Title: From George Washington to John Gill, 26 November 1799
From: Washington, George
To: Gill, John

Sir,
Mount Vernon 26th Novr 1799

Under cover with this, you are furnished with the Invoice of such goods as I require.
As it was not so much in my power to fix the prices, as to designate the quality of the Goods, the amount of the cost of them may exceed, or fall short, of the sum due from you to me. If the first, the balance shall be paid by me; if the latter, I shall look to you for the deficiency.
I have drawn up, and signed before evidences, a memoranda of the agreement we entered into the day you were at this place, according to my conception of it. I have not, intentionally, departed either from the spirit or letter of it; and if it meets your approbation, the counterpart may be signed by you, before witnesses, and returned to me; together with the Deed from Mr Herbert to you; and against your arrival in Alexandria I will have a conveyance of that part of lot No. 10 which lays on the upper side of Difficult-run, ready for your Signature.
It is not always an easy matter to make interested men, at a distance, (when they are deprived of opportunities of seeing, & judging for themselves) believe that, there can be perfect candour used in a transaction, or relation of facts by the other party, when they are differently circumstanced ⟨mutilated⟩ nothing more certain

than that, the Woodland part of No. 10 which is on the lower side of Difficult run, would be infinitely more valuable to the proprietor of the land adjoining it, on that side, than that part of Lewis’s tract which lays on the upper side; seperated therefrom by a deep and Mirey run which can only be passed in place⟨s⟩ and not at those in all Seasons. For the same reason, the last mentioned slipe would be advantageous to me, although entirely stripped of wood and much exhausted. I am—Sir Your—very Hble Servant

Go: Washington


Title: To George Washington from Charles Little, 27 November 1799 [letter not found]
From: Little, Charles
To: Washington, George

Letter not found: from Charles Little, 27 Nov. 1799. GW wrote Little on 28 Nov.: “Mr Johnston delivered me your favour of yesterday.”


Title: To George Washington from James Piercy, 27 November 1799 [letter not found]
From: Piercy, James
To: Washington, George

Letter not found: from James Piercy, 27 Nov. 1799. On 1 Dec. GW wrote Piercy “In answer to your letter of the 27th Ulto.”


Title: To George Washington from Bryan Fairfax, 28 November 1799 [letter not found]
From: Fairfax, Bryan
To: Washington, George

Letter not found: from Bryan Fairfax, 28 Nov. 1799. In a letter to Fairfax of 30 Nov., GW refers to Fairfax’s “favour of the 28th Instt.”


Title: From George Washington to Charles Little, 28 November 1799
From: Washington, George
To: Little, Charles

Dear Sir,
Mount Vernon 28th Novr 1799.

Mr Johnston delivered me your favour of yesterday, and a map of the Land—formerly Lord Tankervilles; but as he came late in the afternoon, and said he was obliged to return that evening, I did not incline to detain him until I could examine, & get such information from the plat as was necessary for my purpose. I therefore dispatched him, & took the liberty of detaining the latter until this morning.
I am much obliged to you for sending it to me (and have paid Mr Johnston for bringing it). It shews clearly, that Tankervilles line and mine, from the Bridge, or Colvile branch are not the same. The question then is, whether the space between is vacant, or part of the late Thos Lord Fairfaxs twelve thousand Acre tract. I have no doubt myself, as well from other circumstances, as from Shepherds conduct, of its being waste & ungranted; but until I can get the meets & bounds of the above tract of 12000 acres, & perhaps of the Towlston Land also this fact cannot be ascertained with precision.
The present Lord Fairfax has promised me every aid in his power to elucidate this matter; but thinks some of the Papers necessary to effect ⟨it⟩ are in the possession of his son (he does not say which) whom he expects down between this and Christmas: but finding that Mr Shepherd, & some who abet him, are active in their endeavours to arre⟨st⟩ my Entry, it has put me more upon my mettle than I should otherwise have been, and more perhaps than the land, if obtained, is worth.
For this reason, I mean to have the line of these several tracts, so far as they relate to me investigated with as little delay as can be avoided. If therefore, while you are in Berkeley, you should by chance fall in with either Mr Thos or Mr Ferdinand Fairfax, it would add to the favours you have already confered on me in this business, by requesting whichsoever of the⟨m⟩ has the Papers in possession (if they see no impropriety in the measure) to furnish me with a copy of the cou⟨r⟩ses of such Land as adjoin mine—it would save me the trouble & expence of sending to the Land Office in Richmond for Copies thereof. Having the boundaries of the several tracts around mine and their connection with each other before me I might be enabled to discover without going on

the Land, whether there be ⟨any surveyors error⟩ or not; although a Survey would be ⟨sure to con⟩tain the amount of such ⟨illegible⟩ and to obtain a Grant therefor.
After having obtained this information, a Survey be necessary it is more than probable that I shall avail myself of your kind offer to attend it. With esteem & regard I am—Dear Sir Your Obedt Hble Serv⟨ant⟩

Go: Washington


Title: From George Washington to Samuel Sommers, 28 November 1799
From: Washington, George
To: Sommers, Samuel

Sir,
Mount Vernon 28th Novr 1799

Colo. Little forwarded your letter of the 25th instant to me, yesterday evening; & I have now to request (if it is not already done) that my Entry may be made in the County Surveyors Book of Record, and the Treasury Warrant deposited therewith.
Not having the Laws of this Commonwealth (since the Revolution) by me, I am entirely unacquainted with the regular mode of proceeding with respect to Entries; but should conceive that, no application by letter to the Surveyors Office for one, after my letter had been there (without any person authorized to receive it) & advised to be carried to you as Deputy Surveyor, & there entered, could defeat my right. Be this however as it may, I am persuaded you acted from your best judgment, and the matter, if contested, must rest upon a fair representation of facts. It would be proper that my letters to the Surveyor (opened by you) should be deposited along with the Treasury Warrant and Entry. Being, next to my open, and candid declaration in the presence of Shepherd and all others after finding that Tankervilles course and mine did not accord, & it having always been considered as my land, that I would enter it—the origin of the business.
I should have proceeded ’ere this to the ascertainment of this vacancy (if there be any); but it is proper that the courses of the adjoining Lands should be first obtained, and the Proprietors

thereof notified of my intention to give it a fair appearance—If these can be accomplished, I shall, when the Weather will permit set about this Work with the County Surveyor or yourself. With esteem—I am Sir Your Very Hble Servt

Go: Washington


Title: From George Washington to Bryan Fairfax, 30 November 1799
From: Washington, George
To: Fairfax, Bryan

My Lord,
Mount Vernon 30th Novr 1799

I thank you for the courses of so much of your land on Difficult, as had any relation to my small tract at the Bridge, over that stream, and for the communications contained in your favour of the 28th Instt.
The information derived from these sources, has satisfied me that the opinion of the Borderers on my land that it extended to Tankervilles line; and my own opinion (when I found the lines seperated at the Bridge Branch) that what lay between them was vacant, is erroneous: and it has, of course, arrested all proceedings of mine to obtain it as waste land.
The smallness of my tract (275 Acs. only, by Norriss’s Survey) and the pillage of its timber, together with the clearing of a part thereof (where useless to me) by Muir rendered the gore which had been deemed mine, of some importance to the tract; altho’ the land is hilly—broken—and the soil & wood thin, especially in the article of timber; so far as I could form an opinion by running the course of my Deed. Yet, even under these circumstances, such an addition might have enabled me to have cut down more of the 275 Acres. Which, small as it is, I am told is to have part taken away by an older Patent of Lewis’s; which calls for a straight line from my corner at the old ford of Difficult, to my upper corner thereon; & which, will take away some of the best land in the bend of the run. The right to do this you, perhaps, can judge better of than I who have no knowledge of the property thereabouts.
As you hold the land on the North & East of my tract, and (according to information) Mr Ferdo Fairfax possesses that wch is on the South & W. nothing remains to be done but in the settled and temperate part of the ensuing Spring if health will permit, for

Your Lordship Mr Fairfax and myself to repair to the scene—agree upon—and mark our lines of seperation to prevent encroachments on either side in future.
Mrs Washington unites in best wishes for your restored health—and in respects to your Lady and family with Your Lordships most Obedt and affectionate Hble Servant

Go: Washington


Title: To George Washington from William Thornton, 30 November 1799 [letter not found]
From: Thornton, William
To: Washington, George

Letter not found: from William Thornton, 30 Nov. 1799. GW wrote Thornton on 1 Dec.: “Your favour of the 30th Ulto . . . came to my hands this morning.”


Title: From George Washington to William Thornton, 1 December 1799
From: Washington, George
To: Thornton, William

Dear Sir,
Mount Vernon Decr 1st 1799.

Your favour of the 30th Ulto, enclosing Mr Blagdens dimensions of the rooms in my houses in the City, came to my hands this morning; With a list of the different kinds of Fruit trees in the Frenchmans Garden; to whom I was a subscriber.
The terms on which the subscription was set on foot, have entirely escaped me; my motive for subscribing—namely—to encourage a nursery of that sort, still rests on my memory.
If taking Trees from him, at this time, will go in payment of my former advance, I will receive them now to the full amount of my Subscription; (if there be danger i[n] suffering them to remain longer with him): but, if they are otherwise to be paid for, in a word, by advancing cash, I shall decline taking any. A line from you, on this subject, will decide the matter.
If Mr John G. Ladd will undertake to import good & genuine Plaister of Paris, on moderate terms, and will engage to have it delivered before the last of March, allowing time to prepare it for spreading in April, I would take from ten to twenty tons of it. But these matters ought to be precisely known, before any engagement is entered into with him.
Colo. Carrington of Richmond, who was here, & went from this yesterday, informed me that some Gentleman of that place, had imported a quantity from Nova Scotia; but as the Farmers thereabouts had not been in the practice of using it, he found it an unsaleable article; and had requested him to enquire if it could be disposed of in these parts. His price, the Colo, believed, was $8 pr

Ton; what the freight from thence would be, neither he, nor I, knew; but this could easily be ascertained, and by comparing the whole cost delivered here, with Ladds terms, a choice might be made of that, which under all circumstances, might appear most eligable. From Richmond, there would be a certainty of getting it in time, and the quality, by some process, might be ascertained.
I thank you for the Boston Glass, furnished for my buildings in the City; which I will pay for whenever the price shall be made known to me.
The true Chinese Hogs I lately had; but they have got so mixed, that a boar pig is desirable; & I would thank you for securing one for me, of the genuine kind, if to be had.
I am glad to hear that the Legislature of Maryland have acted favourably on the Application made to it by the Potomak Company. Your information of this event is the first I had received. It is to be hoped that the Legislature of this State will “go, and do so likewise.” Niether would be backward in promoting this useful undertaking if the measure was impartially investigated, and the welfare of the respective States duly considered. With very great esteem and regard I am—Dear Sir Your obliged & Obedt Hble Servt

Go: Washington


Title: To George Washington from Burwell Bassett, Jr., 2 December 1799
From: Bassett, Burwell Jr.
To: Washington, George

Dear Sir
Eltham Dec: 2d 1799

To communicate to our friends agreable incidents we are readily promptd by the pleasure it gives but it is duty alone which can lead us to be the communicators of uncomefortable tidings Tis this that impels me to inform my friends at Mount Vernon that Mrs Henley was attacked about ten days since with a severe bilious pleurisy her weak constitution was unequal to the shock and in five days she yielded to the force of her disorder. As it relates to herself perhaps the change cannot be much regreted as she had seen the best days this life could afford her but to her children the loss will be great. I have not neglected to make the inquiries relative to corn and oats as you required but so various are the opinions that it is difficult to make a Judgment about it Corn sells at two dollars by the small quantity but those who have any that would be an object ask fifteen. a merchant of Hanover town some weeks since offered to deliver the quantity you wanted at the highest navigation on this river for twelve and six I would take for my crop of 5 or 600 barrels thirteen shillings at my landing the freight asked is six pence the bushel a quantity of oats not to be bought. I have by the stage forwarded some honey locust seed but there was so great a proportion of them this year that were bad that the collection is but small. With respectful remembrance to my Aunt and the residents at Mount Vernon believe me to be with friendship and esteem your obt Ser.

Burwell Bassett


Title: From George Washington to Edward Carrington, 2 December 1799
From: Washington, George
To: Carrington, Edward

Dear Sir
Mount Vernon 2d Decr 1799

Since you mentioned the Plaster of Paris which was for Sale in Richmond, (but after you left this) it occurred to me, that as it was not a saleable article with you, it might be my cheapest mode to purchase there to supply my want of this article next year on my Farms around me.
Permit me, for this reason, to ask the favour of you to learn from the Gentleman who has it for Sale, what quantity he has? the lowest price he would take for it by the ton (the whole being purchased) ? there? and what, delivered at my landing? As a Merchant, acquainted with Navigation, he will be at no loss to know at what freight it could be delivered here.
A Gentleman now in Alexandria is endeavouring to obtain Subscribers for a Vessel load from Nova Scotia; the terms I have not learned; but if that in Richmond be good; and had as low, I should prefer it because it is already in the Country, and the risques of the Sea avoided.
All, however, depends upon its being of the true sort—for without this, it wou’d be as useless for the purpose intended, as pebble stones. There are two colours of it—one has a greyish—the other a blewish cast; the latter I think is prefered; but both are good when perfectly free from grit, or sand; having any of the latter is a proof of its baseness. The best criterion for ascertaining its property, is, by putting the fine pow⟨der⟩ of the Plaster, into a skillet or Pot without moisture, the good will swell, or rise up; the bad will remain dead, & motionless.
I would thank you for sending me (if to be had) two glaized leather hats such as your Postilions wore, and of that size. Accompany them with the cost, and the money shall be remitted in a bank note. I am in no immediate want of them; an occasional, or water transportation (directed to the care of Colo. Gilpin in Alexa.) will do.
I hope you got down safe—Our Compts to Mrs Carrington. I am always—Dear Sir Yr Affecte & Obedt

Go: Washington


Title: From George Washington to William Price, 2 December 1799
From: Washington, George
To: Price, William

Sir,
Mount Vernon 2d Decr 1799

I have been duly favoured with your letter of the 25th Ulto, enclosing a copy of the Survey made for William Shepherd, for four & three quarter acres, and the form of a Caveate against the issuing a Patent therefor.
I cannot from the survey, discover with precision where this land lays, and therefore shall give no further opposition to the Grant of it. If it be, where I suspect, it is within the bounds of a Patent under which I hold, of more than sixty years standing—of course, cannot effect it.
I am sorry that I have given you so much trouble in this business, at the sametime that I feel obliged by the prompt and ready advice you have been so kind as to give me for the prosecution of it. From what I had heard of Shepherd’s Survey, I conceived differently of its object. I am Sir—Your Obedt Hble Servt

Go: Washington


Title: From George Washington to James McHenry, 3 December 1799
From: Washington, George
To: McHenry, James

Sir
Mount Vernon Decr 3d 1799

I take the liberty of enclosing a letter from Colo. Parker to Mr Lear, in which he requests that I will write to the proper department, to have arrangements made for the payment of two thousand one hundred & seventy five dollars and one third, being the amount of the purchase of one hundred and ninety six acres of land, bought, for the United States, adjoining the public ground at Harper’s Ferry.
You will be pleased to observe that the Money is to be paid on

the 1st day of January next, and that Major Campbell, who made the purchase, has given his bond therefor; and I am persuaded there will be no delay in fulfilling the engagement which he has made for the United States. With due consideration I have the honor to be Sir, Your most obedt St


Title: From George Washington to Thomas Peter, 3 December 1799
From: Washington, George
To: Peter, Thomas

Dear Sir,
Mount Vernon 3d Decr 1799

Have you succeeded, or are you likely to succeed, in procuring the Hemp seed I required?
The fly has got into my Wheat, very generally this Fall; and I lay my account for great ravages thereon next Spring; which makes me more desirous of laying (to use a Sea term) an anchor to windward for something else.
I congratulate you and Patcy on the birth of a “Manchild”—My best wishes attend the Mother & Child—and I am—Dear Sir Your Affecte Hble Servt

Go: Washington


Title: To George Washington from John Mason, 4 December 1799
From: Mason, John
To: Washington, George

Sir
Annapolis 4th Decr 1799

Knowing the great Interest you have always taken in the promotion of the Navigation of the Potomak—I lose not a moment to inform you that I have at length suceeded to get this great Object aided by a grant of the Legislature of this State to the full amount contemplated by the Company—and it is with extreme

Pleasure I have it in my Power to enclose a Resolution to that Effect which has this day passed both Houses—you will remark Sir that this Investment is to a much larger amount than was contemplated at the last meeting but I trust I shall not be blamed in having thus exceeded my powers saved the Difficulty & Inconvenience attending individual Subscriptions—the Clause respecting Security tho’ against my wish, could not be dispensed with and it ⟨was⟩ the only Terms on which it could be had.
The Legislature has also this day granted a Loan of thirty thousand Dollars to the Susquehanah Company and passed an Act to incorporate a Company for cutting a Canal from the waters of the Chesepeake to the Waters of the Delaware—the three measures were carried by assisting each other and the whole was made a matter of Conciliation—With great Respect I have the honor to be Sir your very Obet Sert

J. Mason

P.S. As the Shares are rated at £130 Stg the loss by the Sale of the Stock will not be greater than to reduce them to the original Sum of £100 Stg which was the best that could be done.


Title: To George Washington from William Thornton, 5 December 1799
From: Thornton, William
To: Washington, George

Dear Sir
City of Washington 5th Decr 1799

In answer to the Letter which I had the honour of receiving from you Yesterday I have the pleasure of informing you that there is nothing to be paid for the Fruit Trees in addition to what you subscribed to Leflet, therefore if you will be pleased to specify the numbers of each Sort omiting any kinds you may not be inclined to have & calculating what you take at 1s. Maryld Cury ⅌ Tree to the amount of your Subscription I will attend to them; and if I also knew when it would be convenient or agreeable to you to send a Boat or Cart to Alexandria, I will have them conveyed thither by the Packet of this place to whatever address you will be pleased to direct.
I have written to Alexa. to know how much the Captns of Packets to Richmond would charge ⅌ ton to bring Plaister-of-Paris thence, to Alexa. or this place. I believe from Trials made by Judge Peters & others whose reports he has given ther is not much if any difference between the Nova Scotia & the French Plaister, for Grounds. Accept, dear Sir, my highest Respects & sincerest good wishes for your Health & happiness

W. T.


Title: To George Washington from Thomas Waters Griffith, 7 December 1799
From: Griffith, Thomas Waters
To: Washington, George

Sir,
Mount Vernon 7 Decem. 1799

Inclosed I take the Liberty to leave you a Letter of recommendation with which I was favord by Mr St John de Crœvecœur of Normandy, who I saw well in May last, and who desired to be respectfully rememberd to you, your Lady & Family.
I also beg leave to present to you a copy of a Work on the Commerce of the United States, which I wrote and published at

paris during the residence there of the last American Ministers—please accept this same as a testimony of my own unfeigned esteem and Respect for your person and Character, and indulge me with a recollection of the Time and place it was wrote & published whenever you shall think proper to look into it. I have the honour to be Sir, yr mo. Obedient & mo. Humble Servant

Thos Waters Griffith


Title: From George Washington to William Thornton, 7 December 1799
From: Washington, George
To: Thornton, William

Dear Sir,
Mount Vernon 7th Decr 1799

Your favour of the 5th instant was received last night. Not sending up to the Post Office every day, is the cause of its not getting to hand in time for my answer by the Mail of this day.
Enclosed is a list of such fruit Trees as my Gardener has chosen. Be so good as to have them sent to the care of Colo. Gilpin in Alexandria, who will receive—take care of—and give me notice of their arrival: when my Boat, or Waggon shall be sent up for them. Mr Leflet will, of course, label the different kinds of fruit.
I have written to Colo. Carrington to know the terms on which the Plaster of Paris may be had in Richmond, and what the owner

would ask for it delivered at my landing or higher up. With much esteem I am Dear Sir—Yr Obedt & Obliged

Go: Washington


Title: To George Washington from William Thornton, 7 December 1799 [letter not found]
From: Thornton, William
To: Washington, George

Letter not found: from William Thornton, 7 Dec. 1799. GW thanked Thornton on 8 Dec. for “the communications contained in your letter of yesterday.”


Title: To George Washington from Alexander White, 7 December 1799 [letter not found]
From: White, Alexander
To: Washington, George

Letter not found: from Alexander White, 7 Dec. 1799. GW wrote White on 8 Dec.: “Your favour of yesterday I received this morning.”


Title: From George Washington to Clement Biddle, 8 December 1799
From: Washington, George
To: Biddle, Clement

Dear Sir,
Mount Vernon 8th Decr 1799

Your letters of the 23d Ulto and 1st instant have both been received. the part which relates to Mr Custis’s pay—as an Officer in the Cavalry—has been given to him, and he writes you himself on the subject. I have naught therefore to add on it.
Captn Ellwood had not arrived at Alexandria yesterday, from hence I conclude he was to have touched at Norfolk; otherwise his passage will have been tedious. I have it in contemplation, but shall not decide positively on the measure until the arrival of that Vessel, to send you a hundred or two Barrels of flour, to dispose of for me, in the Philadelphia market, as it commands a better price there, than in alexandria; and some barrels of Fish also—on Commission. If this does not take place, I have about $200 in the Bank of Pennsylvania for wch I shall give you a check, to enable you to pay for the articles already sent me by Ellwood, and such as will be requested in this letter.
There can be no dependance on Imported Seeds, unless they are kept in the Steerage or Cabbin; and few Masters of Vessels will do this. In the Hold, the chance is, that the heat of it, will destroy vegetation; little of it ever turning out well. Under this impression, I shall decline taking more than a very small quantity of Mr Reay Kings seeds; supposing them to be imported. But request, that you would send me by the first conveyance (for fear of Frost) Six bushels of Clover seed—present year’s growth—saved in the Country.

Get, if you please, in case you are not a good judge of Seeds, some person who is so, to inspect, and see that it is not mixed with another Seed, not much unlike it, which is an injurious introduction into fields.
I am particular always in my seeds, because nothing is more to be regretted in a course of rotation, than to sow Seed that does not come up; or, that which is impure, the whole system being deranged by it. To the Clover seed, please to add by way of trial, 5 lbs. of Lucerne; and as I am unacquainted with Herdgrass, one pound of that Seed also, for an experiment. With estm and regard, I am—Dear Sir Your Obedient Hble Servant

Go: Washington


Title: From George Washington to John Mason, 8 December 1799
From: Washington, George
To: Mason, John

Sir,
Mount Vernon 8th Decr 1799

I have received your letter of the 4th instant, enclosing a Resolution of the Legislature of Maryland to take, on account of the State, one hundred & thirty shares in the augmented Capital of the Potomak Company, and thank you for your politeness in forwarding of it to me.
Altho’ this mode of obtaining money to complete the Navigation of the River, differs from the plan adopted at the last General Meeting of the Stock holders, and will make the original shares less valuable than they would have been by the mode proposed (if it could have been carried into effect); yet, my primary wish being, to see a completion on almost any terms, I rejoice, sincerely, that the means are likely to be obtained, to effect so desireable an object; and I trust that every exertion will now be made to complete the work with all possible expedition. I am Sir, very respectfully, Your most Obedient Servant

Go: Washington


Title: To George Washington from the President and Directors of the Potowmack Company, 8 December 1799
From: President and Directors of the Potowmack Company
To: Washington, George

Sir,
George Town 8 Decr 1799

Enclosed we have the honor to hand two Resolutions which were passed last week by the Legislature of this State; by a calculation noted at foot, to which we beg to refer you, we find it will be a great Object to obtain the transfer of this Stock before the 15th of this month, at which time the Books are shut, & no transfer can be made untill after the 1st of January when a Dividend of 3½ p. Ct will be paid.
In order to effect this we have thought it best, to call together as many of the Stockholders, as on so short a notice can be had, on Tuesday next, for the purpose of taking such Steps as may be necessary to get the transfer made in the course of the present week.
Your Presence Sir, on this occasion, if convenient [to] yourself, will be very gratifying to us—we have appointed the Union Tavern in this Town for the Place of meeting, because having so little time to collect the Members in, we find it is likely we shall have by this means, a greater number assembled as there are many who live in this neighbourhood—With great Respect We have the Honor to be Sir Your very Ob. & Hle Servts

Ja. Keith
J. Mason
Wm H. Dorsey
John Laird


Title: From George Washington to William Thornton, 8 December 1799
From: Washington, George
To: Thornton, William

Dear Sir,
Mount Vernon 8th Decr 1799

For the communications contained in your letter of yesterday, I thank you. As a citizen of the United States, it gives me pleasure, at all times, to hear that works of public ⟨uti⟩lity are resolved on, and in a state of progression—wheresoever adopted, and whensoever begun.

The one resolved on between the Chesapeake and Delaware is of great magnitude, and will be, I trust, the Precursor of another between the Delaware and sound, at Amboy. These, with the one now about, between the Chesapeak (for Norfolk) and Albemarle Sound, will, in a manner, open a kind of Inland Navigation (with what assuredly will be attempted in the Eastern States) from one extremety of the Union to the other.
Never having read any of the late Acts of Congress relatively to the Federal City, or rather to the public buildings, and property the Public is possessed of in that place; I know not on what grd the Attorney General of the United States has founded the opinion communicated in your letter, of the insufficiency of the Presidents Powers to Authorize the Commissioners of the City to accept a loan, for the purpose of carrying on the public works, in that place. Under the original Act empowering the President to establish the permanent Seat of the Government on the Potomac no doubt ever occured to my mind—nor I believe to the Minds of any of the Officers thereof, around me, of a want of this Power. But, by the obstructions continually thrown in its way—by friends or enemies—⟨this⟩ City has had to pass through a firey trial—Yet, I trust will, ultimately, escape the Ordea⟨l⟩ with eclat. Instead of a firey trial it would have been more appropriate to have said, it has passed, or is on its passage through, the Ordea⟨l⟩ of local interests, destructive Jealousies, and inveterate prejudices; as difficult, and as dangerous I conceive, as any of the other ordeals. With very great esteem & regard, I am—Dear Sir Your Most Obedt and obliged Humble Servant

Go: Washington


Title: From George Washington to Alexander White, 8 December 1799
From: Washington, George
To: White, Alexander

Dear Sir
Mount Vernon 8th December 1799

Your favour of yesterday I received this morning. Altho’ the Legislature of Maryland has taken up the business of the Potomack Company upon different ground, than on that which was adopted at the last General meeting of the Stockholders, and less advantageous for them if they could have carried their mode into effect; yet, as my primary wish, is to see the work completed, I rejoice that the means are likely to be obtained which will accomplish this desirable object—and trust that on its progress to this end, there will be no more lingering.
Percieving no object Mr Liston could have in misrepresenting the expression of Mr Stoddard, respecting a site near the Capital; the pre⟨sumption⟩ is—all other considerations apart, that he was ⟨cor⟩rect in the recital. But to the attempt of diverting the followers of the Government from engaging houses in the vicinity of the Capital, Mrs Liston was more pointed, & full than He was. I trust, notwithstanding, that the event will prove that ⟨accomoda⟩tions will be found equal to the ⟨demand⟩ for them, and altho’ (I believe it may be said with truth) that those whose interest it was, most to promote the welfare & growth of the City, have been its worst enemies, yet that matters will still go right.
I should, as yesterday or to day (according to your first intentions) , and at all other times when it is convenient to you, be glad to see you at this place. Being—Dear Sir—with great esteem and regard Your most Obedt Humble Servant

Go: Washington


Title: To George Washington from Robert Boggess, 9 December 1799 [letter not found]
From: Boggess, Robert
To: Washington, George

Letter not found: from Robert Boggess, 9 Dec. 1799. GW wrote Boggess on 10 Dec.: “In answer to your letter of yesterday’s date. . . .”


Title: To George Washington from Gouverneur Morris, 9 December 1799
From: Morris, Gouverneur
To: Washington, George

My dear Sir
Morrisania [N.Y.] 9 Decr 1799

During a late Visit to New York, I learnt that the leading federal Characters (even in Massachusetts) consider Mr Adams as unfit for the Office he now holds. Without pretending to decide on the Merits of that Opinion, which will operate alike whether well or illfounded, it appeared necessary to name some other Person. You will easily conceive that his Predecessor was wished for and regretted, nor will you be surpriz’d that the Doubt whether he would again accept should have excited much Concern; for you are so perfectly acquainted with the different Characters in America and with the Opinions which prevail respecting them, that you must be convinced (however painful the Conviction) that should you decline no Man will be chosen whom you would wish to see in that high Office.
Beleiving then that the dearest Interests of our Country are at Stake, I beg Leave to speak with you freely on this Subject.
No reasonable Man can doubt that after a Life of glorious Labor you must wish for Repose, and it would not be surprizing that a Wish so natural should, by frequent Disappointment, have acquired the Force of Passion. But is Retirement, in the strict Sense of the Word, a possible Thing? And is the Half-Retirement which you may attain to more peaceful than public Life? Nay, has it not

the Disadvantage of leaving you involved in Measures you can neither direct nor control? Another Question suggests itself, from another View of the Subject, Will you not when the Seat of Government is in your Neighbourhood, enjoy more Retirement as President of the United States than as General of the Army? And in this same View again another Question arises, may not your Acceptance be the needful Means of fixing the Government in that Seat?
There is a more important Consideration. Shall the vast Treasure of your Fame be committed to the Uncertainty of events, be exposed to the Attempts of Envy, and subject to the Spoliation of Slander? From Envy and Slander no Retreat is safe but the Grave, And you must not yet hide you behind that Bulwark. As to the Influence of Events, if there be a human Being who may look them fairly in the Face you are the Man. Recollect Sir, that each Occasion which has brought you back on the public Stage has been to you the Means of new and greater Glory. If General Washington had not become Member of the Convention he would have been considered only as the Defender and not as the Legislator of his Country. And if the President of the Convention had not become President of the United States he would not have added the Character of a Statesman to those of a Patriot and a Hero. Your Modesty may repel these Titles but Europe has conferred them and the World will set its Seal of Approbation when in these tempestuous Times your Country shall have again confided the Helm of her Affairs to your steady Hand.
But you may perhaps say that you stand indirectly pledged to private Life. Surely Sir you neither gave nor meant to give such Pledge to the Extent of possible Contingencies. The Acceptance of your present Office proves that you did not. Nay, you stand pledged by all your former Conduct that when Circumstances arise which may require it you will act again. Those Circumstances seem to be now imminent, and it is meet that you consider them on the broad Ground of your extensive Information. Ponder them I pray: and whatever may be the Decision pardon my Freedom and beleive me truly yours

Gouv. Morris


Title: From George Washington to Robert Boggess, 10 December 1799
From: Washington, George
To: Boggess, Robert

Sir
Mount Vernon 10th Decr 1799

In answer to your letter of yesterday’s date, I have to observe that you, as well as others, have mistaken my real situation very much when it is supposed that I have it in my power to lend money.
The truth is, that my receipts of this article, for some years back, have fallen so far short of my expenditures—without having made any purchases to increase my property (excepting a lot or two in the Federal City) that I have been under the necessity of selling land, & borrowing money myself to enable me to support, ⟨illegible⟩ these expences. I am Sir Your Hble Servant

Go: Washington


Title: From George Washington to Alexander Hamilton, 12 December 1799
From: Washington, George
To: Hamilton, Alexander

Sir,
Mount Vernon, December 12th 1799.

I have duly received your letter of the 28th ultimo, enclosing a Copy of what you had written to the Secretary of War, on the subject of a Military Academy.
The Establishment of an Institution of this kind, upon a respectable and extensive basis, has ever been considered by me as an Object of primary importance to this Country; and while I was in the Chair of Government, I omitted no proper opportunity of recommending it, in my public Speeches, and otherways, to the attention of the Legislature: But I never undertook to go into a detail of the organization of such an Academy; leaving this task to others, whose pursuits in the paths of Science, and attention to the Arrangements of such Institutions, had better qualified them for the execution of it.
For the same reason I must now decline making any observations

on the details of your plan; and as it has already been submitted to the Secretary of War, through whom it would naturally be laid before Congress, it might be too late for alterations, if any should be suggested.
I sincerely hope that the subject will meet with due attention, and that the reasons for its establishment, which you have so clearly pointed out in your letter to the Secretary, will prevail upon the Legislature to place it upon a permanent and respectable footing. With very great esteem & regard I am, Sir, Your most Obedt Servt

Go: Washington


Title: From George Washington to James Anderson, 13 December 1799
From: Washington, George
To: Anderson, James

Mr Anderson,
Mount Vernon 13th Decr 1799

I did not know that you were here yesterday morning until I had mounted my horse, otherwise I should have given you what I now send.
As Mr Rawlins was going to the Union Farm, to lay off the Clover lots, I sent by him the Duplicate for that Farm to his brother—and as I was going to River Farm myself, I carried a copy for that Farm to Dowdal—Both of them have been directed to consider them attentively, & to be prepared to give you their ideas of the mode of arrangeing the Work when they are called upon.
Such a Pen as I saw yesterday at Union Farm, would, if the Cattle were kept in it one Week, destroy the whole of them. They would be infinitely more comfortable in this, or any other weather, in the open fields—Dogue run Farm Pen may be in the same condition—It did not occur to me as I passed through the yard of the Barn to look into it. I am Your friend &ca

Go: Washington


Title: Editorial Note
From:
To:

   Editorial Note

   [9 July 1799]
  George Washington prepared his will alone, without, as he attested, any “professional character” being “consulted” or having “any Agency in the draught.” He dated the will, the work of many “leisure hours,” the “ninth day of July” in 1799, probably the date that he finished making the final copy. And he put his name at the bottom of all but one of its twenty-nine pages. Six months later, on the day that he died, he instructed Mrs. Washington to destroy an earlier will (see Tobias Lear’s Narrative Accounts of the Death of George Washington). His executors presented the new will for probate within a month, on 10 January 1800, to the Fairfax County Court, in whose custody it remains. A few days thereafter the will was printed in Alexandria. It then circulated throughout the country in pamphlet form.
   The lucid and powerful prose of the text of the will displays at its best the distinctive style of writing that Washington had developed through the years. Over a span of more than half a century he had composed thousands of letters and other documents, as a private man with extensive business interests and familial and social ties, as a military leader for more than thirteen years, and, after the Revolution, as a great public figure in his own country and abroad. The contents of the will reveal much about both Washington’s character and his views as well as about his diverse and valuable property, real and chattel, acquired over a lifetime. Most notable of the will’s provisions, perhaps, are the instructions that he gave for freeing his slaves and for the support thereafter of the

    helpless children and the old and infirm among them. The extraordinary care and precision with which he spelled out how and under what conditions his land and other possessions should be distributed among the numerous members of his extended family, among his old friends, and among various dependents, provide further insight into the workings of his mind and the impulses of his heart. The language of Washington’s will and its contents combine to make it a document of particular importance among his papers.
   Washington made the will at a time when he was emerging from the near despondency into which he had been cast by the spectacle of the American body politic seemingly being rent asunder by conflicting views of the ongoing revolution in France. In the early summer of 1799, he was also becoming less concerned with his responsibilities as commander in chief of the army and turning back with renewed vigor to the personal concerns on which he had been focusing since his return to Mount Vernon in March 1797. The main thrust of Washington’s efforts during the time left to him after his presidency was directed to putting his house in order, to doing what needed to be done to make his beloved Mount Vernon a harmonious and fruitful enterprise. Upon his arrival home in 1797, he was faced with dilapidated buildings to be repaired, worn-out soil to be made fertile, unproductive labor to be properly utilized, cropping plans to be devised and carried out, and money for all this to be sought, and perhaps found, through the sale of his western landholdings. The writing of the will was a way of taking stock of what had been done. He was determining where he stood not so much to wind things up as to consider what lay ahead. The provision in the will leaving one of the outlying farms at Mount Vernon to the newlywed Lewis couple and another to the two orphan sons of George Augustine Washington, now the wards of Tobias Lear, plays directly into Washington’s decision, confirmed a few months later, to assume the direct, personal management of the farming operations at Mount Vernon, but of four (and ultimately three) farms instead of five. The will was written by a man filled not with forebodings of death but with thoughts of the future, as Washington’s letters and actions in the months following attest.
   Instead of only the usual widow’s portion, Mrs. Washington was to retain during her lifetime possession of virtually all of her husband’s property and be the beneficiary of the profits derived from it. At her death the farms at Mount Vernon and other landed and personal property named in the will would go to the heirs in accordance with the terms of the will. Washington appended to the will a Schedule of Property, printed here as an enclosure, in which he lists and describes all of his landed property and other assets not specifically bequeathed to individual heirs. He provided that, upon his wife’s death, his executors would

    sell all of these assets and distribute the proceeds among his heirs in the manner that he specified. Washington named as executors of his will his wife Martha, her grandson, George Washington Parke Custis, and five of his nephews: William Augustine Washington, Bushrod Washington, George Steptoe Washington, Samuel Washington, and Lawrence Lewis. It was the prerogative of the Fairfax County Court to appoint the appraisers of the estate. It named as appraisers Washington’s neighbor Thomson Mason, his secretary Tobias Lear, Thomas Peter, who was married to one of Martha Washington’s granddaughters, and William H. Foote, the nephew of Lund Washington’s widow, Elizabeth Foote Washington. A room-by-room appraisal of the articles at Mount Vernon was made, probably in 1800. It was not until 1810 that the appraisers filed their report in the office of the clerk of the Fairfax County Court (Appendix II, in Prussing, Estate of George Washington,Eugene E. Prussing. The Estate of George Washington, Deceased. Boston, 1927. 401–48). The executors held public sales of some of the livestock at Mount Vernon before Martha Washington’s death in 1802, and they began selling the remainder of the listed property at sales shortly thereafter (Appendix III, ibid., 449–59). Final settlement of the estate was not achieved until 21 June 1847. For a comprehensive analysis of George Washington’s will and a full account of the settlement of his estate, see Prussing, Estate of George Washington;Eugene E. Prussing. The Estate of George Washington, Deceased. Boston, 1927. see also Fitzpatrick, Last Will and Testament of George Washington.John C. Fitzpatrick, ed. The Last Will and Testament of George Washington and Schedule of his Property, to which is appended the Last Will and Testament of Martha Washington. 3d ed. Mount Vernon, Va., 1960.


Title: George Washington’s Last Will and Testament, 9 July 1799
From: Washington, George
To:

 [Mount Vernon, 9 July 1799]

 In the name of God amen I George Washington of Mount Vernon—a citizen of the United States, and lately Pr⟨es⟩ident of the same, do make, ordai⟨n⟩ and declare this Instrument; w⟨hic⟩h is written with my own hand ⟨an⟩d every page thereof subscribed ⟨wit⟩h my name, to be my last Will & ⟨Tes⟩tament, revoking all others.
 ⟨I⟩mprimus. All my ⟨deb⟩ts, of which there are but few, and none of magnitude, are to be punctu⟨al⟩ly and speedily paid—and the Legaci⟨es he⟩reinafter bequeathed, are to be disc⟨ha⟩rged as soon as circumstances will ⟨pe⟩rmit, and in the manner directe⟨d⟩.
 ⟨I⟩tem. To my dearl⟨y be⟩loved wife Martha Washington ⟨I⟩ give and bequeath the use, profit ⟨an⟩d benefit of my whole Estate, real and p⟨er⟩sonal, for the term of her natural li⟨fe⟩—except such parts thereof as are sp⟨e⟩cifically disposed of hereafter: ⟨My i⟩mproved lot in the Town of Alex⟨andria, situated on⟩ Pitt & Cameron ⟨streets, I give to her and⟩ her heirs forev⟨er; as I also do my⟩ household & Kitc⟨hen⟩ furniture of every sort & kind, with the liquors and groceries which may be on hand at the time of my decease; to be used & disposed of as she may think proper.

 ⟨Ite⟩m Upon the decease ⟨of⟩ my wife, it is my Will & desire th⟨at⟩ all the Slaves which I hold in ⟨my⟩ own right, shall receive their free⟨dom⟩. To emancipate them during ⟨her⟩ life, would, tho’ earnestly wish⟨ed by⟩ me, be attended with such insu⟨pera⟩ble difficulties on account of thei⟨r interm⟩ixture by Marriages with the ⟨dow⟩er Negroes, as to excite the most pa⟨in⟩ful sensations, if not disagreeabl⟨e c⟩onsequences from the latter, while ⟨both⟩ descriptions are in the occupancy ⟨of⟩ the same Proprietor; it not being ⟨in⟩ my power, under the tenure by which ⟨th⟩e Dower Negroes are held, to man⟨umi⟩t them. And whereas among ⟨thos⟩e who will recieve freedom ac⟨cor⟩ding to this devise, there may b⟨e so⟩me, who from old age or bodily infi⟨rm⟩ities, and others who on account of ⟨the⟩ir infancy, that will be unable to ⟨su⟩pport themselves; it is m⟨y Will and de⟩sire that all who ⟨come under the first⟩ & second descrip⟨tion shall be comfor⟩tably cloathed & ⟨fed by my heirs while⟩ they live; and that such of the latter description as have no parents living, or if living are unable, or unwilling to provide for them, shall be bound by the Court until they shall arrive at the ag⟨e⟩ of twenty five years; and in cases where no record can be produced, whereby their ages can be ascertained, the judgment of the Court, upon its own view of the subject, shall be adequate and final. The Negros thus bound, are (by their Masters or Mistresses) to be taught to read & write; and to be brought up to some useful occupation, agreeably to the Laws of the Commonwealth of Virginia, providing for the support of Orphan and other poor Children. and I do hereby expressly forbid the Sale, or transportation out of the said Commonwealth, of any Slave I may die possessed of, under any pretence whatsoever. And I do moreover most pointedly, and most solemnly enjoin it upon my Executors hereafter named, or the Survivors of them, to see that th⟨is cla⟩use respecting Slaves, and every part thereof be religiously fulfilled at the Epoch at which it is directed to take place; without evasion, neglect or delay, after the Crops which may then be on the ground are harvested, particularly as it respects the aged and infirm; seeing that a regular and permanent fund be established for their support so long as there are subjects requiring it; not trusting to the ⟨u⟩ncertain provision to be made by individuals. And to my Mulatto man William (calling himself William Lee) I give immediate freedom; or if he should prefer it (on account of the accidents which ha⟨v⟩e befallen him, and which have rendered him

 incapable of walking or of any active employment) to remain in the situation he now is, it shall be optional in him to do so: In either case however, I allow him an annuity of thirty dollars during his natural life, whic⟨h⟩ shall be independent of the victuals and cloaths he has been accustomed to receive, if he chuses the last alternative; but in full, with his freedom, if he prefers the first; & this I give him as a test⟨im⟩ony of my sense of his attachment to me, and for his faithful services during the Revolutionary War.
 Item. To the Trustees (⟨Go⟩vernors, or by whatsoever other name they may be designated) of the Academy in the Town of Alexandria, I give and bequeath, in Trust, four thousand dollars, or in other words twenty of the shares which I hold in the Bank of Alexandria, towards the support of a Free school established at, and annexed to, the said Academy; for the purpose of Educating such Orphan children, or the children of such other poor and indigent persons as are unable to accomplish it with their own means; and who, in the judgment of the Trustees of the said Seminary, are best entitled to the benefit of this donation. The aforesaid twenty shares I give & bequeath in perpetuity; the dividends only of which are to be drawn for, and applied by the said Trustees for the time being, for the uses above mentioned; the stock to remain entire and untouched; unless indications of a failure of the said Bank should be so apparent, or a discontinuance thereof should render a removal of this fund necessary; in either of these cases, the amount of the Stock here devised, is to be vested in some other Bank or public Institution, whereby the interest may with regularity & certainty be drawn, and applied as above. And to prevent misconception, my meaning is, and is hereby declared to be, that these twenty shares are in lieu of, and not in addition to, the thousand pounds given by a missive letter some years ago; in consequence whereof an annuity of fifty pounds has since been paid towards the support of this Institution.
 Item. Whereas by a Law of the Commonwealth of Virginia, enacted in the year 1785, the Legislature thereof was pleased (as an evidence of Its approbation of the services I had rendered the Public during the Revolution—and partly, I believe, in consideration of my having suggested the vast advantages which the Community would derive from the ex⟨te⟩nsions of its Inland Navigation, under Legislative patronage) to present me with one hundred shares of one hundred dollars each, in the incorporated

 company established for the purpose of extending the navigation of James River from tide water to the Mountains: and also with fifty shares of one hundred pounds Sterling each, in the Corporation of another company, likewise established for the similar purpose of opening the Navigation of the River Potomac from tide water to Fort Cumberland, the acceptance of which, although the offer was highly honourable, and grateful to my feelings, was refused, as inconsistent with a principle which I had adopted, and had never departed from—namely—not to receive pecuniary compensation for any services I could render my country in its arduous struggle with great Britain, for its Rights; and because I had evaded similar propositions from other States in the Union; adding to this refusal, however, an intimation that, if it should be the pleasure of the Legislature to permit me to appropriate the said shares to public uses, I would receive them on those terms with due sensibility; and this it having consented to, in flattering terms, as will appear by a subsequent Law, and sundry resolutions, in the most ample and honourable manner, I proceed after this recital, for the more correct understanding of the case, to declare—
 That as it has always been a source of serious regret with me, to see the youth of these United States sent to foreign Countries for the purpose of Education, often before their minds were formed, or they had imbibed any adequate ideas of the happiness of their own; contracting, too frequently, not only habits of dissipation & extravagence, but principles unfriendly to Republican Governmt and to the true & genuine liberties of Mankind; which, thereafter are rarely overcome. For these reasons, it has been my ardent wish to see a plan devised on a liberal scale, which would have a tendency to sprd systemactic ideas through all parts of this rising Empire, thereby to do away local attachments and State prejudices, as far as the nature of things would, or indeed ought to admit, from our National Councils. Looking anxiously forward to the accomplishment of so desirable an object as this is (in my estimation) my mind has not been able to contemplate any plan more likely to effect the measure than the establishment of a UNIVERSITY in a central part of the United States, to which the youth of fortune and talents from all parts thereof might be sent for the completion of their Education in all the branches of polite literature; in arts and Sciences, in acquiring knowledge in the principles of Politics & good Government; and (as a matter of infinite Importance in

 my judgment) by associating with each other, and forming friendships in Juvenile years, be enabled to free themselves in a proper degree from those local prejudices & habitual jealousies which have just been mentioned; and which, when carried to excess, are never failing sources of disquietude to the Public mind, and pregnant of mischievous consequences to this Country: Under these impressions, so fully dilated,
 Item I give and bequeath in perpetuity the fifty shares which I hold in the Potomac Company (under the aforesaid Acts of the Legislature of Virginia) towards the endowment of a UNIVERSITY to be established within the limits of the District of Columbia, under the auspices of the General Government, if that government should incline to extend a fostering hand towards it; and until such Seminary is established, and the funds arising on these shares shall be required for its support, my further Will & desire is that the profit accruing therefrom shall, whenever the dividends are made, be laid out in purchasing Stock in the Bank of Columbia, or some other Bank, at the discretion of my Executors; or by the Treasurer of the United States for the time being under the direction of Congress; provided that Honourable body should Patronize the measure, and the Dividends proceeding from the purchase of such Stock is to be vested in more stock, and so on, until a sum adequate to the accomplishment of the object is obtained, of which I have not the smallest doubt, before many years passes away; even if no aid or encouraged is given by Legislative authority, or from any other source.
 Item The hundred shares which I held in the James River Company, I have given, and now confirm in perpetuity to, and for the use & benefit of Liberty-Hall Academy, in the County of Rockbridge, in the Commonwealth of Virga.
 Item I release exonerate and discharge, the Estate of my deceased brother Samuel Washington, from the payment of the money which is due to me for the Land I sold to Philip Pendleton (lying in the County of Berkeley) who assigned the same to him the said Samuel; who, by agreement was to pay me therefor. And whereas by some contract (the purport of which was never communicated to me) between the said Samuel and his son Thornton Washington, the latter became possessed of the aforesaid Land, without any conveyance having passed from me, either to the said Pendleton, the said Samuel, or the said Thornton, and without

 any consideration having been made, by which neglect neither the legal nor equitable title has been alienated; it rests therefore with me to declare my intentions concerning the Premises—and these are, to give & bequeath the said land to whomsoever the said Thornton Washington (who is also dead) devised the same; or to his heirs forever if he died Intestate: Exonerating the estate of the said Thornton, equally with that of the said Samuel from payment of the purchase money; which, with Interest; agreeably to the original contract with the said Pendleton, would amount to more than a thousand pounds. And whereas two other Sons of my said deceased brother Samuel—namely, George Steptoe Washington and Lawrence [Charles] Augustine Washington, were, by the decease of those to whose care they were committed, brought under my protection, and in conseq[uenc]e have occasioned advances on my part for their Education at College, and other Schools, for their board—cloathing—and other incidental expences, to the amount of near five thousand dollars over and above the Sums furnished by their Estate wch Sum may be inconvenient for them, or their fathers Estate to refund. I do for these reasons acquit them, and the said estate, from the payment thereof. My intention being, that all accounts between them and me, and their fathers estate and me shall stand balanced.
 Item The balance due to me from the Estate of Bartholomew Dandridge deceased (my wife’s brother) and which amounted on the first day of October 1795 to four hundred and twenty five pounds (as will appear by an account rendered by his deceased son John Dandridge, who was the acting Exr of his fathers Will) I release & acquit from the payment thereof. And the Negros, then thirty three in number) formerly belonging to the said estate, who were taken in execution—sold—and purchased in on my account in the year  and ever since have remained in the possession, and to the use of Mary, Widow of the said Bartholomew Dandridge, with their increase, it is my Will & desire shall continue, & be in her possession, without paying hire, or making compensation for the same for the time past or to come, during her natural life; at the expiration of which, I direct that all of them who are forty years old & upwards, shall receive their freedom; all under that age and above sixteen, shall serve seven years and no longer; and all under sixteen years, shall serve until they are twenty five years of age, and then be free. And to avoid disputes

 respecting the ages of any of these Negros, they are to be taken to the Court of the County in which they reside, and the judgment thereof, in this relation shall be final; and a record thereof made; which may be adduced as evidence at any time thereafter, if disputes should arise concerning the same. And I further direct, that the heirs of the said Bartholomew Dandridge shall, equally, share the benefits arising from the services of the said negros according to the tenor of this devise, upon the decease of their Mother.
 Item If Charles Carter who intermarried with my niece Betty Lewis is not sufficiently secured in the title to the lots he had of me in the Town of Fredericksburgh, it is my will & desire that my Executors shall make such conveyances of them as the Law requires, to render it perfect.
 Item To my Nephew William Augustine Washington and his heirs (if he should conceive them to be objects worth prosecuting) and to his heirs, a lot in the Town of Manchester (opposite to Richmond) No. 265—drawn on my sole account, and also the tenth of one or two, hundred acre lots, and two or three half acre lots in the City, and vicinity of Richmond, drawn in partnership with nine others, all in the lottery of the deceased William Byrd are given—as is also a lot which I purchased of John Hood, conveyed by William Willie and Samuel Gordon Trustees of the said John Hood, numbered 139 in the Town of Edinburgh, in the County of Prince George, State of Virginia.
 Item To my Nephew Bushrod Washington, I give and bequeath all the Papers in my possession, which relate to my Civel and Military Administration of the affairs of this Country; I leave to him also, such of my private Papers as are worth preserving; and at the decease of wife, and before—if she is not inclined to retain them, I give and bequeath my library of Books and Pamphlets of every kind.
 Item Having sold Lands which I possessed in the State of Pennsylvania, and part of a tract held in equal right with George Clinton, late Governor of New York, in the State of New York; my share of land, & interest, in the Great Dismal Swamp, and a tract of land which I owned in the County of Gloucester; withholding the legal titles thereto, until the consideration money should be paid. And having moreover leased, & conditionally sold (as will appear by the tenor of the said leases) all my lands upon the Great Kanhawa, and a tract upon Difficult Run, in the county of Loudoun,

 it is my Will and direction, that whensoever the Contracts are fully, & respectively complied with, according to the spirit; true intent & meaning thereof, on the part of the purchasers, their heirs or Assigns, that then, and in that case, Conveyances are to be made, agreeably to the terms of the said Contracts; and the money arising therefrom, when paid, to be vested in Bank stock; the dividends whereof, as of that also wch is already vested therein, is to inure to my said Wife during her life—but the Stock itself is to remain, & be subject to the general distribution hereafter directed.
 Item To the Earl of Buchan I recommit “the box made of the Oak that sheltered the Great Sir William Wallace after the battle of Falkirk” presented to me by his Lordship, in terms too flattering for me to repeat, with a request “to pass it, on the event of my decease, to the man in my country, who should appear to merit it best, upon the same conditions that have induced him to send it to me.” Whether easy, or not, to select the man who might comport with his Lordships opinion in this respect, is not for me to say; but conceiving that no disposition of this valuable curiosity can be more eligable than the re-commitment of it to his own Cabinet, agreeably to the original design of the Goldsmiths Company of Edenburgh, who presented it to him, and at his request, consented that is should be transferred to me; I do give & bequeath the same to his Lordship, and in case of his decease, to his heir with my grateful thanks for the distinguished honour of presenting it to me; and more especially for the favourable sentiments with which he accompanied it.
 Item To my brother Charles Washington I give & bequeath the gold headed Cane left me by Doctr Franklin in his Will. I add nothing to it, because of the ample provision I have made for his Issue. To the acquaintances and friends of my Juvenile years, Lawrence Washington & Robert Washington of Chotanck, I give my other two gold headed Canes, having my Arms engraved on them; and to each (as they will be useful where they live) I leave one of the Spy-glasses which constituted part of my equipage during the late War. To my compatriot in arms, and old & intimate friend Doctr Craik, I give my Bureau (or as the Cabinet makers call it, Tambour Secretary) and the circular chair—an appendage of my Study. To Doctor David Stuart I give my large shaving & dressing Table, and my Telescope. To the Reverend, now Bryan,

 Lord Fairfax, I give a Bible in three large folio volumes, with notes, presented to me by the Right reverend Thomas Wilson, Bishop of Sodor & Man. To General de la Fayette I give a pair of finely wrought steel Pistols, taken from the enemy in the Revolutionary War. To my Sisters in law Hannah Washington & Mildred Washington; to my friends Eleanor Stuart, Hannah Washington of Fairfield, and Elizabeth Washington of Hayfield, I give, each, a mourning Ring of the value of one hundred dollars. These bequests are not made for the intrinsic value of them, but as mementos of my esteem & regard. To Tobias Lear, I give the use of the Farm which he now holds, in virtue of a Lease from me to him and his deceased wife (for and during their natural lives) free from Rent, during his life; at the expiration of which, it is to be disposed as is hereinafter directed. To Sally B. Haynie (a distant relation of mine) I give and bequeath three hundred dollars. To Sarah Green daughter of the deceased Thomas Bishop, & to Ann Walker daughter of Jno. Alton, also deceased, I give, each—one hundred dollars, in consideration of the attachment of their fathers to me; each of whom having lived nearly forty years in my family. To each of my Nephews, William Augustine Washington, George Lewis, George Steptoe Washington, Bushrod Washington and Samuel Washington, I give one of the Swords or Cutteaux of which I may die possessed; and they are to chuse in the order they are named. These Swords are accompanied with an injunction not to unsheath them for the purpose of shedding blood, except it be for self defence, or in defence of their Country and its rights; and in the latter case, to keep them unsheathed, and prefer falling with them in their hands, to the relinquishment thereof.
 And now
 Having gone through these specific devises, with explanations for the more correct understanding of the meaning and design of them; I proceed to the distribution of the more important parts of my Estate, in manner following—
 ⟨Fi⟩rst To my Nephew Bushrod Washington and his heirs (partly in consideration of an intimation to his deceased father while we were Bachelors, & he had kindly undertaken to superintend my Estate during my Military Services in the former War between Great Britain & France, that if I should fall therein, Mount Vernon (then less extensive in domain than at present) should become his property) I give and bequeath all that part thereof which is

 comprehended within the following limits—viz.—Beginning at the ford of Dogue run, near my Mill, and extending along the road, and bounded thereby as it now goes, & ever has gone since my recollection of it, to the ford of little hunting Creek at the Gum spring until it comes to a knowl, opposite to an old road which formerly passed through the lower field of Muddy hole Farm; at which, on the north side of the said road are three red, or Spanish Oaks marked as a corner, and a stone placed. thence by a line of trees to be marked, rectangular to the back line, or outer boundary of the tract between Thomson Mason & myself. thence with that line Easterly (now double ditching with a Post & Rail fence thereon) to the run of little hunting Creek. thence with that run which is the boundary between the Lands of the late Humphrey Peake and me, to the tide water of the said Creek; thence by that water to Potomac River. thence with the River to the mouth of Dogue Creek. and thence with the said Dogue Creek to the place of beginning at the aforesaid ford; containing upwards of four thousand Acres, be the same more or less—together with the Mansion house and all other buildings and improvemts thereon.
 Second In consideration of the consanguinity between them and my wife, being as nearly related to her as to myself, as on account of the affection I had for, and the obligation I was under to, their father when living, who from his youth had attached himself to my person, and followed my fortunes through the viscissitudes of the late Revolution—afterwards devoting his time to the Superintendence of my private concerns for many years, whilst my public employments rendered it impracticable for me to do it myself, thereby affording me essential Services, and always performing them in a manner the most felial and respectful—for these reasons I say, I give and bequeath to George Fayette Washington, and Lawrence [Charles] Augustine Washington and their heirs, my Estate East of little hunting Creek, lying on the River Potomac; including the Farm of 360 Acres, Leased to Tobias Lear as noticed before, and containing in the whole, by Deeds, Two thousand and Seventy seven acres—be it more or less. Which said Estate it is my Will & desire should be equitably, & advantegeously divided between them, according to quantity, quality & other circumstances when the youngest shall have arrived at the age of twenty one years, by three judicious and disinterested men; one to be chosen by each of the brothers, and the third by these two. In the meantime,

 if the termination of my wife’s interest therein should have ceased, the profits arising therefrom are to be applied for th[e]ir joint uses and benefit.
 Third And whereas it has always been my intention, since my expectation of having Issue has ceased, to consider the Grand children of my wife in the same light as I do my own relations, and to act a friendly part by them; more especially by the two whom we have reared from their earliest infancy—namely—Eleanor Parke Custis, & George Washington Parke Custis. And whereas the former of these hath lately intermarried with Lawrence Lewis, a son of my deceased Sister Betty Lewis, by which union the inducement to provide for them both has been increased; Wherefore, I give & bequeath to the said Lawrence Lewis & Eleanor Parke Lewis, his wife, and their heirs, the residue of my Mount Vernon Estate, not already devised to my Nephew Bushrod Washington; comprehended within the following description—viz.—All the land North of the Road leading from the ford of Dogue run to the Gum spring as described in the devise of the other part of the tract, to Bushrod Washington, until it comes to the Stone & three red or Spanish Oaks on the knowl. thence with the rectangular line to the back line (between Mr Mason & me)—thence with that line westerly, along the new double ditch to Dogue run, by the tumbling Dam of my Mill; thence with the said run to the ford aforementioned; to which I add all the Land I possess West of the said Dogue run, & Dogue Crk—bounded Easterly & Southerly thereby; together with the Mill, Distillery, and all other houses & improvements on the premises, making together about two thousand Acres—be it more or less.
 Fourth Actuated by the principal already mentioned, I give and bequeath to George Washington Parke Custis, the Grandson of my wife, and my Ward, and to his heirs, the tract I hold on four mile run in the vicinity of Alexandria, containing one thousd two hundred acres, more or less, & my entire Square, number twenty one, in the City of Washington.
 Fifth All the rest and residue of my Estate, real & personal—not disposed of in manner aforesaid—In whatsoever consisting—wheresoever lying—and whensoever found—a schedule of which, as far as is recollected, with a reasonable estimate of its value, is hereunto annexed—I desire may be sold by my Executors at such times—in such manner—and on such credits (if an equal, valid,

 and satisfactory distribution of the specific property cannot be made without) as, in their judgment shall be most conducive to the interest of the parties concerned; and the monies arising therefrom to be divided into twenty three equal parts, and applied as follow—viz.
 To William Augustine Washington, Elizabeth Spotswood, Jane Thornton, and the heirs of Ann Ashton; son, and daughters of my deceased brother Augustine Washington, I give and bequeath four parts; that is—one part to each of them.
 To Fielding Lewis, George Lewis, Robert Lewis, Howell Lewis & Betty Carter, sons and daughter of my deceased Sister Betty Lewis, I give & bequeath five other parts—one to each of them.
 To George Steptoe Washington, Lawrence Augustine Washington, Harriot Parks, and the heirs of Thornton Washington, sons & daughter of my deceased brother Samuel Washington, I give and bequeath other four parts, one part to each of them.
 To Corbin Washington, and the heirs of Jane Washington, Son & daughter of my deceased brother John Augustine Washington, I give & bequeath two parts; one part to each of them.
 To Samuel Washington, Francis Ball & Mildred Hammond, son & daughters of my Brother Charles Washington, I give & bequeath three parts; one part to each of them. And to George Fayette Washington[,] Charles Augustine Washington & Maria Washington, sons and daughter of my deceased Nephew Geo: Augustine Washington, I give one other part; that is—to each a third of that part.
 To Elizabeth Parke Law, Martha Parke Peter, and Eleanor Parke Lewis, I give and bequeath three other parts, that is a part to each of them.
 And to my Nephews Bushrod Washington & Lawrence Lewis, and to my ward, the grandson of My wife, I give and bequeath one other part; that is, a third thereof to each of them. And if it should so happen, that any of the persons whose names are here ennumerated (unknown to me) should now be deceased—or should die before me, that in either of these cases, the heirs of such deceased person shall, notwithstanding, derive all the benefits of the bequest; in the same manner as if he, or she, was actually living at the time.
 And by way of advice, I recommend it to my Executors not to be precipitate in disposing of the landed property (herein directed

 to be sold) if from temporary causes the Sale thereof should be dull; experience having fully evinced, that the price of land (especially above the Falls of the Rivers, & on the Western Waters) have been progressively rising, and cannot be long checked in its increasing value. And I particularly recommend it to such of the Legatees (under this clause of my Will) as can make it convenient, to take each a share of my Stock in the Potomac Company in preference to the amount of what it might sell for; being thoroughly convinced myself, that no uses to which the money can be applied will be so productive as the Tolls arising from this navigation when in full operation (and this from the nature of things it must be ’ere long) and more especially if that of the Shanondoah is added thereto.
 The family Vault at Mount Vernon requiring repairs, and being improperly situated besides, I desire that a new one of Brick, and upon a larger Scale, may be built at the foot of what is commonly called the Vineyard Inclosure, on the ground which is marked out. In which my remains, with those of my deceased relatives (now in the old Vault) and such others of my family as may chuse to be entombed there, may be deposited. And it is my express desire that my Corpse may be Interred in a private manner, without parade, or funeral Oration.
 Lastly I constitute and appoint my dearly beloved wife Martha Washington, My Nephews William Augustine Washington, Bushrod Washington, George Steptoe Washington, Samuel Washington, & Lawrence Lewis, & my ward George Washington Parke Custis (when he shall have arrived at the age of twenty years) Executrix & Executors of this Will & testament, In the construction of which it will readily be perceived that no professional character has been consulted, or has had any Agency in the draught—and that, although it has occupied many of my leisure hours to digest, & to through it into its present form, it may, notwithstanding, appear crude and incorrect. But having endeavoured to be plain, and explicit in all Devises—even at the expence of prolixity, perhaps of tautology, I hope, and trust, that no disputes will arise concerning them; but if, contrary to expectation, the case should be otherwise from the want of legal expression, or the usual technical terms, or because too much or too little has been said on any of the Devises to be consonant with law, My Will and direction expressly is, that all disputes (if unhappily any

 should arise) shall be decided by three impartial and intelligent men, known for their probity and good understanding; two to be chosen by the disputants—each having the choice of one—and the third by those two. Which three men thus chosen, shall, unfettered by Law, or legal constructions, declare their sense of the Testators intention; and such decision is, to all intents and purposes to be as binding on the Parties as if it had been given in the Supreme Court of the United States.
 In witness of all, and of each of the things herein contained, I have set my hand and Seal, this ninth day of July, in the year One thousand seven hundred and ninety [nine] and of the Independence of the United States the twenty fourth.


Title: Enclosure: Schedule of Property, 9 July 1799
From: Washington, George
To:

Mount Vernon 9th July 1799

Schedule of property comprehended in the foregoing Will, which is directed to be Sold, and some of it, conditionally is Sold; with discriptive, and explanatory notes relative thereto.

In Virginia

acres
price
dollars

Loudoun County

Difficult run
 300

[$]6,666 (a)

(a) This tract for the size of it is valuable, more for its situation than the quality of its soil, though that is good for Farming; with a considerable portion of grd that might, very easily, be improved into Meadow. It lyes on the great road from the City of Washington, Alexandria and George Town, to Leesburgh & Winchester; at Difficult bridge; nineteen miles from Alexandria, less from the City & George Town, and not more than three from Matildaville at the Great Falls of Potomac. There is a valuable seat on the Premises—and the whole is conditionally sold—for the sum annexed in the Schedule.

Loudoun & Fauquier

Ashbys Bent
2481 [acres]
$10
[$]24,810

Chattins Run
 885
  8
   7,080 (b)

(b) What the selling prices of lands in the vicinity of these two tracts are, I know not; but compared with those above the ridge, and others below them, the value annexed will appear moderate—a less one would not obtain them from me.

Berkeley

So. fork of Bullskin
1600

Head of Evans’s [Evitt’s] M[arsh]
 453

On Wormeley’s line
 183

2236 [acres]
[$]20
$44,720 (c)

(c) The surrounding land, not superior in Soil, situation or properties of any sort, sell currently at from twenty to thirty dollars an acre. The lowest price is affixed to ⟨these⟩.

Frederick

Bought from Mercer
571 [acres]
[$]20
[$]11,420 (d)

(d) The observations made in the last note applies equally to this tract; being in the vicinity of them, and of similar quality, altho’ it lyes in another County.

Hampshire

On Potk River above B[ath]
240 [acres]
[$]15
[$]3,600 (e)

(e) This tract, though small, is extremely valuable. It lyes on Potomac River about 12 miles above the Town of Bath (or Warm springs) and is in the shape of a horse Shoe; the river running almost around it. Two hundred Acres of it is rich low grounds; with a great abundance of the largest & finest Walnut trees; which, with the produce of the Soil, might (by means of the improved Navigation of the Potomac) be brought to a shipping port with more ease, and at a smaller expence, than that which is transported 30 miles only by land.

Gloucester

On North River
400 [acres]

abt [$]3,600 (f)

(f) This tract is of second rate Gloucester low grounds. It has no Improvements thereon, but lyes on navigable water, abounding in Fish and Oysters. It was received in payment of a debt (carrying interest) and valued in the year 1789 by an impartial Gentleman to £800. N.B. it has lately been sold, and there is due thereon, a balance equal to what is annexed the Schedule.

Nansemond

Near Suffolk 1/3 of 1119 acres
373 [acres]
[$]8
[$]2,984 (g)

(g) These 373 a⟨cres⟩ are the third part of undivided purchases made by the deceased Fielding Lewis[,] Thomas Walker and myself; on full conviction that they would become valuable. The land lyes on the Road from Suffolk to Norfolk—touches (if I am not mistaken) some part of the Navigable water of Nansemond River—borders on, and comprehends part of the rich Dismal Swamp; is capable of great improvement; and from its situation must become extremely valuable.

Great Dismal Swamp

My dividend thereof

abt $20,000 (h)

(h) This is an undivided Interest wch I held in the Great Dismal Swamp Company—containing about 4000 acres, with my part of the Plantation & Stock thereon belonging to the Company in the sd Swamp.

Ohio River

Round bottom
 587

Little Kanhawa
2314

16 miles lowr down
2448

Opposite Big Bent
4395
dol.

9744 [acres]
10
[$]97,440 (i)

(i) These several tracts of land are of the first quality on the Ohio River, in the parts where they are situated; being almost if not altogether River bottoms. The smallest of these tracts is actually sold at ten dollars an acre but the consideration therefor not received—the rest are equally valuable & will sell as high—especially that which lyes just below the little Kanhawa and is opposite to a thick settlement on the West side the Rivr. The four tracts have an aggregate breadth upon the River of Sixteen miles and is bounded there by that distance.

Great Kanhawa

Near the Mouth West
10990

East side above
 7276

Mouth of Cole River
 2000

Opposite thereto
 2950

Burning Spring
  125

23341 [acres]

[$]200,000 (k)

(k) These tracts are situated on the Great Kanhawa River, and the first four are bounded thereby for more than forty miles. It is acknowledged by all who have seen them (and of the tract containing 10990 acres which I have been on myself, I can assert) that there is no richer, or more valuable land in all that Region; They are conditionally sold for the sum mentioned in the Schedule—that is $200,000 and if the terms of that Sale are not complied with they will command considerably more. The tract of which the 125 acres is a Moiety, was taken up by General Andrew Lewis and myself for, and on account of a bituminous Spring which it contains, of so inflamable a nature as to burn as freely as Spirits, and is as nearly difficult to extinguish.

Maryland

Charles County
600 [acres]
[$]6
[$]3,600 (l)

(l) I am but little acquainted with this land, although I have once been on it. It was received (many years since) in discharge of a debt due to me from Daniel Jenifer Adams at the value annexed thereto—and must be worth more. It is very level, lyes near the River Potomac.

[Maryland]

Montgomery

D[itt]o
519 [acres]
[$]12
[$]6,228 (m)

(m) This tract ⟨lies⟩ about 30 miles above the City of Washington, not far from Kittoctan. It is good farming Land, and by those who are well acquainted with it I am informed that it would sell at twelve or $15 pr acre.

Pennsylvania

Great Meadows
234 [acres]
[$]6
[$]1,404 (n)

(n) This land is valuable on account of its local situation, and other properties. It affords an exceeding good stand on Braddocks road from Fort Cumberland to Pittsburgh—and besides a fertile

soil, possesses a large quantity of natural Meadow, fit for the scythe. It is distinguished by the appellation of the Great Meadows—where the first action with the French in the year 1754 was fought.

New York

Mohawk River
abt 1000 [acres]
[$]6
[$]6,000 (o)

(o) This is the moiety of about 2000 Acs. which remains unsold of 6071 Acres on the Mohawk River (Montgomery CtY) in a Patent granted to Daniel Coxe in the Township of Coxeborough & Carolana—as will appear by Deed from Marinus Willet & Wife to George Clinton (late Governor of New York) and myself. The latter sales have been at Six dollars an ac[r]e and what remains unsold will fetch that or more.

North Westn Territy

On little Miami
 839

Ditto
 977

Ditto
1235

3051 [acres]
[$]5
[$]15,251 (p)

(p) The quality of these lands & their Situation, may be known by the Surveyors certificates—which are filed along with the Patents. They ⟨li⟩e in the vicinity of Cincinnati; one tract near the mouth of the little Miami another seven & the third ten miles up the same—I have been informed that they will readily command more than they are estimated at.

Kentucky

Rough Creek
3000

Ditto adjoing
2000

5000 [acres]
[$]2
[$]10,000 (q)

(q) For the description of these tracts in detail, see General Spotswoods letters filed with the other papers relating to them. Besides the General good quality of the Land there is a valuable Bank of Iron Ore thereon: which, when the settlement becomes more populous (and settlers are moving that way very fast) will be found very valuable; as the rough Creek, a branch of Green River affords ample water for Furnances & forges.

Lots—viz. City of Washington

Two, near the Capital, Sqr. 634 cost $963—and with Buildgs
[$]15,000 (r)

(r) The two lots near the Capital, in square 634, cost me ⟨9⟩63$ only; but in this price I was favoured, on condition that I should build two Brick houses three Story high each: without this reduction the selling prices of those Lots would have cost me about $1350. These lots, with the buildings thereon, when completed will stand me in $15000 at least.

[City of Washington]

No. 5. 12. 13 & 14—the 3 last, Water lots on the Eastern Branch, in Sqr. 667 containing together 34,438 sqr. feet @ 12 Cts
[$]4,132 (s)

(s) Lots No. 5. ⟨12.⟩ 13. & 14 on the Eastn branch, are advantageously situated on the water—⟨and⟩ although many lots much less convenient have sold a great deal higher I will rate these at 12 Cts the square foot only.

Alexandria

Corner of Pitt & Prince Stts half an Acre—laid out into buildgs 3 or 4 of wch are let on grd Rent at $3 pr foot
[$]4,000 (t)

(t) For this lot, though unimproved, I have refused $35⟨0⟩0—It has since been laid off into proper sized lots for building on—three or 4 of which are let on ground Rent—forever—at three dollars a foot on the Street. and this price is asked for both fronts on Pitt & Princes Street.

Winchester

A lot in the Town of half an Acr. & another in the Commons of about 6 Acs.—supposed
[$]400 (u)

(u) As neither the lot in the Town or Common have any improvements on them, it is not easy to fix a price, but as both are well situated, it is presumed the price annexed to them in the Schedule, ⟨is a⟩ reasonable valu[atio]n.

Bath—or Warm Springs

Two Well situated, & had buildings to the amt of £150
[$]800 (w)

(w) The Lots in Bath (two adjoining) cost me, to the best of my recollection, betwn fifty & sixty pounds 20 years ago; and the buildings thereon £150 more. Whether property there has ⟨increased⟩ or decreasd in its value, ⟨and in wha⟩t condition the houses a⟨re, I am ignora⟩nt. but s⟨uppose they are not valued too⟩ high.

Stock

United States 6 prCts
[$]3746

Do defered

[$]1873
}

$2946

$ 2500

3 prCts
$6,246 (x)

(x) These are the sums which are actually funded. and though no more in the aggregate than $7,566—stand me in at least ten thousand pounds Virginia Money. be⟨ing⟩ the amount of bonded and other debts due to me, & discharged during the War when money had depreciated in that ratio—and was so se⟨tt⟩led by public author[it]y.

Potomack Company

24 Shares—cost ea. £100 Sterg

[$]10,666 (y)

(y) The value, annexed to these sha[res] is what they have actually cost me, and is the price affixed by Law: and although the present selling price is under par, my advice to the Legatees (for whose benefit they are intended, especially those who can afford to lye out of the Money is that each should take and hold one; there being a Moral certainty of a great and increasing profit arising from them in the course ⟨of a few⟩ years.

James River Company

5 Shares—each cost $100

[$]500 (z)

(z) It is supposed that the Shares in the James River Company must also be productive. But of this I can give no decided opinion for want of mo⟨re accur⟩ate informatn.

Bank of Columbia

70 Shares—$40 each

[$]6,800

Bank of Alexandria

beside 20 to Free School 5

[$]1,000 (&)

Th⟨ese are the no⟩minal prices of th⟨e shares in the Banks⟩ of Alexandria & Co⟨lumbia—the selling prices⟩ vary according ⟨to circumstances.⟩ But as the Sto⟨ck usually divides from⟩ eight to ten ⟨per cent per annum, they⟩ must be w⟨orth the former, at least,⟩ so long as the ⟨Banks are conceived⟩ to be Secure, ⟨although circumstan⟩ces may, so⟨metimes make them below it⟩.

Stock—living—viz.

1 Covering horse, 5 Co[ac]h Horses—4 riding do—Six brood Mares—20 working horses & mares. 2 Covering Jacks—& 3 young ones—10 she asses, 42 working Mules—15 younger ones 329 head of horned Cattle 640 head of Sheep—and a large stock of Hogs—the precise number is unknown[.] My Manager has estimated this live Stock at £7,000 but I shall set it down in order to make rd sum at

[$]15,653

Agregate amt
 $530,000

The va⟨lue of the live sto⟩ck depends more up⟨on the qua⟩lity than quantity of the ⟨different⟩ species of it, and this aga⟨in upon⟩ the demand, and judgment ⟨or fanc⟩y of purchasers.

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