Title: To George Washington from William Pearce, 27 August 1797
From: Pearce, William
To: Washington, George

Sir
Hopewell Kent County [Md.] Augt 27th 1797

I have Receved your Letter of the 14th Instant—and I shall always be happy To have It in my Power to Serve you; but as yet, I have not been so fortunate as to Git an overseer for you, for those

who would answer your purpose are so very high In thare demands In wages that they are far above what you are willing to Give, for the Lowest that I Can Git one who could be depended on for is £85 this currency & pay the expen[c]e of his Moveing down, which appears to be quite onreasonable, but the high price of Grain some time past has made every one set a high price on their Service of what ever kind, It may be I could have got some to have come for what you are willing to Give, or Less but these were men who I could not safely recommend and I would not Git you one unless it Is one of a well established Charactor, and one who could be fully Relied on, But I will still be on the Look out and if I can meet with one that I think will fully answer your purpose I will agree with him conditionaly and give you notice thereof Imedately.
You mention that You have thoughts of puting Union & Dogue Run farms, under one overseer; A very active Industrous man might manage them Both tollarable well But still I beleive an Industrous man on each Farm would more than save the wages of one overseer provided they both did thare duty. For as you observe The Negroes will slight & Neglect thair work unless they are closely attended to.
I am sorry to hear you have sustained Injury by the wet weather, we had a Long Rainey spell here which will make our crops of corn Tollarable good In General.
Since I wrote to you Last—I am told that I can get Rye In Queen ans County which is the next adjoining County to where I Live; But they ask a Dollar pr Bushel for It—I have the promise of Rye Grass Seed which I will send down the first opportunity I am Glad you got the Little I sent Last spring It was all I could git then It will help to put you In seed, and I think It will answear to sow your fields at the Mansion house very well for Grass—I am glad to Hear your Self Mrs Washington & Family are well.
I have Reason to hope I am Giting something better For the pain & soreness In my Breast, Is not so bad as it has been Heretofore. My family are as well as usual. I am with the Greatest Respect Sir your Humble Servt

William Pearce


Title: To George Washington from James Craik, 28 August 1797
From: Craik, James
To: Washington, George

Dear Sir
Augt 28th 1797

Your favour of the 26th Instant was handed me by Mr Anderson, but from the hurry of business which at that time demanded all my attention I was prevented from answering it untill now—For the Check on the Bank of Alexandria please to accept my warmest Acknowledgements the present of Turnips I receve also with Gratitude.
In regard to my Account with you I find upon examination of my Book’s that I had a Settlement with Majr George A. Washington up to the 26th September 1792 for which he had my receipt, and that the last Account which commenced 17th October 1792 remained unpaid untill the 26th Instant—This Statement I think will be found correct upon referring to the Receipt which may be had Amongst Majr Washingtons papers—Mrs Craik uniting in Respectful Complts to Mrs Washington and family I remain Dear Sir your Devoted & affte hume Sert

Jas Craik


Title: To George Washington from Alexander Hamilton, 28 August 1797
From: Hamilton, Alexander
To: Washington, George

My Dear Sir
New York Aug. 28. 1797

The receipt two days since of your letter of the 21 instant gave me sincere pleasure. The token of your regard, which it announces, is very precious to me, and will always be remembered as it ought to be.
Mrs Hamilton has lately added another boy to our Stock. She and the child are both well—She desires to be affectionately remembered to Mrs Washington & yourself.
We have nothing new here more than our papers contain; but are anxiously looking forward to a further development of the negotiations

in Europe with an ardent desire for general accommodation. It is at the same time agreeable to observe that the public mood is adopting more and more sentiments truly American and free from foreign tincture. I beg my best respects to Mrs Washington, and that you will always be assured of the most respectful & affectionate attachment of Dr Sir Yr obliged & very Obedt Servt

A. Hamilton


Title: To George Washington from Richard Parkinson, 28 August 1797
From: Parkinson, Richard
To: Washington, George

Sir
Doncaster [England] Augt 28. 1797

Having for some Time past had an Intention of going to America, which having been intimated to my good Friend Sir John Sinclair Bart, he desired me to write to you, by the first Conveyance to inform you; that he intended reccommending me to you, as an English Farmer, to take one of your Farms, on the Potomac, of which Farms he has sent me the Plans, Conditions &ca. Accordingly I take this the first Opportunity of writing to you to say, that I shall be exceeding glad to be under the Patronage of two such highly respectable Gentlemen, as Sir John & yourself, & shall be extremely so to take one of the Farms (if yet unlet) but before entering into any Agreements whatsoever, I shd wish to see them, which I think prudent, & hope you will coincide in Opinion with me; As I shd be very sorry to enter into any Agreements, which I might not be able to perform. Having a treatise on Agriculture entitled, “the experienced Farmer,” (a Proposal of which I have taken the Liberty to enclose) which I have got almost in a State of Readiness for the Press; & on Acct of other Business, which I must finish before I leave England it will be March next before I can set off for America. In my intended Work I have the Honour to be encouraged, by the first Men in Agriculture, in this Kingdom, and by the Nobility of the first Rank. The inclosed Proposal is the Heads of the Work, of which when printed Intend to take the Liberty to present you with a few Copies by different Ships, as I have been desired by my worthy Patron Sir John Sinclair.
If your Farms shd be all disposed of ’ere this reaches you, it

wd still give me the greatest pleasure to have a Situation near you, if possible—I shall conclude for the present & have Sir the Honour to be your very hble Servt

Richd Parkinson


Title: From George Washington to George Washington Parke Custis, 29 August 1797
From: Washington, George
To: Custis, George Washington Parke

Dear Washington,
Mount Vernon 29th Augt 1797

Your letter of the 21st Instt came to hand by the last Post; and, as usual, gave us pleasure to hear that you enjoyed good health; were progressing well in your Studies; and that you were in the Road to promotion.
Senior class having left, or being on the point of leaving College—some of them with great eclat—ought to prove a strong stimulus to those who remain to acquire equal reputation which is no otherwise to be done than by perseverence & close application: In neither of which I hope you will be found deficient.
Not knowing the precise time that the Vacation commences, I have put under cover with this letter to Doctr Smith, Forty dollars to defray the expences of your Journey; and both your Grandmama & myself desire, that you will not think of doing it by Water, as the passage may not only be very tedious but subject to a variety of accidents to which a journey by Land is exempt: and as the Yellow fever is announced from authority to be in Philadelphia, we enjoin it on you strictly to pursue the rout, and the directions which you may receive from the President of the College, to avoid the inconveniencies, & consequences which a different conduct might involve you & others in.
Although I persuade myself that there is no occasion for the admonition, yet, I exhort you to come with a mind stedfastly resolved to return precisely at the time allotted; that it may be guarded against those ideas and allurements, wch unbend it from study, & cause reluctance to return to it again—better remain where you are than suffer impression of this sort to be imbibed from a visit, however desirous that visit may be to you, and pleasing to your friends, who will prefer, infinitely, your permanent good, to temporary gratifications—but I shall make all fears of this sort yield to a firm persuation that every day convinces you more and

more of the propriety & necessity of devoting your youthful days in the acquirement of that knowledge which will be advantageous, grateful—and pleasing to you in maturer years; and may be the foundation of your usefulness here & happiness hereafter.
Your Grandmama (who is prevented writing to you by General Spotswood & family’s being here) has been a good deal indisposed by swelling on one side of her face, but is now much better—The rest of the family within doors, are all well; and all unite in best regards for you—with your sincere friend and Affectionate

Go: Washington


Title: From George Washington to Ludwell Lee, 29 August 1797
From: Washington, George
To: Lee, Ludwell

Dear Sir,
Mount Vernon 29th Augt 1797

General Spotswood, Mrs Miss & Captn Spotswood, and Miss Thornton of Culpeper (all relations I believe of yours) are now here. They, Mrs Washington and myself, would be glad to see you, Mrs Lee Miss Armistead & any others of your family, at Dinner tomorrow. With esteem & regard I am Dear Sir Your Obedt Hble Servt

Go: Washington


Title: Clement Biddle to GW, 30 August 1797 [letter not found]
From: Biddle, Clement
To: Washington, George

Letter not found: Clement Biddle to GW, 30 Aug. 1797. On 6 Sept. GW wrote Biddle: “Your favor of the 30th Ult. was received.”


Title: To George Washington from Benjamin Goodhue, 30 August 1797
From: Goodhue, Benjamin
To: Washington, George

My most respected and Dear Sir
Salem [Mass.]30th Augst 1797

I am fearfull you may have thought me unmindfull of my pleasing obligation to see you supply’d with Cod fish, but be assured I shall never be forgetfull of the honour and interest I feel in executing any commands you may ever impose—on my return from Congress in March I apply’d to Mr Daniel Sargent of Boston who is the most reputed person for procuring the best of fish who informed me it could not be had till about this time, and he has with the highest satifaction sent me two quintals of the first quality, which I now forward you by Capt. Silver to whom you may pay for it agreably to the enclosed bill if convenient—I enclose a recipe for Cooking it &c. agreably to your desire and hope it may answer your wishes, should the two quintals be more then you should want for a yearly supply in future you’l please to inform me—the price is like everything else at this time unusualy high tho’ the difference in quality always causes a great proportionate difference in price.
By the various accounts from Europe We have the pleasing expectation, that the mania of disorder and disorganization which has been so severe a scourge to that part of the World and exposed us to the most emminent hazzard is abating, and a dawn of right reason in France seems to manifest itself in such a manner as presages

the most happy consequences to Mankind, but from whence We can more particularly console ourselves is from a reflection that an encreasing knowledge of our true interest and an attachment to our Government is visible throughout our Country—that you may be happy enough to live to see faction and foreign influence extinct among us is the fervent prayer of him who prides himself in being ever yours with the utmost respect and affection

B. Goodhue


Title: To George Washington from Timothy Pickering, 30 August 1797
From: Pickering, Timothy
To: Washington, George

Sir,
Philadelphia Augt 30 1797

The immediate publication of Govr Blount’s letter to Carey, after the receipt of the copy sent you by Colo. Henley seemed to render of little consequence this copy, which, however, I return, agreeably to your request on its transmission.
To morrow I move my family and office to Trenton. Not that I think the danger of the contagious fever in any measure considerable: but persons are occasionally taken with it in different quarters of this city; and there is certainly some risk; and as the places of the scattered patients are now studiously concealed by their friends & the physicians, we know not where the danger lurks. Such concealments are the consequences of the forcible removals to the Hospital, which doubtless have caused the death of some that otherwise might have recovered. I have the honor to be, with great respect, Sir you most obt servt

Timothy Pickering

P.S. The proof that at present the fever has not much extended is, the small number of deaths (or rather burials) which are reported by the Clergymen & sextons—this being less, of all diseases combined, than has frequently happened in former years, when no contagious fever was known.


Title: To George Washington from Burgess Ball, Sr., 31 August 1797
From: Ball, Burgess Sr.
To: Washington, George

Dear sir,
Berkeley [County] 31st Aug: 1797

This will be handed to you by Capt. Washington. I have lately been apply’d to by Mr Chs Carter (who was a Fellow Student with my Son Burges who died with the Fever in Philadelphia) for a Ballance due him for monies paid for my Son. Since his application I’ve found a Letter of his acknowledging the rect of money from Mr Dandridge, & mentioning that “he had then paid off the last Accot.” I think in the year 94 I drew an order on you for 25 dollars. I shall be obliged to you if you’ll send me by Capt. W: the Rect, or a Memdm thereof, as I’ve reason to think the young Gent, inclines to impose upon me. I came here abt ten days ago wth my Family, in hopes to receive some benifit from the change of Air, but, I find my Health worse; and as the Weather is so dry, I’m going to try if I can get any from the Sulphur Springs. Fanny goes Home for a few days to see how things are going on there. There has been a dry spell on the Corn, and without rain very soon, the Crops will be greatly curtail’d. The Old Lady here has been very sick, but is mending a little. With best Wishes for you & yours, I am Dr sir Yr Affect. Hbe servt

B: Ball


Title: To George Washington from William Gordon, 31 August 1797
From: Gordon, William
To: Washington, George

My Dear Sir and ever-respected Friend
St Neots Hunt[ingdon]s[hire, England]Augt 31. 1797

I have enjoyed peculiar pleasure in looking over Fenno’s Gazettes from last Sepr to June 14th 1797: for I have noticed how

respectfully & cordially the several States, in their legislative bodies, cities, towns, societies, & united citizens of different denominations, have acknowledged the benefit of your presidency, during the eight years you was at the head of the American Government: & have expressed their good wishes for the remainder of your days, & your future happiness in the heavenly world.
With what heart-felt emotion should I have concurred in the Address presented you on Mar. 3d by the Clergy of the city & vicinity of Philadelphia, & have listened to your answer! Contemplate me as present, & as one of the warmest of the petitioners in imploring the divine blessing upon You in retirement, & your being finally received into happiness & glory, infinitely greater than this world through the atoning virtue of the blood of our Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ.
A particular friend to gratify his own & his wife’s affection, who was baptized by me about forty years ago, insisted upon my sitting for my likeness, at the time the honorable Mr Jay was negotiating the treaty with Great Britain. The limner executed it with so much exactness, that an engraving was concluded upon, which was so extremely good, that a great number of the prints have been disposed of. To testify my particular respects to Yourself, Dr Rodgers & Mr Hazard, I had three coloured, & forwarded the 29th of last Sepr by the Diana: & had the pleasure of hearing from the last, that what was intended for You was safely delivered by his own hand. Should have been glad to have had it confirmed n your own writing. Probably an answer to my letter of Sepr 29th has miscarried. Should You have omitted writing, I shall place it to the account of your being prevented by multiplicity of business; or having no opportunity of sending when You had leisure. The 20th of Feby I addressed my last letter to You, which went by the Wm Penn, & I conclude was received, as Mr Hazard’s by the same conveyance has been acknowledged. Shall think myself much honoured by a correspondence with You in your present retirement; & should you recollect any way in which I can be of the least service to You, shall embrace the opportunity with much pleasure.
Though absent from the United States I have the heart of an American, & scarce ever omitted in my private prayers, putting up a petition for the country & the person presiding over it, since the commencement of that period. Though the person is changed, & the petition made for another, yet the first comes into frequent remembrance. May no decays of nature cast a shade upon the lustre

of your character! Mrs Gordon joins me in most cordial prayers for the best of blessings on Yourself & Lady. Your most affectionate friend & humble servant

William Gordon

Pray my best respects to Mr & Mrs Lun. Washington, if, as I hope, still living.


Title: From George Washington to Timothy Pickering, 31 August 1797
From: Washington, George
To: Pickering, Timothy

Dear Sir,
Mount Vernon 31 Augt 1797.

The last Mail brought me your favour of the 24th instant, covering a letter from General Kosciuszko. And presuming that the Attorney General is on his way to Virginia, I hope to receive, soon, the Packets you committed to his charge. Not knowing where Genl Kosciuszko may be, I pray your care of the enclosed to him, as it is probable his movements will be known to you.
It is with extreme regret I hear of the Yellow fever being in Philadelphia; and that so many families will be incommoded by a removal from it. Will it not render the meeting of Congress at that place uncertain? I sincerely hope that you may all escape, by steering clear of the Malady. With great esteem & regard I am always Yr obedt & affecte Servt

Go: Washington

P.S. Hearing that Mr Monroe’s production is in the Press, I wd thank you for a copy so soon as it issues from thence.


Title: From George Washington to Israel Shreve, 1 September 1797
From: Washington, George
To: Shreve, Israel

Sir,
Mount Vernon 1st Sepr 1797

   Your letter of the 30th of July has been received, but not until within the last three days. Your judgment Bond was, long before, sent to Mr Ross to bring suit on. What he has done in the matter I know not.
To sue, cannot be more unpleasant and disagreeable to you, than it is to me, but as the want of money, and a punctual payment of it, were the only motives to sell my lands in the Counties of Fayette & Washington, so a disappointment in these must defeat the objects which I had in view, and has been the cause of the prosecution to which I have resorted.
You could not be unacquainted with the nature of your contract for the Land in Fayette county, nor with the tenor of your Judgment Bond, given to fulfil it: of course, you must have known the amount of the Sums as they became due ⟨and⟩ that they were to be paid at the Bank of Pennsylvania on a certain day, by Instalments—why then would you trust to others to do your business; and by sending a little money by this, and a little by that man who know not what to do with it when they got to Philadelphia, hazard the disappointments which followed? especially as that mode of payment was purposely guarded against in the contract, as one from whence I could derive no substantial benefit; whereas regular payment in the manner Colo. Richie has made them would have given me (although the land sold low) all the advantages I expected to derive from the Sale of those lands.
Not knowing what Mr Ross has done in the premises, I know not what further to say in reply to your letter. If the arrearages are paid up, with interest to the time they became due, and the instalments regularly discharged afterwards, agreeably to the conditions of your Bond, it is all I require and all I can wish; for far is it from my desire to embarrass, or injure your character by a Law Suit: but

if punctuality is not observed on your part a Suit (for the reasons I have already assigned) will be the inevitable consequence. And I do now, in explicit terms declare that it will be of no avail to say that such an one is to pay so much another so much—and so on. I shall have nothing to do with any of them; because I shall expect each years Instalment will, by the time it becomes due be deposited in the Bank of Philadelphia, & made liable to my draught. This is a very simple mode, and what I shall rigidly exact. I have no Agent in Philadelphia to whom I would give the trouble of receiving money, nor do I want partial sums lodged there. The amount of the Instalmts must be known to you, and the times of there becoming due. My appropriations will correspond therewith—nothing short of the whole sums will answer my purposes. I am Sir Your Very Hble Servt

Go: Washington


Title: From George Washington to Lawrence Augustine Washington, 3 September 1797
From: Washington, George
To: Washington, Lawrence Augustine

Dear Lawrence,
Mount Vernon 3d Sep: 1797.

Your letter of the 23d of the last, was received on the first day of the present month.
In the interesting event which you have announced, I sincerely wish you and the lady who is to be the partner of your future fortunes, all imaginable happiness. To attain which, depends very much upon the parties themselves: and from the character you have drawn of Miss Wood, and from what I have heard of it from others, I think your prospects are fair & pleasing.
If any substantial good could result from my becoming a guest at your Wedding, I would make exertions to be there; but as wedding Assemblies are better calculated for those who are coming in to than to those who are going out of life, you must accept the good wishes of your Aunt and myself in place of personal attendance, for I think it not likely that either of us will ever be more than 25 miles from Mount Vernon again, while we are inhabitants of this Terrestrial Globe.
We offer our respects to the family with whom you are going to connect yourself, and in a particular manner I desire to be presented to the old lady, Grand Mother of Miss Wood; for whom I

have and always had, a very high esteem & regard. present us also to your brother and his family. I remain Your Affectionate Uncle

Go: Washington


Title: From George Washington to Clement Biddle, 6 September 1797
From: Washington, George
To: Biddle, Clement

Dear Sir,
Mount Vernon 6th Sep. 1797

Your favor of the 30th Ult. was received by the last Post. As the Encyclopædia might be useful, to have by me (though wanting the last Volume or two) I would if the binding business goes on as usual, request Mr Dobson to have all that are published, neatly bound and sent to me, except the last vole which may be retained as a sample to bind the remainder by. I do not recollect, but suppose the receipts will show, whether he has been paid for both sets I subscribed for, or only one; be this as it may, he shall be satisfied on the delivery.
I feel very sensibly for the alarm of the Citizens of Philadelphia, and for the calamity brought on that place by the Yellow fever; and devoutly wish the speedy disappearance of it. With great esteem—I am Dr Sir Yr Obedt Servt

Go: Washington


Title: To George Washington from Rufus King, 6 September 1797
From: King, Rufus
To: Washington, George

Dear Sir,
London Sep. 6 1797

I have had the honor to receive your Letter of the 15 of June; and having a few minutes before the Mail for New York is dispatched,

I employ them in sending you inclosed the copy of a Letter that I received a few days past from our Consul at Hamburgh, which announces the approaching release of General La Fayette.
Knowing the friendship that you have uniformly had for him, and recollecting likewise that his Son is with you, I could not refuse myself the pleasure of making to you this communication. With perfect consideration & Respect I have the honor to be Dear Sir Your ob: & faithful Servt

Rufus King


Title: From George Washington to William Pearce, 6 September 1797
From: Washington, George
To: Pearce, William

[Mount Vernon, 6 September 1797]

. . . but as the Season is now far advanced, and you have hitherto been unsuccessful, and the wages of those you think good, are besides high; I shall, rather than run a risk of doing worse, engage Cask [Cash], who seems to be a sober, active & obliging man, for the coming year, which will complete my wants. . . .


Title: To George Washington from Tobias Lear, 8 September 1797
From: Lear, Tobias
To: Washington, George

My dear Sir,
Washington, September 8th 1797

Since I had the pleasure to see you last I have contemplated very fully the subject of renting your River Farm, provided you should be disposed to let it upon the terms which I understood you had offered it to a person who was speaking to you on the subject some time ago, which, if I mistake not, was for 1200 bushl Wheat the first year—15 or 1600 the second year and 1800 for the succeeding years of the term—and provided also that you consider me, in this business, as you would any person who was a total stranger to you, and let no motives of friendship influence to an indulgence which would not be granted to an indifferent person.
I have made up my mind and am making my arrangements to take up my residence at the Walnut-tree farm this fall, and with a full idea of pursuing the business of a farmer to the best advantage I can, and at the same time to have my charming boys under my own eye and direction as to their Studies, until they may be fit to be placed at a College or public seminary.
Thus situated I think I can, with the habits of industry which I possess—and the knowledge (tho’ small) which I have of farming, carry on the cultivation of your River farm in the way you have pointed out in your proposals for renting. Another inducement which I have for this is, that I may have useful employment for those Negroes who are in Berkley—and will come into my hands

at Christmas—and for some superfluous ones which I now have on the Walnut tree farm.
Such Horses, Stock & Utensils as are necessary for the farm and now upon it I would take in the way that you mentioned you was willing to let them go with the place, vizt at a valuation, giving security for the amot to be repaid at the expiration of the lease, and interest annually.
I have not been able to go up the Country This week as I intended; for it is necessary there should be a meeting of the Board of Directors of the Potomac Company in a few days, as they did not make a Board on tuesday last at the falls, and I must put off my journey till after that time. In the meanwhile, if I can be favoured with your answer to this before I go up to the Country, I shall be governed by it in any arrangement I may make with respect to the Negroes when I am there. I have had several applications for the land in Berkley; but none for the Negroes. An answer by the Monday’s mail will be in time.
Frederick had engaged some part of the Rye which he was to have procured for you; but the persons who were to furnish it were very willing to be off as they could obtain something more than he had engaged to give—he was to give 4/9—and 5/ is now given; he has therefore let them off.
On the subject of this letter I trust you will give me your ideas with all that frankness which it would require had the proposal been made by a stranger. With every sentiment of the most respectful & affectionate attachment I have the honor to be, My dear Sir, your obliged & faithful friend

Tobias Lear


Title: From George Washington to Henry Lee, Jr., 8 September 1797
From: Washington, George
To: Lee, Henry Jr.

Dear Sir,
Mount Vernon 8th Septr 1797

Your favour of the 27th Ult. with its enclosures, came safe to hand.
When the negociable note for $1000 is paid, and the 30 barrels of Corn are received, the amount of both will be carried to your credit.
I am told that the present price of Wheat in Alexandria is 8/ but I can fix no price now for what may be delivered 2, 3, 4 or even 6 months hence, or, perhaps, not at all (if you depend upon purchasing) in case of a rise, when there is no obligation to deliver any specific quantity, or at any specified time. All I can say on this subject is, that if you have Wheat of your own to dispose of, or can purchase & deliver it at my Mill, where, with my convenience of Boats & hands, it can be done as expeditiously as at Alexandria—I will allow, at the times of delivery, the full price that is given in cash at the latter place—more I cannot, less I do not wish to do; as the price of my flour must be regulated by the cost of the Wheat.
You cannot, I presume, be at a loss for the statement of the acct between us, when you will recollect that $6.666 37/100 was, by agreement, with interest on the whole sum of $20,000 to have been paid me on the first day of december last; and that on the 27th of Feby following, you paid me Seven hundred dollars in cash, & gave me Read & Fords obligation to transfer 70 shares (a month after) in the Bank of Columbia; the value of which you estimated at 40 dollars each, when they were actually selling at that moment in the market, at, or near, 18 prCt under par; by which I actually received no more than about $2300 in lieu of $2800; besides loosing a months interest on the last mentioned sum, for which my receipt was passed.
As the payments here mentioned are all I have received, except go Barrels of Corn delivered the  day of last month at 21/8, I presume the object of your request must be to know in what light I view the payment of the 70 shares. I shall therefore frankly declare,

that if a disinterested judge is to be found, who will say that I ought, under the circumstances which prevailed at the time, to loose the difference between the nominal and real price of the shares, I will never utter another word upon the subject: if there is not, or if there are no other circumstances of which I am ignorant, I conceive you yourself will not think it reasonable, or just, that I should loose near $500 in the payment of $2800 when my sole motive for receiving those shares at all, was (inconveniently for myself) to accomodate you.
You say, you informed me at the time, that the stock was a little under par—& as you have said so, I will admit it; though my hurried situation at that time leaves no trace thereof on my memory; while there are several facts which cannot have escaped yours: namely—that more than once (without urging it ardently) I informed you that I was in want of money to clear me out of Philadelphia, properly; (and was obliged, at last, to leave the City without providing many articles of which my family stood in need); that I had declined receiving [James] Wilsons notes when they were proposed, because I could not depend upon converting them into cash; that the offer of Columbia stock, was late & unexpected—of course, seeing no other prospect of obtaining any part of the Instalment, I took them as an accomodation to you; for it will not be denied that, if I had been disposed to appropriate money to this use, I could, & would have been my own caterer, as I was coming to the City myself; that under these circumstances, hurried & perplexed (at the close of the Session) as I then was, with Executive & Legislative business, & with the necessary attention to the change wch was about to take place in my private concerns, afforded no leisure to enquire into the value of Columbia Bank stock, even if I had attended to your information concerning it, and I should from a cursory enquiry only have been struck with no other idea than what occurs continually at the Bank of Alexandria—viz.—that just before a dividend, the stock is a little above, and just after, a little below its nominal value.
I have expressed myself thus, because it comports with my ideas of truth, Justice & propriety; but I mean to enter into no contention, or dispute on the subject, being with very great esteem & regard Dear Sir Your Most Obedient and Affectionate Hble Servt

Go: Washington


Title: To George Washington from Timothy Pickering, 8 September 1797
From: Pickering, Timothy
To: Washington, George

Sir,
Trenton [N.J.] Sept. 8 1797.

I have removed my family & office to this place; and we are all very well.
I have received your letter inclosing $35 for the rollers of your copying press. The workman spoke of the goodness of the rollers: but I tried them and found one not sufficiently true in the turning, and made him put it in his lathe to turn it more exactly. On fixing them in the frame, I got Mr Taylor to make an experiment of their operation, which appeared to be good, producing a fair impression. There were not springs enough to bring the rollers near enough together for your press-board. This I did not know till they were ready to be shipped: and I supposed you had spare springs by you; & if not, that any smith could make them. I have found in the use of the copying press that it was necessary to have the rollers exactly parallel, and that the press-board should be entered at right angles with the rollers. If any difficulty should be found in using yours, and you will be pleased to let me know it, I will give any further explanation which may be needful.
Your letter to General Kosciusko I sent to Philadelphia with a request to the postmaster to send it to him, as he mentioned to me his intention to take up his residence in the neighbourhood of the city, for the benefit of Dr Rushs medical aid; but if the General should not be found, to return it to me. Yesterday the newspapers announced his intended visit to Genl White at New Brunswick, in this state: if he comes this way, I will ascertain whether he recd your letter.

My answer to the rude & insolent letter of the Chevalier de Yrujo, of the 11th of July being long, and a number of copies wanted, I concluded to print it, tho’ it is not to be published, unless it should be laid before Congress, and they should order it. I take the liberty to inclose one copy for your perusal, & the perusal of any of your friends; and am with great respect, Sir, your most obt servt

Timothy Pickering


Title: To George Washington from John O’Donnell, 9 September 1797
From: O’Donnell, John
To: Washington, George

Sir,
Baltimore 9 Sept. 1797.

I am duly honored with your letter of the 4[t]h inst. and should have made an earlier reply to it, had I not delayed in making such necessary inquiries, as added to my own Knowledge of Anthony Heusler, might enable me more particularly to give you the information request’d respecting him. ⟨And⟩ altho’ he has been my tenant for about 3 years, yet have I been very little indeed acquainted either with him, or his wife, or their several qualifications. However, from what I have myself seen or known of him, I beleive him sober, honest, and industrious. And from what I learn from persons of credit who are more intimately acquainted with him, I have reason to consider the man as well understanding his profession in all its various branches, of moral orderly conduct, and of as much activity as is consistent with his years.
I scarce have any recollection of his wife. From inquiry I believe her to be industrious, frugal & laborious in her own walk; but I cannot suppose her by any means competent to the duties which would be required of her in your family as an housekeeper. Mr Heusler brought a little property with him into this country. He had to pay out of it for the passages of his family, & trifling

could have been the sum afterwards remaining. Yr most obedt humble servant

John ODonnell


Title: From George Washington to Tobias Lear, 11 September 1797
From: Washington, George
To: Lear, Tobias

Dear Sir,
Mount Vernon 11th Sepr 1797.

Your letter of the 8th instant was given to me yesterday by Mr Jno. Bassett.
If you had intimated a wish to Lease my River Farm a month or

two ago, all matters might, with ease, have been arranged before this; but as I had heard nothing in that time from the English Farmer who had been in Treaty for it, I had relinquished the idea of letting it next year, & in consequence, have engaged Stuart, Sown the principal part of my Winter Grain, and made all the necessary dispositions for the ensuing Season. I do not therefore, at this moment, see how they can be dispensed with. If upon further reflection, however, on the subject, and a consultation with Mr Anderson, the Measure can be gone into without involving difficulties which cannot be easily surmounted, you shall hear further from me on this subject, and learn more minutely the details of my Plan, and the conditions on which the Farm will be let; for these will be specific, and exacted from the Tenant whomsoever he may be.
If that Farm is not Rented next year, there is nearly a moral certainty (if I am alive) it will be so the year after: My object being, to reduce my income to a certainty; and to get relieved in my latter years (if I have any to pass) of the trouble & perplexities incident to such an estate as mine is, from the constitution of it.
Although nothing (except the Rent pr acre) is definitively fixed in my own mind relative to the precise terms on which I propose to lease my Farms, yet, to give you a more comprehensive view of my ideas in this respect, I enclose you a printed advertisement of them; published near two years since—my thoughts upon the subject at that period—and Mr Anderson’s sketch of a lease when application was made for River Farm by the Person before alluded to; that you may gather, from thence, the outlines of my views, and intention; but more particularly, that you might not be under a mistake with regard to the Fisheries (which have always been considered as distinct objects, although they might be united in the same lease)—the slipes of old field without the present fences—and the Woodland; not an acre of which will be suffered to be cleared for the purpose of cultivation—nor a stick carried off the premises for any purpose whatsoever; nor used thereon except in the manner, and for the purposes which are mentioned in one or more of the enclosed Papers.
After perusing the manuscript ones, I beg they may be returned by the Post, as I have no copy of either. With great esteem & regard I am—Dear Sir Your Affectionate Ser⟨vt⟩

Go: Washington


Title: To George Washington from John Searson, 13 September 1797
From: Searson, John
To: Washington, George

Sir
New York 13th Sepr 1797

I lately had the Honor of Receiving your Condescending favour of the 20th ult. for which you have my most sincere and Grateful thanks. I wrote some time in the Receiver General’s office in Philadelphia. But the Books for nine years past being Unposted & Regulated, Caus’d some Altercation between the Keeper of the office and the State, had to resign it for want of proper Encouragement. I left Philada 15 days ago, to Evade the Infections, & now prevalent fever of that City. And tho’ I formerly liv’d here for some years tutor in one of the first familys, find my self a Stranger by long absence, and the Vicissitudes of Human affairs. And as some of my Poems remain on hand the subscribers leaving town I waited on the Honorable John Jay the Governor here, who receiv’d me graciously and very Humanely gave me two Dollars for one Bound & letterd on the back. Agreeable to your kind order, (before I left town) I Call’d at Colonel Biddle’s and left a Poem bound, with his young man (himself not being within) who gave me a Dollar for it and for which I most humbly thank you.
A Clergyman of my Acquaintance in this City of the Church of England, told me the other day, Governor Jay would be the most likely Person to promote me to some Genteel office. I have Indeed some good recommendations both from Ireland and Philada and also Some Genteel Acquaintance and friends Here. Yet Could I have the Honor of a few Lines from your Humane Disposition to Govr Jay I flatter my self Success would Attend it.
This City is exceedingly healthy at Present, but a general Complaint of the decrease of Business owing to the ruin of Trade by the French Capturing our Ships. But in Philada the sight was shocking

to see so many thousands leaving the City, and great part of the City shut up, dreading the fatality of 1793—Pardon most Honorable sir my freedom, And be assured I am with the most Profound Respect & unfeigned Gratitude Your Honors most devoted & Obedt Hble servt

John Searson

A line would find me, to Care of Mr Hugh Gain printer Hanover Square New York.


Title: To George Washington from John Marshall, 15 September 1797
From: Marshall, John
To: Washington, George

Dear Sir
The Hague 15th Septr 1797

The flattering evidences I have receiv’d of your favorable opinion, which have made on my mind an impression only to wear out with my being, added to a conviction that you must yet feel a deep interest in all that concerns a country to whose service you have devoted so large a portion of your life, induce me to offer you such occasional communications as, while in europe I may be enabled to make, & induce a hope too that the offer will not be deemd an unacceptable or unwelcome intrusion.

Until our arrival in Holland we saw only British & neutral vessels. This added to the blockade of the dutch fleet in the Texel, of the french fleet in Brest & of the Spanish fleet in Cadiz manifests the entire dominion which one nation at present possesses over the seas. By the ships of war which met us we were three times visited & the conduct of those who came on board was such as woud proceed from general orders to pursue a system calculated to conciliate America. Whether this be occasion’d by a sense of justice & the obligations of good faith, or solely by the hope that the perfect contrast which it exhibits to the conduct of France may excite keener sensations at that conduct, its effects on our commerce are the same. The situation of Holland is truely interesting. Tho the face of the country still exhibits a degree of wealth & population perhaps unequald in any other part of Europe, its decline is visible. The great city of Amsterdam is in a state of blockade, More than two thirds of its shipping ly unemployd in port. Other sea ports suffer tho not in so great a degree. In the meantime the requisitions made upon them are enormous. They have just completed the payment of the 100,000,000 of florins (equal to 40,000,000 of dollars) stipulated by treaty; they have sunk, on the first entrance of the French, a very considerable sum in assignats; they made large contributions in specifics; & they pay feed & cloath an army estimated, as I am informd, at near three times its real number. It is supposed that France has by various means drawn from Holland about 60,000,000 of dollars. This had been paid, in addition to the national expenditures by a population of less than 2000,000. Nor, shoud the war continue, can the contributions of Holland stop here. The increasing exigences of France must inevitably increase her demands on those within her reach. Not even peace can place Holland in her former situation. Antwerp will draw from Amsterdam a large portion of that commerce which is the great source of its wealth; for Antwerp possesses, in the existing state of things, advantages which not even weight of capital can entirely surmount. The political divisions of this country & its uncertainty concerning its future destiny must also have their operation. Independent of the grand division between those for & against the stadtholder; between those who favor an indivisible & those who favor a federal republic, there is much contrariety of opinion concerning the essential principles of that indivisible consolidated republic which the influence of France imposes

on the nation. A constitution which I have not read, but which is stated to me to have containd all the great fundamentals of a representative government, & which has been prepard with infinite labor, & has experienc’d an uncommon length of discussion was rejected in the primary assemblies by a majority of nearly five to one of those who voted. The objections do not accompany the decision, but they are said to be to the duration of the constitution which was to remain five years unalterd, to the division of the legislature into two chambers, & to its power of definitive legislation. The substitute wish’d for by its opponents, is a legislature with a single branch having power only to initiate laws which are to derive their force from the sanction of the primary assemblies. I do not know how they woud organize their executive, nor is it material how they woud organize it. A constitution with such a legislature woud live too short a time to make it worth the while to examine the structure of its other parts. It is remarkable that the very men who have rejected the form of government propos’d to them have reelected a great majority of the persons who prepard it & who will probably make from it no essential departure. Those elected are now assembled in convention at this place, but we know not in what manner they are proceeding. It is also worthy of notice that more than two thirds of those intitled to suffrage including perhaps more than four fifths of the property of the nation, & who wishd, as I am told, the adoption of the constitution, withheld their votes on this very interesting question. Many were restrain’d by an unwillingness to take the oath requir’d before a vote cou’d be receiv’d; many, disgusted with the present state of things, have come to the unwise determination of revenging themselves on those whom they charge with having occasion’d it by taking no part whatever in the politics of their country, & many seem to be indifferent to every consideration not immediately connected with their particular employments.
The political opinions which have producd the rejection of the constitution, & which, as it woud seem, can only be entertaind by intemperate & ill informd minds, unaccustomd to a union of the theory & practice of liberty, must be associated with a general system which if brought into action will produce the same excesses here which have been so justly deplord in France. The same materials exist tho not in so great a degree. They have their clubs, they have a numerous poor & they have enormous wealth in the

hands of a minority of the nation. On my remarking this to a very rich & inteligent merchant of Amsterdam, & observing that if one class of men withdrew itself from public duties & offices it woud immediately be succeeded by another which woud acquire a degree of power & influence that might be exercisd to the destruction of those who had retir’d from society, he replied that the remark was just, but that they relied on France for a protection from those evils which she had herself experiencd. That france woud continue to require great supplies from Holland & knew its situation too well to permit it to become the prey of anarchy. That Holland was an artificial country acquird by persevering industry & which coud only be preservd by wealth & order. That confusion & anarchy woud banish a large portion of that wealth, woud dry up its sources & woud entirely disable them from giving France that pecuniary aid she so much needed. That under this impression very many who, tho friends to the revolution, saw with infinite mortification french troops garrison the towns of Holland, woud now see their departure with equal regret. Thus they willingly relinquish national independence for individual safety. What a lesson to those who woud admit foreign influence into the United States!
You have observd the storm which has been long gathering in Paris. The thunder bolt has at length been launch’d at the heads of the leading members of the legislature, & has, it is greatly to be feard, involv’d in one common ruin with them, the constitution & liberties of their country.
The inclosd papers will furnish some idea of a transaction which may be very interesting to America as well as to France. Complete and impartial details concerning it will not easily be obtaind as the press is no longer free. The journalists who had venturd to censure the proceedings of a majority of the directory are seiz’d, & against about forty of them a sentence of transportation is pronounced. The press is plac’d under the superintendence of a police appointed by & dependent on the executive. It is supposd that all private letters have been seiz’d for inspection.
From some Paris papers it appears that on the first alarm several members of the legislature attempted to assemble in their proper halls which they found closd & guarded by an arm’d force. Sixty or seventy assembled at another place & began to remonstrate against the violence offerd to their body, but fear soon dispersed

them. To destroy the possibility of a rallying point the municipal administrations of Paris & the central administration of the seine were immediately suspended & forbidden by an arrêté of the directoire, to assemble themselves together. Many of the administrators of the departments through France elected by the people, had been previously removd & their places filld by persons chosen by the directory. Moreau who commanded the army of the Sambre & the Meuse by which he was deservedly belovd & who was consider’d as attach’d to the fallen party was, as is reported, invited from his army to Paris under the pretext of a personal consultation. We have not heard of his arrival or of his fate. The command of his army during his absence did not, we learn, devolve on the oldest officer but was given to Genl Hoche who also commands the army of the in⟨mutilated⟩. Carnot is at one time said to have been killd in defending himself from some soldiers who pursued & attempted to take him, at another time he is said to have effected his escape. The fragment of the legislature convokd by the directory at L’odeon & L’ecole de santé, hastend to repeal the law for organizing the national guards, & authoriz’d the directory to introduce into Paris as many troops as shoud be judg’d necessary. The same day the liberty of the press was abolish’d by a line, property taken away by another & personal security destroyd by a sentence of transportation against men unheard & untried. All this is stild the triumph of liberty & of the constitution.
To give a satisfactory statement of the origin & progress of the contest between the executive & legislative departments woud require more time than coud be devoted to the subject, did I even possess the requisite information, & to you, sir, it woud be unnecessary because I have no doubt of your having receiv’d it through other channels. I shall briefly observe that the controversy has embrac’d a variety of interesting subjects. Since the election of the new third, there were found in both branches of the legislature a majority in favor of moderate measures, &, apparently, wishing sincerely for peace. They have manifested a disposition which threatend a condemnation of the conduct of the directory towards America, a scrutiny into the transactions of Italy, particularly those respecting Venice & Genoa, an enquiry into the disposition of public money & such a regular arrangement of the finances as woud prevent in future those dilapidations which are suspected to have grown out of their disorder. They have sought

too by their laws to ameliorate the situation of those whom terror had driven out of France, & of those priests who had committed no offence. Carnot & Barthelemy two of the directory were with the legislature.
The cry of a conspiracy to reestablish royalism was immediately rais’d against them. An envoy was dispatchd to the army of Italy to sound its disposition. It was represented that the legislature was hostile to the armies, that it withheld their pay & subsistence, that by its opposition to the directory it encourag’d Austria & Britain to reject the terms of peace which were offer’d by France & which but for that opposition woud have been accepted, & finally that it had engagd in a conspiracy for the destruction of the constitution & the republic & for the restoration of royalty. At a feast given to the armies of Italy to commemorate their fellow soldiers who had fallen in that country the Generals address’d to them their complaints, plainly spoke of marching to Paris to support the directory against the councils & receivd from them addresses manifesting the willingness of the soldiers to follow them. The armies also addressd the directory & each other, & addresses were dispatchd to different departments. The directory answerd them by the stronge⟨st⟩ criminations of the legislature. Similar proceedings were had in the army of the interior commanded by Genl Hoche. Detatchments were mov’d within the limits prohibited by the constitution, some of which declard they were marching to Paris “to bring the legislature to reason.” Alarmd at these movements the council of five hundred call’d on the directory for an account of them. The movement of the troops within the constitutional circle was attributed to accident & the discontents of the army to the falts committed by the legislature who were plainly criminated as conspirators against the army & the republic. This message was taken up by Trongon in the council of antients & by Thibideau in the council of five hundred. I hope you have seen their speeches. They are able, & seem to me to have entirely exculpated the legislature. In the mean time the directory employd itself in the removal of the administrators of many of the departments & cantons & replacing those whom the people had elected by others in whom it coud confide, & in the removal generally of such officers both civil & military as coud not be trusted to make room for others on whom it coud rely. The legislature on its part, passd several laws to enforce the constitutional restrictions on the armies & endeavord

to organize the national guards. On this latter subject especially Pichegru, great & virtuous I beleive in the cabinet as in the field, was indefati[ga]ble. We understand that the day before the law for their organization woud have been carried into execution the decisive blow was struck.
To support the general charge of a conspiracy in favor of royalty I know of no particular facts allegd against the arrested members except Pichegru & two or three others. An abridgement of the paper constituting the whole charge against Pichegru will be found in the enclosed supplement. I have seen the paper at full length. The story at large is still more improbable than its abridgement because Pichegru is made in the first moment of conversation to unbosom himself entirely to a perfect stranger who had only told him that he came from the Prince of Condé & coud not exhibit a single line or testimonial of any sort to prove that he had ever seen that Prince or that he was not a spy employ’d by some of the enemies of the General.
This story is repeld by Pichegru’s character which has never before been defil’d. Great as were the means he possess’d of personal aggrandizement he retir’d clean handed from the army, without adding a shilling to his private fortune. It is repel’d by his resigning the supreme command, by his numerous victories subsequent to the alledgd treason, by its own extreme absurdity & by the fear which his accusers show of bringing him to trial according to the constitution even before a tribunal they can influence & overawe, or of even permitting him to be heard before that prostrate body which is still term’d the legislature, & which in defiance of the constitution has pronounc’d judgement on him.
Yet this improbable & unsupported tale seems to be receivd as an establishd truth by those who the day before his fall bow’d to him as an idol. I am mortified as a man to learn that even his old army which conquerd under him, which adord him, which partook of his fame & had heretofore not joind their brethren in accusing the legislature, now unite in bestowing on him the heaviest execrations & do not hesitate to pronounce him a traitor of the deepest die.
Whether this conspiracy be real or not, the wounds inflicted on the constitution by the three directors seem to me to be mortal. In opposition to the express regulations of the constitution the armies have deliberated, the result of their deliberations addressd

to the directory has been favorably receiv’d, & the legislature since the revolution has superadded its thanks.
Troops have been marchd within those limits which by the constitution they are forbidden to enter but on the request of the legislature.
The directory is forbidden to arrest a member of the legislature unless in the very commission of a criminal act & then he can only be tried by the high court, on which occasion forms calculated to protect his person from violence or the prejudice of the moment are carefully prescribd. Yet it has seizd by a military force about fifty leading members not taken in a criminal act & has not pursued a single step mark’d out by the constitution.
The councils can inflict no penalty on their own members other than reprimand, arrest for eight and imprisonment for three days. Yet they have banishd to such place as the directory shall chuse a large portion of their body without the poor formality of hearing a defence.
The legislature shall not exercise any judiciary power or pass any retrospective law. Yet it has pronouncd this heavy judgement on others as well as its own members & has taken from individuals property which the law had vested in them.
The members of the directory are personally secur’d by the same rules with those of the legislature. Yet three directors have deprivd two of their places, the legislature has then banishd them without a hearing & has proceeded to fill up the alledg’d vacancies. Merlin late minister of justice & François de Neufchatel have been elected.
The constitution forbids the house of any man to be enterd in the night. The orders of the constituted authorities can only be executed in the day, Yet many of the members were seiz’d in their beds.
Indeed sir the constitution has been violated in so many instances that it woud require a pamphlet to detail them. The detail woud be unnecessary for the great principle seems to be introduc’d that the government is to be administerd according to the will of the armies & not according to the will of the nation.
Necessity, the never to be worn out apology for violence, is alledgd—but coud that necessity go further than to secure the persons of the conspirators? Did it extend to the banishment of the printers & to the slavery of the press? If such a necessity did exist

it was created by the disposition of the people at large, & it is a truth which requires no demonstration that if a republican form of government cannot be administerd by the general will, it cannot be administerd against that will by an army.
After all the result may not be what is apprehended. France possesses such enormous power, such internal energy, such a vast population that she may possibly spare another million & preserve or reacquire her liberty. Or, the form of the Government being preservd, the independence of the legislature may be gradually recoverd.
With their form of Government or revolutions we have certainly no right to intermeddle, but my regrets at the present state of things are increasd by an apprehension that the rights of our country will not be deemd so sacred under the existing system as they woud have been had the legislature preservd its legitimate authority.
Genl Pinckney (with whom I cannot but be very much pleasd) have waited impatiently for Mr Gerry & shall wait until monday the 18th inst. On that day we set out for Paris.
The negotiations with Austria & Britain are still pending & are of very uncertain issue.
This letter has extended itself to an unexpected length. I have fatigued you sir & will only add that I remain with sincere & respectful attachment Your Obedt Servt

J. Marshall

I just now learn that fifteen hundred persons have been arrested at [L]yons. That resistance is made at Avignon & that Massena is marching to quel it.


Title: From George Washington to George Pearson, 15 September 1797
From: Washington, George
To: Pearson, George

Sir,
Mount Vernon in Virginia 15th Septr 1797.

Your letter of the 12th of May has been received, but not until within these few days: to which you will please to consider the following as a reply.
Having been long in public life, and but little in this State for the last five and twenty years; and moreover, having had but very little agency in the Administration of the deceased Colo. Thomas Colvils affairs even antecedant thereto, no consideration short of being the surviving Executor of his Will and the imperious necessity occasioned thereby of bringing matters to a close, could possibly have induced me to resume any Agency therein.
Under these circumstances however, I have at all times, of late, when it was in my power, used my best endeavours to have the accounts closed, in order to ascertain the surplus which that Gentleman had bequeathed to the nearest relations of his Mother, of the names of Stott, Wills, Richardson and Catharine Smith, of Durham; or their descendants: and with much difficulty and the aid of a Gentleman (Mr Keith) well acquainted with this sort of business, have accomplished it, as you may see by having recourse to a notification in the London Gazette of December last⟨,⟩ consequent of a decree of the high Court of Chancery in this State.
The persons just named, or those claiming under them, may, perhaps, be disappointed at the smallness of the sum—viz.—nine hundred and thirty two pounds seventeen shillings an[d] seven pence three farthings, estimating dollars at Six shillings; which, upon the final settlement was found to be the surplusage of the Testators estate after his Debts & special legacies were discharged; but if they will advert to the clause of the Will under which they claim, and which was published in England many years ago, there

ought not to be any surprize, as it there appears that the Testator himself was in doubt whether there would be any overplus at all.
The reason why that sum (now actually in the Bank of Alexandria) was submitted to the decision and disposition of the Chancellor, was, because there had been so many claims exhibited; of so vague a nature; and some of them accompanied by such unjust and indecent insinuations, that I did not incline to inquire into the merits of the respective claims, or to become responsible for the distribution of the money. All those who have pretensions under the Will to a Share of the before mentioned sum, will now know where to present their proofs; & to receive an order for their proportion of the Devise, having nothing more to do in the matter myself. I am—Sir Your Obedient Hble Servt

Go: Washington


Title: To George Washington from William Vans Murray, 17 September 1797
From: Murray, William Vans
To: Washington, George

Dear Sir
The Hague 17 Sep. 1797

In the haste of Captain Izard’s departure the copy of a letter of which I spoke was omitted in mine of the date of yesterday—but as he waits at Rotterdam for a wind, the copy which was not quite ready when he left this place, goes under cover in this.
The letter as you will see is without place of Date, except the Initial & concluding letters of the word Paris, from whence it came ⟨mutilated⟩ An American of much coolness & reflexion, & though I by no means place implicit confidence in his speculations upon the future, I yet trust his facts, & give much weight to his conjectures. From every thing which I have collected from public men here for two months past & particularly from such as are in strict confidence with the French I have had reason to expect that little was to be hoped from the Justice of France. They all speak of the disposition of that Government not to go to war with the United States—a point which the government of this country ⟨mutilated⟩ing took great pains to ascertain: but they also consider that temper in France as a grace shown us, with which we ought to be satisfy’d—When ever I have suggested the prospect of indemnification for injuries, they have always manifested a surprise that show’d they considered the idea as unjust & extravagant. The baneful error which lies at the bottom of all their opinions respecting us, that America, Government & People are divided into two parties only, British & French, is the point of the hypothesis to which all their other opinions of america relate. My exertions have not been witheld, as ea⟨illegible⟩ as the combat of an idea so disgraceful in ⟨illegible⟩ its admission as a topic, could be fairly ⟨mutilated⟩ an error which has been too little attended to & which the French & some americans have so long laboured to render an established truth. I hear nothing more Sir of M. La Fayette since my letter to you about a fortnight since. I am with the most faithful attachment & highest respect Dear Sir your most obedient servant

W. V. Murray


Title: To George Washington from Charles Cotesworth Pinckney, 19 September 1797
From: Pinckney, Charles Cotesworth
To: Washington, George

Dear Sr
Rotterdam Sepr 19th 1797—

Your favour by General Marshall arrived safe, and I was highly flattered by your approbation of my conduct whilst in France. Before I determine on any public measure I always consider in what way it is probable you would act if you were to decide, & govern myself according to what I conceive would be your judgment.
I am charmed with my Colleague Genl Marshall, and am fortunate enough to agree altogether with him in sentiment. We are

now proceeding to Paris; the late extraordinary transactions there, & some intimations we have received render it improper for us to delay our Journey; at the same time we do not mean (without procrastinaton should be very disadvantageous) to open our direct negotiations till Mr Gerry’s arrival. I am by no means sanguine in my expectations with respect to the result of our business. A great many in France are persuaded that we are a divided people, & think that at least one half of the People of America with the Vice President at the head would join them in case of a rupture. I am convinced that is a most erroneous opinion, but to our Country it is, it has been, & I am afraid will be exceedingly prejudicial. I enclo[se] you the last Leyden Gazettes which will give you the account of the arrest of 53 Members of the Legislature with the Director Barthelemy and several other Individuals, and of the Editors & Printers of 32 Journals & other periodical publications, & of their being sentenced by a Law passed by the remaining Members to be transported without trial on a charge of conspiring to establish Royalty. Newspapers & all periodical publications in France are subject for a twelve month to the inspection of the police, but I refer you to the papers for the particulars. Mr John Lusac the learned & excellent Editor of the Leyden Gazette has shewn me many marks of attention & hospitality since I have been in Holland; he highly venerates your Character and I made him happy by permitting a printer to copy your picture, he had many prints of you hung about his house but none of them like. He has written to you by this opportunity & sent you a book of his composing, you would render him very happy by writing him a few lines, & when you consider he was one of the earliest, and has been & is one of the most constant friends of American Liberty & Independance I trust you will notice his letter. Be assured I always am with the greatest sincerity & respect your most affectionate & devoted humble Sert

Charles Cotesworth Pinckney

This will be delivered to you by Capn Izard the Son of Mr Izard our late Senator, he has been studying in the School of Engineers At Metz, & I dare say you will find he has greatly profited by it.


Title: To George Washington from John Bassett, 23 September 1797
From: Bassett, John
To: Washington, George

Esteemed and honor’d Sir,
Farmington Septr 23d 1797

We arrived here in safety on the 18th Inst. after a pretty sultry Journey from Mount Vernon, which was protracted by the fatigue

of Mrs Bassett and the Children, that obliged us to lay by a day or two. It was with the deepest regret we left so soon the Company of our good Aunt and yourself. But our sollicitude to return to our domestic Avocations could be restrained only for a few days to discharge our duty and gratify our Affection by paying our respects in person. On our way down I was delighted to hear of a new wheat Machine invented by Mr Thomas Martin residing in the County of King & Queen near Dunkirk, a man long famed for his extraordinary Genius. Leaving Mrs Bassett to repose; I chearfully accepted an invitation to Mr John Woodfords, where one had been built from the model of Mr Martin’s. I found a drum of two feet in Diameter with six Beaters fixed thereon, the wheat was moved forward on a roling Cloath & passed through rolers as it was affixed to these Beaters entierly in the form of Bookers’. But cogg’d wheals & trunnel heads were used, though on a small scale, the largest wheel being perpendicular & only four feet in Diameter. The motion was given by Cranks fixed at each extremity of the Axiles of the Drum, at which two men could work the Machine with as much ease as one could a common wheat fan. The whole work is very simple, easily erected and kept in repair & the prime cost of one could scarcely exceed thirty dollars⟨.⟩ It is quite portable, it may be carryed a short distance by 3 or 4 hands or may [be] taken to pieces & the whole transported in a small Cart. The powers of it are great, from 60 to 70 Bushels pr day have been got out. Mr Martin has fixed it to a common mill by annexing it to the horns after removing the Stone In which Case it’s powers are increased beyond example. Mr Martin has beat out with a drum only 2½ feet in diameter at the rate of thirty Bushels an hour. Knowing how much you are delighted with any invention of genius especially when so eminently conducive of public good, I have embraced the first leisure moment to convey to you the best information I was able; supposing it might be the earliest that would reach you and in any event would be considered as an evidence of the zeal, with which I would perform any thing that might contribute to your Interest or Amusement. With the sincerest esteem & the most ardent prayers for your health & happiness I am yours

John Bassett


Title: To George Washington from George Washington Motier Lafayette, 23 September 1797
From: Lafayette, George Washington Motier
To: Washington, George

Sir.
[Washington, D.C.] Saturday September the 23. 1797

I take the opportunity of Mr Lewis’s return to Mount-Vernon to trouble you with a few lines. by letters from France I have had at last the long wished for conformation of my father’s liberation, an old friend of my father’s brought them to me, and I can entertain no more doubts on that article. their arrival in France is not yet mentioned, but the particulars in these private news coincide so perfectly with the late accounts which you have probably seen in the news papers, that I cannot but be certain that they are at last free.
Knowing that you will participate in my joy as you have in my grief; I hasten with perfect reliance on your usual Kindness to me, to communicate to you those so long expected tidings.
we were thinking of returning to Mount-Vernon on Friday next. would it be unconvenient to you to send for us on that day. a party to the great Falls is proposed for one of the first days of next week and I should like very much to see them again.
all the family here are perfectly well. Mr Frestel joins himself to me to beg of you to present our respects to Mrs Washington, and to believe him to be as well as myself with respect and gratitude your most obedient humble servant

G. W. Motier Lafayette


Title: To George Washington from John Langhorne [Peter Carr], 25 September 1797
From: Langhorne, John (Peter Carr)
To: Washington, George

Sir
Warren, Albemarle County, Sep. 25 1797.

When a man of distinguished worth suffers unmerited calumny, it has the same effect as an eclipse of the sun, which serves only to make it admired the more. While it shines in unvaried light, and splendor, it shines unnoticed; but when it is obscured by some sudden and unexpected darkness, it attracts our attention, and emerges with an unusual and superior eclat. Such will be the only effect you will experience from those unjust aspersions which have been lately thrown upon you. Nothing but truth can possibly last. They will vanish, and leave behind them a more than usual lustre. There is no cause then, why you should distress, or even disturb yourself a moment concerning them. Too impruden[t]ly delicate! is your peace to be broken because there are fools and knaves in the world? is it possible that you may suffer as much from the villainy of others in this respect, as you could do from your own demerit? of what use then is virtue? of what use is the consciousness

of uniform integrity, if it will not produce the only end both of wisdom and virtue, which is our own proper quiet and happiness? Certainly, under the direction of a right philosophy, it could not fail of producing both. it is in vain to labour, if we refuse to enjoy the fruits, or effects of our industry. Would it not be absurd, after we had cultivated a garden, to deprive ourselves of the enjoyment of its fruits and flowers, because some malicious neighbour had reported that it was over-run with weeds? when we beheld our walks and parterres in order, should we deny ourselves the pleasure they might afford us on account of such a report, impossible, you say! it would be perfectly ridiculous. It is most true: and not less ridiculous, not less unreasonable and absurd would it be, for a virtuous man to forfeit that happiness to which his virtue entitles him, because malevolence has branded him with unjust accusations. Till there shall be a possibility of banishing from human society all envy, all dishonesty, and all ill-nature, it would be unwise to make ourselves miserable about their effects. Let those effects always be confined to the objects from whence they proceed; there it is only that they ought to be, and there it is, generally, that they are productive of misery. Every good man has a right to be happy, in spite of the most villainous machinations; and if they make him otherwise, his philosophy at least is not equal to his virtue. These observations have been made, Sir, in the hope that they might possibly administer some comfort, to a mind, eminently great, and virtuous: not, in the belief, that the calumnies against you, have absolutely disturbed your peace, but in the possibility, that at some time, they might for a moment over-cloud your happiness, which ought to be dear to every good man. I am Sir with the highest sentiments of esteem for your person, and veneration for your character yr very H: servt

John Langhorne


Title: To George Washington from Thomas Law, 28 September 1797
From: Law, Thomas
To: Washington, George

Dear Sir,
Washington Septr 28th 1797

If you approve of the enclosed plan, you will be kind enough to give it some aid, & with the fostering support of your name no

doubt all the Shares will be taken—should you disapprove you will tear it & excuse the liberty I take to which I am prompted by a wish to adopt every means for the promotion of this new Establishment. A good Tavern will answer to the keeper of it & will encourage a Hair dresser Butcher & other useful members of Society to settle around it.
The Capitol progresses fast & the Presidents house is covered in—to descend from great inanimate things to small lively ones let me inform you that Eliza & our little girl are in perfect health, but Mr Fayette will inform you more particularly. With affectionate & respectful remembrances to Mrs Washington I remain With Sincere esteem & regard Yr Most Obliged

Thomas Law


Title: To George Washington from Francis Walker, 28 September 1797
From: Walker, Francis
To: Washington, George

Sir
Near Charlottesville Sepr 28 1797

Will you be so obliging as to give me information respecting the interest my Father held with yourself & Mr Lewis in some lands near Suffolk, & by what title—It has become my duty as Exr to dispose of the part belonging to the estate, which I wish to do, in the way most agreable to you, or perhaps you may wish to purchase —Pardon me Sir for this trouble—Please to accept the most sincere respect & best wishes of Your Obdt Sert

Fras Walker


Title: From George Washington to Thomas Law, 2 October 1797
From: Washington, George
To: Law, Thomas

Dear Sir,
Mount Vernon 2d Octr 1797

Your note of the 28th Ult. by Mr Frestal, was received on Friday last.
My expences are so great and my resources so small, that it is but little in my power to promote such plans as you advocate. To clear me out of Philadelphia, & to lay in a few necessaries for my

family, I sold two valuable tracts of land in the State of Pennsylvania a short time before I left the City for 22,000 dollars; and since my arrival have sold other lands in Virginia the proceeds of all which (so far at least as hath been received) are nearly expended.
To encourage however a Hotel at the Capitol, I authorise you if the plan is likely to succeed, on the terms you have suggested to put my name down to five Shares.
I am glad to hear that the public buildings progress well. As the period for their accomplishment approaches, there can be little doubt but that private buildings will also advance rapidly; I wish they were in such a state of forwardness as to claim the attention of Congress, if the Calamity which is inflicted on Philadelphia & other Sea port Towns, should render the removal of that body from the present Seat of the Government necessary.
We rejoice to hear that Mrs Law and the little Girl are well—We are so—and all Unite With Affecte regards for you & them, With Dear Sir Your Obt & very Hbl. Sert

Go: Washington


Title: To George Washington from James Ross, 2 October 1797
From: Ross, James
To: Washington, George

[Pittsburgh, 2 October 1797]

The fever which continues to rage in Philadelph[ia] has made it impossible to get bills of Exchangfe] on that place negotiated here, & a great portion of your money hav[i]ng been paid to me in silve[r] I cannot transmit it immediately but you may be assured that no opportunity will be lost of sendg it forwa[r]d to the Bank of Pennsa. and informing you of its arrival. I hope Col Shreve will in future save you the trouble and delay which his tardy conduct has hitherto occasioned. He is now explicitly warned that the failure of a day will probably be followed by a suit without any notice.
In the course of the summer several people have inquired for your Ohio lands, but none of them were of such ability that I could encourage a hope of their offers being accepted. It would appear to me most advisable to cut your large tracts into 200 farms with a front upon the river, in that shape they would sell 25 pt higher than in their present shape, and they would also be with[i]n the reach of a different description of purchasers.
Our lands in the western parts of Pennsylvania command a good price, but during the last year they have risen very little, owing to the prodigious failures in our Capital which has obstructed the circulation of money. I brought large tracts of land to market.—We also feel the end of an expensive war which, tho it drained the National Treasury, was a source of great wealth to the cultivated part of the western country.
With the highest respect I have the honor to be, Dear Sir, Your most obedient, Humble servant,

James Ross.


Title: From George Washington to Thomas Coleman Martin, 3 October 1797
From: Washington, George
To: Martin, Thomas Coleman

Sir,
Mount Vernon 3d Oct. 1797

I have already erected a thrashing Machine on Mr Bookers plan, and was on the point of putting up one or two more when I received a letter from a Gentleman of my acquaintance informing me that you had invented one which did more execution with less force. This had induced me to suspend the erection of those in Mr Booker’s plan until I can receive better information relative to yours, and this is the cause of my giving you the trouble of receiving this letter and praying you would be so obliging as to give it.
The advantage which Mr Booker’s has over the Scotch Machine (which I never saw) lyes, it is said, in being less expensive, & less complex—particularly in the substitution of a band in place of cogs & rounds; which, as I have understood, (with the expence thereof) is the principal objection to the latter.
Not having heard whether you have obtained a Patent for the invention of your’s, or mean to apply for one, I would not have it understood that my application for information into the principle on which yours act—the power which works it—or the execution—is calculated to deprive you of any benifit which might result in either case.
The object of my enquiry is merely to know whether yours (nothing being more interesting to the farmer) is upon a simple plan & not easily put out of order in the hands of ignorant Negros, & careless Overseers; whether cheap, & easily erected; what the execution; and with what force it is worked; together with the manner of working it—and the house proper for its reception.

If in these particulars, on a fair comparison with Mr Booker’s, it obtains a preference, I shall certainly, as I am about to provide conveniencies of this sort for getting my grain out of the straw, erect yours instead of his; and whether built by my own People or others, am perfectly willing to allow the Patent fee if it exists, or to stand upon the same footing that others do to avail myself of the best discovery in this, or any other country to effect so valuable an end. Your answer to these queries would very much oblige me as my ulterior measures depend upon them & my want of machines to get my grain out in a clean and expeditious mode pressing. I hope you will have the goodness to excuse the liberty I have herein taken and to believe that I am Sir Your Most Hble Servt

Go: Washington


Title: To George Washington from William Hartshorne, 4 October 1797
From: Hartshorne, William
To: Washington, George

Respected Friend
Alexandria 10 Mo. 4. 1797

By desire of the Subscribers to the Bridge on Duke Street I now enclose the Subscription paper for thy consideration—I am ready to acknowledge that things of this kind should be done by the public without burdening Individuals in this way, but in the present instance this could not be done—Some of the Country Gentlemen have contributed and we therefore take the Liberty to ask the like from thee—the improvement is like to be a good one and we hope will be finished in a week or two—Please return the Subscription paper to me by thy servant when he comes to the post office. I am very Respectfully Thy Friend

Wm Hartshorne


Title: To George Washington from Lafayette, 6 October 1797
From: Lafayette, Marie-Joseph-Paul-Yves-Roch-Gilbert du Motier, marquis de
To: Washington, George

My dear General,
Hambourg October the 6th 1797

I am the Happier to Be able to inform You, as I am Sure You Shall Be Happy to Hear that on the 19th September My two friends, family, and Myself Left the olmutz Bastille, and that to Morrow Morning We Shall Be on danish Territory out of the Reach of the Coalitionary Powers—in Vain Would I Attempt, My Beloved General, to Express to You the feelings of My filial Heart, when, at the Moment of this Unexpected Restoration to Liberty and Life, I find Myself Blessed With the opportunity to let you Hear from me. This Heart Has for twenty Years Been known to you—Words, that, Whatever they be, fall So Short of My Sentiments Would Not do justice to What I feel—But You Will Be Sensible of the Affectionate and delightful Emotions With Which I am Now Writing—to You, and I know also it is Not Without Some Emotion that after five Years of a death like Silence from me, You Will Read the first Lines I am at Last Enabled to write —With What Eagerness and pleasure I Would Hasten to fly to Mount Vernon, there to pour out all the Sentiments of Affection, Respect, and Gratitude Which Ever Bound me, and More than ever Bind me to You—Your paternal goodness to My, to Our Son Was not Unexpected But Has Been Most Heartily felt—Your Constant Sollicitude in My Behalf I Have Enjoyed as a welcome Consolation in Captivity, and dont Wonder, My Respected General, that those friendly Exertions Have Not Been able to Operate the difficult Work, Which in Spite of ⟨illegible⟩ and threatening Armies, and Repeated demands from the french Government, it Has Been an affair

of five Months to Effect, after the Hostilities Had Ceased—But at Last We are out, and I Had the Satisfaction to See the United States take a Part in this Last transaction Where By I am Released With My two friends, and that part of My family Which Was not Under Your immediate protection in the Happy Country where Georges and His excellent friend Have experienced So much kindness—Would to God this family Might for the first time Meet Again at Mount Vernon, and Be Reunited in Your friendly and Paternal Arms—My own Health, altho it is Impaird, Could, I think, tolerably Support a Voyage—My daughters are not ill—But Mrs Lafayette’s Sufferings in this Cruel UnHealthy Captivity Have Had Such a deplorable effect Upon Her, that in the opinion of Every phisician, and Every Man of Sense, it Would Be an Act of Madness to Let Her embark at this Advanced Season of the Year—We shall Retire Somewhere on the danish territory, about Sixty or Seventy English Miles from Hambourg, and there in a Remote Country House Quietly Wait for the Spring—in the Mean While we all Are Burning With impatience to See Georges—it is a Comfort of Which His Mother after So Many afflictions, and in Such a State of Health, is in Great Need—And altho’ I depend the More Upon My Return to America in the Spring as the New Measures taken in france Seem to Remove the probility, and of Course to dispense with the duty which in Some letters to Mde L.f. You Have Pointed out for me, We all wish that Georges Might Return to Europe So as to Be With us as Soon as possible and Before We our Selves Can Begin a Voyage for Which His Company, in Going Back With us, Would at Any Rate Be an Agreable Addition—Such are, My Beloved General, the ideas of people who in their emersion from the tomb, want to gather as Soon as possible all the Happiness that is Within their Reach, which However Cannot be Completed Untill they Enjoy the Blessing to Be With You—I Have flattered Myself that in the present Situation of politics, So painful to me, also particulars are yet Unknown, it Might Be Not Quite Unserviceable to offer You A Safe express to Carry Whatever instructions You, or Some Members of Government Could perhaps think of Sending Over—What Has Been, Can Be, or is wished to Be done I do not know—I am perfectly ignorant of every public, Even of My personal Concerns—I know only that My Heart is just the Same as it Has Ever Been—this letter Will Set out immediately I Hope, My dear General, that in a few days I Can Write More fully—In the Mean While I Beg & Hope You Will Read in My

Heart those Sentiments So Warmly Grateful, So affectionately devoted which I want Adequate Words to Express But which Have So long Animated this Heart, and Shall Animate it as long as it Can Vibrate—My Best and Most tender Respects to Mrs Washington—My Wife and daughters join in the Same Sentiments of Veneration, love and Gratitude to Her and to You—Adieu, My Beloved and Respected General Your filial and Grateful affectionate friend

Lafayette


Title: To George Washington from William Thornton, 6 October 1797
From: Thornton, William
To: Washington, George

Respected Friend
City of Washington Octr 6th 1797

I have sent the Section of Square No. 21, with an Alteration made by the red Line, which is allowing as much as the Surveyor, on attentively considering the Ground, thinks can be made with propriety. I have directed the general plan of the Levels to be made correspondent.
I request you will be pleased to accept a Dozen Bottles of what may be truly called The heart of Oak. It is old Spirit that was distill’d upon my own Estate in the Island of Tortola, 28 Years ago, and has obtained the deep colour by standing in Oak Casks ever since. It is as good as a Tincture of Bark, and would be of no disservice to a Virginia Planter in a Dram Fog. My Family join me in most respectful Complts to your Lady & self. I am sir with sincere regard your respectful Friend

William Thornton


Title: To George Washington from Elizabeth Foote Washington, 7 October 1797
From: Washington, Elizabeth Foote
To: Washington, George

Dear Sir
Hay-Field oct. 7th 1797.

Enclos’d is a memorandum of papers that is required respecting Pearson’s claim against us, how they are to be got from Richmond I know not, without you can get your Nephew Mr Bushrod Washington to procure them. I have not been able to bring Capt. Johnston or Mr Triplett to any agreement as yet—I suspect their intention is that you & myself shall bear the burden—indeed I may say it is more then mere suspicion, I have some reason to think so from what has been said, as there will be an expence incur’d in procuring papers from different offices, & mr Swan requires a hundred Dollars at the first Start, it is but Just they should bear their part, they think that Swan asks too much, I think myself the fee is very extrav[ag]ant, tho’ I do not pretend to know what he ought to have, Law matters is what I know nothing of. I am dear Sir with the highest esteem your very Humble Servant

Eliza Washington

P.S. After writing the above, I have been confirm’d in what I suspected, having just heard that it is fact, that Triplett & Johnston are determin’d not to be of any expence or trouble, not even in sending to the different offices for the papers that will be necessary—they say that you are So interested in the affair, that there will be nothing left undone to defend the Suit to the uttermost—which is provoking that they should think so, when at the same time if they were to lose their Land it would brake their hearts—

especially Triplett it would kill him quite—I understand he intends to pay you a visit the ensuing week. E.W.
The Inquisition docking the entail that we have it is apprehended it may be wrong, is the reason why one is wanting from Richmond.


Title: From George Washington to Alexander Hamilton, 8 October 1797
From: Washington, George
To: Hamilton, Alexander

My dear Sir,
Mount Vernon 8th Octr 1797.

The ardent desire which Mr La Fayette feels to embrace his Parents and Sisters in the first moments of their liberation, induces him to set out for New York, or further Eastward, in search of a Passage to France.
It was my opinion that he had better have awaited authentic accounts of this event; but his eagerness to see his friends—the fear of a Winter passage—and a conviction that he is under no predicament that would render his reception in France at all embarrassing to him, even if he should be disappointed in meeting his friends there, has prevailed.
I am sure it is unnecessary that I should recommend him and Mr Frestal to your civilities while they may be detained in New York; or to your aid in procuring them a passage to France: but I will request, if circumstances should call for greater pecuniary means than they possess, that you would be so good as to furnish them, and draw upon me for the amount, & it shall be paid at sight.
Present Mrs Washington and myself in the most affectionate manner to Mrs Hamilton—and be assured always of the very high esteem and regard with which I am Yours

Go: Washington


Title: To George Washington from Tadeusz Kościuszko, 8 October 1797
From: Kosciuszko, Tadeusz (Thaddeus) Andrzej Bonawentura
To: Washington, George

Sir
Elisabeth Towne [N.J.] 8 October [1797]

I return You my warmest thanks for the Honour You have done me —If the situation of my health would admit my travelling so far, I would immediatly pay you my Respects and my personal Homage; it was my first intention, and I hope I shall at last accomplish it.
Your High Character, Reputation and the Goodness of Your Heart, may give me the liberty to mention a circumstance concerning me and is this—From the United States, I have not recived neither the procent for Fourteen Years nor the Sum due to me; formely I was independent, but now my only resource is in the Justice of Congress; having lost my Certificate and wyth my Country lost my All—I must Request Sir, You will be so kind to mention my situation to that August Body and entreat, that I may be paid my Just demand; without the trouble of making other Application —With Profound Respect I have the Honour to be Sir your most Humble and Obedient Servant

Kosciuszko


Title: William Thornton to GW, 8 October 1797 [letter not found]
From: Thornton, William
To: Washington, George

Letter not found: William Thornton to GW, 8 Oct. 1797. On 10 Oct. GW wrote Thornton: “Your favours of the 6th & 8th instant have both been received.”


Title: From George Washington to Elizabeth Foote Washington, 8 October 1797
From: Washington, George
To: Washington, Elizabeth Foote

Dear Madam
Mount Vernon 8th Octr 1797.

Your letter of yesterday’s date I have received, and will by tomorrows Post write to my nephew Mr Bushrod Washington (though I fear he is not in Richmond at present) for the Papers contained in the memm you enclosed to me.
Having had as little to do with Lawyers as any man of my age I pretend not to be a competent judge of Mr Swan’s demand. I know as little too of his eminence as a Lawyer—but confess I think his demand high! Yet what else can be done? To employ an ignorant bungler, might, in the end, (if Mr Swan is clever in his profession) be more expensive.
What Mr Johnson’s ideas of the business may be, I know not; but conceive you have misjudged those of Mr Tripletts; for he told me at the meeting in Alexandria that although he did not know how to manage the defence, he was quite willing to contribute to the expence of it.
If however, he, or Mr Johnson proceeds upon the ground that I am more interested in the issue of the suit than those who have the Land in Possession, they will deceive themselves; for I have very good authority for saying that, I am only liable for the Land I sold—not for the improvemts which have been made on it. And if I chose it, might give myself no trouble or concern in the cause, unless the judgment should be unfavourable to the defendants in the first instance, and I should apply for an appeal to the higher Courts.
But knowing as I do, that County Court decisions have some weight on a Jury in the Courts just mentioned, I am ready, and willing to bear a proportion of the expence in the firstinstance; and think the others who are interested, should be brought, before hand, to some explicit declaration of their intention respecting the expence. And Mr Foot, who perhaps has more leisure than I have, had better attempt this. I am—Dear Madam Your Obedt Servant

Go: Washington


Title: GW to William Herbert, 9 October 1797 [letter not found]
From: Washington, George
To: Herbert, William

 Letter not found: GW to William Herbert, 9 Oct. 1797. On 9 Oct. Herbert wrote GW: “I received the letter you did me the Honor to Write to me this day.”


Title: To George Washington from William Herbert, 9 October 1797
From: Herbert, William
To: Washington, George

Dear Sir
Alexandria 9th October 1797—

I received the letter you did me the Honor to Write to me this day. Mr La Fayette Shall be Accommodated With the Kind of Gold that he wants.
The next Dividend in our Bank, will be declared the first Week in January, & paid in a very few days after—Bank Stock sold lately, at ten ⅌ Cent below par, I think the Number of Shares you mention, may be, at this period, purchas’d at the Same price. If you wish to buy any, Inclose me an order on the Bank to the Amount of as many Shares as you want, Calculating each Share at one Hundred & Eighty dollars, & I hope to be Able to procure them for you, in the Course of this Week. Such is the Scarcity of Cash & the Sacrifices that are daily making by Individuals to meet their Engagements —With the Utmost Respect & Esteem I am Dear Sir your Most Hble Servt

Wm Herbert