Title: [Diary entry: 2 November 1789]
From: Washington, George
To:

Monday 2d. Having made previous preparations for it—About 8 Oclock attended by the President, Mr. Langden & some other Gentlemen, I went in a boat to view the harbour of Portsmouth;

which is well secured against all Winds; and from its narrow entrance from the Sea, and passage up to the Town, may be perfectly guarded against any approach by water. The anchorage is also good & the Shipping may lay close to the Docks &ca. when at the Town. In my way to the Mouth of the Harbour, I stopped at a place called Kittery in the Provence of Main, the River Piscataqua being the boundary between New Hampshire and it. From hence I went by the Old Fort (formerly built while under the English government) on an Island which is at the Entrance of the Harbour and where the Light House stands. As we passed this Fort we were saluted by 13 Guns. Having Lines we proceeded to the Fishing banks a little with out the Harbour and fished for Cod—but it not being a proper time of tide we only caught two—with wch. about 1 Oclock we returned to Town. Dined at Col. Langdons, and drank Tea there with a large Circle of Ladies and retired a little after Seven O’clock. Before dinner I recd. an address from the Town—presented by the Vice-President and returned an answer in the Evening to one I had recd. from Marblehead and an other from the Presbiterian Clergy of the State of Massachusetts & New Hampshire delivered at Newbury Port; both of which I had been unable to answer before.


Title: [Diary entry: 3 November 1789]
From: Washington, George
To:

Tuesday 3d. Sat two hours in the forenoon for a Mr.  Painter of Boston, at the Request of Mr. Brick of that place; who wrote Majr. Jackson that it was an earnest desire of many of the Inhabitants of that Town that he might be endulged. After this setting I called upon President Sullivan, and the Mother of Mr. Lear and having walked through most parts of the Town, returned by 12 Oclock when I was visited by a Clergyman of the name of Haven, who presented me with an Ear, and part of the stalk of the dying Corn, and several small pieces of Cloth which had been died with it, equal to any colours I had ever seen & of various colours. This Corn was blood red & the rind of the stalk deeply tinged of the same colour. About 2 Oclock I recd. an Address from the Executive of the State of New Hampshire; and in half an hour after dined with them and a large Company at their Assembly room which is one of the best I have seen any where in the United States. At half after Seven I went to the Assembly where there were about 75 well dressed, and many of them very handsome Ladies—among whom (as was also the case at the Salem & Boston Assemblies) were a greater proportion with much blacker hair than are usually seen in the Southern States. About 9 I returned to my Quarters. Portsmouth it is said contains abt. 5000 Inhabitants. There are some good houses (among wch. Colo. Langdons may be esteemed the first) but in general they are indifferent; and almost entirely of wood. On wondering at this, as the Country is full of Stone and good Clay for Bricks I was told that on acct. of the fogs and damps they deemed them wholesomer and for that reason prefered wood buildings. Lumber—Fish and Pot ash with some Provisions compose the principal Articles of Export. Ship building here & at Newbury Port has been carried on to a considerable extent. During & for sometime after the War

there was an entire stagnation to it; but it is beginning now to revive again. The number of Ships belonging to the Port are estimated at .


Title: [Diary entry: 5 November 1789]
From: Washington, George
To:

Thursday 5th. About Sun rise I set out, crossing the Merimack River at the Town over to the Township of Bradford and in nine Miles came to Abbots Tavern in Andover where we breakfasted, and met with much attention from Mr. Philips President of the Senate of Massachusetts, who accompanied us thro’ Bellarika [Billerica] to Lexington, where I dined, and viewed the Spot on which the first blood was spilt in the dispute with great Britain on the 19th. of April 1775. Here I parted with Mr. Philips, and proceeded on to Watertown, intending (as I was disappointed by the Weather & bad Roads from travvelling through the Interior Country to Charlestown on Connecticut River) to take what is called the Middle Road from Boston. The Country from Haverhill to Andover is good, and well cultivated. In and about the latter (which stands high) it is beautiful. A Mile or two from it you descend into a pine level pretty Sandy, and mixed with Swamps; through which you ride several Miles till you begin to ascend the heights on which the Town of Bellarika stands, which is also pleasantly situated 10 Miles from Andover. From hence to Lexington—8 Miles and thence to Watertown 8 More the Country is very pleasant, and the roads in general good. We lodged in this

place at the House of a Widow Coolidge near the Bridge, and a very indifferent one it is.


Title: [Diary entry: 6 November 1789]
From: Washington, George
To:

Friday 6th. A little after Seven oclock, under great appearances of Rain or Snow, we left Watertown, and Passing through Needham (five Miles therefrom) breakfasted at Sherburn which is 14 Miles from the former. Then passing through Holliston 5 Miles, Milford 6 More, Menden 4 More, and Uxbridge 6 More, we lodged at one Tafts 1 Miles further; the whole distance of this days travel being 36 Miles. From Watertown till you get near Needham, the Road is very level—about Needham it is hilly—then level again, and the whole pleasant and well cultivated ’till you pass Sherburn; between this and Holliston is some Hilly & Rocky ground as there is in places, onwards to Uxbridge; some of

wch. are very bad; Upon the whole it may be called an indifferent Rd.—deversified by good & bad land—cultivated and in woods—some high and Barren and others low, wet and Piney. Grass and Indian Corn is the chief produce of the Farms. Rye composes a part of the culture of them, but wheat is not grown on Acct. of the blight. The Roads in every part of this State are amazingly crooked, to suit the convenience of every Mans fields; & the directions you receive from the People equally blind & ignorant; for instead of going to Watertown from Lexington, if we had proceeded to Waltham we should in 13 Miles have saved at least Six; the distance from Lexington to Waltham being only 5 Miles and the Road from Watertown to Sherburn going within less than two miles of the latter (i.e. Waltham). The Clouds of the Morning vanished before the Meridian Sun, and the Afternoon was bright and pleasant. The House in Uxbridge had a good external appearance (for a Tavern) but the owner of it being from home, and the wife sick, we could not gain admittance which was the reason of my coming on to Tafts; where, though the people were obliging, the entertainment was not very inviting.


Title: [Diary entry: 7 November 1789]
From: Washington, George
To:

Saturday 7th. Left Tafts before Sunrise, and passing through Douglas wood breakfasted at one Jacobs in Thompson 12 Miles’ distant—not a good House. Bated the Horses in Pomfret at Colo. Grosveners, distant 11 Miles from Jacobs and Lodged at Squire Perkins in Ashford (called 10 Miles, but must be 12). The first Stage with a small exception is intolerable bad Road, & a poor and uncultivated Country covered chiefly with woods—the largest of Which is called Douglass, at the foot of which on the East side

is a large Pond. Jacobs’s, is in the State of Connecticut, and here the Lands are better, and more highly improved. From hence to Pomfret there is some woods & indifferent Land, but in General it is tolerably good and the Farms look well. In and abt. Pomfret they are fine, and from thence to Ashford not bad; but very hilly and much mixed with Rock Stone. Knowing that General Putnam lived in the Township of Pomfret, I had hopes of seeing him and it was one of my inducements for coming this Road; but on enquiry in the Town I found that he lived 5 Miles out of my road, and that without deranging my plan & delaying my journey, I could not do it.


Title: [Diary entry: 9 November 1789]
From: Washington, George
To:

Monday 9th. Set out about 7 Oclock and for the first 24 Miles had hilly, rocky and disagreeable Roads. The remaining 10 was level and good, but in places Sandy. Arrived at Hartford a little before four. We passed through Mansfield (which is a very hilly Country and the Township in which they make the greatest qty. of Silk of any in the State) and breakfasted at one Brighams in Coventry. Stopped at Woodbridges in Et. Hartford where the level land is entered upon & from whence through East Hartford the Country is pleasant, and the Land in places very good—in others Sandy and Weak. I find by Conversing with the Farmers along this Road that a medium Crop of Wheat to the Acre is about 15 bushels—of Corn 20—of Oats the same—and in their strong & fresh Lands they get as much Wheat as they can Rye to the Acre—but in worn, or Sandy Land the latter yields most. They go more however upon grasing than either; & consequently Beef Butter & Cheese—with Porke are the articles which they carry to Market.


Title: [Diary entry: 12 November 1789]
From: Washington, George
To:

Thursday 12th. A little before Sunrise we left Marvins and breakfasting at Stamford 13 Miles distant, reached the Widow Havilands 12 Miles further; where, on acct. of some lame horses, we remained all Night. The badness of these Rds. having been described as I went, I shall say nothing of them now.


Title: [Diary entry: 14 November 1789]
From: Washington, George
To:

Saturday 14th. At home all day—except taking a Walk round the Battery in the Afternoon. At 4 Oclock received and answered an Address from the President & Corporation of Dartmouth College and about Noon sundry visits.


Title: [Diary entry: 15 November 1789]
From: Washington, George
To:

Sunday 15th. Went to St. Pauls Chapel in the forenoon and after returning from thence was visited by Majr. Butler Majr. Meridith and Mr. Smith So. Cara. Received an Invitation to attend the Funeral of Mrs. Roosevelt (the wife of a Senator of this State) but declined complying with it—first because the propriety of accepting any invitation of this sort appeared very questionable and secondly (though to do it in this instance might not be improper) because it might be difficult to discriminate in cases wch. might thereafter happen.


Title: [Diary entry: 17 November 1789]
From: Washington, George
To:

Tuesday 17th. The Visitors at the Levee to day, were numerous.


Title: [Diary entry: 18 November 1789]
From: Washington, George
To:

Wednesday 18th. Took a walk in the forenoon, & called upon Mr. Jay on business but he was not within. On my return paid Mr. Vaughan Senr. a visit—informal. Sent a Commission as District Judge of So. Carolina to the Honble. William Drayton of that State.


Title: [Diary entry: 19 November 1789]
From: Washington, George
To:

Thursday 19th. The following Company dined here today—viz.—Mrs. Adams (Lady to the Vice President) Colo. Smith & Lady & Miss Smith Mrs. Adams’s Niece—Govr. Clinton and Lady & Miss Cornelia Clinton and Majr. Butlar, his Lady and two Daughters.


Title: [Diary entry: 20 November 1789]
From: Washington, George
To:

Friday 20th. The Visitors of Gentn. and Ladies to Mrs. Washington this evening were numerous & respectable.


Title: [Diary entry: 21 November 1789]
From: Washington, George
To:

Saturday 21st. Received in the Afternoon the Report from the Commissioners appointed to Treat with the Southern Indians. Gave it one reading & shall bestow another and more attentive one on it.


Title: [Diary entry: 22 November 1789]
From: Washington, George
To:

 Sunday 22d. Went to St. Pauls Chappel in the forenoon—heard a charity Sermon for the benefit of the Orphans School of this City. Had a good deal of conversation in the Evening with the above Commissioners on the more minute part of their transactions at the Treaty with the Creek Indians and their opinion with respect to the real views of Mr. McGillivry—The principles of whose conduct they think is self-Interest, and a dependence for support on Spain. They think also, that having possessed himself of the outlines of the terms he could Treat with the United States upon, he wished to Postpone the Treaty to see if he could not obtain better from Spain. They think that, though he does not want abilities, he has credit to the full extent of them and that he is but a short sighted politicion. He acknowledges however, that an Alliance between the Creek Nation & the United States is the most Natural one, & what they ought to prefer if to be obtained on equal terms. A Free port in the latter seems to be a favourite object with him.


Title: [Diary entry: 24 November 1789]
From: Washington, George
To:

Tuesday 24th. A good deal of Company at the Levee to day. Went to the Play in the Evening. Sent Tickets to the following Ladies and Gentlemn. & invited them to Seats in my Box viz.—Mrs. Adams (Lady of the Vice-President) Genl. Schuyler & Lady, Mr. King & Lady, Majr. Butler and Lady, Colo. Hamilton & Lady Mrs. Green—all of whom accepted and came except Mrs. Butler who was indisposed.


Title: [Diary entry: 25 November 1789]
From: Washington, George
To:

Wednesday 25th. Exercised on Horse-back between Breakfast & dinner—in which returning I called upon Mr. Jay and Genl. Knox on business and made informal visits to the Govr., Mr. Izard, Genl. Schuyler, and Mrs. Dalton. The following Company dined with me. viz. Doctr. Johnson & Lady and daughter (Mrs. Neely)—Mr. Izard & Lady & Son—Mr. Smith (So. Carolina) & Lady—Mr. Kean & Lady and the Chief Justice Mr. Jay. After which I went with Mrs. Washington to the Dancing Assembly at which I stayed until 10 Ock.


Title: [Diary entry: 26 November 1789]
From: Washington, George
To:

Thursday 26th. Being the day appointed for a thanksgiving I went to St. Pauls Chapel though it was most inclement and stormy—but few people at Church.


Title: [Diary entry: 27 November 1789]
From: Washington, George
To:

Friday 27th. Not many Visitors this evening to Mrs. Washington.


Title: [Diary entry: 29 November 1789]
From: Washington, George
To:

Sunday 29th. Went to St. Pauls Chapel in the forenoon.


Title: [Diary entry: 30 November 1789]
From: Washington, George
To:

Monday 30th. Went to the Play in the Evening and presented Tickets to the following persons—viz.—Doctr. Johnson and Lady—Mr. Dalton & Lady—The Chief Justice of the United States and Lady—Secretary of War & Lady—Baron de Steuben and Mrs. Green.


Title: [November 1789]
From: Washington, George
To:

November 1st. Attended by the President of the State (Genl. Sullivan) Mr. Langdon, & the Marshall; I went in the fore Noon to the Episcopal Church under the incumbency of a Mr. Ogden and in the Afternoon to one of the Presbeterian or Congregational Churches in which a Mr. Buckminster Preached. Dined at home with the Marshall and spent the afternoon in my own room writing letters.

   Rev. John Cosens Ogden was pastor of St. John’s Episcopal Church from 1786 to 1793. Ogden had written GW, 30 Oct., extending an invitation to tea and mentioning, as an added inducement, that his mother-in-law was the widow of Brig. Gen. David Wooster and his sister the widow of Col. Francis Barber (DNA:PCC). GW attended services in Queen’s Chapel of the church (Pa. Packet, 25 Nov. 1789). Rev. Joseph Buckminster became pastor of the North Congregational Church in Portsmouth in 1779 and held the post for 33 years (GURNEYC. S. Gurney. Portsmouth . . . Historic and Picturesque. Portsmouth, N.H., 1902., 140).

   Several newspaper accounts, including the Pennsylvania Packet, 19 Nov. 1789, state that on Sunday, 1 Nov., Tobias Lear was married in Portsmouth “to an amiable young lady of that town” and that GW attended the wedding. This is clearly in error since Lear did not marry Mary Long of Portsmouth until 18 April 1790. However, Lear family tradition holds that GW attended the engagement party on this day (DECATURStephen Decatur, Jr. Private Affairs of George Washington: From the Records and Accounts of Tobias Lear, Esquire, his Secretary. Boston, 1933., 128).

Monday 2d. Having made previous preparations for it—About 8 Oclock attended by the President, Mr. Langden & some other Gentlemen, I went in a boat to view the harbour of Portsmouth;

which is well secured against all Winds; and from its narrow entrance from the Sea, and passage up to the Town, may be perfectly guarded against any approach by water. The anchorage is also good & the Shipping may lay close to the Docks &ca. when at the Town. In my way to the Mouth of the Harbour, I stopped at a place called Kittery in the Provence of Main, the River Piscataqua being the boundary between New Hampshire and it. From hence I went by the Old Fort (formerly built while under the English government) on an Island which is at the Entrance of the Harbour and where the Light House stands. As we passed this Fort we were saluted by 13 Guns. Having Lines we proceeded to the Fishing banks a little with out the Harbour and fished for Cod—but it not being a proper time of tide we only caught two—with wch. about 1 Oclock we returned to Town. Dined at Col. Langdons, and drank Tea there with a large Circle of Ladies and retired a little after Seven O’clock. Before dinner I recd. an address from the Town—presented by the Vice-President and returned an answer in the Evening to one I had recd. from Marblehead and an other from the Presbiterian Clergy of the State of Massachusetts & New Hampshire delivered at Newbury Port; both of which I had been unable to answer before.

   Fort William and Mary, later called Fort Constitution, was on Newcastle Island in Portsmouth harbor.

   According to tradition in Tobias Lear’s family, “On the trip down the Piscataqua River, Washington landed for a few minutes on the opposite

bank at Kittery, or rather Kittery Point, Maine, and made a short call on the Reverend Dr. Stevens, the pastor of the old Kittery Church. The President landed on the old stone dock.” Rev. Dr. Benjamin Stevens (1720–1791) had been pastor of the First Church in Kittery, Maine, since 1751. His daughter Sally was married to Rev. Joseph Buckminster whose church GW had attended on 1 Nov. GW’s first attempt at deep-sea fishing was apparently even less successful than he intimates. One of the two cod “was hooked by a fisherman named Zebulon Willey, who was trying his luck in a neighboring boat. Getting a bite, he handed his line to the President, who landed the fish and rewarded Zebulon with a silver dollar. When returning to town, the President saw an old acquaintance. This was Captain John Blunt, the helmsman of the boat during the famous crossing of the Delaware” (DECATURStephen Decatur, Jr. Private Affairs of George Washington: From the Records and Accounts of Tobias Lear, Esquire, his Secretary. Boston, 1933., 84; DEXTERFranklin Bowditch Dexter, ed. Extracts from the Itineraries and other Miscellanies of Ezra Stiles, D.D., LL.D., 1755–1794, with a Selection from His Correspondence. New Haven, 1916., 562).

   These addresses and replies are in DLC:GW.

Tuesday 3d. Sat two hours in the forenoon for a Mr.  Painter of Boston, at the Request of Mr. Brick of that place; who wrote Majr. Jackson that it was an earnest desire of many of the Inhabitants of that Town that he might be endulged. After this setting I called upon President Sullivan, and the Mother of Mr. Lear and having walked through most parts of the Town, returned by 12 Oclock when I was visited by a Clergyman of the name of Haven, who presented me with an Ear, and part of the stalk of the dying Corn, and several small pieces of Cloth which had been died with it, equal to any colours I had ever seen & of various colours. This Corn was blood red & the rind of the stalk deeply tinged of the same colour. About 2 Oclock I recd. an Address from the Executive of the State of New Hampshire; and in half an hour after dined with them and a large Company at their Assembly room which is one of the best I have seen any where in the United States. At half after Seven I went to the Assembly where there were about 75 well dressed, and many of them very handsome Ladies—among whom (as was also the case at the Salem & Boston Assemblies) were a greater proportion with much blacker hair than are usually seen in the Southern States. About 9 I returned to my Quarters. Portsmouth it is said contains abt. 5000 Inhabitants. There are some good houses (among wch. Colo. Langdons may be esteemed the first) but in general they are indifferent; and almost entirely of wood. On wondering at this, as the Country is full of Stone and good Clay for Bricks I was told that on acct. of the fogs and damps they deemed them wholesomer and for that reason prefered wood buildings. Lumber—Fish and Pot ash with some Provisions compose the principal Articles of Export. Ship building here & at Newbury Port has been carried on to a considerable extent. During & for sometime after the War

there was an entire stagnation to it; but it is beginning now to revive again. The number of Ships belonging to the Port are estimated at .

   Samuel Breck, a Boston merchant, was interested in various manufacturing concerns in the city including the Boston Duck Manufactory and the Boston Glass House. See also entry for 27 Oct. 1789.

   According to Portsmouth tradition, GW visited Sullivan and the New Hampshire council at the William Pitt Hotel on Pitt Street, kept since 1770 by John Stavers. Mrs. Mary Lear, the widow of Capt. Tobias Lear, lived on Hunking Street in Portsmouth with her daughter and son-in-law Samuel Storer, a Portsmouth merchant.

   Rev. Dr. Samuel Haven (1727–1806), a native of Framingham, Mass., and a Harvard graduate, had come to Portsmouth in 1752 to become the vigorous and popular pastor of South Congregational Church. During the Revolution he had operated a small saltpeter works in Portsmouth “using earth which he dug from under the meetinghouse,” and was noted for the support he extended out of his own meager salary to the victims of the war in the area (SIBLEYJ. L. Sibley et al. Sibley’s Harvard Graduates: Biographical Sketches of Those Who Attended Harvard College. 18 vols. to date. Boston, 1873–., 12:382–92; BREWSTERCharles W. Brewster. Rambles about Portsmouth. Vol. 1. 1873. Reprint. Somersworth, N.H., 1971., 1st ser., 96, 322–26).

   Letter book copies of an address of welcome from the New Hampshire council, signed by John Sullivan on 3 Nov., and GW’s reply are in DLC:GW.

   After visiting New Hampshire, GW had apparently originally intended to continue into Vermont and return to New York City by way of Albany. However, on 3 Nov. a heavy fall of snow blanketed Albany and the surrounding area and GW decided to return to the capital by the most direct route (Gaz. of the U.S., 11 Nov. 1789; Pa. Packet, 20 Nov. 1789; WEBB [2]Worthington Chauncey Ford, ed. Correspondence and Journals of Samuel Blachley Webb. 3 vols. New York, 1893–94., 3:144).

Wednesday 4th. About half after seven I left Portsmouth, quietly & without any attendance, having earnestly entreated that all parade & ceremony might be avoided on my return. Before ten I reached Exeter 14 Miles distance. This is considered as the 2d. Town in New-Hampshire and stands at the head of the tide water of Piscataqua River but Ships of 3 or 400 Tonns are built at it. Above (but in the Town) are considerable Falls which supply several Grist Mills—2 Oyl Mills A Slitting Mill and Snuff Mill. It is a place of some consequence but does not contain more than 1000 Inhabitants. A jealousy subsists between this Town (where the Legislature alternately sits) and Portsmouth, which, had I known it in time, would have made it necessary to have accepted an Invitation to a Public dinner, but my arrangements having been otherwise made I could not. From hence passing through Kingstown (6 Miles from Exeter) I arrived at Haverhill about half past two & stayed all Night. Walked through the Town which stands at the head of the Tide of Merrimack River and in a beautiful part of the Country. The Lands over which I travelled to day are pretty much mixed in places with Stone And the growth

with Pines—till I came near to Haverhill where they disappeared, & the land had a more fertile appearance. The whole were pretty well cultivated but used (principally) for Grass and Indian Corn. In Haverhill is a Duck Manufactury upon a small but ingenious scale under the conduct of Colo. . At this Manufactury one small person turns a Wheel which employs 8 Spinners, each acting independently of each other so as to occasion no interruption to the rest if any one of them is stopped—Whereas at the Boston Manufactury of this Article, each Spinner has a small girl to turn the Wheel. The Looms are also somewhat differently constructed from those of the common kind, and upon an improved plan. The Inhabitts. of this small Village were well disposed to welcome me to it by every demonstration which could evince their joy.

   The Sailcloth Manufactory at Haverhill, under the supervision of Samuel Blodgett, began operation in 1789. By 1790 flax for sailcloth was being processed by “a multiple spinning-machine, operated by power, containing 4 heads of 8 spindles each.” As in the case of other New England duck manufactories, the Haverhill establishment prospered as long as state bounties were available. After their expiration around 1795, production gradually declined (CLARK [4]Victor S. Clark. History of Manufactures in the United States. 3 vols. New York, 1929., 1:425, 531).

   GW lodged at Harrod’s tavern in Haverhill (Fitzpatrick, DiariesJohn C. Fitzpatrick, ed. The Diaries of George Washington, 1748–1799. 4 vols. Boston and New York, 1925., 4:46, n.1).

Thursday 5th. About Sun rise I set out, crossing the Merimack River at the Town over to the Township of Bradford and in nine Miles came to Abbots Tavern in Andover where we breakfasted, and met with much attention from Mr. Philips President of the Senate of Massachusetts, who accompanied us thro’ Bellarika [Billerica] to Lexington, where I dined, and viewed the Spot on which the first blood was spilt in the dispute with great Britain on the 19th. of April 1775. Here I parted with Mr. Philips, and proceeded on to Watertown, intending (as I was disappointed by the Weather & bad Roads from travvelling through the Interior Country to Charlestown on Connecticut River) to take what is called the Middle Road from Boston. The Country from Haverhill to Andover is good, and well cultivated. In and about the latter (which stands high) it is beautiful. A Mile or two from it you descend into a pine level pretty Sandy, and mixed with Swamps; through which you ride several Miles till you begin to ascend the heights on which the Town of Bellarika stands, which is also pleasantly situated 10 Miles from Andover. From hence to Lexington—8 Miles and thence to Watertown 8 More the Country is very pleasant, and the roads in general good. We lodged in this

place at the House of a Widow Coolidge near the Bridge, and a very indifferent one it is.

   Abbot’s Tavern, at 70 Elm Street in Andover, was established by Isaac Abbot in 1776. Samuel Phillips (1752–1802), of Andover, Mass., a Harvard graduate, had served intermittently in the Massachusetts legislature since 1775. During the Revolution he had operated a powder mill at Andover, which was still in operation in 1789, and was also involved in the manufacture of paper. In 1778, in cooperation with his uncle John Phillips, he was a founder of what was later to become the Phillips Andover Academy. He served as president of the Massachusetts Senate 1775–1802 and as lieutenant governor of the state in 1802 (SIBLEYJ. L. Sibley et al. Sibley’s Harvard Graduates: Biographical Sketches of Those Who Attended Harvard College. 18 vols. to date. Boston, 1873–., 17:593–605).

   This tavern was kept by the widow of Nathaniel Coolidge (Fitzpatrick, DiariesJohn C. Fitzpatrick, ed. The Diaries of George Washington, 1748–1799. 4 vols. Boston and New York, 1925., 4:48).

Friday 6th. A little after Seven oclock, under great appearances of Rain or Snow, we left Watertown, and Passing through Needham (five Miles therefrom) breakfasted at Sherburn which is 14 Miles from the former. Then passing through Holliston 5 Miles, Milford 6 More, Menden 4 More, and Uxbridge 6 More, we lodged at one Tafts 1 Miles further; the whole distance of this days travel being 36 Miles. From Watertown till you get near Needham, the Road is very level—about Needham it is hilly—then level again, and the whole pleasant and well cultivated ’till you pass Sherburn; between this and Holliston is some Hilly & Rocky ground as there is in places, onwards to Uxbridge; some of

wch. are very bad; Upon the whole it may be called an indifferent Rd.—deversified by good & bad land—cultivated and in woods—some high and Barren and others low, wet and Piney. Grass and Indian Corn is the chief produce of the Farms. Rye composes a part of the culture of them, but wheat is not grown on Acct. of the blight. The Roads in every part of this State are amazingly crooked, to suit the convenience of every Mans fields; & the directions you receive from the People equally blind & ignorant; for instead of going to Watertown from Lexington, if we had proceeded to Waltham we should in 13 Miles have saved at least Six; the distance from Lexington to Waltham being only 5 Miles and the Road from Watertown to Sherburn going within less than two miles of the latter (i.e. Waltham). The Clouds of the Morning vanished before the Meridian Sun, and the Afternoon was bright and pleasant. The House in Uxbridge had a good external appearance (for a Tavern) but the owner of it being from home, and the wife sick, we could not gain admittance which was the reason of my coming on to Tafts; where, though the people were obliging, the entertainment was not very inviting.

   GW apparently found these accommodations adequate. On 8 Nov. he wrote Samuel Taft: “Being informed that you have given my name to one of your Sons, and called another after Mrs. Washington’s family. And being moreover very much pleased with the modest and innocent looks of your two daughters Patty and Polly I do, for these reasons, send each of these Girls a piece of chintz. And to Patty, who bears the name of Mrs. Washington, and who waited more upon us than Polly did, I send five guineas, with which she may buy herself any little ornaments she may want, or she may dispose of them in any other manner more agreeable to herself. As I do not give these things with a view to have it talked of, or even to its being known, the less there is said about the matter the better you will please me; but that I may be sure the chintz and money have got safe to hand, let Patty, who I dare say is equal to it, write me a line informing me thereof directed to ‘The President of the United States at New York’” (DLC:GW). Patty, whose given name was Mercy rather than Martha, acknowledged the gifts in a letter to GW, 28 Dec. 1789 (DLC:GW).

Saturday 7th. Left Tafts before Sunrise, and passing through Douglas wood breakfasted at one Jacobs in Thompson 12 Miles’ distant—not a good House. Bated the Horses in Pomfret at Colo. Grosveners, distant 11 Miles from Jacobs and Lodged at Squire Perkins in Ashford (called 10 Miles, but must be 12). The first Stage with a small exception is intolerable bad Road, & a poor and uncultivated Country covered chiefly with woods—the largest of Which is called Douglass, at the foot of which on the East side

is a large Pond. Jacobs’s, is in the State of Connecticut, and here the Lands are better, and more highly improved. From hence to Pomfret there is some woods & indifferent Land, but in General it is tolerably good and the Farms look well. In and abt. Pomfret they are fine, and from thence to Ashford not bad; but very hilly and much mixed with Rock Stone. Knowing that General Putnam lived in the Township of Pomfret, I had hopes of seeing him and it was one of my inducements for coming this Road; but on enquiry in the Town I found that he lived 5 Miles out of my road, and that without deranging my plan & delaying my journey, I could not do it.

   This tavern, just off the main road between Hartford and Boston, was kept by John Jacobs (CROFUTFlorence S. Marcy Crofut. Guide to the History and the Historic Sites of Connecticut. 2 vols. New Haven, 1937., 2:863).

   Thomas Grosvenor (1744–1825), a Pomfret, Conn., attorney, had graduated from Yale in 1765 and practiced law until 1775 when he joined the 3d Connecticut Regiment as a second lieutenant. He ended the war as lieutenant colonel commandant of the 1st Connecticut Regiment.

   This tavern was kept by Isaac Perkins (CROFUTFlorence S. Marcy Crofut. Guide to the History and the Historic Sites of Connecticut. 2 vols. New Haven, 1937., 1:65, 2:792).

   Israel Putnam (1718–1790), one of the most colorful of Revolutionary War generals, was born in Salem Village (Danvers), Mass., but moved to Brooklyn, Conn., as a young man. Putnam served in the French and Indian War. In 1775 he was appointed major general in the Continental Army where he was an active and popular but controversial soldier, his habit of independent action proving an irritant to GW on more than one occasion. A paralytic stroke in 1779 had forced his retirement to his Connecticut home. Putnam’s farm, which he had purchased from Gov. Jonathan Belcher, was about a mile from present-day Pomfret, Conn. In 1767 after his marriage to Deborah Lothrop Avery Gardiner, he moved to her home in present-day Brooklyn where the Putnams operated a tavern which became a favorite meeting place for Patriots. After Putnam moved to Brooklyn, his farm was occupied by Israel Putnam, Jr., but the elder Putnam had purchased the adjoining farm and it is likely he was living here, rather than in his Brooklyn house, when GW visited the area in 1789 (CROFUTFlorence S. Marcy Crofut. Guide to the History and the Historic Sites of Connecticut. 2 vols. New Haven, 1937., 2:834).

Sunday 8th. It being contrary to Law & disagreeable to the People of this State (Connecticut) to travel on the Sabbath day and my horses after passing through such intolerable Roads wanting rest, I stayed at Perkins’s Tavern (which by the bye is not a good one) all day—and a meeting House being with in a few rod of the Door, I attended Morning & evening Service, and heard very lame discourses from a Mr. Pond.

   GW correctly interpreted New England attitudes toward travel on the Sabbath. The Pennsylvania Packet, 3 Nov. 1789, noted with approval that Tristram Dalton and John Adams, on their way to Boston, broke their journey at Springfield in order not to travel on Sunday. “How pleasing the

idea, that the most venerable and respectable characters of our Federal Legislature, pay such strict attention to the Sabbath.” See also Mass. Centinel, 24 Oct. 1789.

   Rev. Enoch Pond (1756–1807) had been ordained only the year before (CROFUTFlorence S. Marcy Crofut. Guide to the History and the Historic Sites of Connecticut. 2 vols. New Haven, 1937., 2:827).

Monday 9th. Set out about 7 Oclock and for the first 24 Miles had hilly, rocky and disagreeable Roads. The remaining 10 was level and good, but in places Sandy. Arrived at Hartford a little before four. We passed through Mansfield (which is a very hilly Country and the Township in which they make the greatest qty. of Silk of any in the State) and breakfasted at one Brighams in Coventry. Stopped at Woodbridges in Et. Hartford where the level land is entered upon & from whence through East Hartford the Country is pleasant, and the Land in places very good—in others Sandy and Weak. I find by Conversing with the Farmers along this Road that a medium Crop of Wheat to the Acre is about 15 bushels—of Corn 20—of Oats the same—and in their strong & fresh Lands they get as much Wheat as they can Rye to the Acre—but in worn, or Sandy Land the latter yields most. They go more however upon grasing than either; & consequently Beef Butter & Cheese—with Porke are the articles which they carry to Market.

   Presumably Gershom Brigham, who had been licensed in 1778 to keep a tavern in Coventry, Conn. (CROFUTFlorence S. Marcy Crofut. Guide to the History and the Historic Sites of Connecticut. 2 vols. New Haven, 1937., 2:792).

   Deodatus and Esther Woodbridge kept a tavern at present-day Manchester Green in Hartford County (CROFUTFlorence S. Marcy Crofut. Guide to the History and the Historic Sites of Connecticut. 2 vols. New Haven, 1937., 1:299).

Tuesday 10th. Left Hartford about 7 Oclock & took the Middle Road (instead of the one through Middleton which I went). Breakfasted at Worthington in the Township of Berlin, at the House of one Fuller. Bated at Smiths on the plains of Wallingford 13 Miles from Fullers, which is the distance Fullers is from Hartford—and got into New Haven which is 13 Miles more, about half an hour before Sun-down. At this place I met Mr. Gerry in the Stage from New York who gave me the first certn. acct. of the health of Mrs. Washington.

   The Fuller with whom GW breakfasted is probably Ephraim Fuller, listed in the 1790 census as a resident of Berlin (HEADS OF FAMILIES, CONN.Heads of Families at the First Census of the United States Taken in the Year 1790: Connecticut. 1908. Reprint. Spartanburg, S.C., 1964., 34).

   Elbridge Gerry, United States congressman from Massachusetts, was probably on his way to his home, Elmwood, in Cambridge, where he had lived since 1787.

Wednesday 11th. Set out about Sunrise, and took the upper Road to Milford, it being shorter than the lower one through West haven. Breakfasted at the former—Bated at Fairfield and dined and lodged at a Majr. Marvins 9 Miles further; which is not a good House, though the People of it were disposed to do all they cou’d to accomodate me.

   Ozias Marvin’s tavern was located “on the Westport-Norwalk road, at the intersection of the King’s Highway with the turnpike. Washington is said to have eaten only bread and milk” (CROFUTFlorence S. Marcy Crofut. Guide to the History and the Historic Sites of Connecticut. 2 vols. New Haven, 1937., 1:162).

Thursday 12th. A little before Sunrise we left Marvins and breakfasting at Stamford 13 Miles distant, reached the Widow Havilands 12 Miles further; where, on acct. of some lame horses, we remained all Night. The badness of these Rds. having been described as I went, I shall say nothing of them now.

Friday 13th. Left Mrs. Havilands as soon as we could see the Road and breakfasted at Hoyets Tavern this side Kings-bridge and between two and three Oclock arrived at my House at New York where I found Mrs. Washington and the rest of the family all well. And its being Mrs. Washington’s Night to receive visits a pretty large Company of Ladies and Gentlemen were present.

Saturday 14th. At home all day—except taking a Walk round the Battery in the Afternoon.
At 4 Oclock received and answered an Address from the President & Corporation of Dartmouth College and about Noon sundry visits.

Sunday 15th. Went to St. Pauls Chapel in the forenoon and after returning from thence was visited by Majr. Butler Majr. Meridith and Mr. Smith So. Cara. Received an Invitation to attend the Funeral of Mrs. Roosevelt (the wife of a Senator of this State) but declined complying with it—first because the propriety of accepting any invitation of this sort appeared very questionable and secondly (though to do it in this instance might not be improper) because it might be difficult to discriminate in cases wch. might thereafter happen.

   Pierce Butler (1744–1822), United States senator from South Carolina, was a native of Ireland and came to America in the early 1770s as a major in the British army. After holding various posts under the state government, he was elected to the Continental Congress in 1787 and represented South

Carolina at the Federal Convention. He was elected to the Senate as a Federalist in 1789 and served until 1796.

   Samuel Meredith (1741–1817), of Philadelphia, was an active Patriot before the Revolution and served in the Pennsylvania militia until 1778 when he resigned to resume his career in business and politics. In 1788 he was appointed surveyor of the Port of Philadelphia, and in Mar. 1789, anticipating GW’s election, he wrote him requesting an appointment in the “Impost Department” (Meredith to GW, 23 Feb. 1789, DLC:GW). GW replied 5 Mar. stating that if he assumed the presidency, he had resolved “to go into it, perfectly free from all engagements of every nature whatsoever. A conduct, in conformity to this resolution, would enable me in ballancing the various pretentions of different Candidates for appointments, to act with a sole reference to justice and the public good. This is, in substance, the answer that I have given to all applications (and they are not few) which have already been made” (DLC:GW). See also entry for 20 June 1787.

   William Loughton Smith (1758–1812), congressman from South Carolina, had studied at the Middle Temple and also at Geneva. Before the Revolution he practiced law in Charleston and was elected to the state legislature. In 1789 he was elected as a Federalist to Congress where he served until 1797, rapidly becoming one of the administration’s most reliable supporters, especially in financial matters.

   Isaac Roosevelt’s wife was Cornelia Hoffman Roosevelt (1734–1789), daughter of Martinus Hoffman of Dutchess County, N.Y.

Monday 16th. The Commissioners, who had returned from the proposed Treaty with the Creek Indians before me, to this City dined with me to day, as did their Secretary Colo. Franks and young Mr. Lincoln who accompanied them.

   During the summer of 1789 an increasing stream of reports came from state officials and frontier settlers telling of Indian attacks by war parties from southern tribes, particularly urged on by the Creek chief Alexander McGillivray. The administration in Aug. 1789 appointed Benjamin Lincoln, Cyrus Griffin, and David Humphreys United States commissioners to open negotiations with the southern tribes on behalf of the government and “establish peace between the State of Georgia and the Creeks” (ASP, Indian Affairs,Walter Lowrie et al., eds. American State Papers. Documents, Legislative and Executive, of the Congress of the United States. 38 vols. Washington, D.C., Gales and Seaton, 1832–61. 1:65–68). The commissioners arrived in Savannah 10 Sept. and conducted negotiations with state officials and Indian leaders over the next three weeks. By 10 Nov. they were back in New York. On 17 and 20 Nov. they reported to Knox that the Creek were determined not to make a treaty; however, as McGillivray and the other Creek chiefs “have given strong assurances in their talks, and by writing, that no further hostilities or depredations shall be committed on the part of their nation; and as the Governor of Georgia . . . will prevent the commission of hostilities and depredations upon the Creek nation, on the part of Georgia, the commissioners, in the best of their judgment, report, that all animosities with the Creek nation should henceforth cease.” In obedience to their instructions, however, they included detailed information on the Creek country and plans for “offensive and defensive measures” in case hostilities should break out (ASP, Indian Affairs,Walter Lowrie et al., eds. American State Papers. Documents, Legislative and Executive, of the Congress of the United States. 38 vols. Washington, D.C., Gales and Seaton, 1832–61. 1:78). The reports and the commissioners’ journal containing their correspondence with Creek leaders and Georgia officials are in ASP, Indian Affairs,Walter Lowrie et al., eds. American State Papers. Documents, Legislative and Executive, of the Congress of the United States. 38 vols. Washington, D.C., Gales and Seaton, 1832–61. 1:68–80.

   mr. lincoln: probably Abner Lincoln, Benjamin Lincoln’s son-in-law (Mattern, Benjamin LincolnDavid B. Mattern. Benjamin Lincoln and the American Revolution. Columbia, S.C., 1995., 190).

   David Salisbury Franks (c.1740–1793), son of John Franks, a prominent Jewish merchant of Philadelphia, served as aide-de-camp to Benedict Arnold 1778–80, with the rank of major, but was acquitted of complicity in Arnold’s treason. In 1781 he was designated an official courier by Robert Morris to carry dispatches to John Jay in Spain and served as vice-consul at Marseilles from 1784 to 1787. In 1789 he asked GW to appoint him to a foreign diplomatic post, preferably that of consul general in France, but instead received the minor appointment of secretary to the commissioners (Franks to GW, 12 May, 11 June 1789, DLC:GW; STRAUSOscar S. Straus. “New Light on the Career of Colonel David S. Franks.” Publications of the American Jewish Historical Society 10 (1902): 101–8., 101–8). After his return from the mission to the Creek, he served as assistant cashier of the Bank of the United States. He died of yellow fever during the 1793 epidemic in Philadelphia (see also WOLFEdwin Wolf II and Maxwell Whiteman. The History of the Jews of Philadelphia from Colonial Times to the Age of Jackson. Philadelphia, 1957., 158–64).

Tuesday 17th. The Visitors at the Levee to day, were numerous.

Wednesday 18th. Took a walk in the forenoon, & called upon Mr. Jay on business but he was not within. On my return paid Mr. Vaughan Senr. a visit—informal.
Sent a Commission as District Judge of So. Carolina to the Honble. William Drayton of that State.

   Samuel Vaughan (1720–1802), formerly a London merchant, had been living in Philadelphia since 1783 where, with his son John, he was conducting the family’s mercantile business and was extensively involved in elaborate plans for the planting of trees and shrubs in the city. He was particularly noted for his role in ornamenting the State House Yard. Vaughan had recently corresponded with GW concerning the possibility of a federal appointment for his son Samuel Vaughan, Jr. (GW to Vaughan, 21 Mar. 1789, Vaughan to GW, 28 May 1789, DLC:GW; STETSON [3]Sarah P. Stetson. “The Philadelphia Sojourn of Samuel Vaughan.” Pennsylvania Magazine of History and Biography, 73 (1949), 459-74., 459–74).

Thursday 19th. The following Company dined here today—viz.—Mrs. Adams (Lady to the Vice President) Colo. Smith & Lady & Miss Smith Mrs. Adams’s Niece—Govr. Clinton and Lady & Miss Cornelia Clinton and Majr. Butlar, his Lady and two Daughters.

   Gov. George Clinton’s wife, whom he had married in 1770, was Cornelia Tappen Clinton, a connection of the prominent Wynkoop family of Ulster County, N.Y.

   Pierce Butler’s wife was Mary Middleton Butler, daughter of Thomas Middleton of Prince William’s Parish, S.C.

Friday 20th. The Visitors of Gentn. and Ladies to Mrs. Washington this evening were numerous & respectable.

Saturday 21st. Received in the Afternoon the Report from the Commissioners appointed to Treat with the Southern Indians. Gave it one reading & shall bestow another and more attentive one on it.

   See entry for 16 Nov. 1789.

Sunday 22d. Went to St. Pauls Chappel in the forenoon—heard a charity Sermon for the benefit of the Orphans School of this City.
Had a good deal of conversation in the Evening with the above Commissioners on the more minute part of their transactions at the Treaty with the Creek Indians and their opinion with respect to the real views of Mr. McGillivry—The principles of whose conduct they think is self-Interest, and a dependence for support on Spain. They think also, that having possessed himself of the outlines of the terms he could Treat with the United States upon, he wished to Postpone the Treaty to see if he could not obtain better from Spain. They think that, though he does not want abilities, he has credit to the full extent of them and that he is but a short sighted politicion. He acknowledges however, that an Alliance between the Creek Nation & the United States is the most Natural one, & what they ought to prefer if to be obtained on equal terms. A Free port in the latter seems to be a favourite object with him.

   This benefit was conducted to aid the Charity School operated by Trinity Church. The school consisted of “eighty-six scholars, viz. fifty-six boys and thirty girls. The children are instructed in the principles of the Christian Religion and in Psalmody; they constantly attend divine service at church on week days as well as on Sundays and the greatest attention is paid to their morals. . . . The school is regularly visited the first Monday in every month, and the children carefully examined by a committee of the Corporation of Trinity Church.” The sermon was preached by Rev. Dr. Benjamin Moore, and £80 8s. 10d. was collected for the Charity School (N.Y. Daily Advertiser, 16 and 23 Nov. 1789).

Monday 23d. Rid five or Six miles between Breakfast & dinner. Called upon Mr. Vanberkel & Mrs. Adams.

   Franco Petrus Van Berckel had succeeded his father as minister to the United States from the Netherlands in Aug. 1788 and presented his credentials in May 1789 (Van Berckel to Jay, 11 May 1789, letter of credence, 1 Aug. 1788, DNA:PCC, Item 126). He was generally popular in New York, although Sen. William Maclay termed him “gaudy as a peacock” (MACLAYCharles A. Beard, ed. The Journal of William Maclay: United States Senator from Pennsylvania, 1789–1791. 1927. Reprint. New York, 1965., 41).

Tuesday 24th. A good deal of Company at the Levee to day. Went to the Play in the Evening. Sent Tickets to the following Ladies and Gentlemn. & invited them to Seats in my Box viz.—Mrs. Adams (Lady of the Vice-President) Genl. Schuyler & Lady, Mr. King & Lady, Majr. Butler and Lady, Colo. Hamilton & Lady Mrs. Green—all of whom accepted and came except Mrs. Butler who was indisposed.

   The play GW attended was a performance of a comedy The Toy; or a Trip to Hampton Court which, with several shorter pieces, was performed by the Old American Company at the John Street Theatre (FORD [5]Paul Leicester Ford. Washington and The Theatre. New York, 1899., 37–38). The Gazette of the United States noted that “On the appearance of The President, the audience rose, and received him with the warmest acclamations” (28 Nov. 1789).

   Philip Schuyler was now United States senator from New York. In 1755 he had married Catherine Van Rensselaer (1734–1803), daughter of John Van Rensselaer of Claverack. Their second daughter, Elizabeth Schuyler (1757–1854), had married Alexander Hamilton in 1780.

   Rufus King (1755–1827) had graduated from Harvard in 1777, studied law with Theophilus Parsons in Newburyport, Mass., and served in the Massachusetts General Court 1783–85. As a delegate to the Constitutional Convention and the Massachusetts Ratifying Convention he provided invaluable support in securing the adoption of the Constitution in Massachusetts. He was elected United States senator to the First Congress. In 1786 King had married Mary Alsop (c.1770–1819), daughter of John Alsop, a prominent New York merchant.

Wednesday 25th. Exercised on Horse-back between Breakfast & dinner—in which returning I called upon Mr. Jay and Genl. Knox on business and made informal visits to the Govr., Mr. Izard, Genl. Schuyler, and Mrs. Dalton. The following Company dined with me. viz.
Doctr. Johnson & Lady and daughter (Mrs. Neely)—Mr. Izard & Lady & Son—Mr. Smith (So. Carolina) & Lady—Mr. Kean & Lady and the Chief Justice Mr. Jay.
After which I went with Mrs. Washington to the Dancing Assembly at which I stayed until 10 Ock.

   mrs. neely: William Samuel Johnson’s eldest daughter Charity Johnson (d. 1810) had married Rev. Ebenezer Kneeland of Stratford, Conn. (GROCEGeorge C. Groce, Jr. William Samuel Johnson: A Maker of the Constitution. New York, 1937., 39).

   In 1767 Sen. Ralph Izard had married Alice Delancey (1745–1832) of New York. The son who accompanied them today was Henry Izard (1771–1826), George Izard (1776–1828), or, less likely, their youngest son, four-year-old Ralph Izard (1785–1824). Also in the party was the Izard’s second daughter Charlotte Izard (1770–1792), who had married Sen. William Loughton Smith in 1786 (ROGERSGeorge C. Rogers, Jr. Evolution of a Federalist: William Loughton Smith of Charleston (1758–1812). Columbia, S.C., 1962. [1], 404).

   John Kean (1756–1795), of South Carolina, had served in the Continental Congress 1785–87, and in Aug. 1789 GW appointed him one of the commissioners for settling accounts between the United States and the individual states (EXECUTIVE JOURNALJournal of the Executive Proceedings of the Senate of the United States of America: From the commencement of the First, to the termination of the Nineteenth Congress. Vol. 1. Washington, D.C., 1828., 1:17). He married Susan Livingston (d. 1833), a niece of New Jersey Governor William Livingston, in 1786.

Thursday 26th. Being the day appointed for a thanksgiving I went to St. Pauls Chapel though it was most inclement and stormy—but few people at Church.

   On 25 Sept. 1789 the House of Representatives resolved that the president should recommend a day of thanksgiving and prayer to the people of the

United States acknowledging divine favor and especially the “opportunity peaceably to establish a Constitution of government for their safety and happiness.” The Senate concurred on 26 Sept. (DE PAUWLinda Grant De Pauw et al., eds. Documentary History of the First Federal Congress of the United States of America, March 4, 1789-March 3, 1791. 20 vols. to date. Baltimore, 1972–., 3:226; Annals of CongressJoseph Gales, Sr., comp. The Debates and Proceedings in the Congress of the United States; with an Appendix, Containing Important State Papers and Public Documents, and All the Laws of a Public Nature. 42 vols. Washington, D.C., 1834–56., 1st Cong., 1st sess., 92). The wording of the resolution did not escape comment. Rep. Aedanus Burke of South Carolina objected to the “mimicking of European customs.” Thomas Tudor Tucker, of South Carolina, felt that Congress had no right to ask for a day of thanksgiving. Citizens “may not be inclined to return thanks for a Constitution until they have experienced that it promotes their safety and happiness. We do not yet know but they may have reason to be dissatisfied with the effects it has already produced; but whether this be so or not, it is a business with which Congress have nothing to do. . . . If a day of thanksgiving must take place, let it be done by the authority of the several States; they know best what reason their constituents have to be pleased with the establishment of this Constitution” (Annals of CongressJoseph Gales, Sr., comp. The Debates and Proceedings in the Congress of the United States; with an Appendix, Containing Important State Papers and Public Documents, and All the Laws of a Public Nature. 42 vols. Washington, D.C., 1834–56., 1st Cong., 1st sess., 949–50). GW issued the proclamation on 3 Oct., assigning 26 Nov. as the first Thanksgiving Day under the Constitution (DLC:GW). In celebration of the day the president contributed £7 10s. 4d. for “provisions & beer” to prisoners confined for debt in the New York City jail (DECATURStephen Decatur, Jr. Private Affairs of George Washington: From the Records and Accounts of Tobias Lear, Esquire, his Secretary. Boston, 1933., 91; N.Y. Journal, 3 Dec. 1789).

Friday 27th. Not many Visitors this evening to Mrs. Washington.

Saturday 28th. Exercised on Horseback.

Sunday 29th. Went to St. Pauls Chapel in the forenoon.

Monday 30th. Went to the Play in the Evening and presented Tickets to the following persons—viz.—Doctr. Johnson and Lady—Mr. Dalton & Lady—The Chief Justice of the United States and Lady—Secretary of War & Lady—Baron de Steuben and Mrs. Green.

   On 30 Nov. 1789 the Old American Company gave a benefit performance of Cymon and Sylvia, an “Opera or Dramatic Romance,” at the John Street Theatre (FORD [5]Paul Leicester Ford. Washington and The Theatre. New York, 1899., 40–43). GW noted in his letter of invitation to the Jays that “this is the last night the President proposes visiting the theatre for the season” (NNC: Jay Papers). Sarah Livingston Jay, the lovely and vivacious daughter of Gov. William Livingston of New Jersey, had become one of New York’s leading hostesses while her husband was secretary for foreign affairs during the Confederation. Lucy Flucker Knox was the daughter of Thomas Flucker, who had been royal secretary of the Province of Massachusetts Bay. Mrs. Knox’s social ambitions were occasionally noted derisively by her contemporaries (see Jefferson’s “Anas,” BERGHAlbert Ellery Bergh, ed. The Writings of Thomas Jefferson. Memorial Ed. 20 vols. Washington, D.C., 1903–4., 1:357). Abigail Adams Smith wrote her mother, 15 June 1788, that Mrs. Knox is “neat in her dress, attentive to her family, and very fond of her children. But her size is enormous; I am frightened when I look at her” (GRISWOLDRufus Wilmot Griswold. The Republican Court or American Society in the Days of Washington. New York, 1855., 95).


Title: [Diary entry: 1 December 1789]
From: Washington, George
To:

Tuesday Decr. 1st. A pretty full Levee to day—among the Visitors was the Vice President and all the Senators in Town. Exercised on Horseback betwn. 10 and 12. Read the Papers relative to our Affairs with the Emperer of Morocco and sent them to Mr. Jay to prepare answers to them.


Title: [Diary entry: 2 December 1789]
From: Washington, George
To:

Wednesday 2d. Exercised in the Post Chaise with Mrs. Washington. Visited on our return the Vice-President and family. Afterwards walked to Mr. Kings—Neither he nor his Lady were at home; or to be seen.


Title: [Diary entry: 3 December 1789]
From: Washington, George
To:

 Thursday 3d. The following Gentlemen & Ladies dined here—viz.—Genl. Schuyler, his Lady & daughter (Mrs. Ranselaer)—Mr. Dalton and his Lady, the Secretary of the Treasury & his Lady—Genl. Knox and Lady & Mrs. Green—Baron de Steuben, Colo. Osgood (Postmaster Genl.) & the Treasurer Majr. Meridith.


Title: [Diary entry: 5 December 1789]
From: Washington, George
To:

Saturday 5th. Exercised on Horseback between 10 and 12 oclock. The Vice President & Lady and two Sons—Colo. Smith & Lady & his Sister, & Mrs. Adam’s Niece dined here.


Title: [Diary entry: 7 December 1789]
From: Washington, George
To:

Monday 7th. Walked round the Battery in the afternoon.


Title: [Diary entry: 8 December 1789]
From: Washington, George
To:

Tuesday 8th. Finished my Extracts from the Commissioners Report of their proceedings at the Treaty with the Creek Indians and from many other Papers respecting Indian matters and the Western Territory. A full Levee today.


Title: [Diary entry: 9 December 1789]
From: Washington, George
To:

Wednesday 9th. Walked round the Battery.


Title: [Diary entry: 10 December 1789]
From: Washington, George
To:

Thursday 10th. Exercised on Horseback—between 10 and 12 Oclock. The following Company dined here to day—viz.—Mrs. King and Mrs. Few—Mr. & Mrs. Harrison—Mr. & Mrs. Wolcot—Mr. Duer, his Lady and Miss Brown—Mr. Griffin & Lady and Lady Christiana and her daughter.


Title: [Diary entry: 12 December 1789]
From: Washington, George
To:

Saturday 12th. Exercised in the Coach with Mrs. Washington and the two Children (Master & Miss Custis) between Breakfast & Dinner—went the 14 Miles round.


Title: [Diary entry: 14 December 1789]
From: Washington, George
To:

Monday 14th. Walked round the Battery in the afternoon.


Title: [Diary entry: 16 December 1789]
From: Washington, George
To:

Wednesday 16th. Dined with Mrs. Washington and all the family (except the two Children) at Governor Clintons—where also dined the Vice-President, his Lady Colo. & Mrs. Smith—The Mayor (Colo. Varick) and his Lady and old Mr. Van Berkel and his Daughter.


Title: [Diary entry: 17 December 1789]
From: Washington, George
To:

Thursday 17th. The following Company dined here—viz.—The Chief Justice of the U. States and his Lady; Mr. King, Colo. and Mrs. Lawrence—Mr. Gerry, Mr. Egbert Benson, Bishop Provost and Doctr. Lynn & his Lady.


Title: [Diary entry: 18 December 1789]
From: Washington, George
To:

Friday 18th. Read over, and digested my thoughts upon the subject of a National Militia, from the Plans of the Militia of Europe—those of the Secretary at War & the Baron de Steuben.


Title: [Diary entry: 20 December 1789]
From: Washington, George
To:

Sunday 20th. Went to St. Pauls Chapel in the forenoon.


Title: [Diary entry: 21 December 1789]
From: Washington, George
To:

Monday 21st. Framed the above thoughts on the subject of a National Militia into the form of a Letter and sent it to the Secretary for the Department of War. Sat from ten to one Oclock for a Mr. Savage to draw my Portrait for the University of Cambridge in the State of Massachusetts at the request of the President and Governors of the said University.


Title: [Diary entry: 23 December 1789]
From: Washington, George
To:

Wednesday 23d. Exercised in the Post-Chaise with Mrs. Washington to day. Sent the dispatches which came to me from the Assembly of Virginia and from the Representatives of several Counties therein respecting the State of the Frontiers and depredations of the Indians to the Secretary for the Department of War requesting his attendance tomorrow at 9 Oclock that I might converse more fully with him on the subject of these communications.


Title: [Diary entry: 24 December 1789]
From: Washington, George
To:

Thursday 24th. The Secretary at War coming according to appointment, he was instructed, after conversing fully on the matter, what answers to return to the Executive of Virginia and to the Representatives of the Frontier Counties.


Title: [Diary entry: 25 December 1789]
From: Washington, George
To:

Friday 25th. Christmas day. Went to St. Pauls Chapel in the forenoon. The Visitors to Mrs. Washington this afternoon were not numerous but respectable.


Title: [Diary entry: 26 December 1789]
From: Washington, George
To:

Saturday 26th. Exercised on Horseback in the forenoon. Chief Justice Morris and the Mayor (Colo. Varick) and their Ladies, Judge Hobart, Colo. Cole, Majr. Gilman, Mrs. Brown, Secretary Otis, & Mr. Beckley dined here.


Title: [Diary entry: 30 December 1789]
From: Washington, George
To:

Wednesday 30th. Exercised in a Carriage.


Title: [Diary entry: 31 December 1789]
From: Washington, George
To:

Thursday 31st. Bad weather and close House. The Vice Presidt. & Lady, Colo. Smith & Lady Chanr. Livingston Lady & Sister—Baron Steuben Messrs. White, Gerry Patridge & Tucker of the Ho. of Representatives—dined here today.


Title: [Diary entry: 1 January 1790]
From: Washington, George
To:

Friday first. The Vice-President, the Governor—the Senators, Members of the House of Representatives in Town—Foreign public characters and all the respectable Citizens came between the hours of 12 & 3 Oclock to pay the complimts. of the Season to me—and in the Afternoon a great number of Gentlemen & Ladies visited Mrs. Washington on the same occasion.


Title: [Diary entry: 3 January 1790]
From: Washington, George
To:

Sunday 3d. Went to St. Pauls Chapel.


Title: [Diary entry: 4 January 1790]
From: Washington, George
To:

Monday 4th. Informed the President of the Senate, and Speaker the Ho. of Representatives that I had some Oral communications

to make to Congress when each House had a Quoram, and desired to be informed thereof—and of the time & place they would receive them. Walked round the Battery in the afternoon. Received a Report from the Secretary at War respecting the State of the Frontiers and Indian Affairs, with other matters which I ordered to be laid before Congress as part of the Papers which will be referred to in my Speech to that body.


Title: [Diary entry: 6 January 1790]
From: Washington, George
To:

Wednesday 6th. Sat from half after 8 oclock till 10 for the Portrait Painter, Mr. Savage, to finish the Picture of me which he had begun for the University of Cambridge. In the Afternoon walked round the Battery. Miss Anne Brown stayed here on a visit to Mrs. Washington to a family dinner.


Title: [Diary entry: 7 January 1790]
From: Washington, George
To:

Thursday 7th. About One Oclock recd. a Committee from both Houses of Congress informing me that each had made a House and would be ready at any time I should appoint to receive the Communications I had to make in the Senate Chamber. Named to morrow 11 oclock for this purpose. The following Gentlemen dined here—viz.—Messrs. Langdon, Wingate, Strong and Few of the Senate—The Speaker, Genl. Muhlenberg and Scott of Pensylvania—Judge Livermore and

Foster of New Hampshire—Aimes & Thatcher & Goodhue of Massachusetts Mr. Burke of So. Carolina & Mr. Baldwin of Georgia.


Title: [Diary entry: 8 January 1790]
From: Washington, George
To:

Friday 8th. According to appointment, at 11 Oclock I set out for the City Hall in my Coach—preceeded by Colonel Humphreys and Majr. Jackson in Uniform (on my two White Horses) & followed by Mesr. Lear & Nelson in my Chariot & Mr. Lewis on Horse back following them. In their rear was the Chief Justice of the United States & Secretaries of the Treasury and War Departments in their respective Carriages and in the order they are named. At the outer door of the Hall I was met by the Doorkeepers of the Senate and House and conducted to the Door of the Senate Chamber; and passing from thence to the Chair through the Senate on the right, & House of representatives on the left, I took my Seat. The Gentlemen who attended me followed & took their stand behind the Senators; the whole rising as I entered. After being seated, at which time the members of both Houses also sat, I rose (as they also did) and made my Speech; delivering one Copy to the President of the Senate & another to the Speaker of the House of Representatives—after which, and being a few moments seated, I retired, bowing on each side to the Assembly (who stood) as I passed, and dessending to the lower Hall attended as before, I returned with them to my House. In the Evening, a great number of Ladies, and many Gentlemen visited Mrs. Washington. On this occasion I was dressed in a suit of Clothes made at the Woolen Manufactury at Hartford as the Buttons also were.


Title: [Diary entry: 9 January 1790]
From: Washington, George
To:

Saturday 9th. Exercised with Mrs. Washington and the Children in the Coach the 14 Miles round. In the Afternoon walked round the Battery.


Title: [Diary entry: 10 January 1790]
From: Washington, George
To:

Sunday 10th. Went to St. Pauls Chapel in the forenoon. Wrote private letters in the Afternoon for the Southern Mail.


Title: [Diary entry: 11 January 1790]
From: Washington, George
To:

Monday 11th. Sent my Instructions to the Commissioners (appointed to Negotiate a Treaty with the Creek Indians) with the report of their proceedings, to the Senate by the Secretary at War previous to their being laid before them and the other House in their Legislative Capacities. Also communicated to both Houses, transcripts of the adoption & ratification of the New Constitution by the State of No. Carolina with Copies of the Letter from His Excellency Saml. Johnson President of the Convention, enclosing the same. These were sent by my private Secretary Mr. Lear.


Title: [Diary entry: 12 January 1790]
From: Washington, George
To:

Tuesday 12th. Exercised on Horse-back between 10 and 12, the riding bad. Previous to this, I sent written Messages to both Houses of Congress informing them, that the Secretary at War would lay before them a full & complete Statement of the business as it respected the Negotiation with the Creek Indians—My Instructions to, and the Commissioners report of their proceedings with those People. The letters and other papers respecting depredations on the Western Frontiers of Virginia, & District of Kentucky All of which was for their full information, but communicated in confidence & under injunction that no Copies be taken, or communications made of such parts as ought to be kept secret. About two Oclock a Committee of the Senate waited on me with a copy of their Address, in answr. to my Speech, and requesting

to know at what time and place it should be presented I named my own House, and thursday next at 11 Oclock for the purpose. Just before Levee hour a Committee from the House of Representatives called upon me to know when & where they shd. deliver their Address. I named Twelve oclock on thursday, but finding it was there wish that it should be presented at the Federal hall, and offering to surrender the Representatives Chamber for this purpose by retiring into one of the Committee Rooms & there waiting untill I was ready to receive it I would consider on the place, and let them know my determination before the Houses should sit tomorrow. A respectable, though not a full Levee to day.


Title: [Diary entry: 14 January 1790]
From: Washington, George
To:

Thursday 14th. At the hours appointed, the Senate & House of representatives presented their respective Addresses—The Members of both coming in Carriages and the latter with the Mace preceeding the Speaker. The Address of the Senate was presented by the Vice-President and that of the House by the Speaker thereof. The following Gentlemen dined here to day. viz. Messrs. Henry & Maclay of the Senate and Messrs. Wadsworth, Trumbull, Floyd, Boudinot, Wynkoop, Seney, Page, Lee, & Mathews of the House of Representatives and Mr. John Trumbull.


Title: [Diary entry: 15 January 1790]
From: Washington, George
To:

Friday 15th. Snowing all day—but few Ladies and Gentlemen as visitors this Evening to Mrs. Washington.


Title: [Diary entry: 16 January 1790]
From: Washington, George
To:

Saturday 16th. Exercised in the Coach with Mrs. Washington & the two Children abt. 12 Oclock. Sent the Report of the Post Master Genl. relative to the necessary changes in that Office to the Secretary of the Treasury that it may be laid before Congress—or such parts thereof as may be necessary for their Information.


Title: [Diary entry: 17 January 1790]
From: Washington, George
To:

Sunday 17th. At home all day—not well.


Title: [Diary entry: 18 January 1790]
From: Washington, George
To:

Monday 18th. Still indisposed with an Aching tooth, and swelled and inflamed Gum.


Title: [Diary entry: 19 January 1790]
From: Washington, George
To:

Tuesday 19th. Not much company at the Levee to day—but the Visitors were respectable.


Title: [Diary entry: 21 January 1790]
From: Washington, George
To:

Thursday 21st. The above report was accordingly transmitted to both houses of Congress by the Secretary at War in a written message from me. The following Gentlemen dined here—viz.—Messrs. Elsworth, Patterson, Elmer Bassett and Hawkins of the Senate and Messrs. Sherman, Cadwalader, Clymer, Hartley, Heister, Smith (Maryland) & Jackson of the House of Representatives and Major Meridith, Treasurer of the United States.


Title: [Diary entry: 22 January 1790]
From: Washington, George
To:

Friday 22d. Exercised on Horse back in the forenoon. Called in my ride on the Baron de Polnitz, to see the operation of his (Winlaws) threshing Machine. The effect was—the Heads of the Wheat being seperated from the Straw, as much of the first was run through the Mill in 15 minutes as made half a bushel of clean Wheat. Allowing 8 working hours in the 24. this would yield 16 Bushels pr. day. Two boys are sufficient to turn the Wheel, feed the Mill, and remove the Threshed grain after it has passed through it. Two men were unable, by winnowing to clean the wheat as it passed through the Mill, but a common dutch fan with the usual attendance would be more than sufficient to do it. The grain passes through without bruising and is well seperated from the Chaff. Womn. or boys of 12 or 14 years of age are fully adequate to the management of the Mill or threshing Machine. Upon the whole it appears to be an easier, more expeditious and much cleaner way of getting out Grain than by the usual mode of threshing; and vastly to be preferred to treading, which is hurtful to horses, filthy to the Wheat, & not more expeditious, considering the numbers that are employed in the process from the time the bed is begun to be formed until the grain has passed finally thro’ the Fan. Many, and respectable visitors to Mrs. Washington this Evening.


Title: [Diary entry: 24 January 1790]
From: Washington, George
To:

Sunday 24th. Went to St. Pauls Chapel in the forenoon. Writing private letters in the afternoon.


Title: [Diary entry: 26 January 1790]
From: Washington, George
To:

Tuesday 26th. Exercised on Horse back in the forenoon. The Visitors at the Levee to day were numerous and respectable—among whom was the Vice-President and the Speaker of the House of Representatives. Read a letter handed to me by the Secretary of War, from a Colo. Danl. Smith of Miro Settlement in the State of No. Carolina in reply to one which was an answer to a letter recd. from the said Smith respecting Indian Affairs & State of the Frontier of that part of the Union and giving (as he was required to do) an Acct. of the Navigation of the river Tennessee & its waters—the Communications betwn. these & other Waters and the distances of places—as follow—viz. The distance between the Settlements of white People South of the French Broad River (French broad is a branch of Holstein River, on the South Side, which is a branch of the Tennessee) and the Indians at and in the vicinity of Chota (a Cherokee Indian Town) is about 12 Miles. He never passed down the Tennessee himself. That part of it

on which Chota stands, is a South Fork of the Holstein. Their Junction is about 20 Miles below Chota from which the whole River is called the Tennessee. Boats of 7 or 8 tons burthen have frequently gone down the Holstein & the water is sufficient for those of greater burthen; but there is a place call’d the Suck, or boiling pot, where the River runs through the Cumberland Mountain that is somewhat difficult, occasioned by the narrowness of the water & suddeness of the turn that causes a rebound & kind of Whirl-pool, but many boats have passed it and he has not heard of damage to any of them nor has he been informed that there is any material difficulty in the Navigation more than is common in Rivers of that size where there is no tide. Between the Suck, and the Muscle Shoals he is sure there is not. Supposes the distance by Water from Chota to the last mentioned place is between 3 & 400 Miles. The width of the river is very unequal—generally about 500 yards except at the Suck where it is not half that width. The Nature of the River, for the most part, is to have a bluff on one side and low grounds on the other (wch. is liable to be overflowed) alternately; the Banks are woody, and the low grounds thick with Cane. The Cherokees may be classed into 3 divisions—The Valley settlements on the Tennessee above Chota, Eastward of the Iron Mountain—Those in the Neighbourhood of Chota and those in the neighbourhood of Chickamogga (which is a Creek running into the Tennessee on the South side a few Miles above Suck). They have detached villages besides—but the number of their Towns is unknown to him—nor can he say what number of Souls they may consist of but supposes of Warriors, there may be about 2000 or 2500 and of the three divisions the Chickamaggas are perhaps the most numerous. Muscle Shoals, have different accts. given of them by people who have passed them. Some say they are 30 Miles, others not 15 in length—but all agree that the river there is about three Miles in width—very shallow and full of small Islands occasioned by drift wood lodging on the Rocks by wch. means Mud & Sand are accumulated. The lowest Shoal is accounted rather the worst. It is not possible for a large Boat to pass them in ascending the river at any Season, nor can they pass down them but in time of a flood. Occhappo creek he had never heard of—nor has he understd. there was any Creek on the South side of the River near the Muscle Shoals that was navigable unless when the river was high.

Seven or 8 Miles below the Muscle Shoals, there was formerly a Cherokee Village at the Mouth of Cold water Creek but he never heard that it was Navigable. 15 or 20 Miles below this again is Bear Crk. on which a small tribe of Delawares live. From the mouth of Cold Water Creek, or Bear Creek, to the highest Navigation of the Mobile he has heard it accounted 60 Miles but cannot say that it is so. The head waters of the Mobile may be about half that distance from the Tennessee. Miro, is the name of the District on Cumberland that includes three Counties—Nashville the name of the Town where the Superior Court is held. From hence to the lower end of the Muscle Shoals is about 150 miles nearly South. Duck river, a North branch of the Tennessee, where the path which leads from Nashville to the Chickasaw Nation crosses it is about 60 Miles from the Cumberland Settlemts.—About a South West course. About 100 miles further on the same direction is the nearest Chickasaw Towns. The Mouth of Duck River by water, he supposes may be near 200 miles below the Muscle shoals. Cumberland Settlements are not very compact. They extend from the mouth of red River a No. branch of Cumberland River up to Bledsoes Creek being abt. 80 or 90 Miles. The strength of the Militia about 800 & increasing fast thinks they may be now, by the late emigrations 1000. From Nashville to Lexington is, about 200, or 210 Miles by Land and from Nashville to the Falls of Ohio is abt. 140 Miles by Land. From the Mouth of the Tennessee up to the Muscle Shoals the Navigation is good—equal to that of the Ohio below the Falls—the width of the River near half a Mile, in places almost double—the distance about 400 Miles. Chickasaws have no towns on the Tennessee. The nighest they have to it is about 60 Miles from, or a little below Bear Creek. Their principal towns he has understood are on the heads of a Fork of the Mobile and on the head of the Yazoos. The number of their Warriors is about 800. Choctaws lye farther to the Southward than the Chickasaws & are a numerous Nation. They are in alliance with the Chicasaws and he has heard their numbers estimated at 7 or 8000—at least equal to those of the Creeks—tho’ not so well armed. McGillivrays communications with the Cherokees he conceives has a constant tendency to excite them to War against the Frontiers of Georgia & No. Carolina—or at least cautioning them to be on their guard against the White People, & infusing suspicions

into the minds of them. The Creeks have wanted them to join in a War against the White People but they have refused and would be glad to see them humbled for the Insolence with which they treat them. It will be highly pleasing to his Settlement—Miro—to hear that Congress will protect it.


Title: [Diary entry: 27 January 1790]
From: Washington, George
To:

Wednesday 27th. Did business with the Secretaries of the Treasury & War—With the first respecting the appointment of Superintendants of the Light Houses, Buoys &ca. and for building one at Cape Henry—With the latter for nominating persons (named in a list submitted to me) for paying the Military Pensionrs. of the United States and the policy and advantages (which might be derived from the measure) of bringing Mr. Alexr. McGillivray Chief of the Creek Nation here being submitted to

me for consideration I requested that a plan might be reported by which Governmt. might not appear to be the Agent in it, or suffer in its dignity if the attempt to get him here should not succeed.


Title: [Diary entry: 28 January 1790]
From: Washington, George
To:

Thursday 28th. Sent a letter (with an Act of the Legislature of the State of Rhode Island, for calling a Convention of that State to decide on the Constitution of the Union) from Governor Collins, to both Houses of Congress—to do which, was requested by the Act, of the President. The following Gentlemen dined here—viz.—The Vice President the Secretary of the Treasury—Messrs. Schuyler, Morris, Izard Dalton and Butler of the Senate; and Messrs. Smith, (So. Carolina) Stone, Schureman Fitzimmons, Sedgwick, Huger and Madison of the House of Representatives.


Title: [Diary entry: 30 January 1790]
From: Washington, George
To:

Saturday 30. Exercised with Mrs. Washington and the children in the coach, in the forenoon. Walked round the Battery in the Afternoon.


Title: [Diary entry: 31 January 1790]
From: Washington, George
To:

Sunday 31st. Went to St. Pauls Chapel in the forenoon. Mr. Wilson, one of the Associate Judges of the Supreme Court paid his respects to me after I returned from Church. Spent the Afternoon in writing Letters to Mount Vernon.