ⅌ the boy came safe to hand and observe its contents, we can in answer, deliver at the Genl Landing pine Scantling of any dimentions that may be wanting, but no Oak. the Price of Scantling 6/ reduced to plank Measure, the Common Kind of 18 Inch Shingles Called ½ Inch d[itt]o 13/6 M. Bald Cyprus—3 feet B. Cypress do, 54/ ⅌ th[ousan]d these are the Common prices we Sell at daily, your fish we will give the common price of the Season, and Shall want at Considerable quantity, we have only to add if the above prices are Approved off, in order to accomodate an agreement will be to determine, the quantity of each—as well when to be delivd &c. &c. Your Obt Servts

Peterson & Taylor


Title: From George Washington to David Stuart, 11 December 1787
From: Washington, George
To: Stuart, David

Dear Sir
Mount Vernon 11th Decr 1787

Not recollecting till this moment, the Winter regulation of the Post; & being desirous of getting the Loan Office certificates (herewith enclosed) to you before you shall have left richmond; I have scarcely time to acknowledge the receipt of your favor dated the 4th Instt, much less to write more fully on the subject of my Back Lands. I now pray, if it is in your power, to obtain the Interest on my Certificates that you would do it—for I can truly say that at no period of my life have I ever felt the want of money so sensibly as now—among other demands upon me, I have no means of paying my Taxes—the Certificate for the Executed Negro ought to be discharged, I should think—this I also send. And let me beg of you to enquire in what manner, and by what certain Channel, I could open a correspondence with Mr Lewis (his Chn name I know not) on the Kanhawa; and whether it is likely he would act as an Agent for me in the Renting of my Lands on the Kanhawa & Ohio above it. I have not time to add more; hardly expecting this letter will get to the Post Office in time. Yrs Sincerely

Go: Washington


Title: To George Washington from Samuel Powel, 12 December 1787
From: Powel, Samuel
To: Washington, George

Dear Sir
Philadelphia Decr 12. 1787

I had, this Day, the Pleasure of your very obliging Letter, for which I return you my best Thanks.
The important Question is at length decided and Pennsylvania has had Virtue enough to adopt the proposed fœderal Constitution by a Majority of Forty Six against Twenty Three. On this Event I sincerely felicitate my Country, & trust that her Example will be followed by the other States. So fœderal are we that an Invitation has been handed to the Convention, signed by the Landholders of Philadelphia County, offering the said County as the Seat of the future Government. This Measure was taken at a very respectable Meeting.
All Ranks of People here rejoice in the Event of this Evenings Deliberations, which was proclaimed thro’ the City by repeated Shouts & Huzzas. The Convention will sign the Ratification Tomorrow Morning.
New Jersey will, probably adopt the Constitution this Week, & Massachusetts next Month. I think & hope it will be generally accepted.
Mrs Powel did herself the Honor of writing to Mrs Washington Yesterday, & also sent her little Commission to the Care of Col. Fitzgerald at Alexandria. I beg the Favor of you to present me, most respectfully to all the good Family, & to believe that I am, unfeignedly, dear Sir Your very affect. humble Servt

Samuel Powel


Title: To George Washington from James Madison, 14 December 1787
From: Madison, James
To: Washington, George

Dear Sir
New York Decr 14. 1787.

Along with this are inclosed a few of the latest gazettes containing the additional papers in favor of the federal Constitution.
I find by letters from Richmond that the proceedings of the Assembly, are as usual, rapidly degenerating with the progress of the Session: and particularly that the force opposed to the Act of the Convention has gained the ascendance. There is still nevertheless a hope left that different characters and a different spirit may prevail in their successors who are to make the final decision. In one point of view the present Assembly may perhaps be regarded as pleading most powerfully the cause of the new Government, for it is impossible for stronger proofs to be found than in their conduct, of the necessity of some such anchor against the fluctuations which threaten shipwreck to our liberty. I am Dear [Sir] with the most sincere & perfect Esteem, Your affecte & obedt humble servt

Js Madison Jr


Title: To George Washington from Joseph Davenport, 15 December 1787
From: Davenport, Joseph
To: Washington, George

Sr
Mill [Mount Vernon] Decemr 15 1787

Major Washington tells me that you will not Concent for me to keep a horse—but Sir if I pay you What is reasenable and Customary Your Excelency Can not think hard of it—farr be it from me to ask aney thing out of reason—Sir you know to Sell him at this Season of the year. I Cannot Get the worth of him. to winter him out I may as well have none—Sir I Did not Get this horse because I thought You had a right to keep him for me—I ment to pay for his keeping from the first—but Sir Plese to favour me with an answer and your Commands Shall be Obayed by your Friend

Jos. Davenport


Title: To George Washington from John Lewis, 15 December 1787
From: Lewis, John
To: Washington, George

Dear Sir,
15 Decr 1787

Being at Richmond for some time past did not get your favor of the 7th Inst. till yesterday. I have inclosd a Coppy of the Account you requested, the articles you stand Charged with ⟨not⟩ extended I will get the accot of from Mr Payne & send you. I think I have seen amg my Fathers papers a list of money he was to receive & pay away for you at one of the General Courts I have looked for it but as yet have not found it. I have some papers in Culpeper (where I some time since lived) which it perhaps may be among I shall go to Culpeper in the course of a few days when I will look for it. and if I can find it I will send it you. I wish the Lands in which you were interested with my Father sold. provided a tolerable price can be had for them wou’d you undertake the disposal of them I shoud be exceedingly glad you wou’d[.] I am satisfied any Sale you might make of them wou’d be agreeable to the Executors I believe I shall go to the Westward this next Summer if not sooner if possible wou’d wish the Lands sold before I go, yet as tis a very bad time for the Sale of property owing to the Scarcety of money will be guided in the sales of the land by yr better Judgment. There is also the Share my Father held in the Dismal Swamp Company lands for Sale what do you suppose it worth I have been apply’d to for it but am not able to say what price to ask. As well as I recollect my Father valued it at £2000 I doubt whether the one half of that sum cou’d be had for it at present. Colo. Jameson informs me some Gentlemen are desirous of draining the lands for a share of them If I can with propriety agree to such a proposition I woud do it Chearfully as I think it woud greatly inhance the value of the Shares. have you heard of any such proposition. Please to give my Compts to Mrs Washington. I am Dr Sir Your Most Obedt Servt

John Lewis


Title: To George Washington from James Rumsey, 17 December 1787
From: Rumsey, James
To: Washington, George

Sir,
Annapolis Decr 17th 1787

Inclosed you have Coppies of two Certificates of what the Boat performed at Sum tryals we have been making I have a number more but as they are the Same in Substance I thought it not nessasary to Coppy them, we Enhibeted under many disadvantages and Should not have Come forth publicly untill Spring if it had not been for Mr Fitches Stealing a march on me in Virgine I have Sent Down a number of certificates to the asemblely of the first Days performance the Second was not then made I also Inclose you a Contrast Drew by Capt Bedinger Between Mr Fitches Boat and mine. I met with Govenor Johnson He toald me of a Letter he had wrote you respecting Sum Conversation that him and me had about my applying Steam to work the Boat as well as I Rembar it happened in octer 1785, when I Informd him of my Entention of applying Steam and Spoke to him for to Cast Cillinders for me, he Said that from what Little he Could gather on the Subject he Suposed it to be quite an other kind of a machine I toald him that the modle which I Showed to you was, he then Said he thought I had used you—the[n] I Toald him I beleived not for that I had Informed you of my Intention, to try Steam, I Can Recolect no more that was Said upon that Subject But it Seems that govenor Johnson

has taken Up a Rong Idiea of the matter and Supposed that I had Informed you, of my Intention to apply Steam at the time I obtained your Certifycate nor did I know untill now that he Veiwed my Information in that Light, nor did I Ever Conceive that I had gave you any information Respecting it only that I had Such a thing in Ideia, untill the Letter that I wrote you on the 10th of march 1785, nor had I before near about that time Reduced it To any form Sufisantly promising to determin me to make the Tryal I was then det[e]rmened, as I wrote you as follows—“I have taken the greatest pains to afect an other kind of Boat, upon the principles I was mentioning to you at Richmond I have the plasure to Inform you That I have broght it to great perfection it is true it will Cost Sum more than the other way but when done is more mannageable and Can be worked by as few hands the power is amence and I have quite Convinced myself that Boats of pasage may be made to go against the Corrent of missippa or ohio River or in the gulf Stream from the Leward to the windward Isllands from Sixty to one hundred miles per day[”]—this was Certainly an Information And was what I aluded to when I toald govenor Johnson that I had Informed you of it, a Little farther on in the Same Letter is the following paragraff—“the plan I intend to persue is to build the Boat with boath the powers on Board on a Large Scale[”]—As you did not make anny objection to the plann proposed when you wrote me an answer to that Letter I Considered myself at Liberty to go on upon the Steam plan Conected with the other nor did I Drop the Idea of Doing So untill Long after I had the Honor of Seeing [you] Last But not Being able to accomplish the Building of an Other Boat and finding by the Little Experiments I made that one Boat would not do alone I was at a great Loss to know how to act and if it had not been on account of your Certificate I Would then have Quit it, being under To many Embarrasments and nearly a new mecheine to be made before any thing Could be done as my new Constructed Boiler made Such hot Steam as to melt all the Soft Solder and news Comeing frequently that Mr Fitch would Soon Come forth, ad to this that the Ice Carryed away my Boat and Broke thirty feet out of Her middle, a Large family to Support no Business going On, In debted, and what Little money I Could Rake together Expended, a gentleman has Since assisted me to whome I have Mortgaged a few family negroes

which must Soon go if I do not Rais the money for him before Long. my present plan is So Simple Cheap and powerfull that I think it would be Rong to attemt the former plan, I would wish to Say Sumthing to the public about it, on your account. But doubt my own Abelityes to give that Satisfaction I would wish. It has gave me much uneaseyness Especially as I have By a train of unforeseen Events So often apeared to you as a person acting Inconsistantly and I Can Say in truth hower unfortunate I have been in the attempt that my greatest ambetion is & has been to Deserve your Esteem—I intend to philidelphia Before my Return, and in January I will (if in my power) go to South Carelino & gergia—your Letter to govenor Johnson prevented Mr Fitch from geting an act here You have Sir my Sincerest thank for the many favors you Conferred on me—I am your much Obliged Hbe hbe Servt

James Rumsey

P.S. the original papers from which These are Coppyed was acknowledged bef⟨ore⟩ Magestretes and the County Seal affixe⟨d to⟩ them, which I Did not think nessesary to Copy I am with great Esteem—J. Rumsey


Title: To George Washington from Chastellux, 21 December 1787 [letter not found]
From: Chastellux, François-Jean de Beauvoir, marquis de
To: Washington, George

Letter not found: from Chastellux, 21 Dec. 1787. On 25 April 1788 GW wrote to Chastellux: “In reading your very friendly and acceptable letter of the 21st of December 1787. . . .”


Title: From George Washington to David Stuart, 22 December 1787
From: Washington, George
To: Stuart, David

Dear Sir,
Mount Vernon Decr 22d 1787.

To the best of my recollection I have sent you Seven numbers of the Fœderalist, under the signature of Publius. The subsequent numbers that have come to my hands, I herewith enclose.
Have you received a letter from me, enclosing one for my Nephew Bushrod Washington; containing queries respecting my lands in the Western Country? It is sometime since it was dispatched from this, & having received no acknowledgment of it, I apprehend a miscarriage.
From your acct this letter will hardly find you in Richmond,

from that of others the Assembly will set till Feby. Under this uncertainty I only add the Compliments & good wishes of this family to you; and the assurance of the regard with which I am—Dr Sir Yr Obedt & Affecte Servt

Go: Washington

P.S. A number of Certificates were sent to you a few days ago—have these been received by you from me?


Title: To George Washington from William McWhir, 24 December 1787
From: McWhir, William
To: Washington, George

Your Excellencie’s
Alexandria Decr 24th [1787]

Patronage and Bounty has so very essentially contributed to the growth and respectability of our school, that it would be highly blamable and imprudent in me, who am supported by it, to think of undertaking any thing which might have the smallest probability of injuring it, without taking the liberty of consulting you. Especially as your approbation or disapprobation of the measure, would render it injurious or the contrary. And upon this principle shall either put my design in execution or not, as Your Excellency shall think proper to advise.
From several letter[s] which I have lately had from my Father it appears to be highly necessary both to my interest and happiness that I should visit my Native country in the course of the ensuing year. The nature of my present employment however is such that I should scarcely have thought it practicable had I not receiyed a letter a few weeks ago from a Young Gentleman who informs me that he will be in Alexandria next Spring. He is a young man of liberal education, and unexceptionable Moral Character and would no doubt give satisfaction to the Trustees, if I can persuade him to supply my place for a few months. I should not propose being absent more than six, or at most, eight months; during which time I design to visit some of the principal towns both in Ireland and Scotland and should make it my business to enquire particularly after a Good Mathematician (a person much wanted in our School), A good Writer is also much wanted. I should also establish a connection by which I could have a constant supply of such books as we want, which at present cannot be got in N. York, Baltimore, or Philada. The People whom I have consulted upon this matter willingly agree to my going if I will promise to come back. This I am fully determined to do. And if I can only meet with Your Excellencies approbation I shall go with a cheerful heart looking upon my interest as secure. Please to pardon the liberty I take in troubling you with

my private affairs and believe me to be Your Excellencies Most Obedt Hble Servt

W. McWhir


Title: GW to Bushrod Washington, 24 December 1787 [letter not found]
From: Washington, George
To: Washington, Bushrod

Letter not found: GW to Bushrod Washington, 24 Dec. 1787. Letter listed in American Book Prices Current, 27 (1921), 1021.


Title: From George Washington to Thomas Lewis, 25 December 1787
From: Washington, George
To: Lewis, Thomas

Sir,
Mount Vernon December 25th 1787.

It is my desire, and I am told it is the wish of many—and sure I am policy requires it—that the uncultivated tracts of land on the Great Kankawa and Ohio belonging to the military should be setled. The difficulty with me respecting mine has been, how to draw the line of mutual advantage for Landlord and Tenant, with respect to the terms; and where to find a confidential person on, or near the spot who would act for me a[s] Agent.
Two reasons, hitherto, have restrained me from making application to you, on this head. first, the uncertainty I was under of your having become an actual resident in those parts—and second, a doubt whether it might be agreeable to you to accept this trust on account of the trouble, and little profit that would derive from the agency; at least for some time.
The first cause being removed, (having understood by means

of some Members in Assembly that you live at Point Pleasent)—I shall take the liberty of trying you on the second; under a hope, that more from the desire of seeing the Country settled the neighborhood strengthened and property thereby secured; and the value of it encreased; than from any pecuniary considerations at the present moment, you may be induced to aid me in seating my lands on the great Kanakawa and on the Ohio between the mouths of the two Rivers bearing that name.
If you accept the trust this letter shall be your authority—fully—and amply given and binding upon me and my heirs for the following purposes.
First. To place as many Tenants on the several tracts of Lands (Plats of which with my signature annexed to them shall accompany this Power) as you can obtain consistently with your Judgment, and suggestions hereafter mentioned.
Second. That an exemption from the payment of Rents for the term of three years shall be allowed them provided certain reasonable improvements such as you shall stipulate for—and which I think (but leave the matter to you) ought to be comfortable houses  Acres of Arable—and  Acres of Meadow Land—and a certain number of frute Trees planted.
Third, That for the fourth year, Rents shall become due, and shall consist (as I am told the custom of the Country is) of a third of whatever is raised on the premises, which rents shall be annually paid thereafter to you, or my Agent for the tirm being in that Country.
Fourth, That under this tenure they may be assured of the places (if they incline to remain, and will go on to improve them) for the term of  years; were these not to exceed ten, it would be more pleasing to me than any extension beyond that number; but if this limitation will not be exceded to on the part of the Tenant, I must leave it to your discretion to augment them, making the term definite, and not for lives, which is not only uncertain, but often introductory of disputes to ascertain, the termination of them. Instances of which have happened to me. All mines and Minerals will be reserved for the landlord—and where there are valuable streams for water works, the Rent must bear some proportion to the advantages which are likely to result from them.

Fifth, Whether custom authorizes, or justice requires that the tenant should pay the land tax of what he agrees to hold before the rent becomes due; or afterwards, in whole, or part, must be governed by the practice which prevails, and consequently is left to your decision.
Sixth. I do not conceive it necessary, nor should I incline to go into much, or indeed any expence in laying the Land off into Lots till it begins to be thick settled and productive. The first comers will of course have the first choice—but they and all others are to be informed that their lotts (be the quantity little or much) will be bounded by water courses, or (where this is not the case) by convenient and regular forms. And as most of my Tracts (as you will see by the plats) have extensive boundaries on the rivers running but a little ways back it is my wish indeed, it naturally follows that back part of the land should be considered as the support of that which will be first settled and cleared on the margins of the Rivers and a sufficiency of it reserved for the purpose.
Seventh, For your trouble in negotiating this business, I am very willing to allow the usual Commission for collecting—converting into Cash—and transmitting to me, the rents after they shall commence and whatever you may think proper to charge me (in reason) for your trouble till this shall happen. I will chearfully agree to pay.
Whether you accept this trust or not, you will do me a favor in the communication of your sentiments on the subject—there are two ways by which letters will come safe. Viz. thrown into the Post Office at Philadelphia or into that at Richmond. Colo. Bayard an acquaintance of mine, or any acquaintance you may have at Fort Pitt, will forward them to the first place—and the means of doing it to the latter you must be a better Judge of then myself—If the letters once get into the Post Office I shall be sure of them—On private conveyances there is no reliance—they are tossed about and neglected so as rarely to reach their intended distination when sent in this manner.
If you should incline to act under this power your own good sense and Judgment will at once dictate the propriety, indeed necessity of promulgating it as extensively as you can by Advertisements to those parts from whence Seders are most likely to

be drawn over and above the opportunities which your situation gives you of communicating the matter to travellers by water on the Ohio.
On the other hand if you do not incline to act I would thank you for returning me the papers herewith enclosed as it will save me the trouble of making other copies.
Whether the improvements which I had made on the Lands (of which you have herewith the draughts) in the years 1774 and 5 will be of use to Settlers at this day, or not—you are on the spot can best determin—they cost me, or were valued to between £1500 and 2000. if they are useful the ex[e]mption from rent should be shorter—I thought it necessary to bring the matter into view tho’ my expecttations from it are small. I am Sir—Yr Most Obedt Sir

Go. Washington

P.S. I have a small tract called the round bottom containing abt 600 Acres, which I would also let. It lyes on the Ohio, opposite to pipe Creek, and a little above Capteening.


Title: To George Washington from David Stuart, 25 December 1787 [letter not found]
From: Stuart, David
To: Washington, George

Letter not found: from David Stuart, 25 Dec. 1787. On 29 Dec. GW wrote Stuart: “your letter of the 25th is come to hand.”


Title: To George Washington from James Madison, 26 December 1787
From: Madison, James
To: Washington, George

Dear Sir
New York Decr 26. 1787.

I am just informed by a Delegate from New Hamshire that he has a letter from President Sullivan which tells him that the Legislature had unanimously agreed to call a convention as recommended, to meet in February. The second Wednesday is the day if I have not mistaken it. We have no further information of much importance from Massachusetts. It appears that Cambridge the residence of Mr Gerry has left him out of the choice for the Convention, and put in Mr Dana formerly a Minister of the U. States in Europe, and another Gentleman, both of them firmly opposed to Mr Gerry’s Politics. I observe too in a Massts paper that the omission of Col. Mason’s objection with regard to commerce, in the first publication of his Objections, has been supplied. This will more than undo the effect of the mutilated view of them. New Jersey the newspapers tell us has adopted the Constitution unanimously. Our European intelligence remains perfectly as it stood at the date of my last. With the most affectionate esteem & attachment I am Dear [Sir], Your Obedient & very hble Servt

Js Madison Jr


Title: To George Washington from Edmund Randolph, 27 December 1787
From: Randolph, Edmund
To: Washington, George

Dear sir
Richmond Decr 27. 1787.

The inclosed pamphlet speaks so fully for itself, that any explanation of it from me would be useless. I send it to you, because I know your friendship for the writer, and because I take pleasure in subscribing myself at all times, with unfeigned truth my dear sir Yr obliged friend & serv.

Edm: Randolph


Title: From George Washington to David Stuart, 29 December 1787
From: Washington, George
To: Stuart, David

Dear Sir
Mount Vernon, Dec. 29th 1787

In more fear that this letter will not find you in Richmond than of expectation that it will, it goes from me by the Post of this day. The sole intent therefore of it is to request the favor of you to give the packet enclosed with it the safest conveyance that offers, to Colo. Thos Lewis of Point Pleasant in Greenbrier County—to whom I have delagated a power to let my lands on the Great Kanhawa & the Ohio above it.

I forgot in my last, and suppose it is too late in this letter to inform you that I have never received, or heard more of the White Deer abt which you say Mr Lewis was enquiring, than what was mentioned in your letter—the Buffalo Bull mentioned by him I should [like] to receive—and doubly glad if a mate could be obtained for him—But whether the Deer, or Buffalo gets to hand or not, I feel the obligation this Gentleman intended to confer on me very sensibly.
Will interest be allowed on the Certificate for my Executed Negro? I have been out of the money 6 years, or nearly. I ought to have told you long ago, but in my hurried situation forgot it, that I do not believe there was the least foundation for M——s report, about which you enquired;  Acct I have received, I believe no state in the Union will adopt the Constitution with more unanimity than Maryland.
I Am glad to hear that the District bill has passed—And should like, I must confess, to see the statement of the Govr’s objection to the constitution they ought to appear , & no , he has taken abundant time to digest them—But what can he, or you mean by saying “He thinks it would be of service to the Constitution”? If it was for this purpose he wrote, why did he oppose the Constitution? If not, why does he write in such terms as to injure the cause he means to support? This is a paradox I am not able to comprehend! A person will sometimes say & do things that, in their operatives, make against them—but when this is previously expected by them it becomes an enigma.
Mrs Stuart, your little girls, and Sister Nancy are here, and all well. I am—Dear Sir with great Esteem Yr Affecte

G. Washington

P.S. Since writing the above, your letter of the 25th is come to hand. I have also (since my last to you) received one from my Nephew containing answers to my querries—I shall this day give the Governor’s letter a reading. put  as have come to my hand I send you—If my memory serves me you ⟨have⟩ had  to the 18th inclusive—Mrs Stuart puts a letter under this cover to you.

G.W.

Mrs Washington begs you would bring her an almanac for the ensuing year.


Title: From George Washington to Bushrod Washington, 29 December 1787
From: Washington, George
To: Washington, Bushrod

Dear Bushrod
Mount Vernon Decr 29th 1787.

Altho’ I have little expectation that this letter will find you in Richmond I still send it thither. Under this persuation, I shall add no more than to acct for the enclosure being so long in my possession.
The truth of the case is, with a letter for myself, from Mr Smith, it was enclosed with the Papers with which he was furnished for prosecuting the ejectments of the People living on my lands on Shurtee; & these being accompanied by another letter from that Gentleman, I took it for granted that the bundle (which was sealed) contained only the Papers which related to my land and therefore never opened it till the day before yesterday. If it is of consequence I am sorry for its detention, if that will avail any thing. Mr Smiths letter to me, under the same predicament, would, had I have opened it in time relieved me from a suspence respecting some matters which I was unable to acct

for. You have my best wishes & I am Dr Bushrod with sentiments of very gt regd Yr Affecte Uncle

Go: Washington


Title: To George Washington from James Wilkinson, 30 December 1787 [letter not found]
From: Wilkinson, James
To: Washington, George

Letter not found: from James Wilkinson, 30 Dec. 1787. GW wrote Wilkinson on 20 Feb. 1788: “I have received your letter of the 30th of December.”


Title: Editorial Note
From:
To:

Editorial Note David Humphreys wrote GW from France on 30 Sept. 1784 about the utility of having a biography of George Washington, particularly one written by GW himself. In early 1785 Humphreys began suggesting himself as a possible biographer, to which GW agreed (Humphreys to GW, 15 Jan. 1785, GW to Humphreys, 25 July 1785). Humphreys apparently started work on the biography when he visited Mount Vernon in the late summer of 1786 (Zagarri, Humphreys’ Life,Rosemarie Zagarri, ed. David Humphreys’ “Life of General Washington” with George Washington’s “Remarks.” Athens, Ga., 1991. xix); but he must have written most of it after his return to Mount Vernon in November 1787, where he remained until GW traveled to New York in April 1789 to assume the presidency. It also was during this time that GW must have made the notations that are printed here. Humphreys’ manuscript, which was broken up and dispersed, at best was the draft of a biographical sketch. Rosemarie Zagarri has reassembled its parts and rendered it intelligible in the publication cited above. At the end of the notes that GW made for Humphreys, GW wrote: “The information given in these sheets—tho related from Memory, It is I believe to be depended upon. It is hastily and incorrectly related—but not so much for the⟨se⟩ reasons, as some others, it is earnest⟨ly⟩ requestd that after Col. Humphreys has extracted what he shall judge necessary, and given it in his own language, that the whole of what Is here contained may be returned to G. W., or committed to the flames.  some of the enumerations are trifling; and perhaps more important circumstances omitted; but just as they occurred to the memory, they were committed—If there are any grains among them Col. H. can easily seperate them from the chaff.”