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

Saturday first. Thermometer at 66 in the Morning—70 at Noon and 72 at Night. Southerly Wind and clear. Began to raise a Scaffold for Shingling the Front side of my House, next the Court yard. Rid to my River, Muddy hole, and Dogue run Plantations. Doctr. Stuart came in whilst we were at Dinner & stayed all Night.


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

Sunday 2d. Thermometer at 70 in the Morning—76 at Noon and  at Night. Weather warm. Forenoon clear, Afternoon lowering. Went with Fanny Bassett, Burwell Bassett, Doctr. Stuart, G. A. Washington, Mr. Shaw & Nelly Custis to Pohick Church; to hear a Mr. Thompson preach, who returned home with us to Dinner, where I found the Revd. Mr. Jones, formerly a Chaplin in one of the Pensylvania Regiments. After we were in Bed (about Eleven Oclock in the Evening) Mr. Houdon, sent from Paris by Doctr. Franklin and Mr. Jefferson to take my Bust, in behalf of the State of Virginia, with three young men assistants, introduced by a Mr. Perin a French Gentleman of Alexandria, arrived here by water from the latter place.


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

Monday 3d. Thermometer at 70 in the Morning—68 at Noon and 66 at Night. Wind at So. West, weather variable until Noon when it became more cloudy & dripping. Towards evening it began to Rain and the Night was wet. The two reverend Gentlemen who dined and lodged here, went away after breakfast.


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

Tuesday 4th. Thermometer at 63 in the Morning—62 at Noon and 66 at Night. Wind at So. West, veering more Westerly. Morning wet, and till Noon dripping; Clear afterwards, and wind fresh.


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

Wednesday 5. Thermometer at 60 in the Morng.  at Noon and 68 at Night. Brisk wind from the Southward all day. Weather clear.  Stripped the Shingles of the South side of the Pediment of the West front of the House, in expectation of Mr. Sanders’s coming to direct the Shingling of it, but he never appeared. Colo. Ramsay introducing a Mr. McComb, & a Mr. Lowry; dined here, & went away afterwards. Mr. Perin went from this after Breakfast.


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

Thursday 6th. Thermometer at 65 in the Morning—65 at Noon and 66 at Night. Flying clouds and a Rainbow in the Morning with but little wind; drippings of rain, more or less all day. Mr. Burwell Bassett, and Mr. Shaw set out after Breakfast for Dumfries. The appearances of the day, and the impracticability of giving, on acct. of the clammyness of the Earth, an even face to any more of my lawn, until the grd. should get dryer, of which there is no immediate prospect, I sowed what was levelled & smoothed of it, with English grass Seeds; and as soon as the top was so dry, as not to stick to the Roller, I rolled & cross rolled it; first with a light wooden roller; and then with a heavy wooden roller; with a view of compressing the Ground—smoothing the Surfice of it & to bury the Seeds. Mr. Sanders not coming according to expectation I began with my own people to shingle that part of the Roof of the House wch. was stripped yesterday, & to copper the Gutters &ca.


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

Friday 7th. Thermometer at 62 in the Morning—64 at Noon and  at Night. Wind Southwardly all day and weather clear, warm, & pleasant. Sat to day, as I had done yesterday, for Mr. Houdon to form my Bust. Mrs. Jenifer, wife of Doctr. Walter Jenifer, dined here, and returned afterwards; and Doctr. Craik came here in the afternoon, and stayed all Night. Mr. Shaw and Mr. Bassett returned from Dumfries about Noon

& Doctr. Brown came in the afternoon to visit a sick Servant of the Mr. Bassetts, & returned. Finished trenching my Lawn, the spading of which had recd. several interruptions by odd Jobs intervening. The ground getting a little drier I began again to level & smooth it. Plowed up a Cowpen in order to sow the ground with Orchard Grass Seeds.


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

Saturday 8th. Thermometer at 63 in the Morning—66 at Noon and 68 at Night. But little wind—weather clear, and exceedingly pleasant. Sowed the ground which was plowed yesterday, and which might amount to about a quarter of an Acre, with near half a Bushel of the Orchard Grass Seeds; which was neither very clean nor I fear not very good. Also sowed with English Grass Seeds, as much more of the Lawn as I could get levelled & smoothed and rolled it in the same manner as that on thursday last was done.


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

Sunday 9th. Thermometer at 64 in the Morng. 70 at Noon and 70 at Night. Morning and Evening lowering. Midday tolerably clear, warm & pleasant. Accompanied by Mr. Houdon and the two Mr. Bassetts, attended the Funeral of Mrs. Manley at the Plantation of Mr. Willm. Triplett, and returned to Dinner.


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

Monday 10th. Thermometer at 68 in the Morng. 70 at Noon and 74 at Night. Thunder about day. Morning threatning but clear & pleasant afterwards. A Mr. Jno. Lowe, on his way to Bishop Seabury for Ordination, called & dined here. Could not give him more than a general certificate, founded on information, respecting his character; having

no acquaintance with him, nor any desire to open a Corrispondence with the new ordained Bishop. Observed the process for preparing the Plaister of Paris, & mixing of it—according to Mr. Houdon. The Oven being made hotter than it is usually heated for Bread, the Plaister which had been previously broken into lumps—that which was hard, to about the size of a pullets egg; and that which was soft, and could be broken with the hands, larger; was put in about Noon, and remained until Night; when, upon examination, it was further continued until the Morning without any renewal of the heat in the Oven, which was close stopped. Having been sufficiently calcined by this operation, it was pulverized (in an Iron Mortar) & sifted for use through a fine lawn sieve, & kept from wet. When used, it is put into a Bason, or other Vessel with water; sifted through the fingers, ’till the Water is made as thick as Loblolly or very thick cream. As soon as the plaister is thus put into the Water, it is beat with an Iron spoon (almost flat) until it is well Mixed, and must be immediately applied to the purpose for which it is intended with a Brush, or whatever else best answers, as it begins to turn hard in four or five minutes, and in Seven or ten cannot be used, & is fit for no purpose afterwards as it will not bear wetting a second time. For this reason no more must be mixed at a time than can be used within the space just mentioned. The brush (common painters) must be put into water as soon as it is used, and the plaister well squeezed out, or this also becomes very hard. In this case to clean it, it must be beaten ’till the plaister is reduced to a powder, & then washed.


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

Wednesday 12th. Thermometer at 66 in the Morning—64 at Noon and 62 at Night. The Rain which fell last Night had made the ground so Wet that I could neither level or in any manner work it. I was obliged therefore to employ the labourers thereon in other Jobs. Mr. Livingston (son of Peter Van brugh Livingston of New York) came to Dinner, & stayed all Night. And in the Evening Mr. Madison arrived. Wind at No. Et. and thick weather all day; and fine Rain with intervals.


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

Thursday 13th. Thermometer at 62 in the Morning—62 at Noon and 62 at Night. Wind at No. Et. all day, and raining more or less—sometimes hard. Mr. Livingston, notwithstanding the Rain, returned to Alexandria after dinner. A Suspension of all out doors work.


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

Friday 14th. Thermometer at 62 in the Morning—65 at Noon and 66 at Night. Lowering most of the day, but no wind.  Mr. Madison went away after Breakfast. My Chariot which went up for, brought down Miss Sally Ramsay & Miss Kitty Washington, to be Bridesmaids tomorrow at the wedding of Miss Bassett. Mr. George Washington, & Mr. Burwell Bassett went to the Clerks Office & thence to Colo. Masons for a license, & returned to Dinner; having accomplished their business. The ground being too wet, I employed the labourers who had been levelling the Lawn, in cleaning & weeding the Shrubberies.


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

Saturday 15th. Thermometer at 66 in the Morng. 68 at Noon and 68 at Night. A Heavy lowering morning with the wind at South. Clear afternoon and fine Evening. The Reverend Mr. Grayson, and Doctr. Griffith; Lund Washington, his wife, & Miss Stuart came to Dinner—All of whom remained the Evening except L. W. After the Candles were lighted George Auge. Washington and Frances Bassett were married by Mr. Grayson. The ground continuing too wet to level, the labourers worked in the Shrubberies. Put two thousand of the Common Chestnuts into a box with dry Sand—a layer of each & two hundred of the Spanish Chesnut in like manner to plant out in the Spring. These were put into Sand in a day or two after they were taken from the Trees.


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

Tuesday 18th. Thermometer at  in the Morning— at Noon and  at Night. After an early breakfast at Mr. Fairfax’s, Govr. Johnson & I set out for the Falls (accompanied by Mr. Fairfax) where we met

the other Directors and Colo. Gilpin in the operation of levelling the ground for the proposed cut or Canal from the place where it is proposed to take the Water out, to the other where it will be let into the river again. In the highest of which, and for near 70 rod, it is between five & Seven feet higher than the Surface of the water at the head. After which it descends, & for at least 300 yards at the lower end, rapidly. This Cut, upon the whole, does not appear to be attended with more difficulty than was apprehended, for tho’ the ground is higher than was expected—it appears from some experiments of sticking a spiked stake down in those parts, that there is two or 3 feet of soft earth at Top, & the lower end of the Canal well calculated to receive locks to advantage; as also to dam the water, to throw it back into the Canal, & thereby reduce the digging—wch. may also be done at the head by loose Stones being thrown into the River to a Rocky Island. The length of the Cut, from the work of to day, is found to be about 2400 yards—a little more or less—upon exact measurement. Took a view of the River from the Spout, or Cateract to the proposed entrance of the Canal below, to see if I could discover (as some supposed there was) the advantage of a Canal on the Maryland side in preference to one on this, but saw no likely appearances of it. About 400 yds. below the Cateract, there is a Cove into which emptys a small part of the river, thro deep & steep rocks on both sides which is a good defence to it, and some little distance below this again, is another Cove, but how a Canal was to be brought thither, I could not (having the river between) discover. However, at, & below both, is rapid water—one little, if any, inferior to the Spout at Shanondoah. Having taken a rough level of the proposed cut, formed general ideas for the Canal—determined to go on with it this winter, as soon as our operations on the water, on acct. of the Season must cease—& come to some resolutions respecting the hireg. of Negros, we broke up, after dark & I returned to Mr. Fairfax’s.


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

Thursday 20th. Thermometer at 67 in the Morng. 66 at Noon and 65 at Night. Wind fresh at South East and weather threatning, with Showers of rain (some pretty heavy) through the day. George Washington & his wife, Bushrod Washington, his wife Sister & Brother, the two Mr. Bassetts, Mr. Craik and Mr. Shaw, notwithstanding the weather set out for the races at Alexandria, and were disappointed of seeing them, as they were put off. They did not return.


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

Saturday 22d. Thermometer at 52 in the Morning—52 at Noon and 52 at Night.  Wind at No. West and fresh; & Cold with appearances of unsettled weather. Went up again to day, with my Brother, and the rest of the Gentlemen to the Race, & dined at Mr. Herberts. All returned, except Mr. Jno. Bassett, who got hurt on the race field, and Mr. Shaw. Mr. Willm. Scott came here in the Evening, from Alexandria.


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

Sunday 23d. Thermometer at 50 in the Morng. 56 at Noon and 59 at Night. Fine & pleasant all day, with the Wind at South. No frost as was expected. My Brother, his wife Daughter and Son; Mr. Willm. Washington his wife & 4 Children; Mr. Bushrod Washington & wife; and Mr. Scott all went away after Breakfast. Mr. Jno. Bassett & Mr. Shaw came home in the forenoon and Mr. Fitzhugh of Chatham, Genl. Spotswood, Mr. McCarty of Pope Creek, and a Colo. Middleton of South Carolina came here to dinner, & went away afterwards. Perceived the Orchard Grass Seeds which I sowed on the 8th. Instt. in the same Inclosure of the Turneps, to be coming up thick & well.


Title: [Diary entry: 24 October 1785]
From: Washington, George
To:

 Monday 24th. Thermometer at 56 in the Morning—58 at Noon and 58 at Night. Variable, & squally with a little rain. Wind at South in the Morning, and Westwardly afterwards. The two Mr. Bassetts (Burwell and John) left this after breakfast, to return home. In the Afternoon Doctr. Craik came in, and stayed all Night. I rid to my Plantations at the Ferry, Dogue run, and Muddy hole—found the Orchard grass Seeds which had been sowed at Dogue run come up very well—as the Timothy also had—and that my Corn fields, now that the Fodder was taken off, looked miserably bad—the wheat on the other hand very good.


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

Tuesday 25th. Thermometer at 54 in the Morng. 58 at Noon and 56 at Night. Forenoon clear and serene, and pleasant; but the Afternoon Windy & cold, with flying clouds. Wind about West. Doctr. Craik went away before Breakfast—he intended to [go to] Alexa. but was to call upon John Alton. Rid to my Plantation in the Neck. Found my Corn & Wheat

there similar with those at the other plantations as described yesterday. Finding the Seeds of the Honey locust had come nearly, or quite to a state of maturity although the thick part of the pod still retained its green colour I had them gathered, lest when ripe they should be gathered by others, to eat.


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

Friday 28th. Thermometer at 54 in the Morning—60 at Noon and 62 at Night. Wind Southerly; clear and pleasant all day. Finished levelling and Sowing the lawn in front of the Ho[use] intended for a Bolling Green—as far as the Garden Houses. Also began to sow clover seed at Dogue run plantation.


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

Saturday 29th. Thermometer at 59 in the Morning 64 at Noon and 65 at Night. Morning clear, calm, and very pleasant. About Noon it began to lower a little, and continued to do so all the Afternoon. Rid to the Plantations at the Ferry and Dogue run—at the last of which finished Sowing the Clover Seed which I sent there the 26th.; With this I mixed 9 Bushels of the pounded Plaister of Paris; and Sowed the whole on about 4¼ acres of Ground (on the Side of the run along the old Mill race) as near as I could judge from stepping it. Sunk the inner well in the Dry well now fitting up for an Ice house, about 8 feet untill I came to a pure sand. Mrs. Stuart & Child Nancy, & Miss Allan, came here this Evening.


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

Sunday 30th. Thermometer at 64 in the Morning—63 at Noon and 60 at Night. Thunder and lightning about day Break and Raining more or less all day, attended in the forenoon with very high Wind from the Westward. Mr. Shaw went up to Alexandria after Breakfast, & stayed all Night.


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

Monday 31st. Thermometer at 52 in the Morng. 54 at Noon and 56 at Night. A raw and moist air, with a westerly wind & lowering Sun. Mr. Shaw returned to Breakfast, & Mrs. Stuart, Miss Allan &ca. went away after it. A Captn. Fullerton came here to Dinner on business of the State Society of the Cincinnati of Pensylvania; for whom I signed 250 Diplomas as President. Went away after. Sent half a Bushel of Clean Timothy Seed to Morris—to sow at Doeg run Plantation.


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

Saturday first. Thermometer at 66 in the Morning—70 at Noon and 72 at Night.
Southerly Wind and clear.
Began to raise a Scaffold for Shingling the Front side of my House, next the Court yard.
Rid to my River, Muddy hole, and Dogue run Plantations.
Doctr. Stuart came in whilst we were at Dinner & stayed all Night.

Sunday 2d. Thermometer at 70 in the Morning—76 at Noon and  at Night.
Weather warm. Forenoon clear, Afternoon lowering.
Went with Fanny Bassett, Burwell Bassett, Doctr. Stuart, G. A. Washington, Mr. Shaw & Nelly Custis to Pohick Church; to hear a Mr. Thompson preach, who returned home with us to Dinner, where I found the Revd. Mr. Jones, formerly a Chaplin in one of the Pensylvania Regiments.
After we were in Bed (about Eleven Oclock in the Evening) Mr. Houdon, sent from Paris by Doctr. Franklin and Mr. Jefferson to take my Bust, in behalf of the State of Virginia, with three young men assistants, introduced by a Mr. Perin a French Gentleman of Alexandria, arrived here by water from the latter place.

   James Thomson (1739–1812), the minister of Leeds Parish, Fauquier County, 1769–1812, was a Scotsman who had emigrated to Virginia as a tutor in 1767. He went to England in 1769 to take holy orders and returned to Fauquier County where he preached at the four churches in Leeds Parish (MEADE [1][William] Meade. Old Churches, Ministers and Families of Virginia. 2 vols. Philadelphia, 1857., 2:218–19). David Jones (1736–1820), minister of the Great Valley Baptist Church, Chester County, Pa., had been a chaplain in the 3rd and 4th Pennsylvania regiments during the Revolution.

   Virginia in 1784 adopted a resolution commissioning a statue of GW; and Thomas Jefferson and Benjamin Franklin, then ministers to the Court of France, agreed to locate and engage an outstanding sculptor for the commission. Jean Antoine Houdon (1741–1828) agreed to make the statue but insisted that he come to America to make a life mask of GW and then return to France to complete the work. Jefferson’s agreement with Houdon provided for a salary of 1,000 guineas plus expenses to America and the purchase of an insurance policy on the sculptor’s life during the journey. Although the fee was much less than Houdon had asked, he was eager to make

a statue of GW and agreed to the terms, leaving such clients as Catherine the Great of Russia to await his return to Europe (JEFFERSON [1]Julian P. Boyd et al., eds. The Papers of Thomas Jefferson. 41 vols. to date. Princeton, N.J., 1950–., 7:566–67, 8:282–84, 279–80).

   Joseph Marie Perrin, a merchant in Alexandria, had a store on Royal Street next to John Wise’s tavern and opposite the courthouse. By Aug. 1786 the business was operated under the name of Perrin & Brothers (Va. Journal, 21 April 1785 and 17 Aug. 1786). Perrin came to Mount Vernon as an interpreter for Houdon’s party.

Monday 3d. Thermometer at 70 in the Morning—68 at Noon and 66 at Night.
Wind at So. West, weather variable until Noon when it became more cloudy & dripping. Towards evening it began to Rain and the Night was wet.
The two reverend Gentlemen who dined and lodged here, went away after breakfast.

Tuesday 4th. Thermometer at 63 in the Morning—62 at Noon and 66 at Night.
Wind at So. West, veering more Westerly. Morning wet, and till Noon dripping; Clear afterwards, and wind fresh.

Wednesday 5. Thermometer at 60 in the Morng.  at Noon and 68 at Night.
Brisk wind from the Southward all day. Weather clear.

Stripped the Shingles of the South side of the Pediment of the West front of the House, in expectation of Mr. Sanders’s coming to direct the Shingling of it, but he never appeared.
Colo. Ramsay introducing a Mr. McComb, & a Mr. Lowry; dined here, & went away afterwards.
Mr. Perin went from this after Breakfast.

   mr. mccomb: GW may mean James McKenna, formerly a partner of William Lowry in the firm of Lowry & McKenna. McKenna continued to carry on a retail business in Alexandria for a number of years (Fairfax IndexEdith Moore Sprouse, ed. A Surname and Subject Index of the Minute and Order Books of the County Court, Fairfax County, Virginia, 1749–1800. Fairfax County History Commission. Fairfax, Va., 1976., 27; Va. Journal, 23 June 1785).

   Mr. Lowry is William Lowry, an importer of English goods who had a store in 1784 on Fairfax Street, at the corner of Queen Street in Alexandria (Va. Journal, 16 Sept. and 21 Oct. 1784). Lowry, an Englishman, had by 1787 moved his wife and seven children to Alexandria (VAUGHANSamuel Vaughan. “Minutes Made by S. V. from Stage to Stage on a Tour to Fort Pitt or Pittsburgh in Company with Mr. Michl. Morgan Obrian, from Thence by S. V. Only through Virginia, Maryland, & Pensylvania (18 June to 4 Sept. 1787).” Manuscript diary in the collection of the descendants of Samuel Vaughan., 58).

Thursday 6th. Thermometer at 65 in the Morning—65 at Noon and 66 at Night.
Flying clouds and a Rainbow in the Morning with but little wind; drippings of rain, more or less all day.
Mr. Burwell Bassett, and Mr. Shaw set out after Breakfast for Dumfries.
The appearances of the day, and the impracticability of giving, on acct. of the clammyness of the Earth, an even face to any more of my lawn, until the grd. should get dryer, of which there is no immediate prospect, I sowed what was levelled & smoothed of it, with English grass Seeds; and as soon as the top was so dry, as not to stick to the Roller, I rolled & cross rolled it; first with a light wooden roller; and then with a heavy wooden roller; with a view of compressing the Ground—smoothing the Surfice of it & to bury the Seeds.
Mr. Sanders not coming according to expectation I began with my own people to shingle that part of the Roof of the House wch. was stripped yesterday, & to copper the Gutters &ca.

Friday 7th. Thermometer at 62 in the Morning—64 at Noon and  at Night.
Wind Southwardly all day and weather clear, warm, & pleasant.
Sat to day, as I had done yesterday, for Mr. Houdon to form my Bust.
Mrs. Jenifer, wife of Doctr. Walter Jenifer, dined here, and returned afterwards; and Doctr. Craik came here in the afternoon, and stayed all Night.
Mr. Shaw and Mr. Bassett returned from Dumfries about Noon

& Doctr. Brown came in the afternoon to visit a sick Servant of the Mr. Bassetts, & returned.
Finished trenching my Lawn, the spading of which had recd. several interruptions by odd Jobs intervening. The ground getting a little drier I began again to level & smooth it.
Plowed up a Cowpen in order to sow the ground with Orchard Grass Seeds.

   plowed up a cowpen: This cow pen, containing about a quarter of an acre, was on the west front of the house, on ground intended for the bowling green (GW’s “Notes and Observations,” 1785–86, DLC:GW).

Saturday 8th. Thermometer at 63 in the Morning—66 at Noon and 68 at Night.
But little wind—weather clear, and exceedingly pleasant.
Sowed the ground which was plowed yesterday, and which might amount to about a quarter of an Acre, with near half a Bushel of the Orchard Grass Seeds; which was neither very clean nor I fear not very good.
Also sowed with English Grass Seeds, as much more of the Lawn as I could get levelled & smoothed and rolled it in the same manner as that on thursday last was done.

Sunday 9th. Thermometer at 64 in the Morng. 70 at Noon and 70 at Night.
Morning and Evening lowering. Midday tolerably clear, warm & pleasant.
Accompanied by Mr. Houdon and the two Mr. Bassetts, attended the Funeral of Mrs. Manley at the Plantation of Mr. Willm. Triplett, and returned to Dinner.

   Sarah Harrison Manley (d. 1785), a sister of George Harrison of Fairfax, had been married first to John Triplett and second to John Manley. William Triplett, at whose home the funeral took place, was probably a nephew of her first husband, and was, moreover, the executor of the estate of her son, Harrison Manley.

Monday 10th. Thermometer at 68 in the Morng. 70 at Noon and 74 at Night.
Thunder about day. Morning threatning but clear & pleasant afterwards.
A Mr. Jno. Lowe, on his way to Bishop Seabury for Ordination, called & dined here. Could not give him more than a general certificate, founded on information, respecting his character; having

no acquaintance with him, nor any desire to open a Corrispondence with the new ordained Bishop.
Observed the process for preparing the Plaister of Paris, & mixing of it—according to Mr. Houdon. The Oven being made hotter than it is usually heated for Bread, the Plaister which had been previously broken into lumps—that which was hard, to about the size of a pullets egg; and that which was soft, and could be broken with the hands, larger; was put in about Noon, and remained until Night; when, upon examination, it was further continued until the Morning without any renewal of the heat in the Oven, which was close stopped. Having been sufficiently calcined by this operation, it was pulverized (in an Iron Mortar) & sifted for use through a fine lawn sieve, & kept from wet.
When used, it is put into a Bason, or other Vessel with water; sifted through the fingers, ’till the Water is made as thick as Loblolly or very thick cream. As soon as the plaister is thus put into the Water, it is beat with an Iron spoon (almost flat) until it is well Mixed, and must be immediately applied to the purpose for which it is intended with a Brush, or whatever else best answers, as it begins to turn hard in four or five minutes, and in Seven or ten cannot be used, & is fit for no purpose afterwards as it will not bear wetting a second time. For this reason no more must be mixed at a time than can be used within the space just mentioned.
The brush (common painters) must be put into water as soon as it is used, and the plaister well squeezed out, or this also becomes very hard. In this case to clean it, it must be beaten ’till the plaister is reduced to a powder, & then washed.

   John Lowe (1750–1798), a minor Scottish poet, was born in the Galloway district of Scotland and educated at the University of Edinburgh. He came to Virginia in 1772 and became a tutor in the family of John Augustine Washington. He later ran an academy in Fredericksburg attended by Fielding Lewis’s children. After his ordination at St. George’s Church, Hempstead, Long Island, he became minister at Hanover Parish in King George County, Va.

   Samuel Seabury (1729–1796) was the first bishop of the Episcopal church in America. He had been an outspoken and active Tory before and during the Revolution, and his choice by the Episcopal clergy of Connecticut as their candidate for consecration caused much controversy among the American churchmen and laity. The fact that he was consecrated in Scotland rather than in England made some question the validity of his office, and he was a controversial figure until his death.

   plaister of paris: Houdon used the plaster of paris to make a life mask of GW, from which he made two busts. One of these he took back to France with him, along with the mask; the other remained at Mount Vernon.

Tuesday 11th. Thermometer at 68 in the Morning—70 at Noon and 71 at Night.
A Very heavy fog until near 10 Oclock, with very little wind, from the Eastward. From thence till five P. M. it was tolerably clear; when it clouded again, & looked like rain.
Sowed more English grass Seed on All the ground that had been levelled, & Smoothed on the Lawn.
Began the foundation of the House at the Southwest Corner of the South Garden.
Mr. Dulany, Mr. Sanderson and Mr. Potts dined here and returned afterwards to Alexanda.
After dark it began to rain and continued to do so fast, more or less, all Night—which appeared to have washed all the Seeds (at least all the Chaff with its contents) which had been just sowed from the ground, and carried it to the lowest parts of it.

Wednesday 12th. Thermometer at 66 in the Morning—64 at Noon and 62 at Night.
The Rain which fell last Night had made the ground so Wet that I could neither level or in any manner work it. I was obliged therefore to employ the labourers thereon in other Jobs.
Mr. Livingston (son of Peter Van brugh Livingston of New York) came to Dinner, & stayed all Night. And in the Evening Mr. Madison arrived.
Wind at No. Et. and thick weather all day; and fine Rain with intervals.

   Peter Van Brugh Livingston (1710–1792), of New York, was the brother-in-law of William Alexander, Lord Stirling, and had been his partner in a mercantile business. In 1775 Livingston had been presiding officer of the New York provincial congress but resigned shortly afterwards because of ill health. Livingston’s two sons were Philip Peter Livingston (b. 1740) and Peter Van Brugh Livingston (b. 1753).

Thursday 13th. Thermometer at 62 in the Morning—62 at Noon and 62 at Night.
Wind at No. Et. all day, and raining more or less—sometimes hard.
Mr. Livingston, notwithstanding the Rain, returned to Alexandria after dinner. A Suspension of all out doors work.

Friday 14th. Thermometer at 62 in the Morning—65 at Noon and 66 at Night.
Lowering most of the day, but no wind.

Mr. Madison went away after Breakfast. My Chariot which went up for, brought down Miss Sally Ramsay & Miss Kitty Washington, to be Bridesmaids tomorrow at the wedding of Miss Bassett.
Mr. George Washington, & Mr. Burwell Bassett went to the Clerks Office & thence to Colo. Masons for a license, & returned to Dinner; having accomplished their business.
The ground being too wet, I employed the labourers who had been levelling the Lawn, in cleaning & weeding the Shrubberies.

   for a license: In order to obtain a marriage license for the wedding of his underage daughter, Fanny, to George Augustine Washington, Col. Burwell Bassett had to give his consent personally before the clerk of the court or in writing with two witnesses. His eldest son, Burwell, was probably taking this written permission with him to Alexandria at this time. The clerk then issued the license, certified that bond was given, and certified “the consent of the father, or guardian, and the manner thereof, to the first justice sworn in commission of the peace, or in his absence to the next justice sworn in that county, who is hereby authorised and required to sign and direct the same” (HENINGWilliam Waller Hening, ed. The Statutes at Large; Being a Collection of All the Laws of Virginia, from the First Session of the Legislature, in the Year 1619. 13 vols. 1819–23. Reprint. Charlottesville, Va., 1969., 6:81–85). George Mason, who was a Fairfax justice by 1749 (Fairfax IndexEdith Moore Sprouse, ed. A Surname and Subject Index of the Minute and Order Books of the County Court, Fairfax County, Virginia, 1749–1800. Fairfax County History Commission. Fairfax, Va., 1976., 16), was probably the oldest justice in point of service, and had therefore to sign the license.

Saturday 15th. Thermometer at 66 in the Morng. 68 at Noon and 68 at Night.
A Heavy lowering morning with the wind at South. Clear afternoon and fine Evening.
The Reverend Mr. Grayson, and Doctr. Griffith; Lund Washington, his wife, & Miss Stuart came to Dinner—All of whom remained the Evening except L. W.
After the Candles were lighted George Auge. Washington and Frances Bassett were married by Mr. Grayson.
The ground continuing too wet to level, the labourers worked in the Shrubberies.
Put two thousand of the Common Chestnuts into a box with dry Sand—a layer of each & two hundred of the Spanish Chesnut in like manner to plant out in the Spring. These were put into Sand in a day or two after they were taken from the Trees.

   Spence Grayson (1734–1798) was a son of Benjamin Grayson of Prince William County and a brother of William Grayson. He lived at Belle Air, two miles from Occoquan River, and had been for a number of years minister of Cameron Parish, Loudoun County. At this time Grayson was serving as minister of Dettingen Parish, Prince William County, which included two churches, one near Dumfries and the other near Broad Run and Slater Run. During the Revolution, Spence Grayson served as chaplain of Grayson’s Additional Continental Regiment, commanded by his brother William.

   David Griffith was probably at Mount Vernon to deliver to GW some Cape of Good Hope wheat, which Samuel Powel of Philadelphia had sent (GW to Powel, 2 Nov. 1785, DLC:GW).

   Miss Stuart is probably David Stuart’s sister Nancy.

   Although he was still concerned about George Augustine’s health (see 14 May 1785), GW wrote Fanny’s father on 23 May 1785, “It has ever been a maxim with me thro’ life, neither to promote, nor to prevent a matrimonial connexion, unless there should be something indispensably requiring interference in the latter . . . & therefore, neither directly nor indirectly have I ever said a syllable to Fanny or George upon the subject of their intended connexion; but as their attachment to each other seems to have been early formed, warm & lasting, it bids fair to be happy: if therefore you have no objection, I think the sooner it is consummated the better.” He added that he and Mrs. Washington wished the young couple to live at Mount Vernon (GW to Burwell Bassett, DLC:GW).

Sunday 16th. Thermometer at 66 in the Morng. 68 at Noon and 72 at Night.
Morning thick and lowering, with appearances of rain, which vanished about Noon; after which it was clear and very pleasant—wind continuing at South.
Mr. Grayson went away very early in the Morning, & Mr. Griffith, Mrs. Lund Washington and Miss Stuart after Dinner.

Monday 17th. Thermometer at 68 in the Morning— at Noon and  at Night.
Foggy & lowering morning, with but little wind. Clear afterwards, and Wind at No. West & cool.
Set out to meet the Directors of the Potomack Navigation at George Town. Where, having all assembled, we proceeded towards the Great Falls, and dispersing for the convenience of obtaining Quarters, Govr. Johnson and I went to Mr. Bryan Fairfax—Govr. Lee, Colo. Fitzgerald, Mr. Potts the Secretary, Mr. Rumsay the Manager, & Mr. Stuart the Assistant, went to a Mr. Wheelers near the G. Falls. Colo. Gilpin—I should have said before—had proceeded on to prepare the way for levelling &ca. at that place, in the morning.

   Mr. Wheeler’s may have been the home of Samuel Wheeler, who in 1791 was living between Difficult Bridge and Old Courthouse Run in Fairfax County (Fairfax IndexEdith Moore Sprouse, ed. A Surname and Subject Index of the Minute and Order Books of the County Court, Fairfax County, Virginia, 1749–1800. Fairfax County History Commission. Fairfax, Va., 1976., 35).

Tuesday 18th. Thermometer at  in the Morning— at Noon and  at Night.
After an early breakfast at Mr. Fairfax’s, Govr. Johnson & I set out for the Falls (accompanied by Mr. Fairfax) where we met

the other Directors and Colo. Gilpin in the operation of levelling the ground for the proposed cut or Canal from the place where it is proposed to take the Water out, to the other where it will be let into the river again. In the highest of which, and for near 70 rod, it is between five & Seven feet higher than the Surface of the water at the head. After which it descends, & for at least 300 yards at the lower end, rapidly. This Cut, upon the whole, does not appear to be attended with more difficulty than was apprehended, for tho’ the ground is higher than was expected—it appears from some experiments of sticking a spiked stake down in those parts, that there is two or 3 feet of soft earth at Top, & the lower end of the Canal well calculated to receive locks to advantage; as also to dam the water, to throw it back into the Canal, & thereby reduce the digging—wch. may also be done at the head by loose Stones being thrown into the River to a Rocky Island. The length of the Cut, from the work of to day, is found to be about 2400 yards—a little more or less—upon exact measurement.
Took a view of the River from the Spout, or Cateract to the proposed entrance of the Canal below, to see if I could discover (as some supposed there was) the advantage of a Canal on the Maryland side in preference to one on this, but saw no likely appearances of it. About 400 yds. below the Cateract, there is a Cove into which emptys a small part of the river, thro deep & steep rocks on both sides which is a good defence to it, and some little distance below this again, is another Cove, but how a Canal was to be brought thither, I could not (having the river between) discover. However, at, & below both, is rapid water—one little, if any, inferior to the Spout at Shanondoah.
Having taken a rough level of the proposed cut, formed general ideas for the Canal—determined to go on with it this winter, as soon as our operations on the water, on acct. of the Season must cease—& come to some resolutions respecting the hireg. of Negros, we broke up, after dark & I returned to Mr. Fairfax’s.

   The lock canal around the Great Falls became the major project of the Potowmack Company. Completed in 1802 with five locks, it was the most ambitious civil engineering project in America in the eighteenth century (see BROWN [2]Alexander Crosby Brown. “America’s Greatest Eighteenth Century Engineering Achievement.” Virginia Cavalcade 12 (Spring 1963): 40–47.).

Wednesday 19th. Thermometer at  in the Morng.  at Noon and  at Night.
Wind which had been at No. Wt. yesterday, & clear, had now shifted to the So. Et. and lowered till Night, when it began to

rain; which it did more or less through the Night, the wind blowing fresh.

Immediately after breakfast I set out for my return home—at which I arrived a little after Noon. And found my Brother Jno., his Wife; Daughter Milly, & Sons Bushrod & Corbin, & the wife of the first—Mr. Willm. Washington & his wife & 4 Children & Colo. Blackburn—to whom was added in the Evening Mr. Willm. Craik.
Mr. Houdon having finished the business which brot. him hither, went up on Monday with his People, work, and impliments in my Barge, to Alexandria, to take a Passage in the Stage for Philadelphia the next Morning.
Sowed (after making good the vacancies of the former) about a pint of the Cape of Good hope Wheat, sent me by Mr. Powell of Philadelphia, in 14 rows alongside of the other in the enclosure behind the Stables.
Also—sowed about a table Spoonful of the Buffaloe or Kentucke Clover sent me by Doctr. Stuart alongside of the Guinea grass at the foot of the above Wheat & continuance of the rows thereof.

   the wife of the first: Bushrod Washington was married on 13 Oct. to Julia Ann (Nancy) Blackburn (1768–1829), daughter of Col. Thomas Blackburn, of Rippon Lodge.

   GW’s nephew, William Augustine Washington, and his wife, Jane, usually called Jenny, were now living at Blenheim in Westmoreland County. This

   house was only a short distance inland from Wakefield, their former residence, which had burned in 1780. Shortly after this visit, the Washingtons moved again, to Haywood, across Bridges Creek from Wakefield. Their four children living at this time were Hannah Bushrod Washington (1778-1797), Augustine Washington (c.1780–1797), Ann Aylett Washington (1783–1804), and Bushrod Washington, Jr. (1785–1830).

   mr. powell of philadelphia: Samuel Powel (1739–1793) held several political offices in Philadelphia and was for many years mayor of the city. He strongly supported the Revolution and had subscribed £5,000 for the support of the Continental Army. Powel was a member of the American Philosophical Society, a founder of the University of Pennsylvania, a manager of the Pennsylvania Hospital, and president of the newly founded Philadelphia Society for Promoting Agriculture. Powel and his wife, Elizabeth Willing Powel, became intimate friends of the Washingtons during GW’s presidential years.

   buffaloe or kentucke clover: Trifolium stoloniferum, a native perennial found in open woodlands and prairies from West Virginia to South Dakota.

Thursday 20th. Thermometer at 67 in the Morng. 66 at Noon and 65 at Night.
Wind fresh at South East and weather threatning, with Showers of rain (some pretty heavy) through the day.
George Washington & his wife, Bushrod Washington, his wife Sister & Brother, the two Mr. Bassetts, Mr. Craik and Mr. Shaw, notwithstanding the weather set out for the races at Alexandria, and were disappointed of seeing them, as they were put off. They did not return.

Friday 21st. Thermometer at 57 in the Morning—55 at Noon and 53 at Night.
Flying Clouds and cold, with appearances of Snow; wind being at No. West.
My Brother, Mr. Willm. Washington and his wife went up with me to this days races at Alexandria. We dined at Colo. Ramsays & returned in the Evening with the Company who went from here the day before, Except Mr. Wm. Washington, the two Mr. Bassetts and Mr. Shaw.

   There were two races in Alexandria on this day. In the morning, the Alexandria Jockey Club Purse of 100 guineas was won by Capt. Edward Snickers’s horse Careless. The afternoon race, for a purse of 50 guineas, also sponsored by the Jockey Club, was won by “Mr. Hammersley’s bay Colt Spry” (Va. Journal, 27 Oct. 1785).

Saturday 22d. Thermometer at 52 in the Morning—52 at Noon and 52 at Night.

Wind at No. West and fresh; & Cold with appearances of unsettled weather.
Went up again to day, with my Brother, and the rest of the Gentlemen to the Race, & dined at Mr. Herberts. All returned, except Mr. Jno. Bassett, who got hurt on the race field, and Mr. Shaw. Mr. Willm. Scott came here in the Evening, from Alexandria.

   The race today, for the Alexandria Town Purse of 50 guineas, was won by Gen. Alexander Spotswood’s horse Cumberland (Va. Journal, 27 Oct. 1785).

Sunday 23d. Thermometer at 50 in the Morng. 56 at Noon and 59 at Night.
Fine & pleasant all day, with the Wind at South. No frost as was expected.
My Brother, his wife Daughter and Son; Mr. Willm. Washington his wife & 4 Children; Mr. Bushrod Washington & wife; and Mr. Scott all went away after Breakfast. Mr. Jno. Bassett & Mr. Shaw came home in the forenoon and Mr. Fitzhugh of Chatham, Genl. Spotswood, Mr. McCarty of Pope Creek, and a Colo. Middleton of South Carolina came here to dinner, & went away afterwards.
Perceived the Orchard Grass Seeds which I sowed on the 8th. Instt. in the same Inclosure of the Turneps, to be coming up thick & well.

   William Fitzhugh (1741–1809), of Chatham in Stafford County, was the son of Lucy Carter and Henry Fitzhugh (1706–1742) of Eagle’s Nest. He had been a member of the House of Burgesses 1772–75, the Virginia conventions of 1775 and 1776, and the Continental Congress 1779–80. He served in the House of Delegates 1776–77, 1780–81, and 1787–88 and in the Senate 1781–85. Fitzhugh was one of the foremost enthusiasts in Virginia of breeding and racing horses.

   mr. mccarty of pope creek: The second son of Speaker Daniel McCarty, named Daniel McCarty (d. 1744), remained at the original family home, Longwood, at Pope’s Creek, Westmoreland County. He was a neighbor of the Augustine Washington family during their years at their Pope’s Creek home, and Augustine and Daniel named each other as executors in their wills. This Daniel had one son, also named Daniel (d. 1795), of Pope’s Creek, who appears here. A contemporary of GW’s, he is often confused with his first cousin and GW’s close neighbor, Colonel Daniel McCarty of Mount Air in Fairfax County.

   Arthur Middleton (1742–1787), of Middleton Place near Charleston, had been in the South Carolina militia during the Revolution. He served in the South Carolina assembly, was a member of the council of safety, and in 1776 had been on the committee which prepared the South Carolina constitution. Middleton served in the Continental Congress for several terms.

Monday 24th. Thermometer at 56 in the Morning—58 at Noon and 58 at Night.
Variable, & squally with a little rain. Wind at South in the Morning, and Westwardly afterwards.
The two Mr. Bassetts (Burwell and John) left this after breakfast, to return home.
In the Afternoon Doctr. Craik came in, and stayed all Night.
I rid to my Plantations at the Ferry, Dogue run, and Muddy hole—found the Orchard grass Seeds which had been sowed at Dogue run come up very well—as the Timothy also had—and that my Corn fields, now that the Fodder was taken off, looked miserably bad—the wheat on the other hand very good.

Tuesday 25th. Thermometer at 54 in the Morng. 58 at Noon and 56 at Night.
Forenoon clear and serene, and pleasant; but the Afternoon Windy & cold, with flying clouds. Wind about West.
Doctr. Craik went away before Breakfast—he intended to [go to] Alexa. but was to call upon John Alton.
Rid to my Plantation in the Neck. Found my Corn & Wheat

there similar with those at the other plantations as described yesterday.

Finding the Seeds of the Honey locust had come nearly, or quite to a state of maturity although the thick part of the pod still retained its green colour I had them gathered, lest when ripe they should be gathered by others, to eat.

   Wednesday 26th. Thermometer at 50 in the Morng. 56 at Noon and 56 at Night.
A large white frost this morning. Wind brisk and cold from the No. West all the day, after 9 O’clock.
Took the cover off my dry Well, to see if I could not fix it better for the purpose of an Ice House, by Arching the Top, and planking the sides.
Having received by the last Northern Mail advice of the arrival at Boston, of one of the Jack Asses presented to me by His Catholic Majesty, I sent my Overseer John Fairfax, to conduct him, and his Keeper, a Spaniard, home safe; addressing him to Lieutt. Governor Cushing, from whom I received the information.

Sent to Morris (Overseer of my Dogue run Plantation) a Bushel of clover seed (reserving Six pounds) to sow as fast as he could get the ground which is intended for the reception of it, in order.
Yesterday I transplanted a Cornation Cherry tree, and Apricot tree, which were within the Lawn before the door into the North Garden—little expecting that either will live—the first being 33 Inches in circumference and the latter 21 inches and a good deal decayed.
Finished the Shingling on the West front of the House.

   GW had decided not to build a new icehouse but to remodel the old one extensively along lines suggested in Robert Morris’s letter of 15 June 1784 (DLC:GW). The rebuilt icehouse had an inner well within the first, which was lined with wood for better insulation. Over the well was an arch, covered with soil and sodded. There was a tunnel in the face of the hill through which the ice could be carried from the river (MVARAnnual Report of the Mount Vernon Ladies’ Association of the Union. Mount Vernon, Va., 1854–., 1939, 30–31).

   one of the jack asses: Knowing that Spain produced excellent jackasses, GW made some inquiries about how he might obtain one for breeding purposes. Upon learning of this, Charles III, king of Spain, sent word that two Spanish jacks were being shipped to him as a gift (Thomas Jefferson to GW, 10 Dec. 1784, DLC:GW). Early in October, GW was notified by Lt. Gov. Thomas Cushing, of Massachusetts, that one of the jacks had arrived at Beverly in the care of Pedro Tellez, and that another animal was expected soon (Cushing to GW, 7 Oct. 1785, GW to Francisco Rendon, 19 Dec. 1785, DLC:GW). GW dispatched John Fairfax to Boston with instructions to escort the Spaniard and the two jacks (26 Oct. 1785, DLC:GW). It later developed that the second jack had died at sea (GW to Tench Tilghman, 30 Nov. 1785, DLC:GW). Setting out from Boston on 10 Nov., Fairfax and Tellez reached Mount Vernon on 5 Dec. (Cushing to GW, 16 Nov. 1785, DLC:GW; see entry for 5 Dec. 1785). It soon appeared that while the jack itself was a gift, GW was expected to pay all charges except Tellez’s wages (GW to Cushing, 26 Oct. 1785, GW to William Hartshorne, 20 Feb. 1786, DLC:GW). The jack, to be named Royal Gift, seemed a disappointment at first. GW wrote Lafayette 10 May 1786 that although the animal was handsome, “his late royal master, ’tho past his grand climacteric, cannot be less moved by female allurements than he is” (DLC:GW). “I have my hopes that when he becomes a little better acquainted with republican enjoyments, he will amend his manners & fall into our custom of doing business; if the case should be otherwise, I shall have no disinclination to present his Catholic Majesty with as valuable a present as I received from him” (GW to William Fitzhugh, 15 May 1786, DLC:GW). Subsequent letters indicate that Royal Gift did amend his manners. GW wrote to Richard Sprigg: “It is, I believe, beyond a doubt that your Jenny is with foal by my Spaniard” (1 April 1787, owned by Mr. Sol Feinstone, Washington Crossing, Pa.).

Thursday 27th. Thermometer at 50 in the Morng. 56 at Noon and 58 at Night.
A remarkably great white frost and the ground a little frozen.

Wind Southerly all day, after it rose in the Morning, but not very fresh. Forenoon clear but the afternoon, especially towards the Suns setting, a little hazy & lowering.
Mr. Battaile Muse came here before dinner but would not stay to it. After finishing some business with me respecting my Tenants and my agreeing to allow him Six pr. Ct. for Collecting my Rents, he went up to Alexandria.
Purchased 1000 Bushels of Wheat of him, to be delivered as fast as he could have it brot. down, at my Mill—for which I am to give Six Shillings in March next or when he comes here in April.
Began to put up my Hogs at the different Plantations, to fatten for Porke.

   Battaile Muse (1751–1803), son of Col. George Muse of Caroline County, had settled in Berkeley County. Muse, who in 1784 was the agent for George William Fairfax’s Virginia properties, was hired by GW as the rental agent for his tenant lands in Frederick, Fauquier, Berkeley, and Loudoun counties.

Friday 28th. Thermometer at 54 in the Morning—60 at Noon and 62 at Night.
Wind Southerly; clear and pleasant all day.
Finished levelling and Sowing the lawn in front of the Ho[use] intended for a Bolling Green—as far as the Garden Houses.
Also began to sow clover seed at Dogue run plantation.

Saturday 29th. Thermometer at 59 in the Morning 64 at Noon and 65 at Night.
Morning clear, calm, and very pleasant. About Noon it began to lower a little, and continued to do so all the Afternoon.
Rid to the Plantations at the Ferry and Dogue run—at the last of which finished Sowing the Clover Seed which I sent there the 26th.; With this I mixed 9 Bushels of the pounded Plaister of Paris; and Sowed the whole on about 4¼ acres of Ground (on the Side of the run along the old Mill race) as near as I could judge from stepping it.
Sunk the inner well in the Dry well now fitting up for an Ice house, about 8 feet untill I came to a pure sand.
Mrs. Stuart & Child Nancy, & Miss Allan, came here this Evening.

   child nancy: Ann (Nancy) Calvert Stuart, born in Aug. 1784, was the eldest child of David and Eleanor Calvert Custis Stuart and the first of many half brothers and sisters to the four Custis children.

   Sarah Allen lived at the Calvert home, Mount Airy. She seems to have

been a close friend of Eleanor Stuart’s and often helped her with the education of the Custis and Stuart children.

Sunday 30th. Thermometer at 64 in the Morning—63 at Noon and 60 at Night.
Thunder and lightning about day Break and Raining more or less all day, attended in the forenoon with very high Wind from the Westward.
Mr. Shaw went up to Alexandria after Breakfast, & stayed all Night.

Monday 31st. Thermometer at 52 in the Morng. 54 at Noon and 56 at Night.
A raw and moist air, with a westerly wind & lowering Sun.
Mr. Shaw returned to Breakfast, & Mrs. Stuart, Miss Allan &ca. went away after it.
A Captn. Fullerton came here to Dinner on business of the State Society of the Cincinnati of Pensylvania; for whom I signed 250 Diplomas as President. Went away after.
Sent half a Bushel of Clean Timothy Seed to Morris—to sow at Doeg run Plantation.

   Richard Fullerton (d. 1792) served throughout most of the Revolution, first as a volunteer and then as an officer in the 3d and 1st Pennsylvania regiments. He was breveted captain in 1783. As assistant secretary of the Pennsylvania Society of the Cincinnati, he was at Mount Vernon to obtain GW’s signature on a supply of blank diplomas for the state society.


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

Tuesday first. Thermometer at 50 in the Morning—56 at Noon and 56 at Night. A White frost and damp kind of a Morning, with but little Wind. Rather hazy all day, & towards evening lowering. Rid to my Plantations at Dogue run and Muddy hole—at the former preparing, & Sowing Ground with Timothy seed. Mrs. Fendall, Mrs. Lee & Miss Flora Lee, daughters of the former with Doctr. Skinner, came here to Dinner. And stayed all Night. A Mr. Sacket from Tygers Valley on the Monongahela, and another person came here before Dinner and shewed me some propositions they had to make to Congress for a large territory of Country West of the Ohio, which I discouraged them from

offering, as I was sure they never would be acceded to by that body.


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

Thursday 3d. Thermometer at 54 in the Morning—60 at Noon and 58 at Night. Morning clear, Calm, and very pleasant; but the wind springing up about 10 Oclock in the No. West, & blowing pretty fresh, it turned cool towards Evening. Borrowed a Scow from Colo. Gilpin, with which to raise Mud

from the Bed of the river or Creek, to try the efficacy of it as a Manure, and sent it to the river Plantation for that purpose. Went over there myself to mark off a piece of ground to spread it on, after it should get mellowed by the frosts of the Winter. Mrs. Fendal, Mrs. & Miss Lee & Doctr. Skinner went away, breakfasting first. Took up 11 Pines of a large size & planted them in the green brier hedge & circle at the extremity of the Lawn within the Gate.


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

Sunday 6th. Thermometer at 64 in the Morning—68 at Noon and 68 at Night. Clear, Calm, and remarkably pleasant all day. Sun set in a bank. Mr. Webster and Mr. Lee went away after breakfast. Mr. Geo. Washington & wife went to Church at Alexandria—as did Mr. Shaw. The two first returned to dinner. The other not ’till some time in the Night—after the family were in bed. Although it was omitted in the occurrences of Yesterday, I tried 2 quarts of the pulverized plaister of Paris; one of them burned, the other unburnt; upon two sections of the Circle in front of

the House—from the Dial Post to the Center post, opposite to the pavemt. leading to the Gate by the Quarter. The section nearest the House was sprinkled with the burned Plaister. These sections are only from one Post to another in the circle, and do not contain more than about 145 square ft. A quart therefore on each is at the rate of 8 Bushels to the Acre. This was the poorest part of the Circle.


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

Tuesday 8th. Thermometer at 60 in the Morning—66 at Noon and 66 at Night. A very heavy fog (with little or no wind) until near Noon—when it dispelled; became clear, warm & pleasant. Rid to Dogue run & Muddy hole Plantations—the first preparing Ground, & sowing Timothy Seed. Began to replace the dead trees in my shrubberies. Doctr. Craik first, and a Captn. Lewis Littlepage afterwards, came here to Dinner; the first went away after it—the other stayed all Night. This Captn. Littlepage has been Aid de Camp to the Duke de Crillon—was at the Sieges of Fort St. Phillip (on the Island of Minorca) and Gibralter; and is an extraordinary character. In the Evening Doctr. Griffith came, & stayed all Night.


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

Wednesday 9th. Thermometer at 64 in the Morning—66 at Noon and 66 at Night. A red, & watery Sun in the Morning, which about Noon was obscured, slow rain afterwds. Wind Southerly all day; and at Night appeared to be getting to the Westward. Mr. Griffith went away after Breakfast and Captn. Littlepage after Dinner. Having put in the heavy frame into my Ice House I began this day to Seal it with Boards, and to ram straw between these boards and the wall. All imaginable pains was taken to prevent the Straw from getting wet, or even damp, but the Moisture in the air is very unfavourable.


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

Thursday 10th. Thermometer at 59 in the Morning— at Noon and  at Night. There having fallen so much rain in the Night as to convince me that the Straw which I had placed between the Cieling & the Wall of my Ice House, must have got wet, and being in some doubt before of the propriety of the measure, lest it should get damp, heat, & rot; I had it all taken out, leaving the Space between unfilled with any thing. Went up to Alexandria to meet the Directors of the Potomack Company. Dined at Mr. Fendalls (who was from home) and returned in the Evening with Mrs. Washington. Mr. George Washington & his wife who accompanied us remaining to a Ball. Planted 8 of the Hemlock Pine which were brought from Neabsco in my Shrubberies—More still wanting to make up the deficiencies.


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

Saturday 12. Thermometer at 54 in the Morng. 58 at Noon and 60 at Night. Wind a little west of the No. and pretty fresh all the forenoon; and cloudy. Afternoon clear, still, & very pleasant. Received 215 Apple trees (red striek) from Major Jenifer; wh[ic]h I sent to the river plantation in the Neck, to be planted. At the same time, and from the same place, received two New Town & 2 Golden Pippin trees—Two of the Bury, & two St. Germain Pear Trees and 2 duke Cherry Trees. Rid to my Plantations at the Ferry—Dogue run and Muddy hole; at the second of which they were yet preparing ground, & sowing grass-seeds—at the last gathering Corn. Covered my exotic plants in that section of my Botanical Garden between the Salt House & the House next the Circle; & began to cover the Guinea grass, which two days before I had cut of near the Crown—but did not finish it.


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

Sunday 13th. Thermometer at 59 in the Morning—65 at Noon—65 at Night. Clear all day. Morning calm & very pleasant; but Windy afterwards from the No. West. Mr. Saml. Hanson and his wife, Mr. Thos. Hanson and their two sisters, & Mrs. Dulany wife to Waltr. Dulany, lately from England came to Dinner, & stayed all Night.


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

Monday 14th. Thermometer at 58 in the Morning—64 at Noon and 62 at Night. Calm, clear, & pleasant Morning. Wind pretty brisk afterwards from the No. Wt., but fine notwithstanding.  The Company who came to dinr. yesterday, & lodged here last Night went away after breakfast—upon which I went to my Neck Plantation in the Neck with intention to take a descriptive list of my Horses, Cattle, Sheep, Working Tools &ca., but the forenoon being far spent I could only do it of the Horses & Tools. Began to Plant the Apple Trees which were brought from Major Jenifers on Saturday. Finished covering the Guinea grass in my Botanical Garden except 6 rows of it which I left uncovered—and uncut—to try the effect of the Winters frosts & snows upon it. In the Evening Mr. Willm. Craik returned from his trip over the Alligane Mountains having effected no business for his father or me, being disappointed of seeing those with whom he had it to transact.


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

Tuesday 15. Thermometer at 54 in the Morning—56 at Noon and 60 at Noon [night]. Wind Southerly and pretty fresh. Weather somewhat hazy and Smoaky. Went to my Neck Plantation and compleated the Acct. of my Stock there—except that of the Hogs—which stand thus.
Horses
A grey dray Stallion	1
Buck a Sorrel	16 yr. old	Working Horses
Gilbert a black	17 Do.
Randolph a Grey	7 Do.
Doctr. a Grey	7 Do.
Prentice a Bay	10 Do.
Jolly a Black	9 Do.
Dick a White	12 Do.
Grunt a Bay	9 Do.
Pompey a Bay	14 Do.
Diamond White	9 Do.
Possum—Grey	10 Do.
Jack—Black	10 Do.	12

Kit	a black Mare	5 yrs.	Workg. Mares
Fly	Dark brown
Patience
Betty White Stockgs.	9 Do.
Punch grey flea bittn.
Jenny light grey	9 Do.
Brown	11 Do.
Fanny	Black	9 Do.
Oversrs	Black	9
A brown Horse	5	unbroke Hors.
Bright Bay	rising	3
Black	Do.	3
Brown Mealy Cod.	Do.	3
Black	Do.	3
Black	Small	Do.	3
Ditto	Do.	2
Iron Grey	Do.	2
Black bald face	2	9
A Grey spring Colt	1
Dark bay	9	unbroke Mares
Sorrel	5
Brown	6
Black	rising	3
Dark brown	3
Grey	3
Black	rising	2	7
Black Spring Colt	1
In all	40
Cattle
Bulls y[oun]g	3
Working Oxen	7
Fatting Steers in Corn field	5
Cows	41
Heifers	6 yrs. old	6
3 yrs. old	15
2 yrs. old	11
1 yr. old	7
Spring	Cow calves	19	58
Steers—full grown	18
4 yrs. old	2
3 yrs. old	4
2 yrs. old	7
1 yr. old	3
Spring	Bull calves	11	45
159
Cows brot. to the Home for Milk & to go back	8
Total Cattle	167
Sheep
Rams	7
Ewes	92
Weathers	12
Ditto in Corn field	16
127
Weathers brot. to Ho[me] Ho[use]	42
Total	169
Tools & Implemts.
A Waggon Saddle and Gier for 4 Horses	1
An Oxe Cart—good	1
Ditto not good	1	2
Oxe Chains	2
Bolts for Tongues	2
Yokes, Rings &ca.
Bar shear Plows	9
Two pr. Iron traces to each	18
Old Bridles for ditto	18
NB. These Traces serve the Waggon
Hilling Hoes helved	20
unhelved pretty gd.	3
indifferent	2
At the Smiths Shop	2	27
Mattocks but indifft.	6
Ditto said to have come to the Home Ho[use]	7	13
Grubbing Hoes indifft.	3
Axes	7
Ditto at Smiths Shop	1
Ditto old Iron	1	9
Iron Wedges—pairs	3
Open Iron wire Sieve	1
Sand Sieve	1	2
Note these to be sent to the Home Ho[use]
Harvest Rakes	5 only gd.	13
Pitch forks	1
Half Bushels	new	1
Old Do	1	2
Plantation Gun	1


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

Friday 18th. Thermometer at 49 in the Morning—54 at Noon and 50 at Night. Morning clear & serene—a white Frost and ground froze—Ice an eighth of an Inch thick. Wind at No. Wt. & pretty fresh untill the afternoon when it was almost calm. Began to take up a number of small Pines to replace the dead ones in my wilderness. Got them with much dirt about the Roots. Took an Account of the Horses, Cattle & Sheep at Home. viz.
Horses
Magnolia—an Arabian	1
Nelson . Riding Horse	1
Blewskin . Ditto	1	2
height	age
Partner . A Bay	15	12	For the Chariot
Ajax . lightr. Bay	15	11
Chatham . dull Bay	15	8
Valiant . Yellowh. Bay	14¾	16
English . Bay	15	very old
McIntosh . Bay	14½	9
Careless . Bay	14½	5
Young . Bay	8
Dragon . Black 	15	6	Waggn. Hors.
Jolly . Ditto	15	14
Chichester . Bay	14½
Jock . Grey	14¼	5	4
Black . Mare dray	15	old	Cart H.
Black . Horse Ditto	14	old
used in Tumblers	2

A Brown Bay	14	6	Hacks
Chevalier 	dull bay	14½
Brown Bay	Muddy hole
Columbus	br[own] Do.	14	4
Total	21
Cattle
Working Oxen	old	2
Ditto Do	young	2	4
Cows from Camp	4
Rivr. Plantn.	8
Dogue run Do.	6
Ferry Do.	3	21
Bull	1
In all	26
 Note. One of the Cows that came from the River Plantn. (making the above, 9) got mired this Fall and died, and of the above, the 4 Cows from Camp—two from the Ferry—three from Dogue run—and one from the Neck are ordered to be detained here—and all the rest to be sent to their respective places.
Sheep
Weathers	40
Ewes	sucking Lambs	4
Lambs	for killing	4	48
 Began to take up my summer Turnips at the House. Got abt. half up to day. Sent to Mr. Digges for Papaw Bushes to replace the dead ones in my Shrubberies. Coming late I had not time to plant them but put the Roots in the ground until tomorrow. Planted the two duke Cherries—sent me by Major Jenifer in the two gardens—one under each Wall, abt. 30 feet from the Garden Houses—and planted the Bury & 2 St. Germain Pairs also sent me by him in the No. Garden—new part thereof—one of each kind on the circular Walk and the other two on the Strait walk. Put the Box with the Magnolia, & other exotics from So. Carolina and that with the Kentucke Coffee tree under a bush cover in the open part of the Green Ho[use] and began to cover the Palmetto Royal at the Front gate with Brush with the leaf on—but got a small part only South of the gate & South part thereof done before night.


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

Saturday 19th. Thermometer at 46 in the Morng. 54 at Noon and  at Night. Wind at No. West and cold all day, with Clouds which threatned Snow in the evening. Ground very hard frozen. Finished digging my Summer Turnips and putting them in a Cellar. Also finished covering the Palmetto royal at the front gate, except a small piece on the south side, nearest the gate, for which brush could not be got in time. My Ice House Walls except the Pediment over the outer door and the inner Walls of the arch were compleated this day likewise. Doctr. Craik whom I had sent for to visit York George (in the Neck) who is much afflicted with the gravel came here about Sundown and stayed all Night.


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

Sunday 20th. Thermometer at 48 in the Morning—54 at Noon and 54 at Night. Clear and calm all day, but the Air keen notwithstanding. George Washington & wife & Mr. Shaw went to Lund Washingtons to Dinner & returned in the afternoon. Colo. Harrison (Judge) came here to Dinner and Doctr. Craik (who went away early this Morning) at Night.  My Nephew Lawe. Washington came here with a letter today from Mr. Bayley respecting their Board &ca.


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

Monday 21st. Thermometer at 48 in the Morning— at Noon and  at N. Lowering morning, with the wind at No. Et. About half after ten A.M. it began to Snow & continued to do so (of a Wet kind) until Night, when it ceased tho’ the ground was not covered more than an Inch thick. Colo. Harrison & Doctr. Craik left this after Breakfast, and I went up to Alexandria with G. Washington to meet the Directors of the Potomack Coma. and to a Turtle feast (the Turtle given by myself to the Gentlemen of Alexa.). Returned in the Evening and found the Count Doradour recommended by, & related to the Marqs. de la Fayette here, as also the Revd. Mr. Magowan.


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

Tuesday 22d. Thermometer at 40 in the Morning—46 at Noon and 52 at Night. Clear and cold Wind at No. West all day. The Snow, except on the No. side of Hills & Houses had dissolvd. The Count Doradour and Mr. Magowan went away after Breakfast. The Reverd. Mr. Keith of Alexandria and a Mr. Bowie of Philadelphia came to Dinner and returned to Alexandria in the Evening. Gave my People their Cloathing pr. list taken. Removing Earth to day, as yesterday, to cover my Ice Ho[use].


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

Wednesday 23d. Thermometer at 48 in the Morng. 54 at Noon and  at Night. Clear, warm, and pleasant, with the Wind at South. Finished all the Brick work of my Ice House today. Miss Kitty Washington, Genl. Lincoln, Colonels Hooe & Lyles, Mr. Porter, Captn. Goodwin, Doctr. Swift, Mr. Potts, Mr. Dalby, Mr. Monshur Mr. Williams, Mr. Philips & a Mr. Cramer or Cranmur came here to Dinner and all of them returned in the evening except Kitty Washington. Sent Mr. Shaw through Alexandria, to agree for the Schooling & Board of my Nephews George & Lawrence Washington now at the Academy at George Town & thence to the latter place to conduct them to the former for the purpose of going to School at the Alexandria Academy.


Title: [Diary entry: 24 November 1785]
From: Washington, George
To:

 Thursday 24th. Thermometer at 48 in the Morng. 56 at Noon and 55 at Night. Clear, Warm & pleasant, wind being still southerly. Immediately after Breakfast, rid to my Plantation at the Ferry and took the following Acct. of my Stock—viz.
Horses
hands	age
Prince a black Horse	14	20 old	W.H.
Ditto—a Sorrel Do.	14¼	2
Jenny—bla. Mare	14¼	old	Working Mares
Peggy—White Do.	14	10
Fly—Dark Grey Do.	13½	8
Kitty—Small bay—Do.	13	15
Bonny—Sorrel—Do.	14	10
Nancy—black—Do.	sml.	12	6
A Black Mare	unb. Ms.
Steady, likely	13½	4
A sorrel Ditto,
Leonidas Do.	1
A bay—Do. very small	Spring	3
A bla. Horse . unlikely	4 1 Sprg.	unb. Hors.
A Small bay
Leonidas—likely
A black—bald face	3
Total	14
Cattle
age
Darling—a red & W. Ox	6
Bembo	White & red Do.	9
Mark black & White Do.	11
Duke red brindle	very old	4
Cows	14
Heifers	4 Years old	1
3 years.	2
2 years	2
Calves this spg.	5	10
Steers	full grown	2
4 years old	2
3 years old	5
2 years Do.	3

1 years Do.	1
Spring Calves	7	20
Bulls	2 years old	1
Beeves in Corn field	2
Total	51
Sheep
Rams	1
Ewes	9
Weathers	5
Total	15
Tools & Implements
A good Cart
2 Yokes with Rings
A Cain
Wheat Fans	1
Wire riddles—course	4
Sand Sieves	1
Courser Size	1	6
Plows Bar shears	4
Iron Traces	pairs	8
Haims, Clevis, Bridles &ca. compleat for them
Weeding Hoes	1
Hilling Ditto	13
Grubbing Ditto	1
Mattocks	4
Axes	5
Iron Wedge—1½ pair
 From the Ferry, I went to the Plantation at Dogue run and took the following Account of the Tools there—being omitted when I was there last.
Viz.
Oxe Carts	1
At the Ho[use] for repair	1	2
Oxe Yokes with rings	4
Oxe Chains	2
Wheat Fans	1
Riddles—viz.
1 Open & tolerable good
1 Sand Sieve & much worn
Axes	9

Mattocks	6
Grubbing Hoes	6
Hilling Ditto	16
Iron Wedges—pairs	4
Spades—good	1
Bar shear Plows	4
Iron Traces	8
Haims, Clevis, Bridles &ca. complete
Spare Colters	3
Adzes	1
Drawing knife	1
Handsaws	1
Froes	1
Broad Chissels	1
Narrow Do.	1
Gouge	1
Auger—¾ Inch	1
       Recapitulation of all my Stocks of Horses, Cattle & Sheep. Horses
Stud Horse. Magnolio	1
Ditto	Dray	1	2
Riding Horses	2
Chariot Horses	8
Hack Horses	4
Waggon Horses—Home Ho[use]	4
Cart Ditto Do. Do.	1	5
Plow Ditto Plantns.	18
Cart Mare Home Ho[use]	1
Plow Ditto Planns.	28	29
Broke Ditto, not worked	5
Unbroke Do. ove[r] 4 yr. old	13
Ditto	3 yrs.	5
Ditto	2 yrs.	3
Ditto	1	8
Ditto	Colts	5	68
Unbroke	Horses 4 & upwds.	3
Ditto	Ditto	3 yrs	6
Ditto	Do.	2 Ditto	4
Ditto	Do.	1 Ditto	4
Ditto	Do.	Spring Colts	6	23
In all	130
  Note, In the above Acct., are included 2 English Mares and their Colts—the one a Horse, and the other a Mare which by being at a Meadow had not been included in any of the foregoing lists. Of the above Mares 16 may go to Magnolio and 33 to the Jack Ass if he should arrive safe, and both of them be in order at the proper Season for covering.
Cattle
Bulls	aged	2
2 yrs. old	2
1 yr. old	2	6
Draught Oxen	26
Steers—full grown	35
4 yrs. old	4
3 yrs. old	10
2 yrs. old	14
1 yr. old	12
Calves	27	102
Cows	101
Heifers	6 yrs. old	6
4 yrs. old	6
3 yrs. Do.	20
2 yrs. Do.	19
1 yr. Do.	10
Calves	31	92
327
Beeves fatting	9
In all	336
Sheep
Rams	19
Ewes	167
Lambs	15
Weathers	59
Ditto—fatting	23	82
In all	283


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

Friday 25th. Thermometer at 50 in the Morng.  at Noon and  at Night. Wind Westerly & cooler than it had been the two days preceeding. About Noon a black Cloud arose to the Westward out of which came a mixture of Snow and Rain—this disappearing the Sun shone but the day upon the whole was variable & unpleast. Set out after breakfast, accompanied by Mr. G. Washington, to

make Mr. Mason at Colchester a Visit, but hearing on the road that he had removed from thence I turned into Gunston Hall where we dined and returned in the Evening & found Colo. Henry Lee & his Lady here. Mr. Shaw returned, having removed George & Lawe. Washington to the Alexandria Academy & fixed them at the Widow Dades.


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

Saturday 26th. Thermometer at 44 in the Morning—51 at Noon and 50 at Night. Wind Westerly and rather Cool in the Morning but less of it & warmer afterwards. Day variable—Clouds & sunshine. Colo. Lee & his Lady went away after breakfast—crossing to Maryland on their Way home.


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

Tuesday 29th. Thermometer at 44 in the Morning—54 at Noon and 54 at Night. A large hoar frost followed by Southerly Wind and some Clouds—but upon the whole tolerably clear & pleasant. Sent my Boat to Alexandria for a Hhd. of Common Rum and some Articles brought from Boston for me by General Lincoln. Majr. G. Washington went up to receive them.  Went out after Breakfast with my hounds from France, & two which were lent me, yesterday, by young Mr. Mason. Found a Fox which was run tolerably well by two of the Frh. Bitches & one of Mason’s Dogs. The other French Dogs shewed but little disposition to follow and with the second Dog of Mason’s got upon another Fox which was followed slow and indifferently by some & not at all by the rest until the sent became so cold that it cd. not be followed at all.


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

Wednesday 30th. Thermometer at 45 in the Morning—52 at Noon and 55 at Night. Morning very thick with Clouds & Smoak. About 9 Oclock it began to snow very moderately, which neither continued long—nor lay on the ground. At one the Sun came out, and the afternoon became clear & pleasant, the Wind, though not much of it, being Southerly all day. On the Wheat which was given to me by Colo. Spaight from the Cape of Good hope, and which having been sowed forward

had become very forward—full half leg high—and jointed, I determined to try an experiment and accordingly on three Rows next the fencing on the East side the Inclosure I cut it within 4 Inches of the ground just above the Crown of the plant from whence the Shutes had issued. The remainder I suffered to remain in its exuberent state to try the difference.