Title: May [1785]
From: Washington, George
To:

Sunday—First. Mercury 51 in the Morning—52 at Noon and 60 at Night.
Day cool, Wind at No. West & clear all the forenoon, with flying clouds afterwards.
Took a late breakfast at Hanover C[our]t House. Went from thence to Mr. Peter Lyon’s where I intended to dine, but neither he nor Mrs. Lyon being at home, I proceeded to, & arrived at Richmond about 5 oclock in the afternn.
Supped & lodged at the Governor’s.

   Peter Lyons (1735–1809) was an Irish-born Virginia lawyer. In 1763 he was attorney for Rev. James Maury in the “Parson’s Cause.” In 1779 Lyons was made judge of the General Court; in 1789 he became a member of the Virginia Court of Appeals and in 1803 became its president (LYONS“Judge Peter Lyons’ Letters to His Granddaughter.” Tyler’s Quarterly Historical and Genealogical Magazine 8 (1926–27): 184–94., 184–85). Lyons’s second wife, whom he married in 1773, was Judith Bassett of Williamsburg, an aunt of Mrs. Washington’s niece, Fanny Bassett (Va. Gaz., P&D, 30 Dec. 1773; MASON [1]Frances Norton Mason, ed. John Norton & Sons, Merchants of London and Virginia, Being the Papers from Their Counting House for the Years 1750 to 1795. 1937. Reprint. New York, 1968., 295).

   Patrick Henry (1736–1799) served his fourth and fifth terms as governor of Virginia from Nov. 1784 to Nov. 1786. The governor’s residence in Richmond impressed a visitor in 1782 as being “very plain but spacious,” and was later described as “a very plain wooden building of two stories, with only two moderate sized rooms on the first floor” (CHASTELLUXMarquis de Chastellux. Travels in North America in the Years 1780, 1781 and 1782. Translated and edited by Howard C. Rice, Jr. 2 vols. Chapel Hill, N.C., 1963., 2:428; MORDECAISamuel Mordecai. Virginia, Especially Richmond, in By-Gone Days; with a Glance at the Present: Being Reminiscences and Last Words of an Old Citizen. 2d ed. Richmond, 1860., 73; see DUMBAULDEdward Dumbauld. Thomas Jefferson, American Tourist: Being an Account of His Journeys in the United States of America, England, France, Italy, the Low Countries, and Germany. Norman, Okla., 1946., 220–27). Governor Henry also kept a farm, Salisbury, in Chesterfield County about 12 miles west of the capital, to which his family often retired during the summer (MEADE [3]Robert Douthat Meade. Patrick Henry. 2 vols. Philadelphia and New York, 1957-69., 302, 507).

Monday—2d. Mercury at 54 in the Morning—56 at Noon and 56 at Night. Received and accepted an invitation to dine with the Sons of Saint Taminy, at Mr. Andersons Tavern, and accordingly did so at 3 Oclock.
About Noon, having Assembled a sufficient number of the Proprietors of the Swamp, we proceeded to business in the Senate Chamber; & continued thereon till dinner, when we adjourned till nine Oclock next day.
Raw & cold Easterly Wind the whole day. Towards evening it turned very cloudy & very like Rain & became quite cold.

   The Sons of St. Tammany, a democratic society opposing aristocracy and privilege, was named for a seventeenth-century Delaware chief supposed to have befriended the whites. The first society was formed in 1772 in Philadelphia, as the Sons of King Tammany, a Loyalist group, but shortly afterwards, as political attitudes changed, the name was changed to the Sons of St. Tammany. After the Revolution, the number of societies in various cities greatly increased. The first of May was normally the day celebrated in St.

Tammany’s honor, but in 1785 the first of May fell on Sunday, thus postponing the celebration by a day.

   Anderson’s tavern was commonly used for civic meetings until it burned in 1787. It may have been opened by Robert Anderson (d. 1784), who operated a tavern in Williamsburg in the 1770s (MARSHALL [2]Herbert A. Johnson et al., eds. The Papers of John Marshall. 12 vols. Chapel Hill, N.C., 1974–2006., 1:140; GIBBSPatricia Ann Gibbs. “Taverns in Tidewater Virginia, 1700–1774.” Master’s thesis, College of William and Mary, 1968., 145–47).

   proceeded to business: At this meeting of the proprietors of the Dismal Swamp Company, there was a discussion of proposals for procuring a large number of laborers from Holland or Germany and for obtaining a large foreign loan to aid in the work of draining the swamp (GW to Jean de Neufville, 8 Sept. 1785, GW to John Page, 3 Oct. 1785, DLC:GW; NORFLEET [2]Fillmore Norfleet. Suffolk in Virginia, c.1795–1840: A Record of Lots, Lives, and Likenesses. Richmond, 1974., 115; see also editorial note for 15 Oct. 1763).

Tuesday 3d. Mercury 54 in the Morning—54 at Noon and 58 at Night.

Raining more or less all day, with the wind fresh at East.
Met according to adjournment & finished the business by 3 oclock. Dined at the Governors.

Wednesday 4th. Mercury at 56 in the Morning 59 at Noon and 64 at Night.
Raining until 7 O’clock, when the wind getting to the Westward, the Clouds broke, & the weather cleared & was tolerably pleast.
After doing a little business, & calling upon Judge Mercer and the Attorney General, I left Richmond about 11 Oclock. Dined at one Winslow’s abt. 8 Miles from the City, & lodged at Clarkes Tavern 10 Miles above Hanover Court House.

   judge mercer: James Mercer of Fredericksburg was a judge of the General Court 1779–89. He later served on the Virginia Court of Appeals from 1789 until his death in 1793.

   Winslow’s was located near the Henrico-Hanover County line. This tavern, recorded by GW in his accounts as “Winsters” (General Ledger BGeneral Ledger B, 1772–1793. Library of Congress, George Washington Papers, Series 5, Financial Papers., folio 203), may have been the “Winstons’ Ordinary” that was in existence in that area in 1751 (VSPWilliam P. Palmer et al., eds. Calendar of Virginia State Papers and Other Manuscripts. 11 vols. Richmond, 1875–93., 1:244). clarkes: The tavern located ten miles up the stage road from Hanover Court House was owned during the Revolution by James Head Lynch, of Caroline County, and appears in a 1789 map as the tavern of “Head Lynch.” Clarke may have been the tavern keeper in 1785 (CAMPBELL [1]Thomas Elliott Campbell. Colonial Caroline: A History of Caroline County, Virginia. Richmond, 1954., 413; COLLESChristopher Colles. A Survey of the Roads of the United States of America, 1789. Edited by Walter W. Ristow. Cambridge, Mass., 1961., 189; and see 25 April 1786).

Thursday 5th. Mercury at 58 in the Morning—60 at Noon and the same at Night.
Wind Southerly in the forenoon & clear, but Showery afterwards where I was, between Fredericksburgh & Dumfries.
Breakfasted at the Bowling Green. Dined with my Sister Lewis in Fredericksburgh. Spent half an hour with my Mother and lodged at Stafford C[our]t House (at one Taylors Tavern).

Friday 6th. Mercury at 62 in the Morning—60 at Noon and 64 at Night. Dark foggy Morning, with little wind, but great appearances of rain all the forenoon—after noon clear & pleasant.
Breakfasted at Dumfries, & dined at home; where I found Mrs. Moylan (Genl. Moylan having gone on some business towards Fredericksburgh) Mr. Pine, Mr. Jno. Lewis & his Brother Lawrence—all of whom I had left at Mt. Vernon—and where I found everybody and thing well except little Washington Custis who had had two or three fits of the Ague & fever.

Saturday 7th. Mercury at 60 in the Morning—60 at Noon and 62 at Night.

Day clear, and tolerably pleasant till the Afternoon, when it turned cold. The Wind being at No. W. all day.
Upon enquiry, found that William Skilling, a hired man has done no work in my absence; nor since the 21st. Ulto.; occasined by a fever, and violent Cough wch. there is reason to apprehend may prove fatal to him.
   Most of my transplanted trees have a sickly look. The small Pines in the Wildernesses are entirely dead. The larger ones in the walks, for the most part, appear to be alive (as yet). Almost the whole of the Holly are dead. Many of the Ivy, wch. before looked healthy & well seem to be declining. Few of the Crab Tree had put forth leaves. Not a single Ash tree has unfolded its buds whether owing to the trees decline, or any other cause, I know not; as those in their native places are all in leaf (tho’ late putting out) and some of all the other kinds have displayed their leaves, it is somewhat singular that not one of these should yet have discovered signs of life. The lime trees, which had some appearance of Budding when I went away, are now withering and the Horsechesnut & Tree box from Colo. Harry Lee’s discover little signs of shooting. The Hemlock is almost entirely dead, & bereft of their leaves and so are the live Oak. In short half the Trees in the Shrubberies, & many in the Walks, are dead & declin[in]g.
The Barley & Pease seem to have come on well—but the clover has not advanced much. The first Sowed Orchard grass Seeds are making their appearance but none of the Second are yet to be seen. Nor can I discover anything yet of the Guinea, or bird grass seeds coming up; or any of the Acorns or Nutts which were planted by the side of them any more than I can of those things which were put in boxes—the seeds of the Crab apple are up and the woodbine (or Honey suckle) which I cut & set out, appears to be about half alive.
I cannot discover that the grass ground on which the Powdered plaister of Paris was strewed, in different quantities, is benefitted in the smallest degree by it—nor the circle in the Court yard.

   William Skilling, a laborer, worked for GW as early as 1767 (General Ledger AGeneral Ledger A, 1750–1772. Library of Congress, George Washington Papers, Series 5, Financial Papers., folio 249). Articles of agreement on 25 Feb. 1775 between Skilling and GW provided for Skilling to take GW’s servants and Negroes to his Ohio lands, there to work with them on whatever was necessary (DLC:GW). There is no further word of Skilling until 1784, when GW offered him £30 per year and two pairs of shoes to work again at Mount Vernon. “It may be to ditch, to Garden, to level & remove Earth, to work alone, or with several others, & in the last case, to keep them closely employ’d as well as yourself” (GW to Skilling, 22 July 1784, DLC:GW). Skilling replied that he would come in mid-November if his health permitted (28 July 1784, DLC:GW). The last entry in GW’s

ledger for Skilling is for 17 July 1785, when GW paid “Negro Moll on Accot. of Willm. Skilling” £1 10s. (General Ledger BGeneral Ledger B, 1772–1793. Library of Congress, George Washington Papers, Series 5, Financial Papers., folio 203). Skilling died in 1785 or 1786 (GW to Thomas Nelson, Jr., 3 Aug. 1788, DLC:GW).

Sunday 8th. Mercury at 56 in the Morning—61 at Noon and  at Night.
Cool all day; Wind at No. West with flying Clouds.

Monday 9th. Mercury at 60 in the Morning— at Noon and 70 at Night.
Clear & warm—But little Wind & that Southerly.
Rid to my Muddy hole & Dogue run Plantations and from the latter to the fishing Landing at the Ferry.
Perceived the Orchard grass seeds which had been sown on the Wheat at Muddy hole were coming up tolerably well—but could not discover that the Wheat had derived any benefit from the Plaister of Paris which had been sprinkled thereon—or from the rolling.
Mathew Baldridge who had been engaged for me by Mr. John Rumney, as a Joiner, and sent over in his Brig the Caesar, Captn. Atkinson, and who arrived here yesterday, set in to work today.
The blossom of the Crab tree is unfolding, & shedding its fragrant perfume. That of the black Haw, had been out some days; and is an ornamental flower being in large clusters, tho’ individually small upon single foot stems. They are white with a yellowish cast. The flower of the small berry thorn is also good looking—the tree being full of blossoms, which is not much unlike the blossom of the apple tree, but quite white.

   On 3 July 1784 GW wrote John Rumney, Jr., who was going to England, to say that he, “being in want of a House Joiner & Bricklayer . . . would thank Mr. Rumney for enquiring into the terms upon which such workmen could be engaged for two or three years . . . Bed, board & tools to be found by the Employer, cloaths by the Employed.” GW added that “rather than encounter delay [he] would be obliged to Mr. Rumney for entering into proper articles of agreement on his [GW’s] behalf with them, & for sending them out by the Vessel to this port” (DLC:GW). The articles of agreement with Mathew Baldridge, a joiner, were signed for three years (bill from Peter How Younger, 8 Jan. 1785, DLC:GW). GW paid Baldridge £25 sterling for the first two years and £31 10s. for the third year (General Ledger BGeneral Ledger B, 1772–1793. Library of Congress, George Washington Papers, Series 5, Financial Papers., folio 249). He seems to have left Mount Vernon after this three-year period.

   John Rumney, Jr. (1746–1808), was a partner in the English mercantile firm of Robinson, Sanderson & Rumney, which had a store in Alexandria in the 1780s and early 1790s. In addition to his request for a joiner and a bricklayer, GW asked Rumney to make inquiries regarding flagstones for the piazza at Mount Vernon (GW to Rumney, 3 July 1784, DLC:GW). Rumney’s search for a bricklayer was unsuccessful, but he did contract for the

flagstones to be delivered to GW. Later, Rumney moved to Geneva, N.Y., where he lived until his death (BROCKETTF. L. Brockett. The Lodge of Washington. A History of the Alexandria Washington Lodge, No. 22, A.F. and A.M. of Alexandria, Va., 1783-1876. Alexandria, Va., 1876., 107–8). Rumney may have been a brother of Dr. William Rumney.

   The brig Cesar, Capt. J. Atkinson, had stopped at the Mount Vernon wharf on its way to Alexandria, where it arrived by 12 May. The brig brought European goods for sale by Robinson, Sanderson & Rumney (Va. Journal, 12 May, 26 May 1785).

Tuesday 10th. Mercury at 62 in the Morning— at Noon and 60 at Night. Wind pretty fresh all day from So. East—raw, cold, & not much unlike rain.
Quitted fishing at the ferry landing, as I had done at the House landing on Saturday last.
Began to weed a yard for Brick making at home.
Rid into the Neck. Found my Wheat there tolerably promising.
General Moylan returned before dinner. Doctr. Jenifer & his wife came here to dinner & stayed all Night. A Mr. Stephens from the red stone Settlement came in the afternoon & remained all Night.

   Mr. Stephens is possibly Dennis Stephens, who had built the mill on GW’s Pennsylvania land.

Wednesday 11th. Mercury at 57 in the Morning—56 at Noon and 59 at Night. Raining more or less all day moderately. Wind at No. Et. & pretty fresh.

Thursday 12th. Mercury at 59 in the Morning—66 at Noon and 68 at Night. Foggy Morning—Wind at So. Wt. About noon the Clouds dispersed and afterwards became clear, warm, & pleasant.
Added some more Filberts to those planted on the 16th. of last Mo[nth] in the 5th. row of the Guinea grass seeds, below the Everlasting Pease and at the end of these, & below the 3d. Stake, I planted some Cobb Nuts (given me by my Sister Lewis) at the distance of Six Inches a part.
Yesterday (tho’ it escaped Notice at the time) I sowed in drills (three) on the South side the gate, adjoining the Orchard grass Seeds and upon the bank of the old ditch which I had levelled a few Seeds of a grass given me by Colo. Archibald Cary—who had it from Colo. Wm. Peachy who speaks of it in high terms. This I did just before the rain set in.

Friday 13th. Mercury at 65 in the Morning—67 at Noon and 68 at Night. Growing Weather—day clear and pleasant. Wind fresh from the Southward.

Began to set my turned Posts in the Circle in the C[our]t yard.
The Guilder roses in my Garden had just got into bloom—but as the Trees had been transplanted this spring I presume they were backened by it, for I observed some in the Gardens at Fredericksburgh (but these were in a sandy Soil) as forward eight days ago as mine are now.
Saturday 14th. Mercury at 65 in the Morning—69 at Noon and 68 at Night. Rid to My Plantations at the Ferry—Dogue run, & Muddy hole. Found the Wheat had grown a good deal since the last rain & warm weather.
The wood honey suckle wch. has been in bloom about 8 days is an agreeable looking flower and deserves a place in my Shrubberies.
My Nephew, George Augustine Washington arrived here from Charles Town after having been to Burmuda & the West Indies in pursuit of health which he had but imperfectly recovered.

   George Augustine Washington sailed from Alexandria to the West Indies in the spring of 1784 in an effort to recover his health. He had suffered for some time from what may have been tuberculosis. GW gave him 100 guineas to cover his expenses (General Ledger BGeneral Ledger B, 1772–1793. Library of Congress, George Washington Papers, Series 5, Financial Papers., folio 197). After visits to several of the islands, George went to South Carolina and spent the winter in Charleston and at

Sandy Hill, the nearby farm of his distant cousin, Col. William Washington (1752–1810). GW sometimes refers to George, who served as an aide to Lafayette during the Revolution, as Major Washington.

Sunday 15th. Mercury at 59 in the morning—63 at Noon and 65 at Night. General Cadwallader came here yesterday.
Today Colo. Fitzgerald—Mr. Murray,—Mr. Porter—Mr. Munser Mr. Darby & the Revd. Mr. Prince came here to dinner, & went away after it.
In the Afternoon Doctr. Stuart Mrs. Stuart & Miss Stuart came and stayed all Night.
Wind at So. East all day, with some appearances of Rain.

   John Cadwalader served as a brigadier general of the Pennsylvania militia during the Revolution. In 1778 his admiration for GW led him to challenge Maj. Gen. Thomas Conway and seriously wound him in a duel, after Conway had made disparaging remarks about GW. In 1785 Cadwalader was living at his country seat in Kent County, Md., and was a member of the Maryland legislature.

   Mr. Murray is probably John Murray, an Alexandria merchant. Murray’s store was at this time located on Fairfax Street, nearly opposite the courthouse, but shortly afterwards moved to the corner of Prince and Water streets (Va. Journal, 4 Nov. 1784 and 13 April 1786).

   Thomas Porter (d. 1800) was a partner in the Alexandria firm of Porter & Ingraham which operated a store near the corner of Fairfax and King streets at this time (Va. Journal, 23 Dec. 1784). Porter was recommended to GW by Benjamin Lincoln (GW to Lincoln, 5 Feb. 1785, DLC:GW) and seems to have become a close friend of George A. Washington.

   mr. munser: William Mounsher, “an intimate friend and confident” of Thomas Porter (Porter to Benjamin Lincoln, Jr., 19 July 1787, MHi: Benjamin Lincoln Papers), advertised a store, counting room, and cellar for rent on King Street in Alexandria (Va. Journal, 5 April 1787). A few months later he gave notice of his intended return to Europe (Va. Journal, 17 May 1787), but continued to visit Mount Vernon for another year. GW had difficulty with Mounsher’s name and spelled it various ways (Monshur, Munsher).

   mr. darby: probably a son of Elias Hasket Derby, a wealthy merchant and shipowner of Salem, Mass. Rev. Mr. Prince is probably John Prince (1751–1836), minister of the First Church in Salem. Derby and Prince were traveling together with a letter of introduction from William Grayson (Grayson to GW, 5 May 1785, DLC:GW).

   Miss Stuart is undoubtedly Dr. David Stuart’s sister Ann, who was living at Abingdon with her brother and sister-in-law at this time (TORBERTAlice Coyle Torbert. Eleanor Calvert and Her Circle. New York, 1950., 49). She later became the second wife of William Mason, son of Col. George Mason of Gunston Hall.

Monday 16th. Mercury at 63 in the Morning—66 at Noon, and 68 at Night. General Moylan, Mrs. Moylan, Doctr. Stuart, Wife & Sister, went away after Breakfast.

Mr. Mazzai came here to breakfast and went away afterwds.

   Philip Mazzei (1730–1816), born in Italy, had been a wine merchant in London for 18 years before coming to Virginia in 1773. He purchased an estate named Colle, adjoining Thomas Jefferson’s Monticello in Albemarle County, where he carried on agricultural experiments. In 1774 GW subscribed for one share at £50 sterling to Mazzei’s scheme to form a company “for the Purpose of raising and making Wine, [olive] Oil, agruminous Plants and Silk” (JEFFERSON [1]Julian P. Boyd et al., eds. The Papers of Thomas Jefferson. 41 vols. to date. Princeton, N.J., 1950–., 1:156–58). The project came to a halt during the Revolution, and in June 1779 Gov. Patrick Henry sent Mazzei to France to borrow money for the state. He returned in 1783 but sailed for Europe again in June 1785, shortly after his visit to Mount Vernon. In 1788 Mazzei published his history of America, Recherches historiques et politiques sur les États-Unis de l’Amérique septentrionale (Paris, 1788), based in part on notes Jefferson gave him.

Tuesday 17th. Mercury at 60 in the Morning—62 at Noon and 62 at Night.
General Cadwallader went away after Breakfast, and I went to Alexandria to the appointed meeting of the Subscribers to the Potomack Navigation. Upon comparing, & examining the Books of the different Managers, it was found, including the Subscriptions in behalf of the two States, & the 50 Shares which the Assembly of Virginia had directed to be Subscribed for me, (& which I then declared I would only hold in trust for the State) that their were 403 Shares Subscribed, which being more than sufficient to constitute the Company under the Act—the Subscribers proceeded to the choice of a President & 4 Directors; the first of which fell upon me. The votes for the other four fell upon Governors Johnson & Lee of Maryland and Colonels Fitzgerald & Gilpin of this State.
Dined at Lomaxs and returned in the Afternoon.

   The law authorizing the creation of the Potowmack Company provided for the subscription of 500 shares at 444 and 4/9 dollars (£100 sterling) each, and stipulated that if at least half the shares were not subscribed by the end of the meeting set for this day the company could not be organized (HENINGWilliam Waller Hening, ed. The Statutes at Large; Being a Collection of All the Laws of Virginia, from the First Session of the Legislature, in the Year 1619. 13 vols. 1819–23. Reprint. Charlottesville, Va., 1969., 11:512). The state governments of Virginia and Maryland each subscribed for 50 shares. In addition, the Virginia Assembly had voted 50 shares (plus 100 shares of James River navigation company stock) to GW as thanks from the state for his services in the Revolution.

   Holding firm to his determination to accept no gifts or remuneration for his Revolutionary War services, GW agreed, as here stated, only to hold the shares in trust for the public benefit. By his will GW devised the Potowmack Company shares to a national university, to be established in the District of Columbia (these shares depreciated and became worthless), and the James River shares to Liberty Hall Academy, Rockbridge County, Va., which later became Washington and Lee University (Fitzpatrick, DiariesJohn C. Fitzpatrick, ed. The Diaries of George Washington, 1748–1799. 4 vols. Boston and New York, 1925., 2:376 n.4; FREEMANDouglas Southall Freeman. George Washington: A Biography. 7 vols. New York, 1948–57., 6:28–30).

   Thomas Sim Lee (1745–1819), son of Thomas Lee (d. 1749) and Christian (Catherine) Sim Lee and grandson of Philip Lee, founder of the Maryland Lees, served as governor of Maryland, 1779–82 and 1792–94, and as a Maryland delegate to the Continental Congress 1783–84. He married Mary Digges (1745–1805), daughter of Ignatius Digges of Melwood, and settled in Frederick County, Md., at Needwood, located about 12 miles west and south of Frederick Town. He had acquired the estate during the Revolution (LEE [5]Edmund Jennings Lee. Lee of Virginia, 1642–1892: Biographical and Genealogical Sketches of The Descendants of Colonel Richard Lee . . .. Philadelphia, 1895., 306–11; W.P.A. [2]W.P.A. Writers’ Project. Maryland: A Guide to the Old Line State. American Guide Series. New York, 1940., 347).

   George Gilpin (1740–1813) was born in Cecil County, Md., and settled in Alexandria before the Revolution. A wheat merchant, Gilpin was inspector of flour in Alexandria in Mar. 1775 (MERCHANTSKate Mason Rowland. “Merchants and Mills. From the Letter Book of Robert Carter, of Nominy, Westmoreland County.” William and Mary Quarterly, 1st ser., 11 (1902–3): 245–46., 246). During the Revolution he was a colonel of Fairfax County militia and a member of the committee of safety. He was one of the most active members of the Potowmack Company and in July 1785 went to Seneca Falls to procure workmen (NUTEGrace L. Nute. “Washington and the Potomac: Manuscripts of the Minnesota Historical Society, (1754) 1769–1796 I [and] II.” American Historical Review 28 (1922–23): 497–519, 705–22., 713, n.1). He also for many years served as a vestryman for Fairfax Parish (POWELLMary G. Powell. The History of Old Alexandria, Virginia: From July 13, 1749 to May 24, 1861. Richmond, 1928., 203–4, 162–63).

   John Lomax’s tavern, on the southwest corner of Princess and Water (now Lee) streets, was the site of today’s meeting (Va. Journal, 21 April 1785).

Wednesday 18th. Mercury at 60 in the Morning—68 at Noon and 72 at Night.
Wind Southerly in the forenoon and Westerly afterwards.
The forepart of the day was very warm. In the Evening it turned much Cooler.
Finished Planting Corn at Muddy hole.
Rid to Alexandria to enter myself security for Doctr. Stuarts administration of Mr. Custis’s Estate. At the same time exchanged Deeds in Court with Mr. Willm. Triplett for the Lands we had swapped.
The Locust blossom is beginning to display.

   exchanged deeds in court: see 15 Feb. 1785.

Thursday 19th. Mercury at 66 in the Morning—63 at Noon and 66 at Night.
Mr. Pine left this (on his return to Philadelphia) in my Phaeton, which was to carry him to Annapolis.
Sent My Overseer & Barge to Popes Creek for the Baggage of Geo. Auge. Washington, and such Articles as he had brot. from the West Indies & South Carolina for my use—as also some Wild Geese which Mr. Wm. Washington had procured for me.
Wind at East all the day; until towards Sun down, when it turned quite calm.
The forenoon was a little dripping but not much rain fell.

   my overseer: In the fall of 1784, GW hired John Fairfax (c.1764–1843) as his overseer for the Mansion House farm and grounds at a wage of £30 for

the year, and when the contract was renegotiated in the fall of 1785 Fairfax obtained a raise to £40 (General Ledger BGeneral Ledger B, 1772–1793. Library of Congress, George Washington Papers, Series 5, Financial Papers., folio 209). John was distantly related to the Fairfaxes of Belvoir through his great-grandfather, John Fairfax, a Roman Catholic who emigrated from Yorkshire to Charles County, Md., in the early eighteenth century. In 1785 the head of the Maryland Fairfaxes was William Fairfax, Sr. (d. 1793), who moved from Charles County in 1789 to settle near Occoquan, Prince William County. By his two wives he had six daughters and four sons, one of whom was John (CARTMELLT. K. Cartmell. Shenandoah Valley Pioneers and Their Descendants: A History of Frederick County, Virginia, From its Formation in 1738 to 1908. Winchester, Va., 1909., 244, 247–48).

   wild geese: GW must have written his nephew, William Augustine Washington, to be on the lookout for some wild geese for his Mount Vernon estate. Washington wrote GW shortly after this that he had “been industrious in inquiring for some Wild Geese & Swans for you, at length I have procured these Geese, which I now send you. . . . I shall indeavour to procure you some Swans this Winter” (William Augustine Washington to GW, 1 June 1785, CSmH).

Friday 20th. Mercury at 61 in the Morning—68 at Noon and 72 at Night.
Brisk Southerly Wind until Noon when it became calm till the Evening—then the Wind sprung up again from the same point. Day warm and clear.
Rid to my Mill, and to Morris’s.
Planted in boxes No. 10 & 11 in the garden, adjoining to the other boxes 48 seeds of the Mahogany tree brot. by Mr. G. A. Washington from the West Indies.
A Mr. Noah Webster came here in the Afternoon & stayed all Night. As did one Richd. Boulton a House joiner and Undertaker recommended to me by Colo. Wm. Fitzhugh of Maryld.

Upon enquiry, found that my overseer at the ferry had begun to plant Corn on the 12th. and Morris at Dogue run on the 18th.

   mahogany tree: Swietenia mahogani.

   Noah Webster (1758–1843), of Massachusetts, had a short time before this published his Grammatical Institute of the English Language. The failure of Congress to enact copyright laws had led him to spend several years traveling through the states in an effort to encourage local legislation. During this year he had also published Sketches of American Policy, a plea for a strong federal government. He probably brought a copy to GW during this visit or during a return visit in November, for in December he wrote GW from Alexandria, asking to borrow his pamphlet long enough to have excerpts printed in the newspaper (16 Dec. 1785, PHi: Gratz Collection).

   Richard Boulton of Charles County, Md., signed an agreement with GW on 21 May 1785 in which he agreed to finish the New Room “in a plain and elegant manner; either of Stucco, Wainscot, or partly of both.” He was also, among other things, to make repairs to the roof of the mansion, wainscot the new piazza which had gone up under Lund Washington’s supervision, and “do the necessary work of a Green House” (DLC:GW). In employing a joiner to finish the New Room, GW was contradicting his earlier assertion to Samuel Vaughan on 14 Jan. 1784 (DLC:GW): “I found my new room, towards the completion of which you kindly offered your house-joiner, so far advanced in the wooden part of it, the Doors, Windows, & floors being done, as to render it unnecessary to remove your workman with his Tools (the distance being great) to finish the other parts; especially as I incline to do it in stucco, (which, if I understood you right, is the present taste in England).” Despite his contract with GW, Boulton reneged on his promise to come to Mount Vernon, and so the finishing work on the New Room was delayed for another year (Boulton to GW, 4 June 1785, GW to Boulton, 24 June 1785, GW to William Fitzhugh, 14 July 1785, DLC:GW).

   my overseer at the ferry: Hezekiah Fairfax, overseer at the Ferry plantation for several years, was a son of William Fairfax (d. 1793), of Maryland and Occoquan, by his first wife, and thus a half brother to John Fairfax, GW’s Home House overseer. Hezekiah married Margaret Calvert and lived in Prince William County.

Saturday 21st. Mercury at 67 in the Morning—72 at Noon and 68 at Night.
Calm all the forepart of the day, and warm. The wind came out from the Southward afterwds.; and a thunder shower of no long continuance Succeeded; thence it turned cool, the wind getting to the Westward.
My Phaeton which had been with Mr. Pine to Annapolis returned about 3 Oclock to day; as did my Barge which had been sent to Popes Creek on thursday last. The latter brought the Plants of the large Magnolio of South Carolina—Some scions of the live Oak, & a few young Trees of the Civil, or sower oranges in a box, all of which seem to be in a thriving State. As also

sundry kinds of Seed which Mr. G. Washington had provided for me in his travels & the Palmeto royal which Mr. Blake of So. Carolina had sent me accompanied by some of the Plants.
Agreed with one Richd. Boulton a House joiner & undertaker, to do my New Room, & other Work—who is to be here in abt. 3 Weeks with his Tools.
Mr. Webster went away after breakfast and in the Afternoon Captn. Kalender came & stayed all Night.

   the large magnolio: Magnolia grandiflora. civil, or sower orange: Citrus aurantium, the Seville or sour orange. palmeto royal: Sabal palmetto, palmetto, or S. umbraculifera, palmetto royal; some botanists say they are the same species. For the entry on other seeds and plants brought to GW by George Augustine Washington, see 13 June 1785. William Blake, of Charleston, S.C., wrote on 20 Mar. 1785, informing GW that he was sending him the plants and seeds he requested (DLC:GW). captn. kalender: Eleazer Callender of Fredericksburg had been a captain in the Virginia State Navy during the Revolution. He had come to Mount Vernon to visit his friend George Augustine Washington (Callender to George A. Washington, 19 May 1785, ViMtvL).

Sunday 22d. Mercury at 66 in the Morning 68 at Noon and 64 at Night.
Wind Easterly all day, and at times fresh. About 9 ’Oclock it began to rain & continued to do so, more or less all day.
In the Afternoon Doctr. Stuart & Mrs. Stuart arrived here.

Monday 23d. Mercury at 62 in the Morning—70 at Noon and 72 at Night.
Calm, cloudy, & warm all day; at times, when the sun came out it was hot. Veg[it]ation rapid by the warmth & moisture of the weather.
Set out the Palmeto Royal in my garden—in number  Plants and put the box in which the Magnolio, live oak & Sower Oranges were in the Area in front of the Green House.
Doctr. Stuart went away after Dinner. Mrs. Stuart & the Girls remained.

Tuesday 24th. Mercury at 69 in the Morning—68 at Noon and 68 at Night.
Much rain fell in the Night (& continued Showery at intervals all day) with thundr. & Lightng.
Wind very high in the Morning, and at times through the day from the Southward.
Bought 15, 114 feet of Inch Pine Plank a 10/. pr. Ct.

Laid a Margin of grass between the pavement, & the Post & rail fence from the Servants Hall, to the cross fence.
Doctr. Brown came here on a Visit to Richmond (a boy) who had hurt his Shoulder. Dined and returned afterwards.

   Richmond, a dower slave, was about nine years old. He was the son of Lame Alice, a seamstress at the Home House (see entry for 18 Feb. 1786).

Wednesday 25th. Mercury at 64 in the Morning—67 at Noon and 70 at Night.
Wind pretty fresh all day from the Southward. Clear, and pleasant—very conducive to Vegetation.
The blossom of the transplanted fringe tree was beginning to display. The locust blossom full out.
Expected General Roberdeau and some Methodist Clergymen to dinner but they did not come. Had Peas for the [first] time in the season at Dinner.

   Daniel Roberdeau (1727–1795), once a Philadelphia merchant dealing largely in the West Indies trade, served as a brigadier general of Pennsylvania militia during the early years of the Revolution and later served in the Continental Congress. He had moved his family to Alexandria some time before 1780, when he became a member of a fire company in that town (MOORE [1]Gay Montague Moore. Seaport in Virginia: George Washington’s Alexandria. 1949. Reprint. Charlottesville, Va., 1972., 152).

Thursday 26th. Mercury at 65 in the Morning—68 at Noon and 67 at Night.
Wind Southerly and warm in the forenoon and till about 5 O’clock afternoon when Clouds to the westward arose attended With high wind from the No. West Which continued an hour or two & changed the temparature of the air remarkably.
Rid to Muddy hole and the Neck Plantations.
Upon my return found Mr. Magowan, and a Doctr. Coke & a Mr. Asbury here—the two last Methodest Preachers recommended by Genl. Roberdeau—the same who were expected yesterday.
Mrs. Stuart and Betcy & Patcy Custis accompanied by Fanny Basset set out for Abingdon after Breakfast and my Nephew G. A. Washington did the same for Richmond.
After Dinner Mr. Coke & Mr. Asbury went away.

   Thomas Coke (1747–1814) and Francis Asbury (1745–1816) were sent to America by John Wesley as missionaries to superintend the Methodist movement in this country. Asbury came shortly before the Revolution and Coke in 1784. They were at Mount Vernon to ask GW to sign an antislavery petition which was to be presented to the Virginia legislature. Coke later wrote that GW informed them that “he was of our sentiments, and had signified

his thoughts on the subject to most of the great men of the State: that he did not see it proper to sign the petition, but if the Assembly took it into consideration, would signify his sentiments to the Assembly by a letter” (VICKERSJohn Vickers. Thomas Coke: Apostle of Methodism. Nashville, and New York, 1969., 98).

Friday 27th. Mercury at 60 in the Morning—62 at Noon and 62 at Night.
Wind at No. Wt. all day with flying clouds and little sprinklings of rain. Cold and disagreeable.
Mr. Magowan went away after breakfast.

Saturday 28th. Mercury at 58 in the Morning—58 at Noon and 60 at Night.
Wind at No. West all day, & pretty fresh scattered Clouds and disagreeably cool.

Sunday 29th. Mercury at 58 in the Morning—62 at Noon and 64 at Night. But little wind all day and much pleasanter than it had been for several days—being also clear.
The Honble. Mr. Sitgreave a Delegate to Congress from the State of North Carolina, Mr. Tillotson & Mr. Edward Livingston came to Dinner and stayed all Night.

   John Sitgreaves (1757–1802) served in the Continental Congress 1784–85 and was later appointed a district judge for North Carolina. He was on his way home to North Carolina and carried with him a copy of the Northwest Ordinance of 1785, adopted by the Congress on 20 May, providing for the surveying, subdividing, and disposal of public lands.

   Thomas Tillotson (1750–1832), who served in the Maryland militia during the Revolution, in 1780 was appointed physician and surgeon general of the Northern Department. He married Edward Livingston’s sister, Margaret, in 1779 and was now practicing medicine in New York.

   Edward Livingston (1764–1836), son of Robert R. Livingston (1718–1775), of New York, was a young lawyer. He was later to represent both New York (1795–1801) and Louisiana (1823–31) in Congress and become mayor of New York City (1801–3), secretary of state (1831–33), and minister to France (1833–35).

Monday 30th. Mercury at 62 in the Morning— at Noon and 69 at Night.
But little Wind, and that Southwardly—warm—& pretty clear.
The Gentlemen who came here to Dinner yesterday went away after Breakfast.
I went to Alexandria to meet the Directors of the Potomack Co. Dined at Colo. Fitzgerald and returned in the Evening—after

the Directors had agreed to meet at Mount Vernon tomorrow at 10 Oclock.
The flower of the Ivy is just getting pretty fully into Bloom & the trees which I transplanted from the Blind Pocoson & to which I could find no name were putting forth their blossoms—white, in small Clusters.

Tuesday 31st. Mercury at 66 in the Morning—66 at Noon and 66 at Night.
Govrs. Lee & Johnson, Colo. Fitzgerald & Colo. Gilpin came here according to appointment.
Fanny Bassett returned. Raining more or less all day—in the Evening & Night much fell.

   The directors of the Potowmack Company agreed at this meeting to divide the clearing of the Potomac into two areas of responsibility, one above and one below Harpers Ferry. For each of these two areas 50 men under an assistant manager would be hired, and both groups would be under a general manager to be chosen at the next meeting of the directors, set for 1 July in Alexandria (Va. Journal, 9 June 1785). In this way, GW wrote to the marquis de Lafayette, work could begin “in those parts which require least skill; leaving the more difficult ’till an Engineer of abilities & practical knowledge can be obtained” (25 July 1785, DLC:GW).


Title: [Diary entry: 1 June 1785]
From: Washington, George
To:

Wednesday 1st. Mercury at 64 in the Morning—68 at Noon and 72 at Night. But little Wind and that from the Southward—day clear, warm & growing. Govrs. Johnson & Lee, and the other Gentlemen with a Son of the first went away after Breakfast. In the Afternoon Mr. Mathew Whiting, Mr. Wm. Booth, & a Doctr. Graham [came] here & stayed all Night.


Title: [Diary entry: 2 June 1785]
From: Washington, George
To:

Thursday 2d. Mercury at 69 in the Morning—73 at Noon and 77 at Night. Wind, what there was of it, came from the Westward. Day very warm, & the forepart of it clear—the latter part cloudy with appearances of Rain but none fell.


Title: [Diary entry: 4 June 1785]
From: Washington, George
To:

Saturday 4th. Mercury at 72 in the Morning—80 at Night [Noon] and 80 at Night. Not much Wind, and that Southerly—very warm. In the afternoon a thunder Gust above & below this but little rain fell here. In the Afternoon the celebrated Mrs. Macauly Graham & Mr. Graham her Husband, Colo. Fitzgerald & Mr. Lux of Baltimore arrived here.


Title: [Diary entry: 5 June 1785]
From: Washington, George
To:

Sunday 5th. Mercury at 72 in the Morng.—80 at Noon and 80 at Night. Opened the Well in my Cellar in which I had laid up a store

of Ice, but there was not the smallest particle remaining. I then opened the other repository (called the dry Well) in which I found a large Store. Colo. Fitzgerald went away after Breakfast. My Nephew Geo. Auge. Washington returned in the afternoon. Wind Southwardly, but not much of it, warm & clear.


Title: [Diary entry: 6 June 1785]
From: Washington, George
To:

Monday 6th. Mercury at 76 in the Morning—79 at Noon and 78 at Night. Wind at East all day but not very fresh—Clouds & Sunshine alternately. Mr. Herbert (Willm.) came here to dinner & returned after it. Mr. Lux rid to Alexandria after Breakfast.


Title: [Diary entry: 7 June 1785]
From: Washington, George
To:

Tuesday 7th. Mercury at 70 in the Morng. 68 at Noon and 67 at Night. Wind at East and Cloudy all day, with fine Rain at times. Mr. Dulany, Mr. Saml. Hanson, and Mr. Roberdeau (Son to Genl. Roberdeau) as also Doctr. Stuart came here to Dinner. The three first went away after it—the latter stayed all Night. Mr. Lux returned in the evening.


Title: [Diary entry: 8 June 1785]
From: Washington, George
To:

Wednesday 8th. Mercury at 65 in the Morning—65 at Noon and  at Night. A great deal of rain fell last Night and much fine rain this day. Wind at East all day and at times pretty fresh. Placed my Military records in to the Hands of Mrs. Macauly Graham for her perusal & amusemt. (these indeed were placed there yesterday). Doctr. Stuart returned home after Breakfast.


Title: [Diary entry: 9 June 1785]
From: Washington, George
To:

Thursday 9th. Mercury at 62 in the Morning—62 at Noon and 65 at Night. Tolerably clear in the Morning, but more or less cloudy all day afterwards. Not much Wind and that Southwesterly. Captn. Brooke dined here. I rid to my Mill and to the Dogue run & Muddy hole plantations.


Title: [Diary entry: 12 June 1785]
From: Washington, George
To:

Sunday 12th. Mercury at 76 in the Morning—76 at Noon and  at Night.  Very little Wind in the forenoon, in the Afternoon there was more, & variable with Clouds & thunder but no rain. Captn. Conway and his Wife, Colo. Hooe & De Neufville, Colo. Henley Mr. Sanderson & Mr. George Digges dined here—all of whom went away [after] dinner except Mr. Digges. Whilst we were at dinner, a Mr. Aldge & a Mr. Patterson came in recommended by Genl. Greene & Mr. Benjn. Harrison Junr. Mr. Ballendine left this in the forenoon.


Title: [Diary entry: 13 June 1785]
From: Washington, George
To:

Monday 13th. Mercury at 74 in the Morning—76 at Noon and 80 at Night. But little wind in the Morning. At times afterwards it blew pretty fresh from the Westward, but was nevertheless very Warm. Colo. Mercer, Lady & Sister went away after breakfast. My Brother, Mr. John Lewis and G. A. Washington dined at Mr. Lund Washingtons & returned in the Evening. Sowed the following Nuts, & Seeds, in the inclosure I had prepared for a Nursery—viz. In the first Section—beginning by the walk next the Ho[use]  I built for a hospital (since used for Spinning)—the first row contains 17 Nuts of the Sand Box tree. Next to these are 2 rows containing 85 of the Palmetto Nut, or acorn. Next, 2 rows 87 Physic Nut; Next 3 rows of the Seed of the Pride of China. Next 9 rows containing 635 Acorns of the live oak (wch. seemed bad). Next (which compleated the section) 3 rows of a species of the Acacia (or Acasee) used in the West Indias for incircling their Gardens. In the next section to this, (immediately back of the Salt House) the first row, and parallel thereto—is the same as the last—that is Acacia. The next is the flower fence, also used as an inclosure to Gardens. Next to this are two rows of the Bird pepper—then one row of the Cayan pepper. Then 2 rows of the Seed of the Privy. The remainder of this Section was compleated with Guinea Grass—which, as all the others, were planted and Sowed in Drills 12 Inches a part. Colo. Harrison left this by Sunrise today.


Title: [Diary entry: 14 June 1785]
From: Washington, George
To:

Tuesday 14. Mercury at 78 in the Morning—80 at Noon And 80 at Night. Calm in the Morning and very little wind at any time in the day. In the Morning there was rumbling thunder at a distance and Clouds indicative of rain as there also was in the Afternoon but none of it reached us. About 7 Oclock Mr. Graham & Mrs. Macauly Graham left this on their return to New York. I accompanied them to Mr. Digges’s to which place I had her Carriage & horses put over. Mr. Digges escorted her to Bladensburgh. Sowed on each side of the Great Gate in front of the Ho[use] (between the Serpentine railing and the Orchard grass plats, & Ditches) Seeds of the Palmetto royal in Drills 15 Inches a part.


Title: [Diary entry: 16 June 1785]
From: Washington, George
To:

Thursday 16th. Mercury at 80 in the Morning—84 at Noon And 86 at Night. Light wind from the Southward all day. Weather very warm. Some appearances of rain in the afternoon, but none fell here.


Title: [Diary entry: 19 June 1785]
From: Washington, George
To:

Sunday 19th. Mercury at 78 in the Morning—80 at Noon And 82 at Night. Very little wind all day, & none in the Afternoon. Mr. Montgomery came here to dinner & went away afterwards.


Title: [Diary entry: 20 June 1785]
From: Washington, George
To:

Monday 20th. Mercury at 79 in the Morning—84 at Noon and 86 at Night. Clear with very little wind, Sultry in the Afternoon. My Brother John went up to Alexandria after an early Breakfast. Began to pull the seeds of the Blew, or English grass, and cut the top from the Walnut tree wch. I transplanted in the Spring, as it seemed to be declining; the leaves which had put out falling off by degrees. The Weather being hot and dry I commenced the Watering of the Guinea grass Seeds wch. were sowed on the 13th. Instt. & perceiving the physic Nut & the Seeds of the Flower fence & Acacia to be coming up, I watered these also.


Title: [Diary entry: 22 June 1785]
From: Washington, George
To:

Wednesday 22d. Mercury at 82 in the Morning—84 at Noon and 80 at Night. Calm, and very warm in the forenoon. About one Oclock it began to cloud, and to thunder. Soon after which the clouds parted, and powerful rains went above, and below us. Very little more than laid the dust fell here, but we had a pretty high Wind from the Westward. After Breakfast Mr. & Miss Ballendine and Mr. Bushrod Washington went away. And just as we had done dinner Colo. Bassett & his two Sons, Burwell & John, arrived. The little rain which fell prevented my continuing to pull the Seeds of the blew or English grass altho there was not a sufficiency to wet the Earth.


Title: [Diary entry: 23 June 1785]
From: Washington, George
To:

Thursday 23d. Mercury at 78 in the Morning—80 at Noon and 78 at Night. Morning lowering with appearances of rain. About 10 Oclock the clouds dispersed and it turned very warm. A little after noon a cloud arose in the So. West quarter and thundered and about 3 Oclock we had a fine shower wch. gave sufficient refreshment to vegetation. Very little Wind in the forenoon—Eastwardly afterwards. A Mr. Brisco, introduced by a letter from Colo. R. H. Harrison came here to offer himself to me as a Secretary. Cut the grass in my Court yard and began to do the like in the river front of the House. Mr. Brisco after dining went away. I took 8 or 10 days to give him a definitive answer in. My Brothr. Jno. returned home.


Title: [Diary entry: 26 June 1785]
From: Washington, George
To:

Sunday 26th. Mercury at 74 in the Morning—76 at Noon and 77 at Night. Southerly wind and clear. Major Edwards and a Mr. Philips came here before Dinner. Mr. Charles Lee also came to Dinner. The whole stayed all Night.


Title: [Diary entry: 28 June 1785]
From: Washington, George
To:

Tuesday 28th. Mercury at 69 in the Morning—72 at Noon and 72 at Night. Clear & pleasant, wind what their was of it, westerly. Finished my Hay at and about the House & got it into large Cocks or small stacks on the grd. where cut.  Doctr. Stuart, Mr. Booth and a Mr. Hawkins came here to dinner, the first of whom went away after it. In the Afternoon my Brother Charles came.


Title: [Diary entry: 29 June 1785]
From: Washington, George
To:

Wednesday 29th. Mercury at 69 in the Morning—74 at Noon And 76 at Night. Clear & pleasant all day except being warm. Wind Westerly. Messrs. Philips and Edwards, and Mr. Booth & Mr. Hawkins left this after Breakfast. Colo. Bassett his two Sons, Fanny Bassett, and Nelly & Washington Custis, followed soon after for Abingdon. Mr. George Lee & Doctr. Craik came here to breakfast and after Dinner returned. Discovered the Cayan pepper Which was sowed on the 13th. to be coming up.


Title: [Diary entry: 30 June 1785]
From: Washington, George
To:

Thursday 30th. Mercury at 72 in the Morning—76 at Noon and  at Night. Clear & warm, with little Wind at any time of the day. My Brother Charles left this after breakfast and G. Auge. Washington went up to Abingdon. Rid to my Hay field at the Meadow—from thence to my Dogue run and Muddy hole Plantations and dined with only Mrs. Washington which I believe is the first instance of it since my retirement from public life.


Title: June 1785
From: Washington, George
To:

Wednesday 1st. Mercury at 64 in the Morning—68 at Noon and 72 at Night.
But little Wind and that from the Southward—day clear, warm & growing.
Govrs. Johnson & Lee, and the other Gentlemen with a Son of the first went away after Breakfast.
In the Afternoon Mr. Mathew Whiting, Mr. Wm. Booth, & a Doctr. Graham [came] here & stayed all Night.

   Gov. Thomas Johnson had three sons: Thomas Jennings, James, and Joshua.

   Matthew Whiting (d. 1810), formerly of Gloucester County, had moved to Snow Hill on Bull Run in Prince William County by about 1770. In 1782 he paid a tax on 4 whites and 73 slaves in Prince William. Whiting had been married to Warner Washington’s sister Hannah, and had by her an only son, Matthew, who was lost at sea during the Revolution (FOTHERGILLAugusta B. Fothergill and John Mark Naugle. Virginia Tax Payers, 1782–87: Other Than Those Published by the United States Census Bureau. 1940. Reprint. Baltimore, 1974., 135; Whiting to GW, 10 Aug. 1786, DLC:GW; W.P.A. [1]W.P.A. Writers’ Project. Prince William: The Story of Its People and Its Places. American Guide Series. Manassas, Va., 1941., 179–80).

   Dr. Graham is probably either William Graham (1751–1821), son of John Graham of Dumfries and a surgeon’s mate in the 2nd Virginia Regiment during the Revolution, or George Graham, a member of the committee of

safety and a surgeon in the Prince William County militia during the Revolution (BLANTONWyndham B. Blanton. Medicine in Virginia in the Eighteenth Century. Richmond, 1931., 404; W.P.A. [1]W.P.A. Writers’ Project. Prince William: The Story of Its People and Its Places. American Guide Series. Manassas, Va., 1941., 31, 33).

Thursday 2d. Mercury at 69 in the Morning—73 at Noon and 77 at Night.
Wind, what there was of it, came from the Westward. Day very warm, & the forepart of it clear—the latter part cloudy with appearances of Rain but none fell.

Friday 3d. Mercury at 72 in the Morning—75 at Noon and 78 at Night.
Rid to my Plantations at the Ferry—Dogue Run and Muddy hole Mr. Whiting, Mr. Booth, and Doctr. Graham having first set out for Maryland, immediately after breakfast.
Very little Wind in the forenoon but Warm when the Sun was out. Afternoon Raining, with the Wind pretty violent from the So. West.

Saturday 4th. Mercury at 72 in the Morning—80 at Night [Noon] and 80 at Night.
Not much Wind, and that Southerly—very warm.
In the afternoon a thunder Gust above & below this but little rain fell here.
In the Afternoon the celebrated Mrs. Macauly Graham & Mr. Graham her Husband, Colo. Fitzgerald & Mr. Lux of Baltimore arrived here.

   Catherine Sawbridge Macaulay Graham (1731–1791), a prominent English author, wrote the much-lauded History of England from the Accession of James I to That of the Brunswick Line, published in London, in eight volumes, 1763–83. Richard Henry Lee’s letter of introduction to GW indicated that her only reason for going as far south as Virginia was to see GW (Lee to GW, 3 May 1785, DLC:GW). GW thanked Lee for the introduction to Mrs. Macaulay Graham, “whose principles are so much, & so justly admired by the friends of liberty and of Mankind. It gives me pleasure to find that her sentiments respecting the inadequacy of the powers of Congress... coincide with my own” (GW to Lee, 22 June 1785, PPAmP: Lee Papers). Mrs. Macaulay Graham’s first husband, George Macaulay, had died in 1766 and her remarriage in 1778 to the 21–year-old William Graham, 26 years her junior, had caused her much criticism and ridicule.

   George Lux (1753–1797) was a merchant in Baltimore, Md. (GRAYDONAlexander Graydon. Memoirs of a Life, Chiefly Passed in Pennsylvania, within the Last Sixty Years; With Occasional Remarks upon the General Occurrences, Character and Spirit of that Eventful Period. Harrisburg, Pa., 1811., 304–305).

Sunday 5th. Mercury at 72 in the Morng.—80 at Noon and 80 at Night.
Opened the Well in my Cellar in which I had laid up a store

of Ice, but there was not the smallest particle remaining. I then opened the other repository (called the dry Well) in which I found a large Store.
Colo. Fitzgerald went away after Breakfast.
My Nephew Geo. Auge. Washington returned in the afternoon.
Wind Southwardly, but not much of it, warm & clear.

Monday 6th. Mercury at 76 in the Morning—79 at Noon and 78 at Night.
Wind at East all day but not very fresh—Clouds & Sunshine alternately.
Mr. Herbert (Willm.) came here to dinner & returned after it.
Mr. Lux rid to Alexandria after Breakfast.

Tuesday 7th. Mercury at 70 in the Morng. 68 at Noon and 67 at Night.
Wind at East and Cloudy all day, with fine Rain at times.
Mr. Dulany, Mr. Saml. Hanson, and Mr. Roberdeau (Son to Genl. Roberdeau) as also Doctr. Stuart came here to Dinner. The three first went away after it—the latter stayed all Night.
Mr. Lux returned in the evening.

   Mr. Roberdeau is Isaac Roberdeau (1763–1829), oldest child of Daniel Roberdeau; Daniel’s only other son was an infant at this time. Although some sources claim Isaac was at school in England until 1787 (BUCHANAN [2]Roberdeau Buchanan. Genealogy of the Roberdeau Family, Including a Biography of General Daniel Roberdeau of the Revolutionary Army, and the Continental Congress; and Signer of the Articles of Confederation. Washington, D.C., 1876., 104), he had certainly returned by the spring of 1786, for in April of that year he was one of three men put in charge of the engine for the Sun Fire Company, in Alexandria (MOORE [1]Gay Montague Moore. Seaport in Virginia: George Washington’s Alexandria. 1949. Reprint. Charlottesville, Va., 1972., 50). Isaac became a well-known engineer, working with Pierre L’Enfant in laying out the city of Washington.

Wednesday 8th. Mercury at 65 in the Morning—65 at Noon and  at Night.
A great deal of rain fell last Night and much fine rain this day. Wind at East all day and at times pretty fresh.
Placed my Military records in to the Hands of Mrs. Macauly Graham for her perusal & amusemt. (these indeed were placed there yesterday).
Doctr. Stuart returned home after Breakfast.

   military records: In 1783 GW ordered “six strong hair Trunks, well clasped and with good Locks” in which to transport his military papers (GW to Daniel Parker, 18 June 1783, DLC:GW). On 9 Nov. of that year the papers were packed, loaded on wagons, and under military escort sent to Virginia. One bundle, containing GW’s accounts as commander in chief, was left with the superintendent of finance at Philadelphia. The remaining manuscripts

went to Mount Vernon. These were to form the nucleus of the Washington Papers at the Library of Congress (WASHINGTON PAPERS INDEXLibrary of Congress. Index to the George Washington Papers. Washington, D.C., 1964., vi).

Thursday 9th. Mercury at 62 in the Morning—62 at Noon and 65 at Night.
Tolerably clear in the Morning, but more or less cloudy all day afterwards. Not much Wind and that Southwesterly.
Captn. Brooke dined here. I rid to my Mill and to the Dogue run & Muddy hole plantations.

   captn. brooke: probably Walter Brooke (d. 1798), a son of Thomas Brooke (1706–1748) and Sarah Mason Brooke of Charles County, Md. During the Revolution, Brooke served as captain of the sloop Liberty in the Virginia navy and in 1777 was made a commodore. He was now living in Fairfax County, probably in the vicinity of Mount Vernon (HEADS OF FAMILIES, VA.Heads of Families at the First Census of the United States Taken in the Year 1790: Virginia; Records of the State Enumerations, 1782 to 1785. 1908. Reprint. Baltimore, 1970., 86).

Friday 10th. Mercury at 67 in the Morning—71 at Noon and  at Night. But little wind in the forenoon. In the afternoon it was at Et. with a pretty heavy shower of rain about 5 Oclock.
In the Afternoon Mr. Whiting Doctr. Graham and a Mr. Wyat came here.
In the Morning Mr. Lux set out on his return home.

   mr. wyat: perhaps Dr. William E. Wyatt (1762–1802) of Prince William County, who was married in 1781 to Mary Graham (b. 1753), daughter of John Graham of Dumfries (STANARD [3]William G. Stanard. “Abstracts of Virginia Land Patents.” Virginia Magazine of History and Biography 3 (1895-96): 177–88., 3:178).

Saturday 11th. Mercury at 71 in the Morning—75 at Noon and  at Night.
After Breakfast Mr. Whiting, Doctr. Graham, & Mr. Wyatt went away and my Brother Charles Washington, Colo. Robt. H. Harrison of Maryland & Mr. Ballendine & his Sister Fanny came to Dinner.
In the Evening Colo. Jno. Mercer his wife & Miss Sprig came—All of whom stayed the Night.
Showers around us, but none fell here. The Morning was quite calm. In the Afternoon a small Southerly Breeze and very warm.

   Thomas William Ballendine (died c.1797), of Prince William County, and Frances Ballendine were children of John and Frances Ewell Ballendine. Thomas attended the College of William and Mary about 1779–80 and was a member of the Phi Beta Kappa Society (TYLER [1]Lyon G. Tyler. “Original Records of the Phi Beta Kappa Society.” William and Mary Quarterly, 1st ser., 4 (1895–96): 213–59., 224–26, 232–36).

   Miss Sprigg was one of Mrs. Mercer’s sisters from Strawberry Hill at Annapolis.

Sunday 12th. Mercury at 76 in the Morning—76 at Noon and  at Night.

Very little Wind in the forenoon, in the Afternoon there was more, & variable with Clouds & thunder but no rain.
Captn. Conway and his Wife, Colo. Hooe & De Neufville, Colo. Henley Mr. Sanderson & Mr. George Digges dined here—all of whom went away [after] dinner except Mr. Digges.
Whilst we were at dinner, a Mr. Aldge & a Mr. Patterson came in recommended by Genl. Greene & Mr. Benjn. Harrison Junr.
Mr. Ballendine left this in the forenoon.

   Capt. Richard Conway was married to Mary West Conway (died c.1805), daughter of Col. John West (d. 1777).

   Leonard de Neufville was the son of Jean de Neufville (1729–1796), formerly of Amsterdam. Jean de Neufville had been a good friend and commercial agent to the United States in Holland during the Revolution. His firm, Jean de Neufville en Zoon, refitted John Paul Jones’s squadron in 1779, tried to raise money for a loan for the United States, and in 1778 negotiated with William Lee an unauthorized and abortive treaty between the United States and the Netherlands. The Neufville firm by 1783 was going bankrupt, and Jean de Neufville and his son Leonard came to America and settled at Albany. On 22 April 1785 Leonard de Neufville wrote to Congress requesting payment of debts due Jean de Neufville en Zoon for its services in the Revolution, but was refused. After Jean de Neufville’s death, Congress authorized the payment of $3,000 to de Neufville’s widow and his son and daughter. The account of the United States with Jean de Neufville en Zoon was finally settled in 1851 (BIOGRAFISCH WOORDENBOEKP. C. Molhuysen et al., eds. Nieuw Nederlandsch Biografisch Woordenboek. 10 vols. Leiden, Netherlands, 1911–37., 8:1211–14; WHARTONFrancis Wharton, ed. The Revolutionary Diplomatic Correspondence of the United States. 6 vols. Washington, D.C., 1889., 3:379–80, 597, 817–18, 855–57; ADAMS [1]L. H. Butterfield, ed. Diary and Autobiography of John Adams. 4 vols. Cambridge, Mass., 1961., 2:444–45; Stat.Richard Peters, ed. The Public Statutes at Large of the United States of America, from the Organization of the Government in 1789, to March 3, 1845 . . .. 8 vols. Boston, 1845-67., 6:29 [2 Mar. 1797]; 9 StatRichard Peters, ed. The Public Statutes at Large of the United States of America, from the Organization of the Government in 1789, to March 3, 1845 . . .. 8 vols. Boston, 1845-67.. 814 [3 Mar. 1851]).

   David Henley (1748–1823) was a partner in the Boston firm of Otis & Henley, “Agents for the purpose of supplying clothing (or materials for it) for the Army” during the Revolution (GW to Henley, 5 Sept. 1785, DLC:GW). He had also served as colonel of one of the 16 Additional Regiments of the Continental Army. About this time, Henley was made a commissioner for settling the claims of Virginia on account of the western territory ceded to the United States. Robert Sanderson was a partner in the firm of Robinson, Sanderson & Rumney of Whitehaven, Eng. The firm’s Alexandria store was located on Fairfax Street.

Monday 13th. Mercury at 74 in the Morning—76 at Noon and 80 at Night.
But little wind in the Morning. At times afterwards it blew pretty fresh from the Westward, but was nevertheless very Warm.
Colo. Mercer, Lady & Sister went away after breakfast. My Brother, Mr. John Lewis and G. A. Washington dined at Mr. Lund Washingtons & returned in the Evening.
Sowed the following Nuts, & Seeds, in the inclosure I had prepared for a Nursery—viz.
In the first Section—beginning by the walk next the Ho[use]

I built for a hospital (since used for Spinning)—the first row contains 17 Nuts of the Sand Box tree. Next to these are 2 rows containing 85 of the Palmetto Nut, or acorn. Next, 2 rows 87 Physic Nut; Next 3 rows of the Seed of the Pride of China. Next 9 rows containing 635 Acorns of the live oak (wch. seemed bad). Next (which compleated the section) 3 rows of a species of the Acacia (or Acasee) used in the West Indias for incircling their Gardens.
In the next section to this, (immediately back of the Salt House) the first row, and parallel thereto—is the same as the last—that is Acacia. The next is the flower fence, also used as an inclosure to Gardens. Next to this are two rows of the Bird pepper—then one row of the Cayan pepper. Then 2 rows of the Seed of the Privy. The remainder of this Section was compleated with Guinea Grass—which, as all the others, were planted and Sowed in Drills 12 Inches a part.
Colo. Harrison left this by Sunrise today.

   All the planting done this day was apparently with materials brought to GW by George Augustine Washington. In addition to the plants already identified, they include:

   Hura crepitans, sandbox tree, a native of the West Indies and South America, reaching a height of 100 feet.

   Jatropha curcas, Barbados nut or physic nut, a small tropical tree cultivated for its purgative oil.

   Melia azedarach, chinaberry, Indian lilac, or pride of China, widely planted in the South from the Atlantic to western Texas.

   Acacia sp., acacia. There are about 450 species, but as GW says it was used in the West Indies to encircle gardens it is possibly A. cavenia, a shrub with a stout spine good for hedges, found in tropical America. Most acacias are native to Australia.

   Poinciana pulcherrima, Barbados flower fence or Barbados pride.

   Capsicum frutescens, bird pepper.

   C. frutescens longum, cayenne pepper.

   Ligustrum vulgare, common privet.

   GW had written to George Augustine Washington on 6 Jan. 1785 that he would be glad to receive trees not native to his area “which would be ornamental in a grove or forest, and would stand our climate” (owned by H. Bartholomew Cox, Washington, D.C.). His nephew replied that he would do his best, with the assistance of Col. William Washington and that of an unnamed botanist and gardener who lived in the vicinity (25 Feb. 1785, ViMtvL).

Tuesday 14. Mercury at 78 in the Morning—80 at Noon And 80 at Night.
Calm in the Morning and very little wind at any time in the day. In the Morning there was rumbling thunder at a distance and Clouds indicative of rain as there also was in the Afternoon but none of it reached us.
About 7 Oclock Mr. Graham & Mrs. Macauly Graham left this on their return to New York. I accompanied them to Mr. Digges’s to which place I had her Carriage & horses put over. Mr. Digges escorted her to Bladensburgh.
Sowed on each side of the Great Gate in front of the Ho[use] (between the Serpentine railing and the Orchard grass plats, & Ditches) Seeds of the Palmetto royal in Drills 15 Inches a part.

Wednesday 15th. Mercury at 78 in the Morning—80 at Noon and 84 at Night.
Mr. John Lewis after a stay of almost 8 Weeks took his departure, very well recovered. My brother Charles also left this on his return home.
Rid to my Plantations at Muddy hole, Ferry, and Dogue run. Also to the Mill.
Mr. Bushrod Washington came here before dinner.

Thursday 16th. Mercury at 80 in the Morning—84 at Noon And 86 at Night.
Light wind from the Southward all day. Weather very warm. Some appearances of rain in the afternoon, but none fell here.

Friday 17th. Mercury at 80 in the Morning—84 at Noon and 83 at Night. Between 4 & 5 Oclock it was at 85.
Westerly Wind in the forenoon & So. Wt. afterwards with rumbling thunder at a distance & some appearances of rain—but none fell near this.
Cut down the Weeds in the ground which had been sowed with Clover & Orchard Grass Seeds in the Inclosure adjoining H[ome] H[ouse]—as also those in the orchard Grass in the South Circle by the Gate, which had got high where the ground was strong & was about to Seed.
The Catalpa Trees were pretty generally displaying their Blossoms; & Chesnut also.
Mr. Geo. A. Washington went up to Alexandria to Dinner & returned in the Afternoon.

Saturday 18th. Mercury at 80 in the Morning—81 at Noon and 82 at Night.
Wind Westwardly in the forenoon, & Southwardly afterwards.
In the Afternoon my Brother John came hither from Alexandria, having gone to that place by Water.

Sunday 19th. Mercury at 78 in the Morning—80 at Noon And 82 at Night.
Very little wind all day, & none in the Afternoon.
Mr. Montgomery came here to dinner & went away afterwards.

Monday 20th. Mercury at 79 in the Morning—84 at Noon and 86 at Night.
Clear with very little wind, Sultry in the Afternoon.
My Brother John went up to Alexandria after an early Breakfast.
Began to pull the seeds of the Blew, or English grass, and cut the top from the Walnut tree wch. I transplanted in the Spring, as it seemed to be declining; the leaves which had put out falling off by degrees.
The Weather being hot and dry I commenced the Watering of the Guinea grass Seeds wch. were sowed on the 13th. Instt. & perceiving the physic Nut & the Seeds of the Flower fence & Acacia to be coming up, I watered these also.

Tuesday 21st. Mercury at 82 in the Morning—86 at Noon And 88 at Night.
Little or no Wind but extremely Sultry.

Mr. Ballendine came here abt. 5 Oclock in the Afternoon and my Brother returned from Alexandria abt. 8 Oclock.

Wednesday 22d. Mercury at 82 in the Morning—84 at Noon and 80 at Night.
Calm, and very warm in the forenoon. About one Oclock it began to cloud, and to thunder. Soon after which the clouds parted, and powerful rains went above, and below us. Very little more than laid the dust fell here, but we had a pretty high Wind from the Westward.
After Breakfast Mr. & Miss Ballendine and Mr. Bushrod Washington went away. And just as we had done dinner Colo. Bassett & his two Sons, Burwell & John, arrived.
The little rain which fell prevented my continuing to pull the Seeds of the blew or English grass altho there was not a sufficiency to wet the Earth.

   Burwell Bassett was a member of the Virginia Senate, where he served from 1777 until his death in 1793. Burwell Bassett, Jr. (1764–1841), eldest surviving son of Burwell Bassett, enjoyed a long career in the Virginia House of Delegates (1787–89, 1819–21), the Virginia Senate (c.1794–1805), and the United States House of Representatives (1805–13, 1821–29). He resided at Eltham, which he inherited at his father’s death in 1793. John Bassett (1765–1826), a lawyer, lived in Hanover County. In 1786 he married Elizabeth Carter Browne, daughter of William Burnet and Judith Walker Carter Browne of Elsing Green, King William County.

Thursday 23d. Mercury at 78 in the Morning—80 at Noon and 78 at Night. Morning lowering with appearances of rain. About 10 Oclock the clouds dispersed and it turned very warm. A little after noon a cloud arose in the So. West quarter and thundered and about 3 Oclock we had a fine shower wch. gave sufficient refreshment to vegetation.
Very little Wind in the forenoon—Eastwardly afterwards.
A Mr. Brisco, introduced by a letter from Colo. R. H. Harrison came here to offer himself to me as a Secretary.
Cut the grass in my Court yard and began to do the like in the river front of the House.
Mr. Brisco after dining went away. I took 8 or 10 days to give him a definitive answer in. My Brothr. Jno. returned home.

   mr. brisco: Harrison introduced William Briscoe as a close relative of his wife (Harrison to GW, 20 June 1785, DLC:GW). He may have been a son of Harrison’s sister-in-law, Mary Hanson Briscoe and her husband, John Briscoe. Briscoe was not hired for the job. For further information on GW’s search for a secretary, see 2 July 1785.

Friday 24th. Mercury at 77 in the Morning—72 at Noon and 72 at Night.
A good deal of rain fell at and before day break—continued cloudy all day with the Wind at East.
Finished cutting all the grass within the inclosures on both Sides the House.

Saturday 25th. Mercury at 72 in the Morning—72 at Noon and 77 at Night.
Clear and but little wind during the whole day.
Making, with the jobbers about the House, the Hay which had been cut the preceeding days—got it into Shocks.
My Nephew, George Steptoe Washington came here in the Afternoon.

Sunday 26th. Mercury at 74 in the Morning—76 at Noon and 77 at Night.
Southerly wind and clear. Major Edwards and a Mr. Philips came here before Dinner. Mr. Charles Lee also came to Dinner. The whole stayed all Night.

   Evan Edwards of Pennsylvania served throughout the Revolution in various Pennsylvania regiments. In 1777 he acted as aide-de-camp to Maj. Gen. Charles Lee. After the Revolution, Edwards moved to Charleston, S.C. He was probably on his way north from there at this time to visit his family in Pennsylvania or to inspect land in Berkeley County which had been willed to him by General Lee (LEE [6][Charles Lee]. The Lee Papers. 4 vols. New York, 1872-75. In Collections of the New-York Historical Society, vols. 4–7., 4:31). Charles Lee (1758–1815), who came to dinner at Mount Vernon today, was no relation to the general.

   Charles Philips bore an introduction from Jacob Read of South Carolina. He was “a Gentleman of very ample fortune in the West Indies and is now on his return to Europe after visiting his Estates.” Philips, a native of Yorktown, was educated in Europe and spent most of his life there (Jacob Read to GW, 8 May 1785, DLC:GW).

Monday 27th. Mercury at 77 in the Morning—79 at Noon and 77 at Night. A little rain in the Morning—with Clouds and appearances of it in the Afternoon, but none fell here. In the Morning there was but little wind. The Clouds which appeared in the Afternoon produced a good deal of wind from the West & No. West wch. changed the Air & made it much Cooler.
Mr. Lee went away before Breakfast.

Tuesday 28th. Mercury at 69 in the Morning—72 at Noon and 72 at Night. Clear & pleasant, wind what their was of it, westerly.
Finished my Hay at and about the House & got it into large Cocks or small stacks on the grd. where cut.

Doctr. Stuart, Mr. Booth and a Mr. Hawkins came here to dinner, the first of whom went away after it. In the Afternoon my Brother Charles came.

   Col. Josias Hawkins (c.1735–1789) of Charles County, Md., commanded a battalion of militia during the Revolution. He and William Booth, who appear together at Mount Vernon, probably were engaged in a business transaction of some sort, for a few months later GW wrote Hawkins at Booth’s request, defending Booth’s character “from the injurious aspersions, which he says have been cast at it” (GW to Josias Hawkins, 27 Feb. 1786, DLC:GW).

Wednesday 29th. Mercury at 69 in the Morning—74 at Noon And 76 at Night.
Clear & pleasant all day except being warm. Wind Westerly.
Messrs. Philips and Edwards, and Mr. Booth & Mr. Hawkins left this after Breakfast. Colo. Bassett his two Sons, Fanny Bassett, and Nelly & Washington Custis, followed soon after for Abingdon.
Mr. George Lee & Doctr. Craik came here to breakfast and after Dinner returned.
Discovered the Cayan pepper Which was sowed on the 13th. to be coming up.

   George Lee is probably the son of Philip Lee of Maryland and younger half brother of Squire Richard Lee of Blenheim.

Thursday 30th. Mercury at 72 in the Morning—76 at Noon and  at Night.
Clear & warm, with little Wind at any time of the day.
My Brother Charles left this after breakfast and G. Auge. Washington went up to Abingdon.
Rid to my Hay field at the Meadow—from thence to my Dogue run and Muddy hole Plantations and dined with only Mrs. Washington which I believe is the first instance of it since my retirement from public life.


Title: [Diary entry: 1 July 1785]
From: Washington, George
To:

July 1st. Mercury at 74 in the Morning—78 at Noon and 80 at Night. Clear with but little Wind and warm. Went to Alexandria to a meeting of the Board of Directors, who by Advertisement were to attend this day for the purpose of agreeing with a Manager and two Assistants to conduct the

Undertaking of the Potomack Navigation—but no person applying with proper Credentials the Board gave the applicants until thursday the 14th. to provide these & for others to offer. Returned in the Evening accompanied by Colo. Bassett & Colo. Spait, a Member of Congress for the State of No. Carolina. Fanny Bassett, her Brothers—G. Washington & Betcy & Washington Custis came down to Dinner.


Title: [Diary entry: 3 July 1785]
From: Washington, George
To:

Sunday 3d. Mercury at 79 in the Morning—80 at Noon and  at Night. A little wind from the Westward till towards Noon; then Calm until near 5 Oclock when there was a squall from the No. Wt. with appearances of rain but little or none fell here. Mr. McCrae and Mr. Shaw left this after Breakfast, & Doctr. Stewart, his wife, Sister & Betcy & Patcy Custis after dinner. In the Evening Mrs. and Miss Blackburn came here.


Title: [Diary entry: 4 July 1785]
From: Washington, George
To:

Monday 4th. Mercury at 76 in the Morng.—80 at Noon and 82 at Night. Tolerably pleasant in the forenoon, the Wind being No[rth]wardly, but warm afterwards. Rid to my Ferry—Dogue run & Neck Plantations—at all of

which my Wheat Harvests had begun. That in the Neck had commenced on thursday last.


Title: [Diary entry: 5 July 1785]
From: Washington, George
To:

Tuesday 5th. Mercury at 79 in the Morning—84 at Noon and 82 at Night. Very warm in the forepart of the day altho the wind was Northerly. About One Oclock a cloud arose in the So. W.; and an hour or two after, we had a fine Shower of rain for about 10 or 15 minutes, preceeded by a squall of wind from the same quarter, wch. cooled the Air & made the Afternoon pleasant. After dinner Mr. Govournr. Morris and Mr. Wm. Craik came in.


Title: [Diary entry: 6 July 1785]
From: Washington, George
To:

Wednesday 6th. Mercury at 80 in the Morning 84 at Noon and 84 at Night. Clear and warm, with but little Wind & that variable. Mrs. Blackburn and her daughter went away before breakfast. General Lincoln & his Son; Mr. Porter, & a Doctr. Milne came to Dinner & returned afterwards. Received from Genl. Lincoln 3 young trees of the Spruce Pine and two of the Fir or Hemlock in half Barrels which seemed to be healthy & vegitating. Also received from Doctr. Craik by his Son a parcel of Chinese Seeds similar to those presented to me by Mr. Porter on the 2d Instt.


Title: [Diary entry: 9 July 1785]
From: Washington, George
To:

Saturday 9th. Mercury at 80 in the Morng.—82 at Noon and 82 at Night. Morning very warm, with but little Wind, which coming from the Eastward in the Evening & blowing brisk cooled the Air and made it pleasant. Burwell & John Bassett and G. A. Washington set out after Breakfast for the Sweet Springs in Bottetourt County. I rid to my Harvest fields at the Ferry and at Dogue run and over my Cornfields at each of those places and at Muddy hole. Found the first not good—the 2d. very indifferent and the third—viz. that at Muddy hole as good as could be expected from the Land. A Mr. Arnold Henry Dohrman, a Gentleman of Lisbon recommended by Govr. Henry to me as a Man of fortune & one who had been exceedingly attentive and kind to the American prisoners in captivity came here, dined, and continued his journey afterwards to New York with letters of Introduction from me to the Presidt. of Congress, and to Messrs. Wilson Grayson and Chase Members of it, from me.


Title: [Diary entry: 10 July 1785]
From: Washington, George
To:

Sunday 10th. Mercury at 76 in the Morng.—78 at Noon and 78 at Night. Morning calm—but the Wind fresh afterwards from the Eastward. Cool and pleasant. At home all day alone.


Title: [Diary entry: 11 July 1785]
From: Washington, George
To:

 Monday 11th. Mercury at 75 in the Morning 80 at Noon and 79 at Night. Wind at So. West in the Morning, fresh & Cloudy. About Noon it began to thunder, & at 3 Oclock to Rain; and continued Showery at Intervals till near sun down—one of which was very hard, accompanied by heavy wind from the No. West or more Northerly. Rid to my Harvest fields in the Neck, Dogue Run, & Ferry Plann. Perceived the Sand box trees (the Nuts of which I sowed on the 13th. of June) to be coming up.


Title: [Diary entry: 13 July 1785]
From: Washington, George
To:

Wednesday 13th. Mercury at 72 in the Morning—76 at Noon and 78 at Night. Morning calm & clear. Afternoon clear with the Wind from the Southward but not very fresh. Transplanted the Spruce & Fir (or Hemlock) from the Boxes in which they were sent to me by General Lincoln to the Walks by the Garden Gates. The Spare one (Spruce) I placed in my Nursery, or Botanical Garden.


Title: [Diary entry: 14 July 1785]
From: Washington, George
To:

Thursday 14th. Mercury at 72 in the Morng.—77 at Noon and 79 at Night.  Day clear—with a little Wind from the Southward. Went through my Harvest field at Muddy hole to Alexandria, to a Meeting of the Directors of the Potomack Company. Agreed with Mr. James Rumsey to undertake the Management of our works and a Mr. Stuart from Baltimore as an Assistant. Gave them directions—passed some Accts.—paid my quota of the demand for these purposes to Mr. Hartshorne the Treasurer—Made Mrs. Dalby a visit and came home in the evening. Found Mr. Bryan Fairfax & his son Ferdinando here at my return who had come down before dinner.


Title: [Diary entry: 15 July 1785]
From: Washington, George
To:

Friday 15th. Mercury at 74 in the Morng.—78 at Noon and 76 at Night. Lowering Morning with the Wind at So. West, and pretty fresh. A black cloud, with high wind, and a little rain about 3 Oclock. Observed the Seeds of the Palmetto Royal which I had sowed on each side of the Gate in Front of the House were coming up. Mr. Fairfax and his Son Ferdinando left this after breakfast.


Title: [Diary entry: 16 July 1785]
From: Washington, George
To:

 Saturday 16th. Mercury at 74 in the Morning—76 at Noon and 80 at Night. Day clear & warm, with but little Wind and that Southerly. Rid to my Wheat fields at Muddy hole and in the Neck; the first would be finished harvesting this day, the next not till Monday. Finished cutting the Wheat at Dogue run on Tuesday, and at the ferry on Wednesday last.


Title: [Diary entry: 18 July 1785]
From: Washington, George
To:

Monday 18th. Mercury at 72 in the Morning—74 at Noon and 74 at Night. Wind Westerly in the Morning with Clouds, and appearances of rain. In the Afternoon it got to the Southwest & cleared. Finished my Wheat Harvest in the Neck and began to cut Grass at Morris’s.


Title: [Diary entry: 19 July 1785]
From: Washington, George
To:

Tuesday 19th. Thermomiter at 70 in the Morng.—74 at Noon and 76 at Night. Very little Wind through the day, and in general clear. Rid to the Plantation in the Neck—to Muddy hole, and to Dogue run at the last of which they were cutting grass and at the first just begin[nin]g.


Title: [Diary entry: 21 July 1785]
From: Washington, George
To:

Thursday 21st. Thermometer at 76 in the Morng.—79 at Noon and 80 at Night. Cloudy morning, but clear Afternoon with a brisk Southerly Wind all day and warm. Mr. Thompson, a Presbaterian Minister (introduced by Mr. Robt. Adam) came here, dined and Stayed all Night.


Title: [Diary entry: 23 July 1785]
From: Washington, George
To:

Saturday 23d. Mercury at 79 in the Morning—78 at Noon and 80 at Night. Wind Westwardly in the forenoon, but quite calm afterwards; afternoon cool. Rid to Muddy hole and River Plantations. Finished my Hay Harvest in the Neck. Perceived a few Plants of the Pride of China (the Seed of which were Sowed on the 13th. of June) to be coming up. And also the Jien pien Cou fa—between the 8 & 9 pegs and the Seeds without name (only one) between the 4 & 5 pegs—the 1st. in the Second, & the other in the 3d. Row of the Chinese Sowing. These tho unnoticed at the time have been up several days.


Title: [Diary entry: 25 July 1785]
From: Washington, George
To:

Monday 25th. Thermometer at 72 in the Morning—76 at Night [noon] and 76 at Night.  Rid to my Plantations at the Ferry—Dogue run and in the Neck. Southerly Wind, and warm in the Afternoon.


Title: [Diary entry: 27 July 1785]
From: Washington, George
To:

Wednesday 27th. Thermometer at 74 in the Morng.—80 at Noon and 80 at Night. Morning a little lowering—forenoon perfectly calm & the wind at South afterwards. A Cloud rising about 5 Oclock afforded a pretty Shower for about 10 or 15 Minutes. Finished cutting my Meadows at Dogue run but the Rain prevented my getting it secured either in Cocks or otherwise. Also cut my Field Pea’s the Seed of which came from Albany. Mrs. Fendal, Miss Lee (eldest daughter of the Presidt. of Congress) Miss Nancy Lee, Grand daughter of Richd. Lee Esqr. of Maryland—Mr. Chas. Lee & Mr. Lawe, Washington, Lund Washington & their wives and Mr. Lawe. Washington, Son of Lawrence & Mr. Thos. Washington Son to Robert all dined here and went away in the Afternoon.


Title: [Diary entry: 28 July 1785]
From: Washington, George
To:

Thursday 28th. Thermometer at 77 in the Morng.—81 at Noon and 84 at Night. Southerly wind in the forenoon. Calm afterwards until about 5 Oclock & very warm—Southerly from thence through the Night. Finished my Harvest at Dogue run, which compleated the business of Haymaking for this year.


Title: [Diary entry: 30 July 1785]
From: Washington, George
To:

Saturday 30th. Thermometer at 70 in the Morng.—72 at Noon and 75 at Night. Clear with but little Wind at any time of the day. Put shades over the Spruce & Hemlock pines, brought me by Genl. Lincoln, which seemed to be declining fast. Mr. Shaw went this Afternoon to Dumfries.


Title: [Diary entry: 31 July 1785]
From: Washington, George
To:

Sunday 31st. Thermometer at 70 in the Morng.—78 at Noon and 78 at Night. Calm & clear all day.


Title: [Diary entry: 1 August 1785]
From: Washington, George
To:

Monday 1st. Mercury at 74 in the Morning— at Noon and 78 at Night.  But little wind, weather clear & day very warm. Left home at 6 Oclock P. M. and after escorting Fanny Bassett to Alexandria I proceeded to Doctr. Stuarts where I breakfasted; and from thence went to George Town to the Annual Meeting of the Potomack Company appointed to be held at that place. About Noon, a sufficient number of sharers having assembled to constitute a meeting, we proceeded to business—Mr. Danl. Carroll in the Chair—when the President & directors of the Company made a report of their transactions since their appointment, which was received & approved of. The Board of Directors then sat, and after coming to some resolutions respecting rations to be allowed the Workmen—the mode of payment—manner of keeping an acct. of their work &ca. &ca. and to a determination of proceeding first to the Senneca Falls and next to those at the Mouth of Shannondoah for the purpose of investigation & to direct the operations thereat adjourned Sine Die. Dined at Shuters Tavern, and lodged at Mr. Oneals.


Title: [Diary entry: 2 August 1785]
From: Washington, George
To:

Tuesday 2d. Thermometer at 76 in the Morng.—78 at Noon and  at Night. Weather clear and Warm with but little wind. Left George Town about 10 Oclock, in Company with all the Directors except Govr. Lee who went to Mellwood to visit Mr. Igns. Digges (his father in Law) who lay at the point of death and being accompanied by Colo. James Johnson (Brother to Govr. Johnson) and Messrs. Beall, Johns & others who took with them a cold Collation with Spirits wine &ca. We dined at Mr. Bealls Mill 14 Miles from George Town and proceeded—that is the Directors and Colo. Johnson—to a Mr. Goldsboroughs, a decent Farmers House at the head of the Senneca falls—about 6 Miles and 20 from George Town.


Title: [Diary entry: 3 August 1785]
From: Washington, George
To:

Wednesday 3d. Wind at No. West & tolerably pleasant with appearances of Rain, without any falling. Having provided Canoes and being joined by Mr. Rumsay the principal Manager, & Mr. Stewart an Assistant to him, in carrying on the Works, we proceeded to examine the falls; and beginning at the head of them went through the whole by water, and continued from the foot of them to the Great fall. After which, returning back to a Spring on the Maryland Side between the

Seneca & Great Falls, we partook (about 5 O’clock) of another cold Collation which a Colo. Orme, a Mr. Turner & others of the Neighbourhood, had provided and returned back by the way of Mr. Bealls Mill to our old Quarters at Mr. Goldsboroughs. The distance as estimated 8 Miles. The Water through these Falls is of sufficient depth for good Navigation; and as formidable as I had conceived them to be; but by no means impracticable. The principal difficulties lye in rocks which occasion a crooked passage. These once removed, renders the passage safe without the aid of Locks & may be effected for the Sum mentioned in Mr. Jno. Ballendine’s estimate (the largest extant) but in a different manner than that proposed by him. It appearing to me, and was so, unanimously determined by the Board of Directors, that a channel through the bed of the river in a strait direction, and as much in the course of the currant as may be, without a grt. increase of labour & expence, would be preferable to that through the Gut which was the choice of Mr. Ballendine for a Canal with Locks—the last of which we thought unnecessary, & the first more expensive in the first instance, besides being liable to many inconveniences which the other is not, as it would, probably be frequently choaked with drift wood—Ice—and other rubbish which would be thrown therein through the several inlets already made by the rapidity of the currts. in freshes and others which probably would be made thereby; whereas a navigation through the bed of the river when once made will, in all probability, remain forever, as the currt. here will rather clear, than contribute to choak, the passage. It is true, no track path can be had in a navigation thus ordered, nor does there appear a necessity for it. Tracking, constitutes a large part of Mr. Ballendines estimate—The want of which, in the rapid parts of the river, (if Mr. Rumseys plan for working Boats against stream by the force of Mechanical powers should fail) may be supplied by chains buoyed up to haul by which would be equally easy, more certain, and less dangerous than setting up with Poles—whilst track paths, it is apprehended can not be made to stand, and may endanger the Banks if the Wood is stripped from them, which is their present security against washing. The distance between the Seneca & Great Falls, is about 5 Miles; and except in one place within ¾ of a Mile of the latter, the navigation now is, or easily may be made, very good; and at this place, the obstruction arises from the shallowness of the Water. Boats may go almost to the Spout with safety. To the place

where the water passes when the river is full it is quite easy & safe to descend to, being in a Cove of still Water.


Title: [Diary entry: 5 August 1785]
From: Washington, George
To:

Friday 5th. Thermometer at 74 in the Morning—76 at Noon and 76 at Night. After Breakfast, and after directing Mr. Rumsey when he had marked the way and set the labourers to Work to meet us at Harpers ferry on the Evening of the Morrow at Harpers Ferry (at the conflux of the Shannondoah with the Potomack) myself and the Directors set out for the same place by way of Frederick Town (Maryland). Dined at a Dutch mans 2 Miles above the  Mo[uth] of Monocasy & reached the former about 5 ’Oclock. Drank Tea—supped—and lodged at Govr. Johnsons. In the Evening the Bells rang, & Guns were fired; & a Committee waited upon me by order of the Gentlemen of the Town to request that I wd. stay next day and partake of a public dinner which the Town were desirous of giving me. But as arrangements had been made, and the time for examining the Shannondoah Falls, previous to the day fixed for receiving labourers into pay, was short I found it most expedient to decline the honor.


Title: [Diary entry: 6 August 1785]
From: Washington, George
To:

Saturday 6th. Thermometer 76 in the Morning—88 at Noon and 82 at Night. Breakfasted in Frederick Town, at Govr. Johnsons, and dined at Harpers ferry. Took a view of the River, from the Banks, as we road up the bottom from Pains falls to the ferry, as well as it could be done on Horse back. Sent a Canoe in a Waggon from the Ferry to Keeptriest Furnace in ordr. to descend the Falls therin tomorrow. In my ride from George Town to this place, I made the following observations. That the Land about the first, is not only hilly, & a good deal mixed with flint stone, but is of an indifferent quality ’till we left the great Road, (3 Miles from G. Town) which leads to the former. The quality of the Land then improves,

and seems well adapted to the culture of small grain but continues broken and by No means in a state of high cultivation. It is also better timbered and of a sameness to the Seneca Falls. That about the Maryland Sugar Lands (1400 Acres of which belong to George Plater Esqr.) which is five Miles above Seneca It is remarkably fine, & very level. From thence to Monocasy about 12 Miles further they are less levl. and of much inferior quality. That from Monocasy to Frederick Town (distant 12 or 13 Miles) nothing can well exceed them for fertility of Soil—convenient levelness and luxurient growth of Timber. The Farms seem to be under good cultivation, which is somewhat Surprizing, as the possessors of them (on a Mannor belonging to Chs. Carroll Esqr. of Carrolton who holds in one Tract, 12 or 14,000 Acres) are Tenants at will—paying for the low grounds on Potomack & Monocasy 5/. Maryland Curry. pr. acre & for the high land 4/. for all the land within the boundaries of their respective Tenements. That from Frederick Town to the Kittoctan Mountain (about 7 Miles) the Land is nearly similar but not quite so luxurient to the eye. And from that Mountain to the river estimated 10 Miles it is more hilly & of a second quality but strong & very productive especially of small grain. That the remaining 3 Miles to the Ferry is river bottom and of course good. Frederick Town stands on a branch of Monocasy, and lyes rather low. The Country about it is beautiful & seems to be in high Cultivation. It is said to contain about  Houses; for the most part of wood; but there are many of Brick and Stone, & some good ones. The number of Inhabitants are computed to be  Souls. There are Churches, a Court House—Work House & other public buildings. The Mechanics are numerous, in proportion to the aggregate; and the Spirit of Industry seems to pervade the place—tho’ Trade, it is said, has slackened.


Title: [Diary entry: 7 August 1785]
From: Washington, George
To:

Sunday 7th. Thermometer at 76 in the Morning—74 at Noon and 76 at Night. About Sunrising, the Directors & myself rid up to Keeptrieste, where Canoes were provided, in which we crossed to the Maryland side of the river and examined a Gut, or swash through which it is supposed the Navigation must be conducted. This Swash is shallow at the entrance, but having sufficient fall, may easily (by removing some of the rocks) admit any quantity of water required. From the entrance to the foot, may be about 300 yards in a semicircular direction with many loose, & some fixed rocks to remove. Having examined this passage, I returned to the head of the Falls, and in one of the Canoes with two skilful hands descended them with the common Currt. in its Natural bed—which I found greatly incommoded with rocks, shallows and a crooked Channel which left no doubt of the propriety of preferring a passage through the Swash. From the foot of the Swash the Water is pretty good for 3 or 400 yards further, when there is another fall of it, or rapid with an uneven bottom which occasions a considerable ripple at Top—but as their is sufficient depth, & the channel Middling straight, the difficulty here in descending is not great but to return without the aids spoke of at the Seneca falls may be labourious. From hence the Water is good to the head of the Island just above the ferry by which it is shoal on the Virginia side with some rocks and tho’ deeper on the Maryland side is worse on acct. of the

Rocks which are more numerous. The distance from the head of the Falls to the Ferry may be about a Mile & half. Here we breakfasted; after which we set out to explore the Falls below; & having but one Canoe, Colo. Gilpin, Mr. Rumsay (who joined us according to appointment last Night) and Myself, embarked in it, with intention to pass thro’ what is called the Spout (less than half a mile below the ferry) but when we came to it, the Company on the shore on acct. of the smallness, and low sides of the Vessel, dissuaded us from the attempt, least the roughness of the Water, occasioned by the rocky bottom, should fill, & involve us in danger. To avoid the danger therefore we passed through a narrow channel on the left, near the Maryland Shore and continued in the Canoe to the lower end of Pains falls distant, according to estimation 3 Miles. These falls may be described as follow. From the Ferry, for about 3 hundred yards, or more, the Water is deep with rocks here and there, near the surface, then a ripple; the Water betwn. which, and the Spout, as before. The Spout takes its name from the rapidity of the Water, and its dashings, occasioned by a gradual, but pretty considerable fall, over a rocky bottom which makes an uneven surface & considerable swell. The Water however, is of sufficient depth through it, but the Channel not being perfectly straight; skilful hands are necessary to navigate and conduct Vessels through this rapid. From hence, their is pretty smooth & even Water with loose stone, & some rocks, for the best part of a Mile; to a ridge of rocks which cross the river with Intervals; thro’ which the Water passes in crooked directions. But the passage which seemed most likely to answer our purpose of Navigation was on the Maryland side being freest from rocks but Shallow. From hence to what are called Pains falls the Water is tolerably smooth, with Rocks here and there. These are best passed on the Maryland side. They are pretty Swift—shallow—and foul at bottom but the difficulties may be removed. From the bottom of these Falls, leaving an Island on the right, & the Maryland Shore on the left the easy & good Navigation below is entered. At the foot of these falls the Directors & myself (Govr. Lee having joined us the Evening before) held a meeting—At which it was determined, as we conceived the Navigation could be made through these (commonly called the Shannondoah) Falls without the aid of Locks, and by opening them would give eclat to the undertaking and great ease to the upper Inhabitants as Water transportation would be immediately had to the Great Falls

from Fort Cumberland to employ the upper hands in this work instead of removing the obstructions above, and gave Mr. Rumsey directions to do so accordingly—with general Instructions for his Governmt. Govr. Lee, on Acct. of the death of his Father in Law, Mr. Igs. Digges, & consequent circumstances; left us at this place with a view of carrying his Lady next day to Mellwood. The rest of us returned to the Tavern at Harpers Ferry.


Title: [Diary entry: 8 August 1785]
From: Washington, George
To:

Monday 8th. Thermometer at 68 this Morning—70 at Noon and 70 at Night. This being the day appointed for labourers to engage in the work we waited to see the issue until Evening, when Mr. Johnson & his Brother Colo. Johnson took leave of us. Many Gentlemen of the Neighbourhood visited us here today—among whom Mr. Wormeley Senr., my Brother Charles—Colo. Morgan, Captn. Shepherd and Colo. Shepherd his Brother of Wheeling on the Ohio were of the number. A few hands offered and were employed.


Title: [Diary entry: 9 August 1785]
From: Washington, George
To:

Tuesday 9th. Thermometer at 68 in the Morning—72 at Noon and 74 at Night. Having provided a light & convenient Boat—hired two hands to work her and laid in some Stores, Colonels Fitzgerald & Gilpin, and myself embarked in it, leaving Mr. Rumsey to engage more hds. & to set those he had to work about 6 Oclock P.M. In this Boat we passed through the Spout, and all the other Falls and rapids, and breakfasted at a Captn. Smiths on the Maryland side; to which place our horses had been sent the Evening before—after which and dining on our prog at Knowlands Ferry (about 15 Miles from Harpers) we lodged at the House of a  Mr. Tayler, about three Miles above the Mouth of Goose Creek and about 10 M. below Knowlands.