Title: From George Washington to James Anderson, 21 December 1797
From: Washington, George
To: Anderson, James

Mr Anderson
Mount Vernon 21st Decr 1797.

As the present year is about to close, it is my desire that all the accompts from the commencement of your Management, up to

the first of January, may be fully stated and laid before me on, or about that day.
In doing this, I shall expect to see, at one view, all the monies which you have received, and all that you have expended (on my a/c); together with the balances which may be due for articles sold & not paid for, or paid for in part only, comprehended. This will be a general a/c, embracing everything. Besides which, I shall require a seperate and particular a/c of the principal articles that have been disposed of (such as Fish, but of this I believe I am in possession already[)]—Whiskey—Hay—Meats of all kinds—Flour—Seeds—&ca—To whom sold—and at what prices, that I may know the amount of each, and what has been the product of my Farms aggregately, for the year ending the 31st of this month.
And as it will be more convenient, and more to be desired, I request that for the ensuing year, and every year thereafter, the accompts may, without fail, be rendered quarterly to prevent misconceptions, or to rectify more easily, mistakes, if any from inadvertency, should have been committed—viz.—on the first days of January, April, July and October. By so doing I shall be regularly, and frequently advertised how matters are going on, and can retrench, or proceed accordingly. This has been the practice in my Public Walk of life, and I mean (now I am fixed at home) to pursue it in my domestic transactions—the utility of it, having been abundantly demonstrated.
Having now had the experience of a year’s service of you, as a Manager of my concerns, I should not do justice to my own feelings were I not to declare (as far as my knowledge of facts, and my opportunities have enabled me to judge) that they have been conducted with integrity—zeal—and ability; and, of course have met my approbation. There are some things however which I conceive may be improved, and candour, mixed with motives of friendship, have induced me to mention them to you.
The most prominent of these are, that after measures have been suggested by you and approved by me there appears to have been a tardiness in carrying them into execution. Providing the materials, and erecting the building for the Distillery, is a striking, & will prove an expensive specimen of this; for hardly a day arrives that does not produce some evidence of the disadvantage arising therefrom or thereof of time, risk, and difficulty of getting the materials to the spot: and the man who does not estimate time as

money will forever miscalculate; for altho’ the latter is not paid for the former, it is nevertheless a sure item in the cost of any undertaking. And this leads me to notice some other matters in which there is a manifest loss of it; namely—shifting suddenly from one kind of work to another (this has been very apparent with respect to the Ditchers) and in ordering people to come from the Farms to the Mansion (sometimes with Carts) and keeping them waiting more than half a day before you come to dispatch them—sending Carts frequently to Alexa. with, or for, trifles, which always come home injuriously late for the teams; when if a Memm was kept of what was to go to, & to be brought from thence, and to send when there was a full load only (except in cases of necessity) one trip might do in place of two or three; Again, it is not uncommon, when one thing is to be carried to, & another thing brought from the same Farm, to make two trips to acomplish it, when one would answer.
These matters seem to arise from a want of arrangement. Circumstances it is true, may, occasionally, produce such effects; and sometimes call labourers from settled, to occasional employment, before the former is accomplished; but this ought never to happen if it can be avoided; for besides the loss of time occasioned thereby, more work will be done in the sametime when people are kept steadily at it, than when they are taken from, & return to it again; for although the work itself is not new to them, yet new arrangements must be made, & time is required to get them fairly settled to it. It follows, if these observations are just, and they are clearly so to my mind, that the whole business of Farms—of Ditching—and so of any other employment that is intended to be permanent, ought to be systematical directed—not from day to day—or week to week—but for as long a time as can well be foreseen and the persons who are immediately to have the conducting thereof to be informed accordingly: and unless imperious necessity—or weather, the last of which ought always to be provided for (as there is work to suit all kinds of it) the system should be adhered to.
If a person only sees, or directs from day to day what is to be done, business can never go on methodically or well, for in case of sickness, or the absence of the Director, delays must follow. System in all things is the soul of business. To deliberate maturely, & execute promptly is the way to conduct it to advantage. With me, it

has always been a maxim, rather to let my designs appear from my works, than by my expressions. To talk long beforehand, of things to be done, is unpleasant, if those things can as well be done at one time or another; but I do not mean by this to discourage you from proposing any plans to me which you may conceive to be beneficial, after having weighed them well in your own mind; on the contrary, I request you to do it with the utmost freedom, for the more ⟨illegible,⟩ and distant things are seen, the more likely they are to be turned to advantage.
I have been thus particular because one scene is closing, & another opening—because I shall be able to go but little out of the house this winter having appropriated it to the assorting, and arranging my voluminous papers; a task of no small magnitude; and because I am more and more convinced the oftener I think of the plan of placing Union & Dogue Run Farms under one head, of the indispensable necessity of great exertion on your part, as well as on that of the immediate Overlooker’s, to prevent the work cattle and stock of every kind from suffering on the latter & the grain & other things from embezzlement. To do which, and to keep the work progressing to advantage, the plainest, the most precise, & simple system ought to be adopted & adhered to. I shall confess that my mind never, implicitly yielded to this plan, & unless these suggestions are attended to, I shall be seriously afraid that the endeavor to save an Overseers Wages & allowance; will be effected by a serious loss in other respects; for experience has fully shewn I think, that with the vigilance of an Overseer at each place, idleness & roguery are still practised. What have I to expect then, when the latitude is increased, and the opportunities to accomplish these, are extended? More than ordinary attention too, to the Tools & Impliments of the Farms, will be required; not only at Dogue run but at the others also; for it is inconceivable that Isaac always and Joe frequently should be employed in making & repairing Ploughs & Carts; abuse, more than the use of these things, must be the cause of it, and requires to be looked into with an investigating Eye. I shall only add that I wish you well, & success in all your measures, being your friend &ca

Go: Washington


Title: To George Washington from George Washington Motier Lafayette, 21 December 1797
From: Lafayette, George Washington Motier
To: Washington, George

Sir
on board the Clio in Ramsgate harbourDecember 21irst 1797.

You will I have no doubt be surprized, to receive a letter from me dated from an English port, and I myself little expected to have wrote to you, from this place, we have had a very long and disagreable passage. In the Ocean we had a contrary wind, for twenty days together which at last carried us to the north of the scilly Islands. we had then to sail back again round them to enter the channel. after entering it we were driven by hard winds together with the carelesness of our captain, upon the shoals on the coast of France, a great way beyond Havre-de grace and at last after having seen the shores of our own country, we have been obliged to take a shelter in Ramsgate on English port in the downs, where we are since the 16th waiting for the first fair wind, to sail again for Havre de grace. as Frenchmen we are not permitted to go a shore, but we don’t regret it much as this is not the place of our destination.
but that which keeps up most our spirits and courage is to know that our hopes are realized, and that my family and their companions in misfortune are certainly free, we can have now no doubt about it since the gentleman who is so kind as to take charge of this letter, captain Harris has seen them all at Hamburg. they had arrived there in the beginning of October and from what I understood of him, they live upon danish territory untill the restoration of their health. the hope of meeting soon again with them is very gratifying to my feelings, and as I know the interest which you always had the kindness to take in what concerns my father I hasten to communicate to you those news. I will not renew my expressions

of gratitude nor my thanks, hoping that you are well convinced of my sentiments for you, but I will pray you to be so obliging as to present our respects to Mrs Washington, to remember us very particularly to Miss Eleanor, Washington, and your family. Mr Frestel joins with me in all the sentiments of which this letter is the faithfull expression. captain Harris who sails to morrow morning for Norfolk has promised that if he went through Alexandria, as he intends to do, he would carry himself this letter.
permit me sir to bid you farewell till I get to France when I shall take the liberty to trouble you with another letter. Mr Blackburn the only american caracter in this place has been exceedingly obliging for me, and has rendered us several services. I have the honor to be sir with the utmost respect your most obedient servant

G. W. motier Lafayette


Title: To George Washington from Gustavus Scott, 21 December 1797
From: Scott, Gustavus
To: Washington, George

D. Sir
Annapolis [Md.] 21st Decr 1797.

I am happy to have it in my power to inform you that by the casting vote of the Speaker of the house of Representatives We have succeeded in our Application for a Loan for the City: the Resolution has also past the other branch without Opposition. Interesting as this Measure is to the U.S. I can not deny myself the Pleasure of communicating it to you.
I shall remain here untill a final Decision is had on the application of the Potk Company. I hope the good Conduct of its friends will carry it through. You will however readily beleive it is not very certain when our Loan has been carried by one Vote only. I am with sentiments of perfect Respect Dr Sr Yr mo. obt sevt

Gusts Scott


Title: To George Washington from Alexandria Masons, 22 December 1797
From: Alexandria Masons
To: Washington, George

Respected Brother
Alexa. 22d Decr [1]797

The Members of Lodge No. 22 Solicit your Company, to Partake of a refreshment at Mr Gadsby’s Tavern, on the 27th Inst, at 6 OClock in the Evening in Celebration of the Anniversary of Saint John—on behalf of the Brethren.

                  Henry Rose
                  }
                  Managers

                  G. Deneale

                  Wm. B. Page

                  Robt Young

                  W. Jones

                  M. Flanery


Title: To George Washington from Burwell Bassett, Jr., 22 December 1797
From: Bassett, Burwell Jr.
To: Washington, George

Dear Sir
Richmond Decr 22d 1797.

Yours of the 13th reached me to day you would not have been disappointed in your expectation of hearing the event of my application to Major Burwell but that I had not an answer myself untill meeting with him here a few days scince when he told me the supposed desire in him to part with his cook was a mistake. Colo: Finne shall have your answer.
The time of the Legislature have been hitherto taken up in the preparitory steps to business which is mostly of a local nature and the session will terminate without any thing of material public importance being effected the sale of Glebes and the call of a convention will not at present I believe meet with the legistive san[c]tion

but such propositions are before the house of delegates and as yet unacted upon.
The assurance of most respectful attachment to the inhabitants of Mount Vernon is added more for my pleasure than from a fear of its being unknown, with respect and esteem—your obt Ser.

Burwell Bassett

P.S. I have heard that corn at norfolk was 12/6 the expectation on our river is 15. B.B.


Title: To George Washington from Joseph Cooke, 25 December 1797
From: Cooke, Joseph
To: Washington, George

Sir
City of Washington December the 25th 1797

Permit a Mecanick Formerly in yr Imploy To Take the Liberty of wishing you & Famley the Compliments of The sesaon & many

hapy Returns Theaerof—and at the Saem time to Inform you that from various Lossis & misfortunes of this life that I have been Oblidged to Sell all my property For to Sadisfie my Crs. & of Coures unable From want of Cap[ita]l to Carey on my former Buisness and That I have Com to this City in hopes of meeting with Som Public Imploy in Superintending Some of The public Buildings &c. and notwithstanding my utmost Indavours I have been unsuckcessfull as yet, wich makes me Take the Liberty of Thus adressing You in hopes that you may have Som Imploy Such as Stuart overseer Colector of reants or Any thing Else that you might think me Capible of wich I would Cheaerfulley Acpt of, & as I have no famley but my wife Shee would be very hapey in Waiteing on Mrs Washington as Ladies maide &c. or Any other Imploy She might be Capible of I have Inclosed bot⟨h⟩ my fomer & present adress that you may Sir from ⟨rea⟩ding the Advertizement be more fuley Informed the Difrend buisness I am Capible of that if you Shuld have no Imploy yr Self that perhapes you would be So Good as to r[e]comend me to the Notice of Mr Law, the Comishioners of this City, or Any of yr Freinds that might be in want of a person of my Discrebson & if So hapy as to have rather the honer of been Imployd by you Sir or Any of yr Freinds be Ashured that I will Discharge the Duties of the Imploy with that Fidelity that Caint Faile of meeting with yr Approbation wich Would be to me the Graetest Ingoyment this Life Could Aford yr Answer on the Subgect as Soon as Convaenent will purticklarly Oblidge Honred Sir your most, Respectfull, Humbl., & Obt Servt,

Joseph Cooke


Title: From George Washington to Thomas Law, 25 December 1797
From: Washington, George
To: Law, Thomas

Dear Sir,
Mount Vernon 25th Decr 1797.

Your letter of the 22d instt came to hand last night. The Pointer shall be taken care of at this place until you may find it convenient to send for him; for he certainly would not long remain with Mr Atkinson if sent thither, and if he should not return here again, it is more than probable he would be carried off by some Waggoner or Waterman from Alexandria and be lost to you.
It is very pleasing to hear that the State of Maryland continues disposed to extend its fostering hand to the important objects on this River. Much is it to be wished, that the example would (as it ought to do) shed its influence on the Legislature of this Commonwealth—now in Session.
The letter from Marquis Cornwallis to the Revd Mr Law is returned, and in assorting some of my papers during the last cold spell, I came across some other enclosures of yours to me; one of which from Mr Barry (containing other matter than the introduction of two Spanish Gentlemen to you) is also returned. To stand high in the estimation of so respectable a character as Lord Cornwallis, is a circumstance which must be as pleasing as it is honourable to you.
It gave us much pleasure to hear that Mrs Law, yourself and the child were all well, and that the latter begins, so soon, to learn the use of her feet. We, remain in Statu quo, and all unite in offering you, & yours, the compliments of the season; and the return of many, many more, and happy ones. With very great esteem & regard I remain Dear Sir Your Obedt & Affectionate Humble Servant

Go: Washington


Title: To George Washington from James Wilkinson, 26 December 1797
From: Wilkinson, James
To: Washington, George

Sir
Head Quarters—Pitts Burgh December 26th 1797

Should this Letter be presented to you, it will be from the Hands of the Miamis Chief the Little Turtle, who in ballancing between a visit to the Town of Boston, or Mount Vernon, has decided in favor of your Seat.
I think Sir, you will find Ideas more correct, and a mind more capacious in this Chief, than any of his race.
It was He who conducted the action of the 4th November against Genl St Clair, and it was by his Hand General Butler fell.
With much difficulty, by exciting division in his Councils, & by producing an opposition of the Chippewas & Ottawas to his policies, he has been brought to yeild up his objections to the treaty of Greeneville, and to offer his services to the President. With sincere prayers for your happiness, & unfeigned respect—I have the Honor to be illustrious Sir Your Most Obedt Servt

Jas Wilkinson


Title: To George Washington from Lafayette, 27 December 1797
From: Lafayette, Marie-Joseph-Paul-Yves-Roch-Gilbert du Motier, marquis de
To: Washington, George

My dear General
Lhemkhul [Lehmkuhlen]December the 27th 1797

It is a Melancholy thought to Me that While I Could Be So Happy at Mount Vernon, I am Still Almost As much Separated from you as I have Been for five Years in the Coalitionary prisons—But Altho’ I Lament, yet I Cannot Repent the determination we Have Been obliged to take—Much Less on Account of My Health which Has Been Recovering fast Enough, than for the very Bad and Lingering Condition in which My wife was at the time, and will, I am affraid, Continue to Be for the winter—She is However slowly Mending in Her Health, and with Great deal Of Care, tranquillity, and patience she shall at Last Be well Again—But Any

Kind of travel, and Still More So a Boisterous Voyage Could not But Greatly Hurt Her, and We must Wait for the Spring to think of Leaving the Solitary Country Seat in Holstein, on danish territory, which We Have in Common with My friend Latour-maubourg and His Numerous family Hired for six Months—Here we live in perfect Retirement, and Here I Hope for the inexpresible delight Soon to Be Blessed with a Letter from my Beloved and Respected General.
Naval Chances Are Now So dubious that I Cannot depend Upon My Letters Having Reached You—should they Have Miscarried, I am Sure your paternal Goodness will not think it is My fault—I Hope However that You Have By this time Received a Letter writen from Hamburgh immediately after My Having Been Set at Liberty a piece of News which You Certainly Have Heartly Wellcomed—There I Could for the first time, Not Sufficiently Express, it is impossible, But with the Most Affectionate feelings of a Heart Overflowing with Grateful and filial Love Mention to you, My dear General, the obligations I Have to Your friendly and fatherly Care of My Son Georges—there also I Expressed to You the impatient and Very Natural wish His Mother, Sisters, and Myself Had to Embrace Him as soon as possible, an impatience for which I knew You would feel with us, so far as Not to find it Unrational to See Him Come to Us, should He Arrive only to Reembark immediately with Us—I am Sure that Your Sympathising Heart Will Have forwarded this plan—But Altho’ He Now probably is Nearer to the European shores than to the Happy and Beloved Banks of Pottowmack I Beg Leave to inclose old Copies of My first Letters to Him, and to my Excellent friend Mr fristel, Both of whom Have found in you a Kindness which Has Been in my Captivity the Greatest Consolation we Could Receive, and shall as long as we live Be the Happiest Remembrance that Can Warm our Grateful Hearts.
This Letter Being as it were Sent at Random, I shall not Expatiate on Politics—indeed we are in Every Respect Very far from the Busy Stage—it is Said that the public and Secret Arrangements Made Betwen france and the Austrian Court will not Meet Much Opposition at the Rastadt Congress—You Are More directly Acquainted than You Could Be from this Quarter with the State of the American Negotiation in paris—I Have Heard Nothing about it for Some time But Newspaper Reports—I Expect to know Something More By and Bye—I Need Not telling You that this Affair

Has Made me Very Unhappy—God Grant it Had Been and Could Be in My power to Be of Material Service in Adjusting it! the Little that My present Situation Can Admit of shall never Be wanting—I Never thought I should Live to See such an Event, which Has Very Much damped the pleasure of My Return to this World.
My Wife and daughters Beg their Most Affectionate Respects to Be Presented to You and to Mrs Washington to whom I Request to Be Most tenderly and Respectfully Remembered—My Compliments Wait on My friend George Washington—How Happy I Shall Be to Hear My Son’s particular, and Every day Repeated Accounts about you, Every Body, and Every thing that Surrounds You! it Shall to my Enchanted Mind Recall the liveliest Sentiments of My Heart, the Happiest Hours of My Life. Adieu, My Respected and Beloved General, You know the Veneration, Gratitude, and Love of Your filial friend

Lafayette


Title: To George Washington from Francis Deakins, 28 December 1797–7 January 1798 [letter not found]
From: Deakins, Francis
To: Washington, George

Letter not found: from Francis Deakins, 28 Dec. 1797–7 Jan. 1798. On 15 Jan. 1798 GW wrote Deakins: “Your letter of the 28th of Decr with a P.S. of the 7th instt was delivered to me the 12th.”


Title: To George Washington from Alexander Spotswood, 30 December 1797 [letter not found]
From: Spotswood, Alexander
To: Washington, George

Letter not found: from Alexander Spotswood, 30 Dec. 1797. On 9 Jan. GW wrote Spotswood: “A few days ago, Mr [William] Herbert handed me your letter of the 30th ulto.”


Title: To George Washington from Thomas Bruff, 1797
From: Bruff, Thomas
To: Washington, George

[c.1797]

May it please your Excellency I have presum’d to trouble you again on the same Subject that I did some time ago and hope that you will pardon me for presumeing the Second time to trouble you on a Subject that I am afraid is not agreable to you a Request that Carrys with it very great Marks of Vanaty. I must confess by being made by a Stranger a Man whom you never Saw nor knows nothing of but I remember in my first Letter to you that I refer’d you to Mr William Vans Murray who was then in Congress whom I had the Honour of being Acquainted with for Information respecting my Carrector—If you Sir think proper to grant me the request that I shall make, I will convince you that I am no Imposter and will Satisfy you in every perticular nesecary if you Request it. the cause of my being thus Vain and presumtious is ocationed by my distressed Situation which hath been Ocationed by Missfortunes in Business. I began Business on nothing but by my perceverence, Industry and Care, I accumelated a sum of Money that enabled me to do Business to an Advantage for two years at the Expiration of which to my very great confusion and Ingury I met with losses that deprived me of all that I had made in Business—in consequence of my flatering prospects in Business I made a number of Contracts which my losses disabled me to comply with I have laboured under very great Disadvantages since—And now the period is drawing very near that must make me Compleetly miserable without your friendly Assistance in doing me a Singular Favour by lending me four or five Hundred pounds or as much as you can with Conveniantcy. I find it impossable to Borrow Money of any Person of my Acquaintance in Consequence of my

Reduest Sircustances being destitute since my Fathers Death of Able Friends that can do me the favour, but not withstanding I can not give you good Security now for four or five Hundred Pounds it will be in my power to do it in a few Weeks provided I could now get that much. I can not bare the thought of being so far disgras’d as to become an Insolvent or to be in the power of my Unmercyfull Enamies my Creditors. it is my wish to pay every person that I owe with Honour—But that which hurts my fealings the worst of all is that of my being Engaged at the time to Marry a Young Lady of a most amiable Carrector posses’d of an Estate that will render me Independant whom I can not Marry in my present situation nor never can unless I am releived from my present distresses in her is Centered the pleasing prospects of all my futer Happiness, thus have I given you to understand my unhappy Situation all my Happiness is now depending on your Goodness and without your kind assistance I must be forever Miserable—I should have never thought of making applycation to you for this favour had it not been in consequence of a Vision by Night since my Fathers Death who appeared to me in a Dream since my Misfortunes three times in one Night telling me to make applycation to you for Money, and that you would relieve me from my distresses. he appeared the other Night again and asked me if I had obay’d his commands I informed him that I had Wrote to you some time ago, but had Received no answer nor no information Relative to the Business he then observ’d that he expected my Letter had not come to hand and toald me to Write again I made some Objections at first and toald him I thought it Vain presumtion in me to trouble your Excellency again on the Subject he then in a Rage drew his Smal Sword and toald me if I did not he would run me through I amediantly in a fright consented [an]d awoke, those two remarkable Visions hath in some measure Encouraged me to Write to you on this subject ⟨Insisting⟩ that I should have Sucsess in my request if you will be so good as to do me the favour that I have requested I will give good Security in Six Weeks after, as I know the Object of my Happyness and myself without Death or some remarkable Instance to prevent it we shall be Lawfully Married in a few Days after I am releiv’d from this unhappy Situation should your Excellency think proper to do me this very great favour I will replace the Sum of Money ag⟨ain⟩ at the expiration of Six or twelve Months without f⟨ail⟩ and the Intrust thare on and will give good Security ⟨in⟩ a few

Weeks for the same in a New Bond. I shall ten thousand times thank you for the favour and will convince you that I am no Imposter but a Man that will not be ungratefull or Dishonourable—I request that your Excellency would pardon any thing that might be improper in this my letter forwarded to you in distress and likewise beg that you would not make known this my Boaldness in Writeing to you on this Subject—I shall Sir remain as a Criminal waiting at the Barr of Justis to here his Sentance pronounst till I receive an Answer from you provided you will do me the Honour to favour me with one and please to direct it to George Town at the Fountain Inn I am Sir your Distress’d Servent

Thomas Bruff

N.B. I shall remain in George Town several Days whare I trust I shall Receive your kind Answer.


Title: From George Washington to John Mason, 2 January 1798
From: Washington, George
To: Mason, John

Sir,
Mount Vernon 2d Jany 1798.

I am just informed by the President of the Potomac Company, that the application to the Maryland Assembly on behalf of that Company, for aid to complete their works, has met with much delay, and even at this time, is uncertain in its event—a circumstance which I learn with no small regret.
Understanding also, from the same source, that some persons have expressed a doubt whether I still entertain the same favourable opinion of the importance of the Navigation of the Potomac that I formerly did, I take the liberty, Sir, (as you are at Annapolis) of troubling you with a repe[ti]tion of the opinion which I have invariably expressed, concerning the advantages of that undertaking; and you have my permission to communicate it whenever it may be necessary and proper, to obviate any doubts as mentioned above, or even otherwise promote the interest of the Company.
So far from being less sanguine than I formerly was, of the many & great advantages which will accrue from completing the navigation of the Potomack, I have every day additional reason for supporting my former opinion, and new proof of its advantages extending beyond the calculation of the most sanguine.

To the States of Virginia & Maryland it offers benefits too obvious to mention, and too numerous to detail in a letter. To the United States, as well as to the two before Mentioned, it holds out the desireable advantage of perhaps the most direct & easiest commmunication between the Waters of the Atlantic States and the Western country—To the Stockholders, the completion of the work promises an ample increasing, and secure interest.
Under these impressions, it is astonishing to me, that, if the State can, conveniently spare the means, there should be wanting (unless the measure appears differently in the eyes of its Representatives) the disposition to complete this great and interesting work, especially too as the money already expended must be lost, without the addition of a comparatively small sum to finish the object; and especially also, as the few Individuals who at this time have the command of money find so many objects in which they can employ it to immediate advantage that they cannot be induced to come forward in aid, however flattering the future emoluments may be. Wishing you success I am Sir Your Most Obedt Hble Servt

Go: Washington


Title: To George Washington from Louis La Colombe, 5 January 1798
From: La Colombe, Louis-Saint-Ange Morel, chevalier de
To: Washington, George

General,
Philadelphia 5th January 1798.

The letters by the John from Hambg having been saved & I have at length recd mine by them, I have had news of all my Esteem’d friends who were confined in the austrian Bastilles.
I am happy sir, to have the honor of forwarding to you the enclosed letter from our mutual Friend Genl De Lafayette whose greatest happiness I’m well assured, was to avail himself the pleasure to write you on the first moment of enjoying his liberty—I took the liberty of sending him a Copy of your letter to me of 3d Decr last, It will be pleasing to him as it may afford a renewed proof of the Paternal sentiments you have for him—his son will probably be arrived in france about the time, we may hope, peace will be restored to the Continent which will give a little more freedom to the feelings, for those who have suffer’d for the good cause and who have constently been enemies to anarchie, and tho by the latest event of the 4th Septr great events towards the ruin of our worthy friends were expected in france yet it remains with some in great power, who will facilitate to George all the means for his best interests—I am—with great respect General Your most obedt & hume servt

L. Lacolombe


Title: From George Washington to George Washington Parke Custis, 7 January 1798
From: Washington, George
To: Custis, George Washington Parke

Mount Vernon 7th January 1798

System in all things should be aimed at; for in execution, it renders every thing more easy.
If now & then, of a morning before breakfast, you are inclined, by way of change, to go out with a Gun, I shall not object to it; provided you return by the hour we usually set down to that meal.

From breakfast, until about an hour before Dinner (allowed for dressing, & preparing for it, that you may appear decent) I shall expect you will confine yourself to your studies; and diligently attend to them; endeavouring to make yourself master of whatever is recommended to, or required of you.
While the afternoons are short, and but little interval between rising from dinner and assembling for Tea, you may employ that time in walking, or any other recreation.
After Tea, if the Studies you are engaged in require it, you will, no doubt perceive the propriety & advantage of returning to them, untill the hour of rest.
Rise early, that by habit it may become familiar, agreeable—healthy—and profitable. It may for a while, be irksome to do this; but that will wear off; and the practise will produce a rich harvest forever thereafter; whether in public, or private Walks of Life.
Make it an invariable rule to be in place (unless extraordinary circumstances prevent it) at the usual breakfasting, dining, and tea hours. It is not only disagreeable, but it is also very inconvenient, for servants to be running here, & there, and they know not where, to summon you to them, when their duties, and attendance, on the company who are seated, render it improper.
Saturday may be appropriated to riding; to your Gun, or other proper amusements.
Time disposed of in this manner, makes ample provision for exercise & every useful, or necessary recreation; at the sametime that the hours allotted for study, if really applied to it, instead of running up & down stairs, & wasted in conversation with any one who will talk with you, will enable you to make considerable progress in whatsoever line is marked out for you: and that you may do it, is my sincere wish.

Go: Washington


Title: From George Washington to Gustavus Scott, 8 January 1798
From: Washington, George
To: Scott, Gustavus

Dear Sir,
Mount Vernon 8th Jan. 1798

Your letter of the 21st Ulto from Annapolis, has given me the pleasure of knowing that the State of Maryland continues to act like itself, in granting a loan to carry on the Public buildings in the Federal City. Another object of equal importance to it—the Navigation of Potomac—lays claim to its attention, and I hope will meet with equal success.
By a notification in the Gazettes, I perceive a general meeting of the Potomac company is requested in George Town on the second thursday in February. If nothing unforeseen happens to prevent, I expect I shall have the pleasure of seeing you on that occasion. With great esteem and regard—I am—Dear Sir Your Obedt Hble Servt

Go: Washington


Title: To George Washington from Jesse Simms, 8 January 1798
From: Simms, Jesse
To: Washington, George

Sir
Alexandria 8th Jany 179[8]

It is with pain that I am oblidged to make the present application being a thing that I have never done before, but Some very heavy Losses and particular the Detention of my Brig the Virginia not being able to get up on account of the Ice as She has just Returnd from the West Indies, and the Proceeds of her Cargo I Cannot turn into Cash—therfore Shall Consider it as a particular favour if you will Derect the Cashier Mr Chapin to take the Note in his Possession and hold it for a few Days when I Shall be able to pay it, for if it Lays in bank till this Evening under Protest it will Ingure my Credit in Bank very Particularly at this time. a Line to

this Effect to Mr Chapin will be thankfully acknowledged by Sir Yr Hbl. Servt

Jesse Simms

P.S. I mean the Note of 1000 Doll. Givn by me to Genl Lee.


Title: To George Washington from Alexander White, 8 January 1798
From: White, Alexander
To: Washington, George


Title: To George Washington from Bushrod Washington, 9 January 1798
From: Washington, Bushrod
To: Washington, George

My dear Uncle
Rich[mon]d Jany 9 [17]98.

I have at length procured from the Auditors office a rough Statement of Yr Taxes in Kanawa for the 6 years mentioned in Aldersons order, by which you will discover that they differ £1.11.7

from the amount there stated. But as the difference is trifling, and the Auditor may very probably have made a mistake in the calculation (for he did it in a hurry) it would probably be better to pay it, (tho’ too much) than run the risque of a forfeiture or having them sold.
You will find that these Lands have been returned as have also your Lotts in Berkley, for nonpayment of Taxes, the former for the year 1788 & the latter for that of 1795, with a view under a late Law, of subjecting them to forfeiture and future appropriation by any other person, or to be sold by the public. This by accident I very fortunately discovered, & now enclose you Certificates respecting the Taxes due thereon, if they are not paid within 3 years after the return is made, the consequences which I have stated may take place—this mony viz. £35.17.3 for the Kanawa Land & 1/ for the Berkley is to be paid at the Treasury or Auditors office—the Taxes for the 6 years beginning in 1790 must be paid to the Sheriff or Collector of the County where the Lands lie. You will please command my services in having this business transacted at the office here, and as that is the most pressing & important, the sooner that Tax is paid the better—Should it not be perfectly convenient to you at this time to send down the mony, I will immediately pay it, upon recieving your orders to that effect.
Nancy Joins me in Love & best wishes for my Aunt & yourself & believe me to be very sincerely my dear Uncle Your affect. Nephew

Bushrod Washington


Title: From George Washington to Burwell Bassett, Jr., 10 January 1798
From: Washington, George
To: Bassett, Burwell Jr.

Dear Sir,
Mount Vernon 10th Jan. 1798.

Your favour of the 22d Ulto came duly to hand. As Mr Burwell is disinclined to part with his Cook, & Colo. Finnie’s is too much incumbered with a family, I must make the best shift I can with those I have; and indeed, with a housekeeper that understands that business, I believe it is best that I should do so.
As you kindly offered to become the purchaser of Corn for me,

in case I should need any for my Distillery, I now request the favour of you to procure, and send me (not of the gourd seed kind) a Vessel load, say from five to twelve hundred bushels—so soon as all danger of the Rivers freezing, is over. I shall be enabled, I expect, to pay for the Corn on delivery; but a month or two after, would suit me better. I had rather the Vessel should have no Corn in it but mine; and I expect the price exclusive of freight, will not exceed fifteen shillings pr barrel, and twelve & six pence would suit my finances much better. Let me hear, as soon as convenient, what is likely to be the result of this application. With great esteem & regard I am—Dear Sir Your Obedient Servt

Go: Washington


Title: Certificate of Proxy, 10 January 1798
From: Washington, George
To:

[10 January 1798]

Know all men by these presents that I Eleanor Parke Custis of Fairfax County, State of Virginia, do hereby constitute and appoint George Washington of County and State aforesaid, to be my substitute & Proxy; for me, & in my name and behalf, to vote at the next annual Election for nine Directors of the Bank of Alexandria,

as fully as I might, or could do, were I personally present. Given under my hand and Seal this 10th day of January 1798.

Sealed & delivered in presence of


Title: From George Washington to Frederick Kitt, 10 January 1798
From: Washington, George
To: Kitt, Frederick

Mr Kitt
Mount Vernon 10th Jan. 1798

We have never heard of Herculas our Cook since he left this; but little doubt remains in my mind of his having gone to Philadelphia, and may yet be found there, if proper measures were employed to discover (unsuspectedly, so as not to alarm him) where his haunts are.
If you could accomplish this for me, it would render me an acceptable service as I neither have, nor can get a good Cook to hire, and am disinclined to hold another slave by purchase.
If by indirect enquiries of those who know Herculas, you should learn that he is in the City, inform Colo. Clemt Biddle thereof, and he will, I hope, take proper measures to have him apprehended at the moment one of the Packets for Alexandria is about to Sale, and put him therein, to be conveyed hither; and will pay any expence which may be incurred in the execution of this business; which must be managed with address to give it a chance of Success—for if Herculas was to get the least hint of the design he would elude all your vigilance. I wish you well and am Your friend &ca

Go: Washington


Title: From George Washington to Samuel Williams, 10 January 1798
From: Washington, George
To: Williams, Samuel

Sir,
Mount Vernon 10th Jan: 1798

Your letter of the 5th of Octr from Hamburgh has been received, giving me the first direct & certain account of the arrival of General Lafayette and family at that place; a circumstance highly pleasing to his friends in this country—to none more than myself; and for the prompt advice you have been so obliging as to give me of it, I pray you to accept my sincere thanks.
Fortunate indeed was it for him & family, that they did not (according to what has been reported to have been their intention) embark in the Ship John, which was lost on the Coast of New Jersey, and the Passengers with great difficulty & at the utmost peril of their lives, saved. It may be fortunate too on another account; the delay may give a chance to meet his Son in Europe; whose ardent desire, fanned by premature accounts of their actual liberation, could no longer be restrained from flying to the expected embraces of his Parents in Paris to which place he was informed they were Journeying, through Italy.
He left New York the 26th of October in the Ship Clio, for Havre

de Grace, and probably would have (at that season) a short passage. I am Sir Your most obedient Humble Servant

Go: Washington


Title: From George Washington to Alexander White, 11 January 1798
From: Washington, George
To: White, Alexander

Dear Sir,
Mount Vernon 11th Jany 1798

Your favour of the 8th has been duly received, and I now write, more for the purpose of acknowledging the receipt of it, than from any sentiment I have to communicate relative to the Public buildings in the Federal City.
You are perfectly acquainted with my sentiments on that subject already, and if not, they may be comprised in a few words—thus—every effort should be made to obtain the means—and every exertion used (in the short time left) to accomplish the end, for which they are obtained. And, if they could be had without applying to Congress, I should prefer it; but, if this is impracticable (of which you are the best judges) then to do it; because there is no alternative, and because no event is more to be deprecated than the arrestation of the buildings, or a limping progress of them this year.
If the answer which the Commissioners expect from the President, should result in your journey to Philadelphia, I shall sincerely wish you all the success your assiduity in, and management of the business will entitle you to. If you should not go thither, or from Frederick if you do, I shall hope to see you in George Town at the meeting of the Stock holders of the Potomack Navigation, the 8th of next month, by notification; for I think that business requires serious attention also; & perhaps amendment, or explanation of the licence to a subordinate, or other Company, to open the navigation of the River Shanondoah; having understood that the Resolution entered into at the last General meeting of the Potomack Company, relative to this matter, has not had the effect

wch was expected—or, that in lingers at least. With great esteem & regard I am Dear Sir—Your Obedient

Go: Washington


Title: To George Washington from Tobias Lear, 12 January 1798
From: Lear, Tobias
To: Washington, George

Dear Sir,
Jany 12th 1798

I enclose the letter from Colo. F. Deakins which I mentioned to you yesterday. Any Commands you may have for Richmond I shall be happy to take. Altho’ I have not sanguine expectations of pecuniary aid from the Assembly of Virginia; yet a petition to permit the collection of Tolls is an object of too much importance to be neglected at this moment. I therefore feel it a duty incumbent on me to promote this.
I feel extremely anxious to see the affairs of the Potomac Company in a prosperous train that I may resign, with satisfaction to myself, the agency which I now hold in that important business; which I shall, at all events, resign. I have the honor to be, invariably & devotedly, Dear Sir, Your grateful & affectionate

Tobias Lear

P.S. Mr Hartshorne is desireous of having one of your Jacks of two years old; for which his ultimatum I presume wd be one hundred pounds.

Go: Washington


Title: From George Washington to Timothy Pickering, 12 January 1798
From: Washington, George
To: Pickering, Timothy

Dear Sir,
Mount Vernon 12th Jan: 1798

Permit me to request your care of the enclosed letter to Mr Williams, our Consul at Hamburgh, in answer to a very polite & civil one informing me of the arrival of Genl Lafayette & family at that place. Allow me also to ask the favour of you to send me Colo. Monroe’s, & Mr Fauchet’s Pamphlets; and if you have leisure (not else) to let me know what the public sentiment respecting them, is. In one of these, or in some other way, I find by a writer in the Richmond Paper, a private letter of mine to Mr Gouvr Morris is given to the public. If given fairly, with the cause which produced it, I have no doubt of its operating against the measure it was intended to promote.
As Silver could not be transmitted in a letter, & I had no other small notes, I send two of the Bank of Columbia, to pay for the Pamphlets. ⟨Yours always

Go: Washington⟩


Title: To George Washington from James Ross, 12 January 1798
From: Ross, James
To: Washington, George

Sir
Philadelphia 12 Jany 1798

I did not arrive here untill the 6th Instant having been detained at home by the indisposition of Mrs Ross who is again happily restored to her usual health. The money paid to me by Colo. Shreve was exchanged for a Bill upon Colo. Hodgdon which has been Accepted & falls due to day. Colo. Barker has paid into the Bank of Pennsylvania five hundred Dollars which was placed to my credit instead of yours. This Sum together with the Amount of the Bill, discharges the ballance due for two first Installments 1961.30 Dolls. And I have acording to your orders paid it to Mr Wolcott, who will forward a bill for whole Sum upon Alexandria. I regret the delay in transmitting this money since it came into my hands, But we have Seen so many unexpected failures in this city of late, that I thought it most prudent to bring on the bill myself lest a greater disappointment Should happen.
I have not Returned Colo. Shreves Bond, As I have been requested by him & by Colo. Ritchie to mention their wish that their bonds may be left in the Bank of Pennsylvania, because without the bonds, the Bank makes a difficulty in receiving money. If you approve this measure and forward Colo. Ritchies Bond, I will place both in the Bank and have an Account opened with you in such a way that no difficulty occur in future. Be so good as to endorse all Credits upon the Bond before you Send it and before I place Colo. Shreves in Bank I will credit the two first Installments upon it.
Your letter of the 6th of Novr was delivered to me by Colo. Pickering upon my Arrival here, And I cannot at present think of any person that I could venture to recommend as an agent for the

Subdivision and Sale of your lands on the Ohio. All persons of that description have been lately engaged by the large companys in the Western parts of Pennsylvania at high Salaries and have found in their independence an excuse for indolence and inattention. Not long before I left Pittsburgh I sold a Valuable tract of land on the Ohio near Muskingum for four and one half Dollars per Acre—About one half of it river bottom This is the only sale made this Summer from which I can form any opinion of the price your lands would command. As yours are better Situated and embrace a greater proportion of Intervale they ought of course to Sell for a greater Sum. Considering the purposes you wish to effect by a Sale you ought certainly to decline a Subdivision as you could not depend upon punctuality in payment, nor upon an immediate disposal of the whole. Every tract sold to a Settler would enhance the value of the adjoining lands & the subdivision would multiply the number of purchasers by bringing each tract within the reach of men who possess no more than an ordinary Capital; yet when the delay of Sales, the Uncertainty & want of punctuality of payments, the carelessness of agents & Ultimate necessity of resorting to courts in order to obtain payment, are all duly weighed it is at best very questionable whether a Sale of the whole together for prompt & punctual payment at 25 or even 30 prCent less than by retail is not the most eligible bargain for the Seller. If in any of these modes or in any other way my services can forward your interests or wishes I shall be always extremely happy in manifesting to you the very high respect with which I have the honour to be Sir your most obedient & most humble Servant

James Ross


Title: To George Washington from Alexander Spotswood, 14 January 1798 [letter not found]
From: Spotswood, Alexander
To: Washington, George

Letter not found: from Alexander Spotswood, 14 Jan. 1798. On 11 Feb. GW wrote Spotswood: “Your letters of the 14th ulto & 6th instt have been duly received.”


Title: From George Washington to Francis Deakins, 15 January 1798
From: Washington, George
To: Deakins, Francis

Dear Sir,
Mount Vernon 15th Jany 1798

Your letter of the 28th of Decr with a P.S. of the 7th instt was delivered to me the 12th by Mr Lear, with ninety one dollars enclosed therein on A/c of Rent due from Mrs Beall, together with a statement of the A/c against her by Mr Veatch.
I ought also, though late, & indeed to my shame for the delay,

to acknowledge that your obliging letter of the 26th of Decr 1796 came safe to my hands; but at a time (during the busy scenes of Congress) when I had no leisure to attend to private business, and laying it by for a more convenient moment it had escaped me altogether until a revision of some papers the other day brought it to light again.
Let me now, my good Sir, request the favour of you alone, or in conjunction with Mr Veatch, to fix the value of the Tobo due from Mrs Beall to me in money. In doing wch permit me to assure you, that you cannot fail in giving me satisfaction, as I had rather you should under than over rate it in her case—having no disposition to bear hard upon the Widow—but on the contrary to favor her.
It would much oblige me also if Mr Veatch under your superintendance & concurrence would settle with all the Tenants up to the close of the last year (1797) and convert (if they have not the Tobacco to pay) the balances of Tobacco into cash at a reasonable rate, making an aggregate sum with other charges in money and reducing the same to specialties (with securities if necessary) that I may start anew from the commencement of the present year.
And as you and he are much better judges than I am, of what would be a reasonable cash rent for the Tenants respectively to pay, I leave it to you also to fix what each shall pay for the present year, and until altered (if just for both parties) after a few years have elapsed—and whatever you shall do in the premises I will abide by.
A settlement with, and a specialty from Mr Jones should also be had. If he has paid all the Tobacco, and Cash which he has received on my A/c he can be at no loss I presume, to produce vouchers for the same and it is necessary that the account with him should be closed.
Mr Veatch will keep the specialties in his own hands for collection furnishing me with a list thereof and their amount. His commission on these will be the same as if they were not reduced to specialties—With very great esteem & regard I am—Dear Sir Your Obedt Hble Servt

Go: Washington


Title: To George Washington from Frederick Kitt, 15 January 1798
From: Kitt, Frederick
To: Washington, George

Hond Sir
Philad[elphi]a 15th Jany 98.

I have the honor to acknowledge receipt of your much esteemed Letter of the 10th Inst. the Pleasure it afforded me to see yours hand writing is greater than I can describe. Since your departure I have been making distant enquiries about Herculas but did not till about four weeks ago hear anything of him and that was only that ⟨he⟩ was in town neither do I yet know where he is, and that will be very difficult to find out in the secret manner necessary to be observed on the occasion. I shall however use the utmost exertions in my power, and hereafter inform you of my sucess—its you mention the impossibility of getting a good hired Cook I beg leave hint that Mr Brown who formerly was in your Service and with whom Mrs Washington was well pleased, has left off business, if he would Suit you I will Send him to you in medietely on your signifying to me you would take him—If I was capable of the business I should be glad to undertake it. I have an employment in the United States Bank which is to receive the Silver: therfore when you please to honor me with your commands would be much obliged you to direct to me at Said Bank. The Boy Henry & wm Mine died during the contagious disorder. My Wife joins me in respect to you Mrs Washington and Miss Nelly—and desires to inform your Lady that our little Slut died in the Straw. With the great respect I have the honor to be Hond Sir Your most Obedt & very humble Servnt

Fredk Kitt


Title: To George Washington from William Herbert, 18 January 1798
From: Herbert, William
To: Washington, George

Dear Sir
Alexandria 18th Jany 1798

In Consequence of what you was pleased to Mention to me last Monday, I Applied to those Gentlemen that I then spoke of to you, to State their proposals in Writing, for Supplying your Family With Such Articles as you Should from time to time Want. They have Accordingly done so, & I have now the pleasure of forwarding them to you—Those Gentlemen being all Respectable, I have nothing to add, but that mr Russells Statement of his Connections is Correct, & that he Keeps the most Extensive Assortment of Goods—you will find Inclosed Colo. Gilpin’s, Colo. Fitzgerald’s & my Estimate of the House & Lott rented to mr Marsteller. Doctr Kennedy’s Note lodged for Collection, is paid & the amount Stands to your Credit in Bank. I am with great Esteem & regard Sir, your most obedt Hble servt

Wm Herbert


Title: From George Washington to Charles Williamson, 19 January 1798
From: Washington, George
To: Williamson, Charles

Sir,
Mount Vernon 19th of Jany 1798.

Mr Burwell, who will present this letter to you, having become, or is likely to become, a Proprietor of Lands in the Genessee country, and purposing to make a tour into it; has asked me for a letter of introduction to you, who is so well acquainted therewith, and so able to give him the information he wishes to possess.
Although to do this is a liberty I am scarcely warranted to take, yet as Mr Burwell is a stranger to you, & one with whom I have had the pleasure of a long acquaintance; know his worth; the respectability of his family in this State; and that you cannot extend your usual politeness to a more deserving character, I persuade my self that I shall be excused for doing it: especially as it affords me an opportunity of assuring you, that I am Sir, Your Obedt Hble Servant

Go: Washington


Title: To George Washington from John Fitzgerald, 20 January 1798 [letter not found]
From: Fitzgerald, John
To: Washington, George

Letter not found: from John Fitzgerald, 20 Jan. 1798. On Monday, 22 Jan., GW wrote Fitzgerald and referred to “your letter of Saturday.”


Title: To George Washington from Alexander White, 20 January 1798
From: White, Alexander
To: Washington, George

Dear Sir
Washington 20th January 1798

After writing you on the 8th instant I concluded to remain till we should know the sentiments of the Presidt on the subject mentioned

in that letter—had he written in course of Post, we should have had his answer on Wednesday Week, but we have not yet heard from him—The Mail which ought to have come in yesterday did not arrive till this Evening I think it in vain to wait longer, and shall set out for Virginia tomorrow morning—Should my attendance be required in Philada my Colleagues will give me notice, and I will go from hence I am with Sentiments of the highest Respect Sir Your most Ob. Sert

Alexr White


Title: To George Washington from Bushrod Washington, 21 January 1798 [letter not found]
From: Washington, Bushrod
To: Washington, George

Letter not found: from Bushrod Washington, 21 Jan. 1798. On 30 Jan. GW wrote Bushrod Washington: “your letter of the 21st instant was received.”


Title: From George Washington to David Stuart, 22 January 1798
From: Washington, George
To: Stuart, David

Dear Sir
Mount Vernon 22d Jan. 1798

Washington leaves this today, on a visit to Hope Park; which will afford you an opportunity to examine the progress he has made in the studies he was directed to pursue.
I can, and I believe do, keep him in his room a certain portion of the 24 hours, but it will be impossible for me to make him attend to his Books if inclination, on his part, is wanting: nor while I am out, if he chuses to be so too, is it in my power to prevent it. I will not say this is the case, nor will I run the hazard of doing him injustice by saying he does not apply, as he ought, to what has been prescribed; but no risk will be run, and candour requires I should declare it as my opinion, that he will not derive much benefit in any course which can be marked out for him at this place, without an able Preceptor, always with him, nor then, for reasons which do not require to be detailed.
What is best to be done with him, I know not. My opinion always has been, that the University in Massachusetts would have been the most eligable Seminary to have sent him to; 1st because it is on a larger Scale than any other, and 2nd because I believe that the habits of the youths there, whether from the discipline of the School, or from the greater attention of the People, generally, to morals & a more regular course of life, are less prone to dissipation & debauchery than they are at the Colleges South of it. It may be asked, if this was my opinion, why did I not send him there? the answer, is as short, as to me it was weighty: being the only male of his fam[il]y & knowing (although it would have been submitted to) that it would have proved a heart rending stroke to have him at that distance, I was disposed to try a nearer Seminary, of good repute; which, from some cause, or combination of causes, has not, after the experiment of a year, been found to answer the end that was contemplated. Whether to send him there now, or indeed to any other public School, is at least problematical, and to suffer

him to mispend his time at this place, will be disgraceful to himself & me.
If I was to propose to him, to go to the University at Cambridge (in Massachusetts) he ⟨might as has⟩ been usual for him on like occasions, say he would go where ever I chose to send him; but if he should go contrary to his inclination, and without a disposition to apply his time properly, an expence without any benefit would result from the measure. Knowing how much I have been disappointed, and my mind disturbed by his conduct, he would not, I am sure, make a candid disclosure of his sentiments to me, on this, or any other plan I might propose for the completion of his education; for which reason I would pray that you (or perhaps Mrs Stuart cd succeed better than any other) would draw ⟨from him a frank,⟩ & explicit disclosure ⟨of what his own⟩ wishes & views are; for if they are absolutely fixed, an attempt to counteract them by absolute controul, would be as idle as the endeavour to stop a rivulet that is constantly running. Its progress while mound upon mound is erected, may be arrested; but this must have an end, and everything would be swept with the torrent.
The more I think of his entering at William & Mary (unless he could be placed in the Bishops family) the more doubtful I am of its utility, on many accounts; which had better be the subject of oral communication than by letter. I shall wish to hear from you on the subject of this letter. On occasion of a severe reprimand I found it necessary to give Washington sometime ago, I received the enclosed from him. I have little doubt of his meaning well, but he has not resolution or exertion enough to act well. Our best wishes attend Mrs Stuart & the family, and I am Dear Sir ⟨Yr Obedt & Affecte Servt

Go: Washington⟩


Title: From George Washington to Oliver Wolcott, Jr., 22 January 1798
From: Washington, George
To: Wolcott, Oliver Jr.

Dear Sir,
Mount Vernon 22d Jany 1798.

Your letter of the 12th instant enclosing one from Mr Ross, and the Treasurers draught on Colo. Fitzgerald for $1,961.30, came duly to hand; & for your kindness in thus accomodating me with the Order, in lieu of the like sum received from Mr Ross on my account, I feel much obliged.
In the enclosed letter which I have taken the liberty of putting under cover to you (that I may be certain of its having been presented to Mr Ross, as there is a Bond to a pretty considerable amount therein) contains a receipt for the money which had been paid him for my use by Colo. Shreve.
It is somewhat singular that the Government should have received no advices from our Envoys at Paris since their arrival there, about the 20th of September, when accounts are detailed from thence as late as the middle of November. It is as necessary sometimes to be acquainted with the worst, as to know the best that can happen in matters of moment; & where facts cannot be narrated, to substitute conjecture; declaring it to be such. I cannot, even under the unpleasant aspect of things, believe the French Government mean to enter into a War with this Country; but I can, satisfactorily to my own mind, account for Its proceeding the length it has. I may be mistaken however. It is intoxicated with success, and when that is the case, nothing is too absurd, or unjust to be encountered.
Mr Monroe, I am told, appears in a voluminous work! What is said of it? A writer under the signature of Scipio, will, I conceive, work him pretty well. Who is Scipio? I am fishing for no secrets, but if the Author is known, or conjectured, on good ground, I should like to know who he is. From whence proceeds the apparent harmony—perhaps it would be more correct to say calm—in Congress? is it for want of matter to ferment the passions, or because a change of sentiment (wch I cannot flatter myself is the case) has taken place in the minds of the opposition members?
I asked your opinion, (on a small bit of paper, enclosed in my last) with respect to a particular character, whose name was then mentioned; but no answer was given in your last. If your silence proceeds from an unwillingness to touch on the subject, I drop it.

If because it did not appear before you at the time of writing, & was forgot, I renew it. At all times, you will find me your sincere friend and Affectionate Servant

Go: Washington

P.S. Mrs Washington and Nelly Custis unite with me in every good wish for Mrs Wolcott.


Title: To George Washington from Alexandria Poor Relief Committee, 24 January 1798
From: Alexandria Poor Relief Committee
To: Washington, George

Sir,
Alexandria 24th January 1798

  We the Committee with whom the donation from you for the poor of this place was entrusted, beg leave to inform you in what manner that trust has been discharged. Inclosed is a list of the persons who have been relieved; and of the Sums given to each. Some of the persons in the inclosed list are widows with Children; others have sick husbands and Children to support; all of them are extremely needy, Some of them bent down with disease. Being

a father to the poor, and causing the heart of the widow to sing for joy, are more ornamental than a robe, or a diadem. We offer you the blessing of many who were ready to perish. We offer you our own particular acknowledgements. It is our united and Sincere prayer that the father of mercies may cheer with his countenance the evening of your life, and abundently reward you for the many essential Services which you have done the nation in general, and individuals in particular. Yours, with sentiments of the Highest respect

            James Muir
            Saml Craig

            Wm Herbert
            John Dundas


Title: To George Washington from John Mason, 24 January 1798
From: Mason, John
To: Washington, George

Sir
George Town [Md.] 24th Jany 1798

The Letter you did me the honor to write me on the 2d Inst. reached me at Annapolis, in due time, on the Day after its date.
It had the fullest Effect to do away an opinion with some that you were not so sanguine as formerly as to the Importance of the Potomak Navigation & disposed many to be more friendly to the Petition of the Company, but unfortunately for some time before, the Members in the Baltimore Interest had so firmly rivetted many others in the opposition, that it was impossible to obtain a Majority for the Measure.
We brought it before the House of Delegates three or four different times, and in as many different Shapes, and in Spite of every Effort & Exertion which could be made, lost it every time by a very small Majority, sometimes of one sometimes of two Votes—I attended constantly untill two Days before the Session was closed—the Day before yesterday in hopes they might be better disposed toward us, but to no Purpose.

And yet the State of Maryland had the Money to spare & now holds about ⅙ of the whole Stock a dead Capital—I fear from the last Letters from Mr Lear he will be equally unsuccessful at Richmond.
You will have observed Sir, by the public Papers, that the Directors have thought it proper to call a meeting of the Stockholders in the second week of next Month—this has been done, in order to lay before them the present State of their Finances, and to take their Instructions as to what shall be done, I hope it may be convenient for you to be present.
I have obtained an Act for receiving immediate Tolls at the great Falls and at the Mouth of Conogocheague & for prolonging the Charter (which expired on 1st this Month) till the 1st Jany 1803. With great Respect I have the honor to be Sir Your Most Obt & Hbl. Servt

J. Mason


Title: To George Washington from William Gordon, 25 January 1798
From: Gordon, William
To: Washington, George

My dear Sir
St Neots [England] Jany 25th 1798

Your friendly letter of 15th Ocr last was highly acceptable, but before I enter upon a particular answer I mean to transcribe one of our friend Monsr La Fayette’s dated two days before. Upon hearing He was safe in the neighbourhood of Hamburgh I wrote to him on the 9th of Novr to which he answered from Lehmkhul near Ploin, as follows “My dear Sir With heart-felt satisfaction I have received your favour of the 9th November, & have been doubly happy in the feelings of old remembrances & in the sense I have of my new obligations to sympathizing friendship. Your two questions require an Answer. To an incessant zeal in the cause of general liberty, & to an honest conduct in the Revolutions of America & France I am to attribute the hatred & vengeance of those who want liberty to be crushed, instead of being spread; &, when they cannot stem the torrent, had rather it should be polluted by anarchy, than be carried along in its natural course of justice, philanthropy & legal order: And should one government have had particular objections to the enfranchisement of America & France, & show itself particularly averse to general freedom, I ought to look to that quarter for a greater share of that malevolent influence to which you allude.
“As to the Benevolent Interposition, I am greatly obliged to the constant exertions of the United States, their President, their Ambassadors & Consuls. I have received from the friends of liberty in the several parts of Europe, namely in Germany, the most essential testimonies of benevolence; among which I number gratefully many, wherein fortune, happiness, & life have been most generously risked in our behalf. I want words, my dear Sir, to express how sensible I am of the honour that has been done to me, of the salutary influence upon my fate that has been obtained, of the high degree in which my feelings shall to the end of life be gratified, by the noble, flattering, & spirited exertions of the British patriots in parliament. But such was the fixed plan of the powers which detained us, that to break open the doors of the Olmutz Bastille, we absolutely wanted the interposition of victorious & threatening armies, whereby our imperial jailer should be beaten into a more favourable disposition. It has been gloriously the case. We were from the first conferences at Leoben, down to our being

set at liberty five months after, the object of repeated demands from Bonaparte, the Directory, the Plenipotentiaries, the Minister of Exterior relations. Promises had been repeatedly made & not executed. When one of my late Aids de Camp sent from the Italian Head Quarters on that purpose to Vienna came to an agreement with that Court, in consequence of which, not without a last application from Paris, we were conducted to Hamburgh, as had been proposed by Baron de Thugut, & then put in the hands of Mr [John] Parish, the late American Consul, who had previously engaged to induce us, to the best of his power, to leave the German territory & not to re-enter it. The Austrian Minister made of us, in a letter to Talleyrand a compliment to the French Commonwealth, & in a letter to Mr Parish a compliment to the United States. In the mean while we set out for this retired country seat on Danish Territory; Where our state of health, particularly that of my wife obliges us to remain until the spring. At this season of the year it would have been difficult for her to travel, & next to impossibility to risk a voyage. She & my two daughters beg their compliments to you & Mrs Gordon, whom I request to accept my most affectionate respects. With high regard & hearty attachment I am my dear Sir Your sincere & constant friend Lafayette.”
I mean to write again to him soon, when I shall communicate to him some of the contents of your letter, knowing that it will be good news from a far & also a beloved country. Augt 31 1797 I wrote to you by the Fly Capt. Brice who sailed on Sepr the 5th from London. I hope you received it soon after the 15th of Ocr. You have fully justified yourself in not acknowledging my letters received when engaged in the duties of your late public station; which gave you full employ; but I should certainly have failed in friendship had I not written, & continued so doing.
That your derangements should be such during eight years absence, excepting occasional visits, is not to be wondered at. However by your exertions, notwithstanding the tormenting plague of workmen, I trust your situation has been rendered comfortable for the present winter.
Rural employments I could conceive would be your delight, from what You answered to the State of Vermont, when both branches of the legislature presented their Address to You Ocr 25 1796. You closed with saying—“When withdrawn to the shade of private

life, I shall view with growing pleasure the increasing prosperity of the United States. In the perfect protection of their government, I trust to enjoy my retirement in tranquillity; & then while indulging a favorite wish of my heart in agricultural pursuits, I may hope to make even my private business & amusement of some use to my country.”
Though in the natural course of things neither of us can expect to live many years, myself especially, who, if spared till March the 8th, enters on the 70th of his age; yet may we be enabled, by the influences of the divine Spirit from our heavenly Father, to live agreeable to the great truths of Christianity, a life of faith in the great & only Sacrifice for sin the Lord Jesus Christ, of holy obedience to the commands of God, of sincere daily devotion, of benevolence & benefice to our fellow-mortals, even though enemies; that so we may meet in the upper regions of unallayed bliss, though not likely to see each other more in the flesh!
I suppose there must have been an allusion to your counterfiet letters.
I had no idea of interfering with Mr Cary, nor could it have been done, as he possesses the copy-right.
But I could wish that certain of your letters written to me, & some perhaps to others, were published, that would be to your credit & pleasing to many of your friends; but even this I should not chuse to be done without your permission.
I decline writing upon public affairs, of which our printed papers will acquaint all who wish to be informed.
Mrs Gordon unites most cordially with me in best wishes for the health & happiness of yourself & Mrs Washington; & I remain with the sincerest esteem & respect, my dear Sir, Your most obedient & humble Servant

William Gordon

Pray is Mr & Mrs Lunn Washington living? If so, remember me kindly to them.


Title: From George Washington to Henry Lee, Jr., 25 January 1798
From: Washington, George
To: Lee, Henry Jr.

Dear Sir,
Mount Vernon 25th Jany 1798

The period for payment of the second Instalment of your Bond is past, & the first Instalment is only partially complied with. Mr Simms’ note, endorsed by you for $1000, is protested at the Bank, where it was deposited for collection.
It Cannot be more unpleasant for you to hear, than for me to remind you of these things, but it is necessary for me to do so, & to express a hope that some vigorous measures are in train to fulfil your engagement with me. My own want requires it. For depending upon this fund, and induced thereto by my manager’s statement of the utility of the measure, I have encountered a considerable expence in building a large Distillery (at my Mill) providing Stills, &ca &ca; & shall be unable to carry it on without cash to purchase the Grain that is requisite for this purpose. Let me entreat you to believe, that at the time I entered into the contract with you for the property I held in the Dismal Swamp, I had no conception of such disappointments, and that it is a mode of dealing to which I am not accustomed.
If the purchase money for it, is to be paid in small driblets, instead of annual Instalments, the value of it will, in a manner, be lost to me: Yet as I must purchase Corn & Rye, or let my Distillery (now it is erected) stand idle, I will receive of either, & allow the Cash price for what you will deliver at my landing, or, if you think this is too indefinite, I will give the price pr Barrel or Bushel that Mr Burwell Bassett purchases for me at, being authorised to send me up a Vessel load. In short I am disposed to accomodate you in any reasonable manner I can, although nothing would answer my purposes like money, as the business would then be wholly in my own hands, and I should know my ground.
If you are able, and are inclined to furnish me with Corn, or Rye, or both, say with precision what quantity, and certainly by what time. And I pray you not to deceive me by erroneous calculations, either as to the quantity or time of delivery. If you have neither for sale, I beg to be informed thereof as soon as possible, as I must be supplied in some manner or another. With great regard I am Dear Sir Your Obedt & Affecte

Go: Washington


Title: From George Washington to Robert Lewis, 26 January 1798
From: Washington, George
To: Lewis, Robert

Dear Sir
Mount Vernon 26th Jany 1798

The return of your brother Howel, affords me a direct & safe opportunity of enquiring whether any, and if any, what money you have of mine in your hands? What are your prospects of collecting the past years Rents, seasonably—and when I may look for the receipt of them?
I have been induced, by the experience & advice of my Manager, Mr Anderson—to erect a large Distillery at my Mill; and have supplied it with five Stills, Boilers—&ca which, with the (Stone) House, has cost me a considerable Sum already, but I find these expenditures are but a small part of the advances I must make before I shall receive any return for them, having all my Grain yet to buy to carry on the business.
To accomplish this, all my resources are needed, and I beg you to exert yourself in the collection of my Rents, and that you would let me know, upon the best data you can form an opinion, what dependence I may place on you—not only as to the amount of the sum, but also as to the period of its payment, that I may regulate matters accordingly.
As a Rental—according to former Instructions—should be annually exhibited, in order to show, not only what has been received, but the arrearages if any at the same time, in one view, that by a referrence thereto I can always see the state and condition of each tenement. I must now add, as a further Instruction, that all casualties, such as the exchanging of Tenants—Increase, or decrease of Rents, &ca &ca, may be specifically noted at the foot of the Rental; Which is considered always as a kind of Record of the Collectors proceedings. Columns in which, for the size of the tenements—Sums paid—& the arrearages due, you know are necessary. Mrs W. & Nelly Custis unites in best wishes with Your affe. friend, & uncle

Go: Washington


Title: To George Washington from Albin Rawlins, 26 January 1798
From: Rawlins, Albin
To: Washington, George

Honored Sir,
Hanover C[our]t House January 26th 1798

In Octr last my brother who lives at this place was desired by General Spotswood to procure a young man of good character for him whom he said was to live with you: I was applied to by my brother to know, if I wou’d live with you or not. I told him I shou’d prefer living with you to any other—he then wrote General Spotswood he had a brother who appeared desirous to live with yourself, and cou’d come well recommended, & by whom. Some time in novr my brother recd a third letter from Genl Spotswood—to this effect. “Your brother must not engage to live with any person, as he may rely on living with Genl Washington. & further said he wou’d in a Short time write when I shou’d go on. my brother never recd, or myself, a letter from Genl Spotswood untill some time after Christmas when he wrote You had procured a Young man: I was a little astonished he did not inform me sooner, for during this time I had two offers of business which I refused on acct of his letter, which were fill’d up before he wrote me, you’d employed a young man, however I still flatter myself that shou’d you have any business for a Young man at this time or a month or two after this—You’ll employ me. (I mean such as Writing, riding abt for you &c.) As I presume by assiduousness & attention—I shou’d merit your esteem in transacting the same; Write me by the first post—to this place. I can get a recommendation—from any Gentleman in Hanover or Caroline—of my acquaintance. I am honor’d Sir Yr Obt Servt

Albin Rawlins


Title: To George Washington from Timothy Pickering, 27 January 1798
From: Pickering, Timothy
To: Washington, George

Sir,
Philadelphia Jany 27 1798

In my last I forgot to mention, that Mr Nancrede from Boston, had just left with the three volumes of the Studies of Nature which he dedicated to you, without your permission, but for which you desired me to subscribe, in your behalf. I did so. But the set he has left with me for you are elegantly bound in red Morocco and gilt; and from the manner of the delivery (sending them to my house without a bill) I presume he wished to have the honor of presenting them to you as a testimony of the respect he expressed in the dedication. When he was here in 1796, he informed me that he was at the siege of Yorktown, a subaltern officer in Count Rochambeau’s army. He is married in Boston—keeps a large book store—teaches the French language in the University of Cambridge—and enjoys, I believe, a very fair reputation.
The 3 volumes are too bulky to send by post, and the books too liable to injury in that mode of conveyance: I will therefore keep them for a private oppertunity. If any gentleman of your acquaintance should be coming here, to return to Alexandria or Mount Vernon, & who could conveniently receive them, I shall be obliged by your noticing it in a line to me.
The inclosed Philadelphia Gazette contains a specific charge against me, which by the subjoined refutation you will see was equally false and malicious. I at first supposed the charge had not even the colour of foundation: but on enquiry, to my astonishment Mr Blackwell confessed the fact, of his taking the five dollars for the passport; and, what is still more to be regretted, Mr Taylor has been alike faulty, and this too, after I had expressly declared, upon Mr Taylor’s putting the question to me, so long ago as when my office was kept in Arch Street; that it would be improper to receive

a farthing for such passports, whatever might be offered. The passports themselves are marked Gratis. I sign them (as my predecessors used to do) and leave them with Mr Taylor to fill up, seal and deliver. In his absence, Mr Blackwell did the same. The latter I dismissed yesterday, & shall forthwith discharge Mr Taylor, who has been most faulty of the two, and most frequent in offending.*
William Cobbett has just published the inclosed answer to Paine’s insolent letter to you. In his Porcupine’s gazette, Cobbett speaks very handsomely of the answer: I have not read it. I am, sir, with great respect, your obt servt

Timothy Pickering

*Is this conduct of Mr Taylor to be accounted for, at least in part, by his being a Democrat) Yesterday I was informed that he was one—that he busied himself in favour of Mr Jefferson’s election; and even in Swanwick’s for Philadelphia displayed much zeal.


Title: From George Washington to Winthrop Sargent, 27 January 1798
From: Washington, George
To: Sargent, Winthrop

Dear Sir,
Mount Vernon 27th Jany 1798

A few days since, a Mr Jos[ep]h Massey (said to be a Surveyor) of the North Western Territory, passed through Alexandria on his way to Philadelphia, and there said to a Gentleman, without assigning reasons, or having them asked, that I should lose my lands on the little Miami in that Country.
Never having heard of any claim to it, or being able to conjecture on what ground it can be jeopardized, I take the liberty of troubling you with this address; requesting the favour of you, as the land lyes in the vicinity of Cincinnati, to make enquiry into the matter & to inform me of the result.
I hold 3,051 acres in three seperate tracts, under a Military claim, the first containing 839 acres was surveyed the 28th of Decr 1787 and lyes within a mile of the River Ohio. The second is about seven miles up the little Miami and contains by the Survey thereof, made the 26th of May 1788—Nine hundred & 77 acres—and the third about three miles higher up the Miami was surveyed the day following i.e. the 27th of May for 1235 acres: and Letters Patent were granted by the Commonwealth of Virginia under the hand and Seal of the then Governor, Beverly Randolph, for the same, bearing date (all) the first day of December 1790. The number of the warrants, and on what occasion granted, is recited in the Deeds; but I presume, for the mere purpose of instituting an enquiry, it is unnecessary to be more particular at present; until I learn upon what ground my right is assailed, or at what tribunal I am to defend that Right; for until the Report (as coming from Massey) was made to me, I had no suspicion of being disturbed in the property.

Under a persuation that you will oblige me in this request, I shall make no apology for giving you the trouble to make the enquiry but will pray for your answer as soon as conv[enien]t. With great esteem & regard—I am Dear Sir Yr Obedt Servt

Go: Washington


Title: From George Washington to George Thacher, 27 January 1798
From: Washington, George
To: Thacher, George

Sir,
Mount Vernon 27th Jany 1798

It is not long since the Papers herewith sent have been in my possession, altho’ from the date they bear, one would be led to think otherwise.
If the statements are just, the case merits attention; and as Mr Goodwin has mistaken the road by which the application (if redress can be afforded) is to be made, I have taken the liberty of transmitting them to you, on the supposition that he is a resident in the District you represent. I wish you an agreeable and harmonious Session, and am Sir Your most obedient Servt

Go: Washington


Title: From George Washington to James McHenry, 28 January 1798
From: Washington, George
To: McHenry, James

Dear Sir,
Mount Vernon 28th Jany 1798

Knowing that the War Office has an Agency in the Western Lands, I take the liberty of putting the enclosed letters to General Putnam and Colo. Sargent under cover to you, open. By doing so, it supercedes the necessity of a repetition of what is therein mentioned. Another reason for giving you this trouble, is, that if

Mr Massey is a Surveyor in the Northwestern Territory, it is highly probable that his business in Philadelphia is with your Office. In which case, let me pray you to obtain what information he can give, respecting the claim upon my land, & transmit the same to me; and to request, after sealing my letters to the Gentlemen abovementioned, that you would be so kind as to put them into the safest channel of conveyance, that is afforded from Philadelphia.
What means this calm, & apparent harmony in the Representative Body? Is it because no collisive subject has come on? or does it proceed from a change of sentiment in the opposition members? Are there no accounts yet from our Envoys? If not, to what is their silence attributed, when the News Papers are filled with accounts of them, as late as the middle of November, from Paris; where they must have been at least six weeks?
What, as far as it can be guessed at, is the public sentiment relative to Monroe’s voluminous work? which I have not yet seen, but have sent for it. And what of Fauchets? Another elaborate work, I presume, will appear soon, from the late Commissioner of the Revenue; the cause of whose dismission has never (that I have seen) been hinted at in the Gazettes. What has been, or is it supposed will be done, by the house of Representatives in consequence of the extraordinary application which was made to them on that occasion, by the Ex-Commissioners.
I have exhibited a long string of questions, but if you have not leisure, or if any of them are embarrassing, I require no answer to them. Mrs Washington & Nelly Custis unite with me, in every good wish for Mrs McHenry, yourself & family, and I am always, and Affectionately Yours

Go: Washington


Title: From George Washington to Rufus Putnam, 28 January 1798
From: Washington, George
To: Putnam, Rufus

Dear Sir,
Mount Vernon 28th Jany 1798.

The letter, of which the enclosed is a copy, I had written to Colo. Sargant; but it having occurred to me since, that if my right to the Lands therein mentioned should be called in question—or

any ungenerous advantage attempted to be taken from any defect, or informality in my title, of which, and the ground on which it is questioned I am entirely in the dark, that it must, in some shape or another come before you as Surveyor General of that Territory. Should this be the case, I not only crave the same favour of you that I have done of Colo. Sargent but pray that any interference with my right may be arrested until matters can be fully explained.
For the Right, purchased many years ago; for looking out the Land & making the locations; and for Surveying, & other incidental expences, I have already paid fully what was supposed to be the value of the land at the time I obtained it. It would be not a little hard, not to say unjust, to have it taken from me now; even admitting (which I do not, because I am not knowing to it) that there may have been some faupas in the proceedings on my behalf.
If you have heard, or should come to the knowledge of this attempt you would oblige me much by giving me information thereof, and on what plea I am to be disturbed in property of which I have possessed so many years. With very great esteem & regard I am—Dear Sir Your Obedt Servant

Go: Washington


Title: From George Washington to Clement Biddle, 29 January 1798
From: Washington, George
To: Biddle, Clement

Dear Sir,
Mount Vernon 29th Jany 1798

Your letter of the 16th has been received, & the Music Strings came safe.
If you conceive any advantage will result from a delay in the sale

of the old Coach, until the Spring, it will be quite agreeable to me that it should be postponed. To avoid the accumulating expence of Ho. room, and the injury such articles sustain by lying, & often by neglect & tossing about was my inducement to the disposal of it now. But it rests with you to chuse the time.
If the Plateaux are not sold, nor a probability of getting nearly what they cost—say currency for Sterling—I request that they may be carefully packed up and sent to me, together with the two smallest of the large groups of Porcelain, and the twelve single images (Arts & Sciences) with which my Table, on Public days, was ornamented. The large group (Apollo instructing the Shepherds) and the two Vases, may be sold for whatever they will fetch. Great care, by a skilful hand, must be used in packing the Porcelain, or all the delicate & finer parts will be broken off.
I have not yet heard (although it may have happened) of Ellwoods arrival at Alexandria. As Dobson’s bill is not exhibited, I am unapprized of what is charged in it, or of what is coming from him. My wish was, and still is, to have the second copy of all the volumes (as far as published, intended for my own use) of the Encyclopedia, to be neatly bound and sent to me, the last volume excepted, which he will retain to bind the remainder by (if more are yet to come) that all may be alike. If this is not the case, pray let it be so as soon as possible, and he shall receive the cost without delay.
I must again trouble you in forwarding the enclosed (after sealing) to Mr Kitt, and will say now, what I did not do on this subject in my former letter, and that is, that if you have any dereliction to the business, be frank in declarg ⟨it⟩.
Inclosed is a letter, & receipt of Doctr Barton’s for Sixty dollars which I pray you to receive, if you can, and place to my credit; but I inform you before hand, that you will never get a copper of it if it depends upon him alone. You will perceive by the letter, that the money borrowed, was, punctually, to be returned in a month. After waiting near, or quite a year, he was applied to, and then, I was, assuredly, to have it in two or three days; after as many months waiting; without hearing a tittle from him applications were again made & the same answers have been received and so it went on until the Scenes of my Public life were closed and he was informed that I was desirous of adjusting all my pecuniary matters in Philadelphia before I left it when the most solemn assurance (without any intention, I am persuaded, to fulfil it) were given that the money should be instantly paid.

It is necessary for me to observe here that Doctr Barton is an entire stranger to me. Never, to my knowledge, or recollection, did I ever exchange a word with him in my life, nor should I know him if I was to see him. I did by him (supposing from his connections that he was a man of honour) as I had done by many others, although I found it not a little difficult to make all my receipts in addition to my compensation, keep pace with my expenditures—that is—to advance a little money (not on Usury) for immediate purposes.
It is not my wish (nor will I) for so trifling a sum, have my name called in a Court of Justice; but (and as his promises alone you may be assured will deceive you) I would suggest the expediency of your obtaining his note, with security, for payment of the nett sum of Sixty dollars, (and I want no more lest it should be conceived that interested motives induced the loan) and then, at the expiration of whatever credit is given, call upon that Security if the money is not punctually paid by Barton. This, if the latter has credit⟨,⟩ to obtain the former he cannot object to. With esteem & regard I am Dear Sir—Yr Obedt Servt

Go: Washington

P.S. If you could send me samples of some of the best German Oznabrgs with the prices marked thereon, by the Ell, it would enable me to decide, whether to purchase in Philadelphia or Alexandria. I may, probably, require a thousand Ells.
In some of the late Philadelphia Gazettes I have seen advertised a number of Passengers from Hamburgh, who are to make their own contracts. Among these it is said there are Clerks in different Languages. If one could be had, who was competent in English; who is master of a fair hand in English character; and who has testimonials as to his sobriety, morals & general good character—such in short as would satisfy you, were you in want of such a Person—I should be glad to contract with him on as long terms as could be obtained, having a great deal of copying to do. And if a complete Country blacksmith—one who knows how to make Ploughs, and all other impliments for a farm would be acceptable also. G. W——n


Title: To George Washington from Rufus King, 29 January 1798
From: King, Rufus
To: Washington, George

Dear sir
London Jany 29. 1798

I had the Honor today to receive your Letter concerning young la fayette, who arrived at Calais about three weeks since—this I have learnt from an american who saw him there. As it was well known in France that his father & family are in Holstein, I presume that the young man must have left France, and gone to his family—I understand that General La fayette intends imbarking for america Early in the Spring, but that his wife will probably remain in Europe—Circumstances, which are perpetually shifting, may change this Plan—with the most perfect Respect & Esteem I have the Honor to remain Dr Sir Yr Ob. & faithful Sert

Rufus King


Title: From George Washington to Frederick Kitt, 29 January 1798
From: Washington, George
To: Kitt, Frederick

Mr Kitt,
Mount Vernon 29th Jany 1798

Your letter of the 15th instant has been duly received, and we were glad to hear that you & Mrs Kitt were well, and had escaped the malady with which the City has been afflicted. But sorry to be informed that two, who had been my domestics, had fallen victims to it.
Continue your enquiries, I pray you, after Herculas; and if you should find it necessary, hire some one who is most likely to be acquainted with his haunts, to trace them out; and if you should learn of him, advise with Colo. Biddle on the most effectual mode of securing him until he can be put on board one of the Packets for Alexandria with a strict charge to the Master not to give him an opportunity of escaping. Whatever cost shall attend this business Colo. Biddle will pay.
Mrs Washington would very gladly have employed Mr Brown, if she had known in time that he would have come hither; but having lately got a housekeeper who understands Cookery, two would be more than necessary. We should like to know however, on what terms Mr Brown would come, if an occasion hereafter should make it necessary to enquire after such a character.
I am glad to hear you have a birth at the Bank. I hope it is such an one, as will enable you to live comfortably. My advice to you, is so to conduct yourself in it, as to merit the esteem & good will of all those with whom you may have business to transact; and above all things, if you have any thing to do with the money, to let your care & diligence in handling of it, be exceeded by nothing but your integrity. I wish you well and am Your friend

Go: Washington


Title: To George Washington from Oliver Wolcott, Jr., 30 January 1798
From: Wolcott, Oliver Jr.
To: Washington, George

Dear Sir
Phila[delphia] Jany 30 1798

I have recd your favour of the 22d instant and feel much chagrin that I did not reply to your private Note: the fact is, that I destroyed it, after perusal & forgot the contents at the time I wrote: Mr Biddies Credit is as good as it has ever been; the misfortunes of the times have rendered his business more profitable than usual—he is understood to possess a handsome property.
No Letters have been recd by the Government from the Envoys—It is certain that they were not recd at the beginning of November, & it was then General Pinckneys opinion that they would not be. I suspect that their dispatches have been intercepted—the Merchants here believe that an Embargo has been laid on all American Vessells.
Mr Munroes book is a wicked misrepresentation of facts; his conduct is detested by all good Men though I [am] sorry to say that many applaud it. I have good grounds for believing Mr Tracy, to be author of Scipio—but this is not, & I believe will not be generally known. As respects your character & the merits of your administration of the Government, Mr Munroes book, will make no impression beyond the circle of Tom Paines admirers.

The opposition in the House have made a formal attack on the Executive; but I think they will be defeated with loss. Lately there have been indications that the Spirit of the friends of Government, in & out of the Legislature is rising.
I delivered your Letter for Mr Ross—to a person who put it into his hands. Mrs Wolcott joins me in the most respectful assurances of regard to Mrs Washington & Miss Custiss. I am Dr Sir, with perfect respect & attachment your obedt

Oliv. Wolcott

P.S. If you wish to see Munroes book, and are pleased to give permission, I will send a Copy; it is a liberty that otherwise, I would not venture to take. O.W.


Title: Robert Lewis to GW, 31 January 1798 [letter not found]
From: Lewis, Robert
To: Washington, George

Letter not found: Robert Lewis to GW, 31 Jan. 1798. On 11 Feb. GW wrote Lewis: “Your letter of the 31st Ulto came safe to hand.”