Title: [January 1799]
From: Washington, George
To:

Jany. 1. Raining Slowly until the Afternoon when it cleared. Wind southerly. Mer. 38. Ih.

   Diary entries for 1–21 Jan. 1799 are from a diary page at PHi: Gratz Collection. The first part of this section of the diary has a number of cryptic abbreviations in GW’s handwriting, some of which appear to have been added at a later date. See editorial note to the 1795 diary.

2. Clear. Wind at No. Wt. but moderate. Mer. at 30—W—little Kx.

3. Cold. A little Snow fell. Mer. 28.

4. Very cold. Wind at No. and Mer. 24.—V—x

5. Extreme cold. Mer. at 10. Wind at No. Wt. and in the Night a considerable fall of Snow.

6. Clear but very cold. Wind still at No. Wt. & Mer. at 9.

7. Clear. Mer. at 8. Wind at No. Wt.

8. Clear in the forenoon but lowering afterwards. Raining in the Night but Not much. Mer. at 16.—Gr.—Wind Southerly.

9. Cloudy Morning but clear afterwards. Wind Southerly. Mer. at 30.

10. Lowering. Wind Southerly. Mer. 32. Left home for the City of Washington W—x. Dined at Mr. T. Peters.

11. Very heavy fog but little wind and that Southerly. Clear after the fog went off & very warm. Quite a Spring day—Petr. A—dined at Doctr. Thorntons.

12. Heavy fog. Nearly calm. Clear after morning & warm Sun. Returned home to dinner. Snow all gone.

13th. Mer. 42. Wind at No. Et. and misting in the forenoon & raining afterwards—and faster at Night.

14. Heavy Morning but No Rain & but little wind. Mer. at 38. Foggy & thick through the day.

15. Perfectly clear & calm in the Morning. Mer. at 36. Wind afterwards fresh but not hard at N. W.

16. Clear. Mer. 38. Wind at No. W. in the Morning but moderate calm and exceedingly pleasant afterwards.

17. Clear & calm in the Morning & a white frost. Mer. 30 in the Morning & 40 at Night. Clear all day with very little wind—that Easterly.

18. Heavy morning (a fog). Little or no Wind & that Southeasterly. Afternoon clear. Mer. 36.

19. Morning misting—afterwards Slow rain at Intervals. Wind what there was of it in the same quarter. Nelly Custis accompanied by Doctr. & Mrs. Stuart and their three daughters came to Dinner. Mer. 36.

20. Morning dull. Mer. at 35. Wind but little, & that Southerly. Clear afterwards.

21. Morning clear. Mer. at 32. Wind hard & cold from the No. Wt. till Noon, when it moderated. Went up to Court, and to an Election of Bank Directors in Alexandria—was chosen Guardian by Miss Eleanor Parke Custis & gave in my Suffrage for Directors. Dined at Mr. Fitzhughs.

   On 23 Jan., GW wrote Lawrence Lewis of his errand to Alexandria, “whither I went to become the guardian of Nelly, thereby to authorize a license for your nuptials on the 22d of next month” (CUSTISGeorge Washington Parke Custis. Recollections and Private Memoirs of Washington. New York, 1860., 45).

22. Clear morning. Mer. at 30. Wind from the Southward. Lowering afternoon & likely for rain. Turning Warm.

   The entries for 22 Jan.—9 Feb. 1799 are from a diary page at PHi: Dreer Collection.

23. Lowering. Mer. at 40. Wind (tho’ but very little of it) Southerly. Lowering through the day. Mr. Bushrod Washington came to dinner.

24. Mer. at 33. A sprinkling of Snow fell in the night—succeeded by R which continued steadily thro’ the day, though not hard.

25. Mer. at 28; with a very heavy Sleet. Thick heavy day throughout. Sleet continuing. No wind but an air from the No. Et. Doctr. Stuart & family & Mr. Bushd. Washn. went away after breakfast.

26. Mer. at 30. Sleet increased & weather very thick & foggy all day.

27. Mer. at 36 in the Morning. Cloudy all day with the Wind at No. Wt. & turning cold.

28. Morning clear. Mer. at 26 and wind at No. Wt. where it remained all day but not hard tho’ cold. Mer. 26 at Night.

29. Mer. at 23 in the Morning wch. was lowering with the wind what there was of it at No. Wt.

30. Mer. at 29. Morning clear. Wind southerly and a remarkable large hoarfrost. Remained at So. all day & fresh. Mer. 44 at Night.

31. Clear Morning. Mer. at 33 and wind at No. Wt. Afterwards calm & remarkably pleasant.


Title: [Diary entry: 1 February 1799]
From: Washington, George
To:

February 1. Mer. at . Brisk southerly Wind all day & towards Noon lowering with appearances of rain. Mer. 44 at Night.


Title: [Diary entry: 2 February 1799]
From: Washington, George
To:

2. Mer. at 42 in the Morning. Wind Southerly & raining. 37 at Night and raining also. From ten oclock in the forenoon until near 5 in the afternoon it ceased raining but was thick & foggy.


Title: [Diary entry: 4 February 1799]
From: Washington, George
To:

4. Lowering in the Morning. Wind at the same place. Mer. 24. Calm clear & pleasant afterwards.


Title: [Diary entry: 5 February 1799]
From: Washington, George
To:

 5. Wind at No. Et. Mer. at 28—and commenced Snowing about 7 OClock, left off about Noon—grd. slightly covered.


Title: [Diary entry: 7 February 1799]
From: Washington, George
To:

7. Clear & pleasant all day. Mer. at 20 in the Morning but little Wind and that Easterly. Doctr. Thorn. & Majr. Turner came to dinner.


Title: [Diary entry: 8 February 1799]
From: Washington, George
To:

8. Wind Easterly. Morning heavy & Mer. at 28. Dripping rain now & then through the day. Wind shifting to the southward & fresh. Mr. Thos. Digges dined here & returned. Mr. Tracy came to dinner.


Title: [Diary entry: 9 February 1799]
From: Washington, George
To:

9. A heavy storm of Wind from the So[uth]ward & rain in the night—also in the Morning but clear afterwards. Wind getting to the Westward. Mer. at 54 in the Morning & 50 at Night. Thornton & Turner went away abt. Noon.


Title: [Diary entry: 10 February 1799]
From: Washington, George
To:

10. Wind shifted in the Night to N.W., blew fresh & turned cold. Mer. at 30 in the morning & 34 at Night. Clear all day.


Title: [Diary entry: 12 February 1799]
From: Washington, George
To:

12. Wind Westerly & day clear and pleasant. Returnd home. Mr. N. Fitzhugh & brother & Mr. Hen. Wash. came to dinnr.


Title: [Diary entry: 13 February 1799]
From: Washington, George
To:

13. Morning clear—wind Southerly. Mer. 34. Wind very fresh all day. Mer. 46 at Night.


Title: [Diary entry: 14 February 1799]
From: Washington, George
To:

14. Mer. 33—morning clear and Wind at South and very pleasant forepart of the day—Lowering afterwards.


Title: [Diary entry: 15 February 1799]
From: Washington, George
To:

15. Wind shifted to the No. Wt. in the Night. Blew hard and turn cold. Mer. 30 in the Morning & 26 at Night.


Title: [Diary entry: 16 February 1799]
From: Washington, George
To:

16. Hard frost—clear and calm—Pleasant after the Morning. Mer. at 18 in the Morning and 26 at Night. Mr. & Mrs. Peters came to dinner.


Title: [Diary entry: 17 February 1799]
From: Washington, George
To:

17. Morning Snowing with little or no wind. Snow abt. 4 Inches deep. Mer. at 24. Before Noon it cleared & became a fine day with very little Wind. Mer. 30 at Night.


Title: [Diary entry: 18 February 1799]
From: Washington, George
To:

18. Morning clear and calm. Mer. at 30. Wind fresh, but not hard, from No. Wt. afterwards. Mrs. Stuart and her 3 daughters came here in the afternoon. Mer. at 24 at Night.


Title: [Diary entry: 20 February 1799]
From: Washington, George
To:

20. Morning very thick & Misting; Wind Easterly. Mer. at 30 Morng. & Evening with Rain at Intervals through the day. Doctr. Baynham dined here.


Title: [Diary entry: 21 February 1799]
From: Washington, George
To:

21. Mer. at 30 in the Morning—very little wind & that Easterly. Heavy & misting all day. Mer. 30 at Night. Mr. Chs. Carter wife & daughter came to dinner & Mr. Robt. Lewis in the Afternoon.


Title: [Diary entry: 22 February 1799]
From: Washington, George
To:

22. Morning Raining—Mer. at 30. Wind a little more to the Northward. Afterwards very strong from the No. Wt. and turning clear & cold. The Revd. Mr. Davis & Mr. Geo. Calvert came to dinner & Miss Custis was married abt. Candle light to Mr. Lawe Lewis.


Title: [Diary entry: 23 February 1799]
From: Washington, George
To:

 23. Morning clear & very cold. Mer. at 12 & wind at No. Wt. which afterwards shifted to the Southward but still continued cold. Mr. Davis retd. after dinner.


Title: [Diary entry: 25 February 1799]
From: Washington, George
To:

25th. Clear & very cold in the Morning, and through the day. Mer. at 12 in the Morning and 22 at Night. Wind at No. Wt. River nearly closed with Ice. Mr. L: Lee, Mrs. Lee & Miss French—Mr. Herbert, Mr. Jno. Herbert & Miss Herbert—Doctr. Craik & Mr. G. W. Craik—Miss Fitzhugh Miss Moly Fitzhugh & Miss Chew & Colo. Fitzgerald dined here & returned.


Title: [Diary entry: 27 February 1799]
From: Washington, George
To:

27. The Snow which fell in the afternn. was about 4 Inches deep this morng. Morning heavy & but little wind. Mer. 22 and at Night 26. Mr. Thomson Mason & Wife and Mr. Nicholls & Wife dined here & returned.


Title: [Diary entry: 28 February 1799]
From: Washington, George
To:

28. Clear—wind at No. Wt. but not hard. Mer. at 28 in the Morning and 32 at Night. Evening lowering & calm.


Title: [February 1799]
From: Washington, George
To:

February 1. Mer. at . Brisk southerly Wind all day & towards Noon lowering with appearances of rain. Mer. 44 at Night.

2. Mer. at 42 in the Morning. Wind Southerly & raining. 37 at Night and raining also. From ten oclock in the forenoon until near 5 in the afternoon it ceased raining but was thick & foggy.

3. Wind shifting to No. Wt. in the Night. It cleared—blew hard & turned cold. Mer. at 27 in the Morning. Wind Moderated in the day wch. was clear throughout.

4. Lowering in the Morning. Wind at the same place. Mer. 24. Calm clear & pleasant afterwards.

5. Wind at No. Et. Mer. at 28—and commenced Snowing about 7 OClock, left off about Noon—grd. slightly covered.

6. Clear. Wind at No. Wt. Mer. 22. Calm & moderate in the Afternoon.

7. Clear & pleasant all day. Mer. at 20 in the Morning but little Wind and that Easterly. Doctr. Thorn. & Majr. Turner came to dinner.

   Major Turner is probably Dr. William Thornton’s good friend George Turner. Turner, originally from South Carolina, had served as a lieutenant and captain in the 1st South Carolina Regiment during the Revolution and in 1778 became an aide to Maj. Gen. Robert Howe, with the rank of major. In 1789 Turner was appointed judge of the western territory but resigned the office in 1797.

8. Wind Easterly. Morning heavy & Mer. at 28. Dripping rain now & then through the day. Wind shifting to the southward & fresh. Mr. Thos. Digges dined here & returned. Mr. Tracy came to dinner.

   Thomas Attwood Digges (1742–1821) was the sole surviving son of William Digges of Warburton. Thomas and his brother George (c.1742-1792) had been in school in England when the Revolution broke out, and although George soon returned home to Maryland, Thomas remained in England. There he followed a controversial and frequently discreditable career. During the Revolution he undoubtedly worked to alleviate the sufferings of American prisoners of war in Britain, but he also seems to have pocketed a large portion of the money sent him for this purpose and was accused of being both a double agent and a thief (WMQThe William and Mary Quarterly: A Magazine of Early American History. Williamsburg, Va., 3d ser., 22 (1965), 486–92; Pa. Mag., 77 (1953), 381–438). Thomas Digges arrived back in America in 1798 and took up residence at Warburton.

9. A heavy storm of Wind from the So[uth]ward & rain in the night—also in the Morning but clear afterwards. Wind getting to the Westward. Mer. at 54 in the Morning & 50 at Night. Thornton & Turner went away abt. Noon.

10. Wind shifted in the Night to N.W., blew fresh & turned cold. Mer. at 30 in the morning & 34 at Night. Clear all day.

11. A little lowering—W. in the Morning—Wind Southerly and Mer. at 27. Went up to Alexandria to the celebration of my birth day. Many Manœuvres were performed by the Uniform Corps and an elegant Ball & Supper at Night.

   Participating in the maneuvers were the Alexandria Silver Grays, the “Volunteer Troop of Light Dragoons,” and the Alexandria Dragoons (Columbian Mirror [Alexandria], 9 Feb. 1799). The ball was held at Gadsby’s tavern, which was located on Royal Street at the corner of Cameron. John Wise in 1792 had built a large three-story building adjoining the old City Tavern which Wise boasted as having “twenty commodious, well-furnished rooms in it” (Va. Gaz. and Alexandria Adv., 14 Mar. 1793). In 1794 Wise leased both this new building and the old City Tavern to John Gadsby, an Englishman. Gadsby combined the two buildings into one tavern which for many years provided some of the best accommodations in the country.

12. Wind Westerly & day clear and pleasant. Returnd home. Mr. N. Fitzhugh & brother & Mr. Hen. Wash. came to dinnr.

   n. fitzhugh: Nicholas Fitzhugh had ten brothers. hen. wash.: probably Henry Washington (1765–1812), son of Lawrence Washington (b. 1749) and Susannah Washington, both of whom were distant cousins of GW. He may be the same Henry Washington who had earlier been sheriff of Prince William County.

13. Morning clear—wind Southerly. Mer. 34. Wind very fresh all day. Mer. 46 at Night.

14. Mer. 33—morning clear and Wind at South and very pleasant forepart of the day—Lowering afterwards.

15. Wind shifted to the No. Wt. in the Night. Blew hard and turn cold. Mer. 30 in the Morning & 26 at Night.

16. Hard frost—clear and calm—Pleasant after the Morning. Mer. at 18 in the Morning and 26 at Night. Mr. & Mrs. Peters came to dinner.

17. Morning Snowing with little or no wind. Snow abt. 4 Inches deep. Mer. at 24. Before Noon it cleared & became a fine day with very little Wind. Mer. 30 at Night.

18. Morning clear and calm. Mer. at 30. Wind fresh, but not hard, from No. Wt. afterwards. Mrs. Stuart and her 3 daughters came here in the afternoon. Mer. at 24 at Night.

19. Mer. at 30 in the Morning and at Night. Very Cloudy in the forenoon and spitting Snow from 8 Oclock until Noon—clear afterwards.

20. Morning very thick & Misting; Wind Easterly. Mer. at 30 Morng. & Evening with Rain at Intervals through the day. Doctr. Baynham dined here.

21. Mer. at 30 in the Morning—very little wind & that Easterly. Heavy & misting all day. Mer. 30 at Night. Mr. Chs. Carter wife & daughter came to dinner & Mr. Robt. Lewis in the Afternoon.

   The Carters’ daughter was Maria Ball Carter (1784–1823).

22. Morning Raining—Mer. at 30. Wind a little more to the Northward. Afterwards very strong from the No. Wt. and turning clear & cold.
The Revd. Mr. Davis & Mr. Geo. Calvert came to dinner & Miss Custis was married abt. Candle light to Mr. Lawe Lewis.

   revd. mr. davis: Thomas Davis, Episcopalian clergyman of Charles City County, was an usher at the College of William and Mary 1768; was ordained in London 1773; and served as rector of Elizabeth City Parish in Norfolk County 1773–76, St. Stephen’s Parish, Northumberland County 1779–92, Fairfax Parish, Fairfax County 1792–1806, Elizabeth City Parish 1806–8, and Hungar’s Parish, Northumberland County 1808. During the Revolution, Davis served as chaplain to several Virginia regiments. Davis later this year presided at GW’s funeral.

23. Morning clear & very cold. Mer. at 12 & wind at No. Wt. which afterwards shifted to the Southward but still continued cold. Mr. Davis retd. after dinner.

24. Mer. at 18 in the Morning and Wind Southerly—but it soon shifted to the No. Wt. & blew fresh. Weather clear and very cold.

25th. Clear & very cold in the Morning, and through the day. Mer. at 12 in the Morning and 22 at Night. Wind at No. Wt. River nearly closed with Ice. Mr. L: Lee, Mrs. Lee & Miss French—Mr. Herbert, Mr. Jno. Herbert & Miss Herbert—Doctr. Craik & Mr. G. W. Craik—Miss Fitzhugh Miss Moly Fitzhugh & Miss Chew & Colo. Fitzgerald dined here & returned.

   Mrs. Lee was Ludwell Lee’s second wife, Elizabeth Armistead Lee, whom he married in 1797. miss french: GW may be following the custom of referring to elderly widows as “Miss,” in which case his visitor might be Penelope Manley French, aged widow of Daniel French (d. 1771) of Rose Hill, Fairfax County.

   Miss Chew is perhaps Harriet Chew, of Philadelphia, who married Charles Carroll, Jr., of Homewood in July 1800.

26. Morning cold & cloudy with the Wind at No. Et. & Mer. at 22 Morng. & Eveng. Abt. 3 Oclock it began to snow, & continued steadily to do so. Mrs. Potts—Mrs. Fendall—Mr. Andw. Ramsay & Wife—Mr. Wm. Ramsay—Mr. Edmd. Lee & Sister Lucy—and Mr. Hodgden dined here & returned—and Mr. Bushrod Washington came in the afternoon.

   Mrs. Fendall was Philip R. Fendall’s third wife, Mary Lee Fendall (born c.1775), a sister to Edmund, Charles, and Light Horse Harry Lee.

   Andrew Ramsay was married in 1795 to Catherine Graham (d. 1844), daughter of Richard Graham (d. 1796) and Jane Brent Graham of Dumfries.

   Lucy Lee (b. 1774), a daughter of Henry Lee of Leesylvania, was Mrs. Fendall’s sister.

27. The Snow which fell in the afternn. was about 4 Inches deep this morng. Morning heavy & but little wind. Mer. 22 and at Night 26. Mr. Thomson Mason & Wife and Mr. Nicholls & Wife dined here & returned.

28. Clear—wind at No. Wt. but not hard. Mer. at 28 in the Morning and 32 at Night. Evening lowering & calm.


Title: [Diary entry: 1 March 1799]
From: Washington, George
To:

1. Snowing fast. Mer. at 30. More or less snow through the day with the wind though but little of it at No. Et. Snow 6 In. deep.


Title: [Diary entry: 2 March 1799]
From: Washington, George
To:

2. Morning very heavy & likely for more Snow. Mer. at 25 and Wind at No. Et. Mer. 26 at Night.


Title: [Diary entry: 3 March 1799]
From: Washington, George
To:

3. Morning moderate with little or no wind & Mer. at 26. Towds. Sundown it came out at No. W. & turned cold. Mer. 28 at Night. Mrs. Stuart & her 3 daughters (Stuarts) and Mr. & Mrs. Peters went away after breakfast.


Title: [Diary entry: 4 March 1799]
From: Washington, George
To:

4. Clear, hard frost. Mer. at 24 and wind at No. Wt. at which it continued all day and very cold. Mr. & Mrs. Carter went away after Breakfast.


Title: [Diary entry: 5 March 1799]
From: Washington, George
To:

5. Wind still at No. Wt. and Mer. at 8 in the Morning & 17 at Night. River almost closed with Ice. Clear all day. Mr. Lawe. Lewis & Wife went up to the Fedl. City.


Title: [Diary entry: 6 March 1799]
From: Washington, George
To:

6. Clear with a light breeze from the South. Mer. at 15 in the Morng. River closed—except in holes—32 at Night & Lowering. Mr. & Mrs. Law went away to day.


Title: [Diary entry: 7 March 1799]
From: Washington, George
To:

 7. Morning—Mer. at 31, & a little cloudy with a light breeze from No. Wt. Clear & pleasant afterwards. Mer. 35 at N.


Title: [Diary entry: 8 March 1799]
From: Washington, George
To:

8. But little wind & that No. Westerly. Morng. clear & Mer. at 28. Southerly in the afternoon—clear all day & Mer. 40 at Night. Mr. Mrs. & Miss Carter returned this afternoon.


Title: [Diary entry: 9 March 1799]
From: Washington, George
To:

9. Morning clear but lowering, and, at times raining through the day. Major Pinckney came in the Evening. Mer. 40 and wind Southerly.


Title: [Diary entry: 10 March 1799]
From: Washington, George
To:

10. Mer. at 40 in the Morning. Wind and Weather very variable after 12 oclock with squalls & Rain by intervals. Mr. Carter & family and Major Pinckney left this after breakfast and young Mr. Barry—with a Spanish officer—a Mr. O’Higgens came to dinner & returned afterwards.


Title: [Diary entry: 11 March 1799]
From: Washington, George
To:

11. Mer. at 32 in the Morning and Wind at No. Wt. Afterwards So. Et. & very lowering. Mer. 34 at Night.


Title: [Diary entry: 14 March 1799]
From: Washington, George
To:

14. Mer. at 15 in the Morning & quite Calm. Wind at So. Et. afterwards & lowering. Mer. at 30 at Night.


Title: [Diary entry: 15 March 1799]
From: Washington, George
To:

15. Mer. at 30 Morning & Evening. Wind (though not much of it) Easterly. Raining more or less all day.


Title: [Diary entry: 16 March 1799]
From: Washington, George
To:

16. A very thick Fog, with the wind Southerly. Mer. at 30 in the Morning & 40 at Night. At Night it shifted to No. West. Snow all gone. A Mr. Boyd & his Brother from Boston dind here.


Title: [Diary entry: 18 March 1799]
From: Washington, George
To:

18th. Mer. at 22 in the Morning. Wind hard all day at No. Wt. and clear. Mer. at 24 at Night.


Title: [Diary entry: 19 March 1799]
From: Washington, George
To:

19. Calm in the Morning, & somewhat lowering afterwards, Wind Southerly & Mer. at 34 at Night.


Title: [Diary entry: 20 March 1799]
From: Washington, George
To:

20. Raining & drizling all day with the Wind at South. Mer. at 32 in the morning and 40 at Night.


Title: [Diary entry: 21 March 1799]
From: Washington, George
To:

21. Mer. at 50 in the Morning and at Night—higher at Noon. Raining by intervals all day with the Wind at South.


Title: [Diary entry: 22 March 1799]
From: Washington, George
To:

22. Morning Cloudy, with but little wind (that No. Westerly). Mer. at 42 in the Morning and 44 at Night.


Title: [Diary entry: 23 March 1799]
From: Washington, George
To:

23. Mer. at 35 in the Morning and 34 at Night. Wind at No. Wt. all day and cool. Mr. & Mrs. Lawe. Lewis returned from the Federal City.


Title: [Diary entry: 24 March 1799]
From: Washington, George
To:

24. Mer. at 32. Wind westerly—clear and pleasant. Mr. Robt. Stith came to dinner & stayed all N.


Title: [Diary entry: 25 March 1799]
From: Washington, George
To:

25. Calm & clear in the Morning. Wind Southerly & lowering in the afternoon. Mer. at  in the Morning & 52 at Night. Doctr. Craik & Mr. Foot dined here & returned in the afternoon.


Title: [Diary entry: 26 March 1799]
From: Washington, George
To:

26. A very light breeze from the Eastward in the morning. Clear & Mer. at 42. Very lowering towards evening. Mer. 52 at Night. Mr. Stith went away after breakfast.


Title: [Diary entry: 28 March 1799]
From: Washington, George
To:

28. Morning clear, Mer. at 32 in the Morning—ground a little froze. Wind high all day at No. Wt. until sundown. Mer. 34 at Night.


Title: [Diary entry: 29 March 1799]
From: Washington, George
To:

29. Mer. at 32 in the Morning & the Wind Southerly & Lowering. Clear afterwards. Wind towds. Night shifting to West. Mer. 50 at . Mr. Burwell Bassett came in the Evening.


Title: [Diary entry: 31 March 1799]
From: Washington, George
To:

31. Clear Morning except being very smoky. Mer. at 48 and Wind Southerly. 62 at Night. Mr. Bassett went away after breakfast.


Title: March [1799]
From: Washington, George
To:

1. Snowing fast. Mer. at 30. More or less snow through the day with the wind though but little of it at No. Et. Snow 6 In. deep.

2. Morning very heavy & likely for more Snow. Mer. at 25 and Wind at No. Et. Mer. 26 at Night.

3. Morning moderate with little or no wind & Mer. at 26. Towds. Sundown it came out at No. W. & turned cold. Mer. 28 at Night. Mrs. Stuart & her 3 daughters (Stuarts) and Mr. & Mrs. Peters went away after breakfast.

4. Clear, hard frost. Mer. at 24 and wind at No. Wt. at which it continued all day and very cold. Mr. & Mrs. Carter went away after Breakfast.

5. Wind still at No. Wt. and Mer. at 8 in the Morning & 17 at Night. River almost closed with Ice. Clear all day. Mr. Lawe. Lewis & Wife went up to the Fedl. City.

6. Clear with a light breeze from the South. Mer. at 15 in the Morng. River closed—except in holes—32 at Night & Lowering. Mr. & Mrs. Law went away to day.

7. Morning—Mer. at 31, & a little cloudy with a light breeze from No. Wt. Clear & pleasant afterwards. Mer. 35 at N.

8. But little wind & that No. Westerly. Morng. clear & Mer. at 28. Southerly in the afternoon—clear all day & Mer. 40 at Night. Mr. Mrs. & Miss Carter returned this afternoon.

9. Morning clear but lowering, and, at times raining through the day. Major Pinckney came in the Evening. Mer. 40 and wind Southerly.

   Thomas Pinckney was returning home to South Carolina from a session of the United States Congress in Philadelphia. He was interested in experimental farming, and during this visit one of the topics of discussion was GW’s jackasses, two of which were for sale (GW to Charles Cotesworth Pinckney, 31 Mar. 1799, DLC:GW).

10. Mer. at 40 in the Morning. Wind and Weather very variable after 12 oclock with squalls & Rain by intervals. Mr. Carter & family and Major Pinckney left this after breakfast and young Mr. Barry—with a Spanish officer—a Mr. O’Higgens came to dinner & returned afterwards.

   Mr. O’Higgins may be Capt. Thomas O’Higgins of the Spanish navy (Fitzpatrick, DiariesJohn C. Fitzpatrick, ed. The Diaries of George Washington, 1748–1799. 4 vols. Boston and New York, 1925., 4:300n).

11. Mer. at 32 in the Morning and Wind at No. Wt. Afterwards So. Et. & very lowering. Mer. 34 at Night.

12. In the Night the wind shifted to No. Wt. again, and blew very hard & continued to do so through the day turning very cold. Mer. 22 in the morning & 18 at Night when it grew calm.

13. Mer. at 17 in the Morning and 20 at Night. Snowing all day—sometimes fast, at other times slow with very little wind.

14. Mer. at 15 in the Morning & quite Calm. Wind at So. Et. afterwards & lowering. Mer. at 30 at Night.

15. Mer. at 30 Morning & Evening. Wind (though not much of it) Easterly. Raining more or less all day.

16. A very thick Fog, with the wind Southerly. Mer. at 30 in the Morning & 40 at Night. At Night it shifted to No. West. Snow all gone. A Mr. Boyd & his Brother from Boston dind here.

17. Wind about North & mer. at 30 in the morning & lowering. At Night No. Wt. clear & Mer. at 24.

18th. Mer. at 22 in the Morning. Wind hard all day at No. Wt. and clear. Mer. at 24 at Night.

19. Calm in the Morning, & somewhat lowering afterwards, Wind Southerly & Mer. at 34 at Night.

20. Raining & drizling all day with the Wind at South. Mer. at 32 in the morning and 40 at Night.

21. Mer. at 50 in the Morning and at Night—higher at Noon. Raining by intervals all day with the Wind at South.

22. Morning Cloudy, with but little wind (that No. Westerly). Mer. at 42 in the Morning and 44 at Night.

23. Mer. at 35 in the Morning and 34 at Night. Wind at No. Wt. all day and cool. Mr. & Mrs. Lawe. Lewis returned from the Federal City.

24. Mer. at 32. Wind westerly—clear and pleasant. Mr. Robt. Stith came to dinner & stayed all N.

25. Calm & clear in the Morning. Wind Southerly & lowering in the afternoon. Mer. at  in the Morning & 52 at Night. Doctr. Craik & Mr. Foot dined here & returned in the afternoon.

26. A very light breeze from the Eastward in the morning. Clear & Mer. at 42. Very lowering towards evening. Mer. 52 at Night. Mr. Stith went away after breakfast.

27. Storming from N. a little Easterly. Mer. at 46 in the Morning. Raining more or less all day. Towds. Night the wind came out Violently at No. Wt. & began to clear. Mer. at 44.

28. Morning clear, Mer. at 32 in the Morning—ground a little froze. Wind high all day at No. Wt. until sundown. Mer. 34 at Night.

29. Mer. at 32 in the Morning & the Wind Southerly & Lowering. Clear afterwards. Wind towds. Night shifting to West. Mer. 50 at . Mr. Burwell Bassett came in the Evening.

30. Mer. at 45 in the Morning. Wind Southerly. Weather hazy & Smokey but otherwise pleasant. Mer. 56 at Night.

31. Clear Morning except being very smoky. Mer. at 48 and Wind Southerly. 62 at Night. Mr. Bassett went away after breakfast.


Title: [Diary entry: 1 April 1799]
From: Washington, George
To:

1. Clear (except being smoky). Mer. at 46. Wind Northerly—afterwds. Easterly and towards Night lowering.


Title: [Diary entry: 2 April 1799]
From: Washington, George
To:

2. Very thick mist—afterwards Raining with the Wind at East & Mer. at 48 in the Morning. In the afternoon the wind shifted to No. Wt. Blew fresh & turned cold.


Title: [Diary entry: 3 April 1799]
From: Washington, George
To:

3. Extreme cold (but forgot to see what the Mercury was). Wind very high from the No. Wt. and continued so all day. Went up to four mile run to run round my land there. Got on the grd. about 10 Oclock and in Company with Captn. Terret and Mr. Luke commenced the Survey on 4 mile run & ran agreeably to the Notes taken. In the evening went to Alexa. & lodged myself at Mr. Fitzhughs.


Title: [Diary entry: 4 April 1799]
From: Washington, George
To:

4. The No. Wt. [wind] contd. through the Night & all this day & cold. Recommenced the Survey at the upper end where we left off in Company with Colo. Little—Captn. Terret and Mr. Willm. Adams & contd. it agreeably to the Notes until we came to 4 Mile run again which employed us until dark. Returnd to Alexa. and again lodged at Mr. Fitzhughs.


Title: [Diary entry: 5 April 1799]
From: Washington, George
To:

5. Returned home to Breakfast. But little wind in the forenoon & quite calm in the afternoon—cool notwithstanding. Mer. 42 at Night.


Title: [Diary entry: 6 April 1799]
From: Washington, George
To:

6. Mer. at 38 in the Morning. Very cloudy & wind at No. Et. Clear afterwards with but little wind. Mer. 46 at Night. Mr. White the Fedl. Commr. came to dinner and Colo. Ball after dinner.


Title: [Diary entry: 7 April 1799]
From: Washington, George
To:

7. Clear & calm in the Morning. Mer. at 41. Wind moderately from the No. Wt. the remainder of the day. Mer. 52 at Night.


Title: [Diary entry: 8 April 1799]
From: Washington, George
To:

8. Hazy & smokey with a light breeze from the Southward in the Morning & Mer. at 46. Wind fresh from the same point afterwards. Mer. 62 at Night. Colo. Ball & Mr. White went away after breakfast.


Title: [Diary entry: 9 April 1799]
From: Washington, George
To:

9. In the morning Mer. at 56. Wind very fresh from South & very likely for Rain. Shifted abt. 9 Oclock & blew violently at No. W. turned cold. Mer. 32 at Night. Mrs. Washington of H: came.


Title: [Diary entry: 10 April 1799]
From: Washington, George
To:

10th. A hard frost—morning clear and Cold. Wind at No. Wt. & Mer. at 28.


Title: [Diary entry: 12 April 1799]
From: Washington, George
To:

12. Morng. Calm & Heavy. Mer. 45. Wd. afterwards, first Southerly & then Easterly but not fresh. Weather clear. Mer. 54 at Night. Doctr. Wade came this Aftn. Spread Plaster of Paris this Morning on the circle & sides before the door & on the Lawn to the Cross Path betwn. the Garden gates & on the Clover by the Stable.


Title: [Diary entry: 13 April 1799]
From: Washington, George
To:

13. A little rain fell last night. Wind at No. Wt. & Mer. 45 in the Morning—contd. at No. Wt. all day—but not hard. Mer. 50 at Night.


Title: [Diary entry: 14 April 1799]
From: Washington, George
To:

14. Clear Morning; Mer. at 30, Wind at No. Wt. but light. Calm afterwards & lowering; Mer. 58 at Night.


Title: [Diary entry: 15 April 1799]
From: Washington, George
To:

15. Clear & Calm morning. Mer. at 43. Clear & calm all day. Mer. 62 at Night.


Title: [Diary entry: 16 April 1799]
From: Washington, George
To:

16. Calm & clear in the Morning. Brisk Southerly wind afterwards. Mer. 48 in the Morning & 62 at Night.


Title: [Diary entry: 18 April 1799]
From: Washington, George
To:

 18th. Calm & pleasant—a refreshing Rain fell in the night. Mer. at 60 in the morning & 66 at Night. About 9 Oclock the wind sprung up from No. Wt. but did not blow fresh nor cold. In the afternoon it shifted to So. Wt. Mr. Tayloe & Mr. Jno. Herbert went away after breakfast.


Title: [Diary entry: 19 April 1799]
From: Washington, George
To:

19. Mer. 54 in the morning. Wind Northerly & cool, & beginning to lower. Clear afterwards wind encreasing. Mer. 46 at Night & blowing.


Title: [Diary entry: 20 April 1799]
From: Washington, George
To:

20. Mer. at 32. Wind still fresh from No. Wt. & having blown (it is believed) throu the Night. It is hoped the fruit has escaped, altho’ there Ice had formed. Mrs. Washington of Hayfield—Genl. O’Donald, Mr. Barry, Mr. Oliver Mr. Thompson & a Doctr.  dined here & returned. Mer. 47 at N.


Title: [Diary entry: 21 April 1799]
From: Washington, George
To:

21. Morning clear & calm. Mer. at 42. But little wind all day & that No. Westerly. Mer. 54 at Night. A B. Heppesley Coxe Esqr. recomd. by Mr. Bingham came here to dinnr.


Title: [Diary entry: 22 April 1799]
From: Washington, George
To:

22. Morng. clear & Wind Easterly. Mer. at 44 in the Morning & 49 at Night. Mr. Coxe went awy. after breakfast & Mr. Vanstapherst came to dinner & Doctr. Craik to see Mr. Lear afterwards.


Title: [Diary entry: 24 April 1799]
From: Washington, George
To:

24. Mer. at 52. Morning clear no Wind—afterwards at No. Wt. & high. Mer. 46 at Night. Gentlemen who came yesterday went away after breakfast and I went up to Alexa. to an Election of a Representative from the District to Congress & from the County to the State Legisla[tur]e.


Title: [Diary entry: 25 April 1799]
From: Washington, George
To:

25. Mer. at 50 in the morng. & 58 at Night. Calm Morning & evening & a light Southerly wind abt. Midday. Doctr. Stuart came to dinner.


Title: [Diary entry: 28 April 1799]
From: Washington, George
To:

28. Morning clear—with a light breeze from the Southward. Mer. at 60 & at night 68. About 9 Oclock the Wd. came from the No. Wt. & blew pretty fresh but not cold. Doctr. Craik & a Mr. Halsted dined here & returned.


Title: [Diary entry: 30 April 1799]
From: Washington, George
To:

30. Engaged in the same business as yesterday & returned home in the afternoon. Morning clear & fine. Wind Easterly—afterwards fresh from the Southward. Clouded up and between 2 & 3 began to rain. Conti[nue]d to do so steadily until I went to bed. Mer. then at 50.


Title: April [1799]
From: Washington, George
To:

1. Clear (except being smoky). Mer. at 46. Wind Northerly—afterwds. Easterly and towards Night lowering.

2. Very thick mist—afterwards Raining with the Wind at East & Mer. at 48 in the Morning. In the afternoon the wind shifted to No. Wt. Blew fresh & turned cold.

3. Extreme cold (but forgot to see what the Mercury was). Wind very high from the No. Wt. and continued so all day. Went up to four mile run to run round my land there. Got on the grd. about 10 Oclock and in Company with Captn. Terret and Mr. Luke commenced the Survey on 4 mile run & ran agreeably to the Notes taken. In the evening went to Alexa. & lodged myself at Mr. Fitzhughs.

   my land there: This plot of about 1,200 acres on Four Mile Run, bought by GW in 1775, lay about four miles north of Alexandria on the road to Leesburg. It had been losing timber to trespassers for years, and GW particularly suspected the owners of adjoining lands, among whom were Capt. William Henry Terrett, Jr. (d. 1826), and John Luke (see entry for 27 Jan. 1775; STETSON [1]Charles W. Stetson. Four Mile Run Land Grants. Washington, D.C., 1935., 57–59, 72–73, 78–79). Terrett was the son of William Henry and Margaret Pearson Terrett. Luke was the son of the John Luke who bought this 330–acre tract in 1773 from Mrs. Susanna Pearson Alexander, daughter of the original patentee, Simon Pearson (STETSON [1]Charles W. Stetson. Four Mile Run Land Grants. Washington, D.C., 1935., 78–79).

4. The No. Wt. [wind] contd. through the Night & all this day & cold. Recommenced the Survey at the upper end where we left off in Company with Colo. Little—Captn. Terret and Mr. Willm. Adams & contd. it agreeably to the Notes until we came to 4 Mile run again which employed us until dark. Returnd to Alexa. and again lodged at Mr. Fitzhughs.

   Col. Charles Little and William Adams both owned land adjoining GW’s land being surveyed this day. William Adams (1723–1809), son of Gabriel Adams, Sr. (d. 1750), and Priscilla Pearson Adams, had served as a colonel of militia, vestryman of Truro Parish, justice of the peace, and sheriff of

Fairfax County. His home, Church Hill, adjoined GW’s land on the southwest. Adams was an early Methodist convert, and his home was headquarters for Bishop Francis Asbury when he was traveling in the area (steadman [2], 223–24).

5. Returned home to Breakfast. But little wind in the forenoon & quite calm in the afternoon—cool notwithstanding. Mer. 42 at Night.

6. Mer. at 38 in the Morning. Very cloudy & wind at No. Et. Clear afterwards with but little wind. Mer. 46 at Night. Mr. White the Fedl. Commr. came to dinner and Colo. Ball after dinner.

7. Clear & calm in the Morning. Mer. at 41. Wind moderately from the No. Wt. the remainder of the day. Mer. 52 at Night.

8. Hazy & smokey with a light breeze from the Southward in the Morning & Mer. at 46. Wind fresh from the same point afterwards. Mer. 62 at Night. Colo. Ball & Mr. White went away after breakfast.

9. In the morning Mer. at 56. Wind very fresh from South & very likely for Rain. Shifted abt. 9 Oclock & blew violently at No. W. turned cold. Mer. 32 at Night. Mrs. Washington of H: came.

   mrs. washington of h: Elizabeth Foote Washington of Hayfield.

10th. A hard frost—morning clear and Cold. Wind at No. Wt. & Mer. at 28.

11. Mer. at 32 in the morning and 49 at Night. Wind Southerly and towards evening the Weather was a little lowering. Mr. Foot dined here & with Mrs. Washington returned home in the afternoon.

12. Morng. Calm & Heavy. Mer. 45. Wd. afterwards, first Southerly & then Easterly but not fresh. Weather clear. Mer. 54 at Night. Doctr. Wade came this Aftn. Spread Plaster of Paris this Morning on the circle & sides before the door & on the Lawn to the Cross Path betwn. the Garden gates & on the Clover by the Stable.

   Dr. Robert H. Wade had been to Mount Vernon three times during March and April to attend sick slaves (Wade’s account with GW, 13 Mar.—12 April 1799, PU: Early American Letters).

13. A little rain fell last night. Wind at No. Wt. & Mer. 45 in the Morning—contd. at No. Wt. all day—but not hard. Mer. 50 at Night.

14. Clear Morning; Mer. at 30, Wind at No. Wt. but light. Calm afterwards & lowering; Mer. 58 at Night.

15. Clear & Calm morning. Mer. at 43. Clear & calm all day. Mer. 62 at Night.

16. Calm & clear in the Morning. Brisk Southerly wind afterwards. Mer. 48 in the Morning & 62 at Night.

17. Lowering morning—brisk Southerly wind. Mer. at 58 in the morning and 66 at Night. Jno. Tayloe Esqr. & Mr. Jno. Herbert came here to dinner.

   John Tayloe (1771–1828) was one of the most notable owners of racehorses in Virginia at the turn of the century. He divided his time between his family home, Mount Airy, in Richmond County and his town house—the Octagon House—built for him in the Federal City.

18th. Calm & pleasant—a refreshing Rain fell in the night. Mer. at 60 in the morning & 66 at Night. About 9 Oclock the wind sprung up from No. Wt. but did not blow fresh nor cold. In the afternoon it shifted to So. Wt. Mr. Tayloe & Mr. Jno. Herbert went away after breakfast.

19. Mer. 54 in the morning. Wind Northerly & cool, & beginning to lower. Clear afterwards wind encreasing. Mer. 46 at Night & blowing.

20. Mer. at 32. Wind still fresh from No. Wt. & having blown (it is believed) throu the Night. It is hoped the fruit has escaped, altho’ there Ice had formed. Mrs. Washington of Hayfield—Genl. O’Donald, Mr. Barry, Mr. Oliver Mr. Thompson & a Doctr.  dined here & returned. Mer. 47 at N.

   genl. o’donald: probably John O’Donnell (died c.1805), eldest son of John O’Donnell (1715–1780) of County Clare in Ireland. O’Donnell ran away from home as a young man and became bookkeeper to the captain of an East Indiaman. He later amassed a fortune while in the employment of the East India Company but was robbed of most of it on his way back to Europe. O’Donnell became master and owner of a merchant ship trading between Bombay and Baltimore and brought the first direct importation of goods from Canton to Baltimore in 1785. He settled in Baltimore probably about 1780 and became colonel of the 27th Regiment of militia and a member of the Maryland legislature. His estate, Canton, was near Baltimore (BURKE [1]L. G. Pine, ed. Burke’s Genealogical and Heraldic History of the Landed Gentry of Ireland. 4th ed. London, 1958., 533; Otho Holland Williams PapersMaryland Historical Records Survey Project. Calendar of the General Otho Holland Williams Papers in the Maryland Historical Society. Baltimore, 1940., 135n; GW to O’Donnell, 4 Sept. 1797, NN: Washington Papers).

   Mr. Oliver is probably either John Oliver or Robert Oliver (c.1757–1834), both of whom were merchants in Baltimore.

21. Morning clear & calm. Mer. at 42. But little wind all day & that No. Westerly. Mer. 54 at Night. A B. Heppesley Coxe Esqr. recomd. by Mr. Bingham came here to dinnr.

   b. heppesley coxe: probably John Francis Buller Hippisley Coxe of Stone Easton, Somerset, Eng. He was the son of James Buller of Devon and his wife, Mary Hippisley Coxe Buller, of Somerset. In 1793 Young Buller by royal license had assumed the surnames of Hippisley Coxe (BURKE [2]Peter Townend, ed. Burke’s Genealogical and Heraldic History of the Landed Gentry. 3 vols. London, 1965–72., 3:459).

22. Morng. clear & Wind Easterly. Mer. at 44 in the Morning & 49 at Night. Mr. Coxe went awy. after breakfast & Mr. Vanstapherst came to dinner & Doctr. Craik to see Mr. Lear afterwards.

   mr. vanstapherst: probably a connection of the Amsterdam banking firm of Nicholaas and Jacob Van Staphorst. The Van Staphorst brothers, in connection with the Amsterdam firm of Jan and Wilhem Willink and a third partner, Nicholas Hubbard, had acted as the bankers of the United States in

Amsterdam during the Confederation and early federal period. mr. lear: On 18 Mar. Dr. William Thornton wrote GW from the Federal City: “Col. Lear complained of one of his Legs very much. I examined & found it in a very bad state, but promised if he would stay with me for a week to attempt to render him some Service” (DLC: William Thornton Papers). On 24 April Thornton wrote GW: “we lament exceedingly the relapse of our Friend Colonel Lear and wish he could have staid a little longer with us; but I must own he is in some respects not a very patient Patient” (DLC:GW).

23d. Morning very heavy & cloudy with the wind at East & the Mer. at 46. About 6 oclock in the afternoon a fine rain began & continued for an hour. Mer. 54 at Night. Doctr. Craik went away before breakfast & a Majr. Jones—a british Officer came to dinner & Mr. George Peter at Night.

   George Peter (1779–1861), youngest brother of Thomas Peter of Georgetown, had come to Mount Vernon soliciting a commission in the provisional army. GW wrote him a recommendation, describing “the young Gentleman . . . [as] likely, well grown, and of good behaviour,” and added, “all of the family of them are warm Federalists” (GW to James McHenry, 1 Feb. 1799 and 24 April 1799, DLC:GW). After participating in western exploration in the early years of the nineteenth century, Peter returned to Maryland, settling in Georgetown and Montgomery County, where he represented his district in Congress as a Democrat (Ecker, Old George TownGrace Dunlop Ecker. A Portrait of Old George Town. Richmond, Va., 1951., 150–51).

24. Mer. at 52. Morning clear no Wind—afterwards at No. Wt. & high. Mer. 46 at Night. Gentlemen who came yesterday went away after breakfast and I went up to Alexa. to an Election of a Representative from the District to Congress & from the County to the State Legisla[tur]e.

   from the district: GW voted for Henry (Light Horse Harry) Lee, who won election to the United States House of Representatives for the Sixth Congress, which was the only term he served. Three weeks after the first session opened, on 26 Dec. 1799, Lee spoke for the whole Congress on the death of GW and reminded his fellow Americans that while GW was “First in war—first in peace—and first in the hearts of his countrymen, he was second to none in the humble and endearing scenes of private life” (Annals of CongressJoseph Gales, Sr., comp. The Debates and Proceedings in the Congress of the United States; with an Appendix, Containing Important State Papers and Public Documents, and All the Laws of a Public Nature. 42 vols. Washington, D.C., 1834–56., 6th Cong., 1310). from the county: Richard Bland Lee and Thomas Swann were elected to the Virginia House of Delegates from Fairfax County.

25. Mer. at 50 in the morng. & 58 at Night. Calm Morning & evening & a light Southerly wind abt. Midday. Doctr. Stuart came to dinner.

26. Mer. at 50 in the Morning and Wind at No. Et. which afterwds. shifted to So. Et. Mer. 58 at Night. Doctr. Stuart went away after breakfast and Mr. & Mrs. Law. Lewis came from Hope Park in the afternoon.

27. Mer. at 57 in the Morning. Rain last Night—wind at So. Et. and from abt. 8 oclock in the Morning continual Rain until Night—with thunder & lightning after dark. Mer. 62 at Night.

28. Morning clear—with a light breeze from the Southward. Mer. at 60 & at night 68. About 9 Oclock the Wd. came from the No. Wt. & blew pretty fresh but not cold. Doctr. Craik & a Mr. Halsted dined here & returned.

29. A little cloudy & Wind about North in the Morning. Mer. 62. Clear afterwards. Went up to run round my land on 4 Mile run. Lodged at Colo. Littles.

   Although GW mentions no one else as being present this day, he had met all of the major owners of the lands adjoining his Four Mile Run land at the election in Alexandria (24 April). At that meeting, GW later wrote, “all the parties . . . engaged to meet me at the beginning Corner . . . by nine o’clock” on this morning to “ascertain all the Corners and . . . re-mark any of the lines” around GW’s 1200–acre plot (GW to Ludwell Lee, 26 April 1799, DLC:GW; and see entry for 3 April 1799).

30. Engaged in the same business as yesterday & returned home in the afternoon. Morning clear & fine. Wind Easterly—afterwards fresh from the Southward. Clouded up and between 2 & 3 began to rain. Conti[nue]d to do so steadily until I went to bed. Mer. then at 50.


Title: [Diary entry: 1 May 1799]
From: Washington, George
To:

1. Morning Cloudy & very heavy. Wind Easterly & Mer. at 50. After dark a heavy squall of Wind & Rain from the No. Wt. Mer. 52 at Night.


Title: [Diary entry: 2 May 1799]
From: Washington, George
To:

2. Clear & calm in the Morning. Mer. at 52. Brisk So. westerly wind afterwards—still clear. Mer. 58 at Night.


Title: [Diary entry: 3 May 1799]
From: Washington, George
To:

3d. Wind fresh from No. Et. & very Cloudy. Mer. at 50 in the morning. About 9 Oclock it began to rain & contd. to do so until near 2 Oclk. when it ceased & became a clear afternoon. Mer. 43 at night.


Title: [Diary entry: 4 May 1799]
From: Washington, George
To:

4. Morning clear & pleasant, but cool. Mer. at 40. Wind, what there was of it—North westerly. Mer. 46 at night. Messrs. Wm. & Washington and a Mr. Jeffries dined here & returned.


Title: [Diary entry: 6 May 1799]
From: Washington, George
To:

6. Morning clear, Wind brisk from the Southward. Mer. at 50. At Night it lowered. Mer. 62. Mr. & Mrs. Lewis set out on their journey.


Title: [Diary entry: 7 May 1799]
From: Washington, George
To:

7. Morning clear—wind still Southerly & Mer. at 56. About 9 Oclk. it shifted to No. Wt. & blew hard—but did not turn suddenly cold. Mer. 59 at Night.


Title: [Diary entry: 8 May 1799]
From: Washington, George
To:

8. Clear, but cool—wind still at No. Wt. and Mer. at 46. Calm in the Evening and Mer. at 54.


Title: [Diary entry: 9 May 1799]
From: Washington, George
To:

9. No clouds, but smokey; Wind (tho’ not much of it) at No. Wt. Mer. at 56 and at Night 60. Genl. Lee Messrs. Rd. B. Lee & Wm. Ludwell Lee—Mr. Fitzhugh Mr. Page Mr. T. Turner dined here & returned in the Evening.


Title: [Diary entry: 10 May 1799]
From: Washington, George
To:

10th. Morning lowering & Mer. at 60. Clear afterwards with a brisk Wind from So. Wt. which in the Evening veered to No. Mer. 72 at Night. Mr. Thos. Digges & Mr. Jas. Welch dined here & retd.


Title: [Diary entry: 11 May 1799]
From: Washington, George
To:

11. Morning clear—wind at No. Wt. & Mer. at 60—at Night 56. Doctr. Stuart came to dinner & a Mr. Small afterwards. Both stayed all Night.


Title: [Diary entry: 12 May 1799]
From: Washington, George
To:

12. Morning clear & cool. Mer. at 48 and wind at No. W. Doctr. Stuart went away after Breakfast & Mr. Short after dinner. Mr. White came to dinner.


Title: [Diary entry: 13 May 1799]
From: Washington, George
To:

13. Clear & calm all day. Mer. at 47 in the Morning and 60 at Night. Mr. White went away before breakfast.


Title: [Diary entry: 14 May 1799]
From: Washington, George
To:

14. Morning clear & very smoaky. Mer. at 52 and but little wind—that Southerly. Mery. 62 at Night. Majr. Wm. Harrison came here to dinner.


Title: [Diary entry: 15 May 1799]
From: Washington, George
To:

 15. Clear & warm. Mer. at 60, and Wind brisk from the Southward especially towards Night when it lowered. Mr. Thomson Mason came here to breakfast and attended Majr. Harrison & me on the Survey of the latters land & both dined here, as did a Mr. Season. Mer. 72 at Night.


Title: [Diary entry: 16 May 1799]
From: Washington, George
To:

16. Mer. at 65 in the morning. Wind fresh from the Southward, but variable—great appearances of Rain & some sprinkles. Went up to Alexandria to the Purse Race, & returned in the Evening. Mr. Law & Doctr. Thornton here. Mer. at 70 at N.


Title: [Diary entry: 17 May 1799]
From: Washington, George
To:

17th. Morning a little clouded but calm. Mer. 66 in the morning & 60 at Night. Great appearances of Rain all the latter part of the day (and distant thunder) at Night.


Title: [Diary entry: 18 May 1799]
From: Washington, George
To:

18. Some rain fell last night & two or three hours of Slow rain this forenoon. Wind abt. North—clear afternoon. Mer. at 56 in the Morning & 55 at Night. A Mr. Boies & Lady from Boston dined here & returned to Alexa.


Title: [Diary entry: 20 May 1799]
From: Washington, George
To:

20. Morning clear & wind abt. So. Et. Mer. at 56 in the Morning & 58 at N. A Mr. Hancock from Boston & a Mr. Smith from Portsmouth dined here.


Title: [Diary entry: 21 May 1799]
From: Washington, George
To:

 21. Morning cloudy with appearances of Rain. Mer. at 52 & wind at South. Clear afternoon & Mer. 63 at Night. Mr. Fitzhugh & two daughters—Mr. Mrs. & Miss Turner Messrs. W. & Washington Craik & Mr. Jno. Herbert dined here. The last & Mr. Turners family stayed the night.


Title: [Diary entry: 23 May 1799]
From: Washington, George
To:

23. Morning a little lowering. Mer. at 70 & wind at So. Very warm all day—about Noon a moderate shower. Mr. Thos. Adams, third son to the President & Mr. Joshua Johnson, Lady & son came to dinr.


Title: [Diary entry: 24 May 1799]
From: Washington, George
To:

24. A good deal of Rain fell last Night; day warm, & Wind Southerly. Mer. 78 abt. Noon & 70 at Night. Rain in the afternoon by Showers. Colo. Ball came to breakfast, and went away after dinner. Mr. T: Peter & Mrs. Peter & young Powell came to dinner.


Title: [Diary entry: 25 May 1799]
From: Washington, George
To:

25. Morning clear, wind Southerly & Mer. at 67. In the afternoon a light Shower & Mer. at 68. All the company except Mr. & Mrs. Peter went away after breakfast.


Title: [Diary entry: 27 May 1799]
From: Washington, George
To:

27. Morning perfectly clear. Wind rather fresh at No. Et. but died away. Mer. at 59 in the morning & 66 at night. Captn. Presley Thornton & Lady came to dinner—as did Mr. Lear.


Title: [Diary entry: 28 May 1799]
From: Washington, George
To:

28. Morning Calm & Mer. at 60—at night 68—clear thro’ the day. All the strangers went away after breakfast.


Title: [Diary entry: 29 May 1799]
From: Washington, George
To:

29. Morning perfectly clear—wind brisk from the Southward & contd. so all day. Mer. 60 in the Morning & 72 at Night.


Title: [Diary entry: 30 May 1799]
From: Washington, George
To:

30. Morning clear—Wind Southerly and Mer. at 64. Great appearances of Rain all the forenoon & a fine shower (of an hour) in the afternoon. Mer. 64 at Night.


Title: [Diary entry: 31 May 1799]
From: Washington, George
To:

31. More rain last night. Morning clear—wind at No. Wt. & Mer. at 60—blowing hard all day. Went up to the Fedl. City—dined & lodged with Mr. Peter.


Title: [Diary entry: 1 June 1799]
From: Washington, George
To:

1. Wind still fresh from No. Wt. & cold for the Season—sd. to be a frost. Dined & lodged at Mr. Laws.


Title: [Diary entry: 2 June 1799]
From: Washington, George
To:

2. Growing warmer, & cloudy—likely for Rain, but none fell. Returned home to dinner—takg. Church at Alexa. in my way. Found Doctr. Stuart here.


Title: [Diary entry: 3 June 1799]
From: Washington, George
To:

3. Mer. at 60 in the Morning and 64 at Night. Wind Easterly—great appearances of Rain without any falling. Doctr. Stuart went away after Breakfast.


Title: [Diary entry: 4 June 1799]
From: Washington, George
To:

4. Wind still Easterly with clouds. Mer. at 62 in the morning & 67 at N. Clear afternoon.


Title: [Diary entry: 5 June 1799]
From: Washington, George
To:

5. Wind So. Easterly—Mer. 62. Morning lowering as the Evening also was. Mer. 66 at Night. A Mr. Chs. Newbald from New Jersey dined here & went away afterwds.


Title: [Diary entry: 6 June 1799]
From: Washington, George
To:

 6. Morning cloudy—wind Southerly and Mer. at 64 & at Night 66. Towards night the wind got more to the Eastward & the clouds had more the appearance of Rain.


Title: [Diary entry: 7 June 1799]
From: Washington, George
To:

7. Morning calm & very heavy—Mer. at 66. Very likely for rain all day—with thunder about Noon & showers to the So. ward & Eastward of us. Mer. 68 at Night.


Title: [Diary entry: 12 June 1799]
From: Washington, George
To:

12. Clear & calm all the forenoon—a light So. Westerly breeze in the afternoon. Mer. at 70 in the Morning & 80 at Night.


Title: [Diary entry: 13 June 1799]
From: Washington, George
To:

 13. Clear, with very little wind in the Morning. Mer. at 74 brisk Southerly wind afterwards. Mer. 82 at Nig. Mrs. & Miss Fairfax & Miss Denison dined here.


Title: [Diary entry: 15 June 1799]
From: Washington, George
To:

15. Mer. 66 in the Morning—clear with the wind at No. Wt. and fresh in the forenoon. Captn. Geo. S. Washington & Mr. Robt. Lewis came in the afternoon.


Title: [Diary entry: 16 June 1799]
From: Washington, George
To:

16. Morning clear & calm. Mer. at 62—calm all day. Mer. 74 at Night. Doctr. & Mrs. Stuart & their 3 daughters came here to dinner.


Title: [Diary entry: 17 June 1799]
From: Washington, George
To:

17. Morning Mer. at 69—Wind Southerly & perfectly clear—calm afterwards & Mer. 83 at Night. Captn. Washington & Mr. Lewis went away early this morning & Dr. Stuart aft. B[reakfast].


Title: [Diary entry: 18 June 1799]
From: Washington, George
To:

18. Morning calm & clear. Mer. at 74. So. Wt. wind afterwards. Mer. 91 at Noon & 84 at Night. Mrs. Washington came to dinner.


Title: [Diary entry: 19 June 1799]
From: Washington, George
To:

19. Morning clear, calm & very Warm. Mer. at 79 in the Morning 92 abt. 2 oclock and 82 at Night. About 5 oclock in the afternoon a moderate shower for 10 minutes. Mrs. & Miss Fairfax, & Mr. Donaldson and Mr. Foote came to Dinner & went away afterwards—as did Mrs. Washington.


Title: [Diary entry: 20 June 1799]
From: Washington, George
To:

20. Morning cloudy—Mer. at 76 and Wind So. Easterly and fresh all day towards night appearances of Rain. Mer. at 71 only. The following company dined here—Chief Justice of the U.S. Ellsworth Mr. & Mrs. Steer Senr.—Mr. & Mrs. Steer Junr. Mr. Van Havre—Mr. & Mrs. Ludwell Lee—Mrs. Corbin Washington Mr. & Mrs. Hodgson & Miss Cora. Lee Mr. & Mrs. Geo. Calvert and a Captn. Hamilton & Lady from the Bahama Islands.


Title: [Diary entry: 21 June 1799]
From: Washington, George
To:

21. Cloudy morning & wind at South. Mer. 70 appearances of Rain all day, but none fell. Mer. 80 at Night.


Title: [Diary entry: 23 June 1799]
From: Washington, George
To:

23. Morning clear—Wind Southerly & Mer. at 76. Distant thunder & appearances of Rain in the afternoon but none fell. Mer. at 90 (highest) and 84 at night.


Title: [Diary entry: 28 June 1799]
From: Washington, George
To:

28. A little breeze from the Southward in the morning & Mer. at 72 84 at highest & 76 at Night. Great appearances of Rain & considerable quantities fell No. & East of us—but none here.


Title: [Diary entry: 29 June 1799]
From: Washington, George
To:

29. Morning lowering—Wind Southerly and Mer. at 74. A great deal of rain appeared to fall all around us, but none here. Mer. 75 at Night.


Title: [Diary entry: 30 June 1799]
From: Washington, George
To:

 30. Morning cloudy—Wind Southerly & Mer. at 72–84 at highest & 80 at night.


Title: [Diary entry: 1 July 1799]
From: Washington, George
To:

1. Morning clear—wind fresh from the So. Wt. and Mer. at 76–89 at highest and 76 at Night. A fine shower for about 15 minutes abt. 5 oclock & light rain afterwards until bed time 9 oclock. Doctr. Tazewell & Mr. Burwell Bullett came to dinner.


Title: [Diary entry: 2 July 1799]
From: Washington, George
To:

2. Mer. at 74 in the Morning and 79 at Night. Clouds & appearances of rain, but none fell. Doctr. Tazewell & Mr. Bullett went away in the Morning & a Captn. Moore from East Indies & a Mr. Teal from Phila. came to dinner & returned to Alexa. in the afternoon.


Title: [Diary entry: 4 July 1799]
From: Washington, George
To:

4. Morning heavy. Mer. at 74 and Wind So. Et. Clouds in every qr. & sprinklings of Rain. Mer. 80 at Night. Went up to Alexa. and dined with a number of the Citizens there in celebration of the anniversary of the declaration of American Independe. at Kemps Tavern.


Title: [Diary entry: 5 July 1799]
From: Washington, George
To:

5. Morning clear—wind fresh from the Southward. Mer. 74—at highest 88—and at Night 84. Appearances of Rain with distant thunder & lightning in the No.


Title: [Diary entry: 8 July 1799]
From: Washington, George
To:

8. Morning clear with very little wind. Mer. at 71–84 afterwards at highest, & 78 at Night. Wind Southerly & weather clear.


Title: [Diary entry: 10 July 1799]
From: Washington, George
To:

10. Morning perfectly clear with very little wind. Mer. at 66—clear all day. Mer. 74 at Night. Mr. and Mrs. Law and a Mr. Dunn came here to dinner.


Title: [Diary entry: 11 July 1799]
From: Washington, George
To:

11. Morning clear, with a light breeze from the No. Et. Mer. at 68 & at Night 75—breeze fresher from the same quarter.


Title: [Diary entry: 12 July 1799]
From: Washington, George
To:

12. Fresh Southerly wind in the morning; clear; Mer. at 68. After noon a little lowering. Mer. 82 at Night. Doctr. Tazewell & Mr. G. W. Craik came here in the afternoon. Mr. Booker went away.


Title: [Diary entry: 13 July 1799]
From: Washington, George
To:

13. Morning a little cloudy—wind from the So. Wt. and Mer. at 76–85 at highest & 80 at Night. Great appearances of Rain towds. Evening—but they went off.


Title: [Diary entry: 14 July 1799]
From: Washington, George
To:

 14. Morning a little Cloudy—Wind Southerly & Mer. at 77. Great appearances of Rain but none fell. Mer. 79 at Night. The Atty. Genl. Lee & Mr. W. Craik dined here. Doctr. Tazewell went away after dinner.


Title: [Diary entry: 15 July 1799]
From: Washington, George
To:

15th. Morning clear—Wind at No. Wt. and Mer. at 80—at highest 88 & at Night 83. Wind fresh after the Morning from the above point.


Title: [Diary entry: 17 July 1799]
From: Washington, George
To:

17. Morning clear—Wind at No. Wt. & Mer. at 72 and at night 78. Colonels Powell & Simms and Mr. Herbert and Judge Washington Captn. Blackburn & Mr. H. Turner dined here. The three first went away in the afternoon.


Title: [Diary entry: 18 July 1799]
From: Washington, George
To:

18. Cloudy, with drippings now and then till about 4 oclock, when it commenced a constant slow rain with the Wind at So. Et. & contd. until I went to bed at 9 oclock. Mer. 71 at Night. Captn. Blackburn went away after breakfast.


Title: [Diary entry: 20 July 1799]
From: Washington, George
To:

20. Morning a little cloudy—Wind at No. Et. & Mer. at 66—at Night 74. Appearances of Rain. Mr. Law went away after breakfast.


Title: [Diary entry: 21 July 1799]
From: Washington, George
To:

21. Morning cloudy—Wind at No. Et. and Mer. at 70. After One Oclk. several fine showers. Mer. 72 at Night.


Title: [Diary entry: 22 July 1799]
From: Washington, George
To:

22. Morning clear—Wind still at No. Et. & Mer. at 68. Serene all day. Mer. 74 at Night. Mr. Law returned this afternoon.


Title: [Diary entry: 23 July 1799]
From: Washington, George
To:

 23. Morning clear with but little Wind all day. Mer. 68 in the Morning—80 at highest & 76 at Night. Mr. Needham Washington came in the afternoon.


Title: [Diary entry: 24 July 1799]
From: Washington, George
To:

24. Morning perfectly clear. Mer. at 68 and a light breeze from the Eastward. Calm afterwards. Mer. 82 at highest & 77 at Night.


Title: [Diary entry: 25 July 1799]
From: Washington, George
To:

25. Very little wind and very warm—but being unwell, no acct. was taken of the Mer. Visited by Doctr. Craik.


Title: [Diary entry: 26 July 1799]
From: Washington, George
To:

26. Mer. at 74 in the Morning—85 at highest & 84 at Night. Doctr. Craik went away after breakft.


Title: [Diary entry: 27 July 1799]
From: Washington, George
To:

27. Morning calm. Mer. at 76. Calm all day. Mer. 88 at highest & 85 at Night.


Title: [Diary entry: 28 July 1799]
From: Washington, George
To:

28. Wind Southerly, with appearances of rain all the forenoon but none fell. Mer. 79 in the morng. & 80 at Night.


Title: July 1799
From: Washington, George
To:

1. Morning clear—wind fresh from the So. Wt. and Mer. at 76–89 at highest and 76 at Night. A fine shower for about 15 minutes abt. 5 oclock & light rain afterwards until bed time 9 oclock. Doctr. Tazewell & Mr. Burwell Bullett came to dinner.

   Dr. William Tazewell wrote GW six weeks later to request that he be put in charge of a proposed marine hospital in Norfolk. His qualifications included a five-year attendance at hospitals in Edinburgh, London, and Paris (Tazewell to GW, 14 Aug. 1799, DLC:GW). Tazewell practiced medicine in Williamsburg during the War of 1812 and later practiced in Richmond. mr. burwell bullett: Benjamin Bullitt (d. 1766), of Fauquier County, had nine sons, one of whom was named Burwell.

2. Mer. at 74 in the Morning and 79 at Night. Clouds & appearances of rain, but none fell. Doctr. Tazewell & Mr. Bullett went away in the Morning & a Captn. Moore from East Indies & a Mr. Teal from Phila. came to dinner & returned to Alexa. in the afternoon.

3. Mer. at 74 in the Morning and 76 at Night. Wind brisk from the So. Et. Doctr. Stuart, & a Parson Lattum from Pennsylvania dined here & left it in the afternoon.

   parson lattum: probably Rev. James Latta (1732–1801), Presbyterian minister of Chestnut Level, Lancaster County, Pa., or one of his sons. James Latta was born in Ireland of Scotch-Irish parents who emigrated to America and settled near Elkton, Md. Latta’s two elder sons, Francis Alison Latta (c.1767–1834) and William Latta (c.1768–1847), were both ordained ministers at this time and had churches in Pennsylvania (SPRAGUEWilliam B. Sprague. Annals of the American Pulpit; or Commemorative Notices of Distinguished American Clergymen of Various Denominations, from the Early Settlement of the Country to the Close of the Year Eighteen Hundred and Fifty-five. 9 vols. New York, 1859-69., 3:199–208).

4. Morning heavy. Mer. at 74 and Wind So. Et. Clouds in every qr. & sprinklings of Rain. Mer. 80 at Night. Went up to Alexa. and dined with a number of the Citizens there in celebration of the anniversary of the declaration of American Independe. at Kemps Tavern.

   kemps tavern: Peter Kemp ran the Globe Tavern at the northeast corner of Cameron and Fairfax streets. The tavern had had several earlier proprietors, including George H. Leigh, John Abert, and Henry Lyles. John Wise, who built the newer of the two buildings now comprising Gadsby’s tavern

had also been the proprietor at one time (POWELL [1]Mary G. Powell. The History of Old Alexandria, Virginia: From July 13, 1749 to May 24, 1861. Richmond, 1928., 129, 133; Alexandria Journal, 19 April 1787; Columbian Mirror [Alexandria], 15 Oct. 1799; 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., 54, 76).

5. Morning clear—wind fresh from the Southward. Mer. 74—at highest 88—and at Night 84. Appearances of Rain with distant thunder & lightning in the No.

6. Morning very heavy with great appearances of Rain—but little Wind & Mer. at 80–87 at highest & 84 at Night. Doctors Tazewell & Thornton came in the evening.

7. Morning Cloudy—Wind altho’ but little of it, No. W. Mer. 76–83 at highest and 78 at Night. Mr. Willm. Booker came in the evening.

   On 3 Mar. 1799 GW wrote the agricultural mechanic William Booker that “a Mill grinding from 15 to 20 bushls. a day, with two horses, would nearly, if not entirely, answer all my purposes; with the occasional aid of the Water Mills which in the driest Seasons, grinds a little” (NN: Washington Papers). Booker was at Mount Vernon to build GW a horse-powered grist mill (GW’s Cash Memoranda, 20 Feb.–3 Dec. 1799: entry for 12 July, RPJCB).

8. Morning clear with very little wind. Mer. at 71–84 afterwards at highest, & 78 at Night. Wind Southerly & weather clear.

9. Clear, with a very light air from the N.W. Mer. at 70 in the evening & Morning both. Much appearances of rain—but a sprinkling only fell. Doctors Thornton & Tazewell went away before breakfast.

10. Morning perfectly clear with very little wind. Mer. at 66—clear all day. Mer. 74 at Night. Mr. and Mrs. Law and a Mr. Dunn came here to dinner.

11. Morning clear, with a light breeze from the No. Et. Mer. at 68 & at Night 75—breeze fresher from the same quarter.

12. Fresh Southerly wind in the morning; clear; Mer. at 68. After noon a little lowering. Mer. 82 at Night. Doctr. Tazewell & Mr. G. W. Craik came here in the afternoon. Mr. Booker went away.

13. Morning a little cloudy—wind from the So. Wt. and Mer. at 76–85 at highest & 80 at Night. Great appearances of Rain towds. Evening—but they went off.

14. Morning a little Cloudy—Wind Southerly & Mer. at 77. Great appearances of Rain but none fell. Mer. 79 at Night. The Atty. Genl. Lee & Mr. W. Craik dined here. Doctr. Tazewell went away after dinner.

15th. Morning clear—Wind at No. Wt. and Mer. at 80—at highest 88 & at Night 83. Wind fresh after the Morning from the above point.

16. Morning calm. Mer. at 74. Wind brisk from the No. W. till the afternoon when it grew calm again. Mer. 78 at Night. Mr. Dunn left this after breakfast.

17. Morning clear—Wind at No. Wt. & Mer. at 72 and at night 78. Colonels Powell & Simms and Mr. Herbert and Judge Washington Captn. Blackburn & Mr. H. Turner dined here. The three first went away in the afternoon.

   Capt. Richard Scott Blackburn was interested in an appointment in the provisional army (GW to Bushrod Washington, 31 Dec. 1798, DLC:GW). mr. h. turner: probably Henry Smith Turner (1770–1834), of Smith’s Mount, Westmoreland County, who married (1796) Capt. Richard Scott Blackburn’s sister Catherine Blackburn. They later settled at Wheatland in Jefferson County.

18. Cloudy, with drippings now and then till about 4 oclock, when it commenced a constant slow rain with the Wind at So. Et. & contd. until I went to bed at 9 oclock. Mer. 71 at Night. Captn. Blackburn went away after breakfast.

19. A good deal of rain fell in the Night and the ground made sufficiently wet. Morning heavy with the wind at No. Et. and Mer. at 72. Misting, & sometimes pretty smart rain [at] Noon. Mer. 70 at Night. Judge Washington & Mr. H. Turner left this after dinner.

20. Morning a little cloudy—Wind at No. Et. & Mer. at 66—at Night 74. Appearances of Rain. Mr. Law went away after breakfast.

21. Morning cloudy—Wind at No. Et. and Mer. at 70. After One Oclk. several fine showers. Mer. 72 at Night.

22. Morning clear—Wind still at No. Et. & Mer. at 68. Serene all day. Mer. 74 at Night. Mr. Law returned this afternoon.

23. Morning clear with but little Wind all day. Mer. 68 in the Morning—80 at highest & 76 at Night. Mr. Needham Washington came in the afternoon.

   Needham (Nedham) Langhorne Washington (d. 1833), eldest son of Lawrence Washington (b. 1728) of Chotank and Elizabeth Dade Washington, inherited his father’s plantation in the Chotank neighborhood of King George County.

24. Morning perfectly clear. Mer. at 68 and a light breeze from the Eastward. Calm afterwards. Mer. 82 at highest & 77 at Night.

25. Very little wind and very warm—but being unwell, no acct. was taken of the Mer. Visited by Doctr. Craik.

26. Mer. at 74 in the Morning—85 at highest & 84 at Night. Doctr. Craik went away after breakft.

27. Morning calm. Mer. at 76. Calm all day. Mer. 88 at highest & 85 at Night.

28. Wind Southerly, with appearances of rain all the forenoon but none fell. Mer. 79 in the morng. & 80 at Night.

29. Morng., Mer. at 74—But little wind, and that Southerly. Weather clear thro’ the day. Mer. 87 at highest & 83 at Night.

30. Morning perfectly clear and calm. Mer. at 78—at highest & 85 at Night—a breeze from So. Wt. latter part of the day. A Major Riddle (a British Officer) Colo. Fitzgerald, & Mr. James Patton—and Mr. B. Bassett came to Dinner. The first three went away afterwds.

   James Patton (Patten) took an oath of citizenship and was licensed as a merchant in Alexandria in 1791 (Fairfax IndexEdith Moore Sprouse, ed. A Surname and Subject Index of the Minute and Order Books of the County Court, Fairfax County, Virginia, 1749–1800. Fairfax County History Commission. Fairfax, Va., 1976., 2:29).

31. Clear, & wind lightly from the Southward. Mer. at 76—at its height 90 and at Night.


Title: [Diary entry: 1 August 1799]
From: Washington, George
To:

1. Morning clear—wind Southerly, & Mer. at 74—hot about midday & 72 at Night. A moderate & fine Rain began about 4 oclock & contd. more or less until 6.


Title: [Diary entry: 2 August 1799]
From: Washington, George
To:

 2. Rain in the Night, & Clouds very heavy abt. sunrise. Mer. at 74—at its highest 76 and at Night 75. Captn. Blue of the Amn. Army who came here yesterday to dinner returned to day after breakft.


Title: [Diary entry: 4 August 1799]
From: Washington, George
To:

4. Morning a little cloudy and very little wind. Mer. at 70 Noon, and afternoon, wind Easterly with heavy Clouds in the North, South & East, and light sprinkling rain here. Mer. 70 at Night. Doctr. Stuart & his brother Richard & Mr. Foot dined here & returned afterwards.


Title: [Diary entry: 5 August 1799]
From: Washington, George
To:

5. Clear & Warm. Went up to George Town, to a general Meeting of the Potomac Company—dined at the Union Tavern & lodged at Mr. Law’s.


Title: [Diary entry: 6 August 1799]
From: Washington, George
To:

6. Clear & warm. Returned home to dinner—found Genl. Wm. Washington of So. Carolina & Son here. Wind Southerly.


Title: [Diary entry: 7 August 1799]
From: Washington, George
To:

7. Mer. at 72 in the Morning, and 80 at Night. Wind Southerly. The following Gentlemen dined here—viz. Colo. Fitzgerald—Doctr. Craik & Son—Mr. Wm. Craik—Mr. Herbert & Son Jno. C. Herbert—Colo. Ramsay—Mr. Potts—Mr. Edmd. Lee—Mr. Keith—Lieut. Kean of the Marines—and Mr. Chas. Fenton Mercer.


Title: [Diary entry: 10 August 1799]
From: Washington, George
To:

10. Morning perfectly clear. Wind from So. Wt. and Mer. at 75—at highest 87—and at Night 74. In the afternoon heavy clouds & fine rains all around us but none fell here.


Title: [Diary entry: 11 August 1799]
From: Washington, George
To:

11. Morning clear—wind Southerly—and Mer. at 73; 83 at highest—& 80 at Night—clear all day—& wind pretty fresh.


Title: [Diary entry: 13 August 1799]
From: Washington, George
To:

13. Morning perfectly clear and quite calm. Mer. at 73–82 at Night & close—thunder, lightning & rain in the West & No. Wt. but none fell here.


Title: [Diary entry: 14 August 1799]
From: Washington, George
To:

14. Morning clear & calm. Mer. at 71 and at night 83. Wind Southerly & Fresh after the Morning—with clouds to the West.


Title: [Diary entry: 15 August 1799]
From: Washington, George
To:

15. Morning Calm & clear. Mer. at 80. Wind Southerly afterwards & Mer. at 85—and 82 at Night. Mr. Thos. Digges dined here.


Title: [Diary entry: 17 August 1799]
From: Washington, George
To:

17. A Slow, & moderate rain for an hour or more fell About Middle of last night—but not sufft. to wet the grd. more than an Inch or two. This morning a little cloudy. Mer. at 70—& 68 at Night. Clouds at day & wind fresh from No. West & cool.


Title: [Diary entry: 18 August 1799]
From: Washington, George
To:

18. Morning—Mer. at 64—and 69 at Night. Wind No. & No. East and cool great appearances of Rain but none fell here.


Title: [Diary entry: 19 August 1799]
From: Washington, George
To:

19. Morning Cloudy Wind at No. Et. & Mer. at 65—at highest 75 and at Night 69. Wind brisk at No. Et. all day.


Title: [Diary entry: 20 August 1799]
From: Washington, George
To:

20. Mer. at 69 in the morning. About ½ after 5, it began a fine, rain, with the wind at No. Et. & continued to do so until near 11 oclock when it ceased, but recommenced about ½ after 3 & contd. raining slow & fine until 9 oclock when I went to bed. Mer. 65 at Night.


Title: [Diary entry: 22 August 1799]
From: Washington, George
To:

22d. The sun rose clear, but very cloudy notwithstanding. Very little wind from the No. Et. Mer. at 64—afterwards & Clear. Mer. 72 at highest & 70 at Night.


Title: [Diary entry: 24 August 1799]
From: Washington, George
To:

24. Morning clear—a light breeze from the Southward and Mer. at 70. Clear all day & warm. Mer. 80 at Night. Mr. White came to dinner—as did 4 Gentlemen from Phila. viz.—young Mr. Meridith (son of the Treasurer) Mr. Clifton, a Mr. Walter &—. The 4 last returned after dinner.


Title: [Diary entry: 25 August 1799]
From: Washington, George
To:

25. A shower of rain in the Night with lightning & distant thunder. Morng. calm & clear. Mer. 76. Wind Southerly afterwards and Mer. 80 at Night.


Title: [Diary entry: 26 August 1799]
From: Washington, George
To:

26. Morning calm & clear. Mer. at 76—at highest 86 and at night 75. A fine shower of Rain in the afternoon. Wind Southerly in the forenoon & northerly after the Rain.


Title: [Diary entry: 27 August 1799]
From: Washington, George
To:

27. Morning clear & pleasant & Wind at No. Wt. Mer. 75—at highest 72. Pleasant all day. Wind westerly until the afternoon then Calm.


Title: [Diary entry: 30 August 1799]
From: Washington, George
To:

30. Morning cloudy—Wind Northerly and Mer. at 70–82 at highest & 78 at Night.


Title: August [1799]
From: Washington, George
To:

1. Morning clear—wind Southerly, & Mer. at 74—hot about midday & 72 at Night. A moderate & fine Rain began about 4 oclock & contd. more or less until 6.

2. Rain in the Night, & Clouds very heavy abt. sunrise. Mer. at 74—at its highest 76 and at Night 75. Captn. Blue of the Amn. Army who came here yesterday to dinner returned to day after breakft.

   Capt. William K. Blue (d. 1802), of Virginia, had been appointed cornet of light dragoons in 1793 and lieutenant in July 1794 and was honorably discharged on 1 Nov. 1796. On 12 July 1799 he was appointed captain of the 7th Infantry and was again honorably discharged 15 June 1800. He was killed in a duel in 1802 (HEITMAN [3]Francis B. Heitman. Historical Register and Dictionary of the United States Army, from its Organization, September 29, 1789, to March 2, 1903. 2 vols. Washington, D.C., 1903., 1:226).

3. Morning cloudy, but clear afterwards. Mer. at 72 in the Morning–80 at Noon & 77 at Night.

4. Morning a little cloudy and very little wind. Mer. at 70 Noon, and afternoon, wind Easterly with heavy Clouds in the North, South & East, and light sprinkling rain here. Mer. 70 at Night. Doctr. Stuart & his brother Richard & Mr. Foot dined here & returned afterwards.

5. Clear & Warm. Went up to George Town, to a general Meeting of the Potomac Company—dined at the Union Tavern & lodged at Mr. Law’s.

   In July 1799 a letter had been sent to each shareholder in the Potowmack Company, outlining the financial plight of the company and soliciting assistance. The president (James Keith) reported that tolls were down from the previous year and work had been at a standstill for the past two seasons. However, a new machine for hoisting cargo over the Great Falls had been installed, replacing an earlier one, and there was still hope that the state of Maryland would lend further assistance. This was the last meeting GW was to attend. The Potowmack Company survived until 1828, when it was incorporated into the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal Company.

6. Clear & warm. Returned home to dinner—found Genl. Wm. Washington of So. Carolina & Son here. Wind Southerly.

   William Washington was one of GW’s particular choices for the officering of the provisional army. He was appointed brigadier general of the United States Army on 19 July 1798 and retired on 15 June 1800. William Washington had an only son, William Washington (1785–1830).

7. Mer. at 72 in the Morning, and 80 at Night. Wind Southerly. The following Gentlemen dined here—viz. Colo. Fitzgerald—Doctr. Craik & Son—Mr. Wm. Craik—Mr. Herbert & Son Jno. C. Herbert—Colo. Ramsay—Mr. Potts—Mr. Edmd. Lee—Mr. Keith—Lieut. Kean of the Marines—and Mr. Chas. Fenton Mercer.

   lieut. kean: probably Newton Keene (b. 1768), son of Capt. Newton Keene and Sarah Edwards Keene of Northumberland County (WMQThe William and Mary Quarterly: A Magazine of Early American History. Williamsburg, Va., 1st ser., 18 [1909–10], 131–32). Keene was appointed second lieutenant in the Marine Corps on 22 Dec. 1798 and was promoted to first lieutenant 1 Nov. 1800. He resigned his commission 1 Nov. 1805 (CALLAHAN [3]Edward W. Callahan, ed. List of Officers of the Navy of the United States and the Marine Corps from 1775 to 1900. New York, 1901., 689).

8. Morning calm & clear. Mer. at 77–88 at highest & 80 at Night. About 4 o’clock their was a moderate rain for about 10 minutes—but the grd. was not wet by it. Genel. Washington & son went away after breakfast & Doctr. & Mrs. Jenifer came to dinner.

9. Mer. at 73 in the Morning & a light breeze from No. Wt.—82 at Night. Clear & warm all day. Doctr. & Mrs. Jenifer went away after breakfast—as did Mrs. Law.—Mr. Law havg. left it on Monday last.

10. Morning perfectly clear. Wind from So. Wt. and Mer. at 75—at highest 87—and at Night 74. In the afternoon heavy clouds & fine rains all around us but none fell here.

11. Morning clear—wind Southerly—and Mer. at 73; 83 at highest—& 80 at Night—clear all day—& wind pretty fresh.

12. Morning quite clear—wind westerly—and Mer. 70 at sunrising—82 at highest & 80 at Night. Clouds & some rain to the Southward—but none fell here.

13. Morning perfectly clear and quite calm. Mer. at 73–82 at Night & close—thunder, lightning & rain in the West & No. Wt. but none fell here.

14. Morning clear & calm. Mer. at 71 and at night 83. Wind Southerly & Fresh after the Morning—with clouds to the West.

15. Morning Calm & clear. Mer. at 80. Wind Southerly afterwards & Mer. at 85—and 82 at Night. Mr. Thos. Digges dined here.

16. Mer. at 71 in the Morning—No wind & clear—82 at highest and 78 at N. Young Mr. McCarty dined here.

   young mr. mccarty: probably Daniel McCarty (d. 1811), son of Daniel McCarty (1759–1801) of Cedar Grove (SPROUSE [4]Edith Moore Sprouse. Mount Air, Fairfax County, Virginia. [Fairfax, Va.], 1970., 15–20).

17. A Slow, & moderate rain for an hour or more fell About Middle of last night—but not sufft. to wet the grd. more than an Inch or two. This morning a little cloudy. Mer. at 70—& 68 at Night. Clouds at day & wind fresh from No. West & cool.

18. Morning—Mer. at 64—and 69 at Night. Wind No. & No. East and cool great appearances of Rain but none fell here.

19. Morning Cloudy Wind at No. Et. & Mer. at 65—at highest 75 and at Night 69. Wind brisk at No. Et. all day.

20. Mer. at 69 in the morning. About ½ after 5, it began a fine, rain, with the wind at No. Et. & continued to do so until near 11 oclock when it ceased, but recommenced about ½ after 3 & contd. raining slow & fine until 9 oclock when I went to bed. Mer. 65 at Night.

   The rain this day must have been welcome to GW, who wrote to Robert Lewis 17 Aug. that the drought had caused his oat crop to fail and now endangered his corn crop. He added that “my Meadows, at this time, are as bare as the pavements” (ViMtvL).

21. Heavy morning, with the Wind at No. Et. & Mer. at 64—at highest 66 & at Night 65. The same slow & fine rain fell with

Intervals after 12 oclock & early in the morning. Ground now fully wet.

22d. The sun rose clear, but very cloudy notwithstanding. Very little wind from the No. Et. Mer. at 64—afterwards & Clear. Mer. 72 at highest & 70 at Night.

23. Morning quite calm & tolerably clear. Mer. at 68–80 at highest & 66 at Night. Wind Southerly & clear after the Morning. Mr. & Mrs. Law came here to Dinner.

24. Morning clear—a light breeze from the Southward and Mer. at 70. Clear all day & warm. Mer. 80 at Night. Mr. White came to dinner—as did 4 Gentlemen from Phila. viz.—young Mr. Meridith (son of the Treasurer) Mr. Clifton, a Mr. Walter &—. The 4 last returned after dinner.

   young mr. meridith: a son of Samuel Meredith, treasurer of the United States, and his wife, Margaret Cadwalader Meredith.

25. A shower of rain in the Night with lightning & distant thunder. Morng. calm & clear. Mer. 76. Wind Southerly afterwards and Mer. 80 at Night.

26. Morning calm & clear. Mer. at 76—at highest 86 and at night 75. A fine shower of Rain in the afternoon. Wind Southerly in the forenoon & northerly after the Rain.

27. Morning clear & pleasant & Wind at No. Wt. Mer. 75—at highest 72. Pleasant all day. Wind westerly until the afternoon then Calm.

28. Morning perfectly clear and Calm. Mer. at 66–76 at highest & 70 at Night. Clear all day with but little wind.

29. Morning very lowering with a brisk Southerly wind, Mer. 70 & at Night 76. A good deal of rain fell to the No., & No. Wt. of us, with thunder & light[ning]. A few drops fell here—but not more than enough to lay the dust.

30. Morning cloudy—Wind Northerly and Mer. at 70–82 at highest & 78 at Night.

31. Morning clear. Mer. at 76. Calm—82 at highest & 78 at Night. Messrs. Willm. & George Craik dined here & returned.


Title: [Diary entry: 2 September 1799]
From: Washington, George
To:

2. Morning very likely for Rain being very cloudy with a brisk Southerly wind. Rain all around us but only [a] sprinkle here. Mer. 76 in the Morning 84 at highest and 83 at Night.


Title: [Diary entry: 3 September 1799]
From: Washington, George
To:

3. Morning Cloudy—about noon a very black cloud to the West & No. Wt. and a good deal of rain in appearance but little or none fell here. Mer. 79 in the Morning—84 at highest & 77 at Night. Mrs. Washn. & her grd. Dr. of Bushfd. & B: Washn. & wife & Dr. Stuart came here.


Title: [Diary entry: 4 September 1799]
From: Washington, George
To:

4. A moderate shower of rain in the night with a good deal of lightning & distant thunder. Morning very heavy—a breeze from the No. Et. and Mer. at 72. About 4 Oclock it began a moderate settled rain, which continued until I went to bed. Mer. then at 67.


Title: [Diary entry: 5 September 1799]
From: Washington, George
To:

5. Morning very heavy & Mer. 66—the same through the day. About 5 oclock it began to rain & contd. until bed time. Wind tho’ very little of it, at No. Et. Doctr. Stuart went away after breakfast.


Title: [Diary entry: 6 September 1799]
From: Washington, George
To:

6. Much rain fell in the Night, without wind, thunder or lightning—making the ground wetter than it has been since March. Mer. 65 in the Morning—68 at highest and at Night 68. Cloudy & heavy with a light breeze from the No. Et. At Night began a drizling rain. Mr. B. W. & wife went after breakfast. Doctr. Craik who was sent for in the Night to Mrs. Washington came early this Morning.


Title: [Diary entry: 7 September 1799]
From: Washington, George
To:

7. Much rain fell last night. Very heavy morning with very little Wind. At times after noon the sun appeared. Mer. at 65 in the morning—76 at highest & 72 at Night. Mr. & Mrs. Peter and Genl. Washington came in the afternoon.


Title: [Diary entry: 8 September 1799]
From: Washington, George
To:

8. Morning very heavy & wind at No. Et. & Mer. 68 in the Morning & 70 at Night. Cloudy all day. Some rain fell last night and a slight sprinkling this afternn. Genl. Washington went away after breakfast & Mr. & Mrs. Law came to dinner.


Title: [Diary entry: 9 September 1799]
From: Washington, George
To:

9. Morning heavy & at times raining. About noon the Sun came out warm and the weather appeared to be clearing but in the afternoon it rained again as it did last night. Mer. 70 in the morning & 73 at night. Wind still Easterly.


Title: [Diary entry: 10 September 1799]
From: Washington, George
To:

10. Morning heavy again—but abt. Noon the weather broke away warm, and had the appearance of being fair. Wind still Easterly. Mer. 70 in the Morning 75 at highest & 72 at Night. Mrs. Washington & her granddaughter went away after breakfast. Doctr. Stuart came to dinner, & Doctr. Craik (sent for) came in the afternoon.


Title: [Diary entry: 11 September 1799]
From: Washington, George
To:

11. An extremely heavy fog—no wind—and Mer. at 68 in the morning—79 at Highest & 75 at Night. Clear with a southerly wind after the Fog. Doctors Craik & Stuart, & Mr. Peter went away after breakfast.


Title: [Diary entry: 12 September 1799]
From: Washington, George
To:

12. Morning clear—wind brisk from the Southward and Mer. at 72–84 at highest & 80 at N. Clear all day. Cap: Truxton came to dinner.


Title: [Diary entry: 13 September 1799]
From: Washington, George
To:

13. Morning clear—wind Southerly. Mer. at 76—at highest 84 and at Night 76. Wind Southerly & clear till afternoon. Then cloudy & about 6 Oclock Rain, with a good deal of Lightening & thunder, but none severe. Mr. & Mrs. Law went away after breakfast & Doctor Thornton came to dinner.


Title: [Diary entry: 14 September 1799]
From: Washington, George
To:

14. Morning clear—Mer. at 72. Wind Westerly through the day & clear.


Title: [Diary entry: 15 September 1799]
From: Washington, George
To:

15. Day omitted through mistake.


Title: [Diary entry: 16 September 1799]
From: Washington, George
To:

16. Morning clear—no wind. Mer. at 64 at highest 76—and at Night 73. Clear & but little wind all day.


Title: [Diary entry: 17 September 1799]
From: Washington, George
To:

17. Morning clear—but little wd. & that No. Westerly. Mer. 66—calm all day. Mer. 80 at highest & 74 at Night. Doctr. Thornton went away after breakfast & Mr. Thos. Peter & his brother Lieutt. Peter came to Dinner.


Title: [Diary entry: 18 September 1799]
From: Washington, George
To:

18. Morning very heavy—Wind Easterly and Mer. at 70. Towds. Night the appearance of a Storm increased. Mr. George Peter went away after breakft.


Title: [Diary entry: 20 September 1799]
From: Washington, George
To:

20. Morning cloudy—Wind at No. W. and Mer. at 60—at Night 66 & clear. Mr. Ludwell Lee, and Messrs. Stanton & Parker from the Eastern shore of Virginia and a Mr. Hilton dined here & went away afterwards.


Title: [Diary entry: 21 September 1799]
From: Washington, George
To:

21. Morning cloudy—Wind Northerly—and Mer. at 63. Variable all day. Mer. 66 at Night. Mr. Alex. White came to dinner.


Title: [Diary entry: 22 September 1799]
From: Washington, George
To:

22. Morning a little cloudy. Wind at No. Et. & Mer. at 62. Wind shifted to No. Wt. Mer. 62 at Night.


Title: [Diary entry: 23 September 1799]
From: Washington, George
To:

23. Morning clear—wind No. Wt. & continued so all day. Mer. at 60 in the morning—and 58 at night. Mr. White went away after breakfast.


Title: [Diary entry: 24 September 1799]
From: Washington, George
To:

24. Morning clear & calm. Mer. at 50. A small white frost—clear all day with but little wind. Mer. 63 at highest & 58 at Night. Mr. Thos. Peter went away after break[fas]t.


Title: [Diary entry: 25 September 1799]
From: Washington, George
To:

25. Clear & calm. Mer. at 52 in the Morning—but little wind all day. Mer. 66 at highest and 63 at N. Mrs. & Miss Fairfax & Miss Dennison dined here & returned & Doctr. Stuart came in the Evening.


Title: [Diary entry: 26 September 1799]
From: Washington, George
To:

26. Clear & calm in the Morning. Mer. at 63—at highest 70 and at Night 64. But little wind all day.


Title: [Diary entry: 27 September 1799]
From: Washington, George
To:

27. Clear, with the wind Northerly; Mer. at 62 in the morning—70 at highest & 66 at Night. Governor Davie on his way to the Northward to Embark as Envoy to France called, dined & proceeded on. Mr. T. Peter came.


Title: [Diary entry: 29 September 1799]
From: Washington, George
To:

29. Morning cloudy—Wind at So. W. & Mer. at 62. Wind changed to No. Wt. & blew pretty fresh. Mer. 65 at night. Doctr. Craik came to dinner on a visit to Mrs. Wash. & stayed all night.


Title: [Diary entry: 30 September 1799]
From: Washington, George
To:

 30. Morning clear wind Northerly and Mer. at 50—at highest 66 and at night 60. Clear all day wind in the same place. Doctr. Craik went away after Break.


Title: September [1799]
From: Washington, George
To:

1. A brisk Southerly wind in the Morning—clear & Mer. at 70 and at night 83. Cloud, thunder, lightning & Rain to the Northward of us but none fell here. Doctr. Craik dined here—sent for to Mrs. Washington who was sick.

2. Morning very likely for Rain being very cloudy with a brisk Southerly wind. Rain all around us but only [a] sprinkle here. Mer. 76 in the Morning 84 at highest and 83 at Night.

3. Morning Cloudy—about noon a very black cloud to the West & No. Wt. and a good deal of rain in appearance but little or none fell here. Mer. 79 in the Morning—84 at highest & 77 at Night. Mrs. Washn. & her grd. Dr. of Bushfd. & B: Washn. & wife & Dr. Stuart came here.

4. A moderate shower of rain in the night with a good deal of lightning & distant thunder. Morning very heavy—a breeze from the No. Et. and Mer. at 72. About 4 Oclock it began a moderate settled rain, which continued until I went to bed. Mer. then at 67.

5. Morning very heavy & Mer. 66—the same through the day. About 5 oclock it began to rain & contd. until bed time. Wind tho’ very little of it, at No. Et. Doctr. Stuart went away after breakfast.

6. Much rain fell in the Night, without wind, thunder or lightning—making the ground wetter than it has been since March. Mer. 65 in the Morning—68 at highest and at Night 68. Cloudy & heavy with a light breeze from the No. Et. At Night began a drizling rain. Mr. B. W. & wife went after breakfast. Doctr. Craik who was sent for in the Night to Mrs. Washington came early this Morning.

   doctr. craik who was sent for in the night: GW wrote Thomas Peter on 7 Sept. that “Mrs. Washington has been exceedingly unwell for more than eight days. Yesterday she was so ill as to keep her bed all day, and to occasion my sending for Doctr. Craik the night before, at Midnight. She is now better, and taking the Bark; but low, weak and fatiegued—under his direction. Her’s has been a kind of Ague & fever—the latter never, entirely, intermitting until now. I sent for the Doctor to her on Sunday last, but she could not, until he came the second time—yesterday morning—be prevailed upon to take anything to arrest them.” After sealing the letter, GW added a postscript

saying that the fever had returned “with uneasy & restless symptoms.” He requested that Mrs. Eliza Law also be informed (ViMtvL). Mrs. Washington’s illness persisted for several weeks and not until late October did GW write that she was “tolerably well” (GW to William Augustine Washington, 22 Sept. 1799, ViMtvL; FREEMANDouglas Southall Freeman. George Washington: A Biography. 7 vols. New York, 1948–57., 7:602–6).

7. Much rain fell last night. Very heavy morning with very little Wind. At times after noon the sun appeared. Mer. at 65 in the morning—76 at highest & 72 at Night. Mr. & Mrs. Peter and Genl. Washington came in the afternoon.

   William Washington brought GW a “model of an improvement made on Gun Carriages” from Edward Rutledge of South Carolina. GW wrote Rutledge that he saw many advantages in the improvement and thought something of the sort should be adopted (8 Sept. 1799, ViMtvL).

8. Morning very heavy & wind at No. Et. & Mer. 68 in the Morning & 70 at Night. Cloudy all day. Some rain fell last night and a slight sprinkling this afternn. Genl. Washington went away after breakfast & Mr. & Mrs. Law came to dinner.

9. Morning heavy & at times raining. About noon the Sun came out warm and the weather appeared to be clearing but in the afternoon it rained again as it did last night. Mer. 70 in the morning & 73 at night. Wind still Easterly.

10. Morning heavy again—but abt. Noon the weather broke away warm, and had the appearance of being fair. Wind still Easterly. Mer. 70 in the Morning 75 at highest & 72 at Night. Mrs. Washington & her granddaughter went away after breakfast. Doctr. Stuart came to dinner, & Doctr. Craik (sent for) came in the afternoon.

11. An extremely heavy fog—no wind—and Mer. at 68 in the morning—79 at Highest & 75 at Night. Clear with a southerly wind after the Fog. Doctors Craik & Stuart, & Mr. Peter went away after breakfast.

12. Morning clear—wind brisk from the Southward and Mer. at 72–84 at highest & 80 at N. Clear all day. Cap: Truxton came to dinner.

   Thomas Truxtun (Truxton; 1755–1822) was owner and master of several privateers during the Revolution and later was a merchant trading with the Orient. In 1794 he was appointed captain in the United States Navy. In Feb. 1799 Truxtun, commanding the frigate Constellation, met and captured the French

      frigate L’Insurgent in a battle in the West Indies; he returned to America to find himself acclaimed a hero. At the end of June, Truxtun sailed his vessel to New York for refitting, recruiting, and provisioning. On 1 Aug. he resigned his commission in a dispute over rank but reconsidered and sailed for the West Indies on 24 Dec. 1799. Truxtun was at Mount Vernon by GW’s invitation (FERGUSONEugene S. Ferguson. Truxton of the Constellation: The Life of Commodore Thomas Truxton, U.S. Navy, 1755-1822. Baltimore, 1956., 176–87).

13. Morning clear—wind Southerly. Mer. at 76—at highest 84 and at Night 76. Wind Southerly & clear till afternoon. Then cloudy & about 6 Oclock Rain, with a good deal of Lightening & thunder, but none severe. Mr. & Mrs. Law went away after breakfast & Doctor Thornton came to dinner.

14. Morning clear—Mer. at 72. Wind Westerly through the day & clear.

15. Day omitted through mistake.

16. Morning clear—no wind. Mer. at 64 at highest 76—and at Night 73. Clear & but little wind all day.

17. Morning clear—but little wd. & that No. Westerly. Mer. 66—calm all day. Mer. 80 at highest & 74 at Night. Doctr. Thornton went away after breakfast & Mr. Thos. Peter & his brother Lieutt. Peter came to Dinner.

   lieutt. peter: George Peter had been appointed a second lieutenant in the 9th Infantry on 12 July 1799 (HEITMAN [3]Francis B. Heitman. Historical Register and Dictionary of the United States Army, from its Organization, September 29, 1789, to March 2, 1903. 2 vols. Washington, D.C., 1903., 1:786).

18. Morning very heavy—Wind Easterly and Mer. at 70. Towds. Night the appearance of a Storm increased. Mr. George Peter went away after breakft.

19. Raining in the Morning early and by 8 oclock storming with a heavy fall of rain. Mer. at 70—wind at So. Et. Afterwards shifted to the No. Wt. and cleared. Mer. 70 at highest and 64 at Night.

20. Morning cloudy—Wind at No. W. and Mer. at 60—at Night 66 & clear. Mr. Ludwell Lee, and Messrs. Stanton & Parker from the Eastern shore of Virginia and a Mr. Hilton dined here & went away afterwards.

   stanton & parker: probably John Stratton and Thomas Parker. Stratton, of Elkington, near Eastville in Northampton County, was in the salt business on the Eastern Shore in the 1790s, while Parker (d. 1819) was an Eastern

Shore merchant based at Pungoteague, in Accomack County (WHITELAWRalph T. Whitelaw. Virginia’s Eastern Shore: A History of Northampton and Accomack Counties. 2 vols. 1951. Reprint. Gloucester, Mass., 1968., 1:147, 174, 698).

   GW received word this evening of the death of his last remaining brother, Charles Washington.

21. Morning cloudy—Wind Northerly—and Mer. at 63. Variable all day. Mer. 66 at Night. Mr. Alex. White came to dinner.

22. Morning a little cloudy. Wind at No. Et. & Mer. at 62. Wind shifted to No. Wt. Mer. 62 at Night.

23. Morning clear—wind No. Wt. & continued so all day. Mer. at 60 in the morning—and 58 at night. Mr. White went away after breakfast.

24. Morning clear & calm. Mer. at 50. A small white frost—clear all day with but little wind. Mer. 63 at highest & 58 at Night. Mr. Thos. Peter went away after break[fas]t.

25. Clear & calm. Mer. at 52 in the Morning—but little wind all day. Mer. 66 at highest and 63 at N. Mrs. & Miss Fairfax & Miss Dennison dined here & returned & Doctr. Stuart came in the Evening.

26. Clear & calm in the Morning. Mer. at 63—at highest 70 and at Night 64. But little wind all day.

27. Clear, with the wind Northerly; Mer. at 62 in the morning—70 at highest & 66 at Night. Governor Davie on his way to the Northward to Embark as Envoy to France called, dined & proceeded on. Mr. T. Peter came.

   William Richardson Davie (1756–1820), a distinguished veteran of the southern campaigns in the American Revolution and a strong Federalist, was elected governor of North Carolina in 1798. He recently had been commissioned by President Adams to join Oliver Ellsworth and William Vans Murray in a mission to France to settle the two countries’ differences (SMITH [5]Page Smith. John Adams. 2 vols. Garden City, N.Y., 1962., 2:994–1003, 1010–16).

28. Clear & calm. Mer. at 60 in the morning—70 at the highest & 66 at night. Clear & calm all day.

29. Morning cloudy—Wind at So. W. & Mer. at 62. Wind changed to No. Wt. & blew pretty fresh. Mer. 65 at night. Doctr. Craik came to dinner on a visit to Mrs. Wash. & stayed all night.

30. Morning clear wind Northerly and Mer. at 50—at highest 66 and at night 60. Clear all day wind in the same place. Doctr. Craik went away after Break.


Title: [Diary entry: 1 October 1799]
From: Washington, George
To:

1. Morning a little lowering. Mer. at 55 and air from the No. West. Clear afterwards. Mer. 65 at high. Mrs. Fairfax sister & daughter and Mrs. Herbert & Mrs. Nelson—Mr. Jno. Herbert & two of Mrs. Washington of Fairfields Sons dined here. Mrs. Fairfax &ca. went away after dinner—the others remained.


Title: [Diary entry: 2 October 1799]
From: Washington, George
To:

2. Morning again lowering. Mer. at 58 and Light breeze from No. Et.—afterwards quite calm. Mer. 72 at Night and highest. After dinner Mrs. Herbert Mrs. Nelson &ca. went away.


Title: [Diary entry: 4 October 1799]
From: Washington, George
To:

4. Morning again, heavy & lowering. Mer. 68—quite calm through the day. Mer. 75 at highest & 73 at Night. Mrs. Peak dined here and in the Afternoon Colo. Jno. Waker & Mr. Hugh Nelson came here.