To George Washington from Thomas Turner, 22 March 1778
From Thomas Turner
March 22d 1778.
May it please your Excellency,
Altho’ I have not the honour of being personally acquainted with your Excellency, neverthless I am far from being a Stranger to your distinguished merit, both in private and publick life; your indefatigable zeal, and unwearied attention to the true Interest of your native Country, since the commencement of these differences, must excite the warmest sense of gratitude in the breastt of every American that is not callous to the rights of humanity; That it may please the supreme Disposer of human Events, to crown you with success in this important struggle, & speedily put an end to the distressing Scenes of this unnatural War, is the fervent wish of your, Excellency’s respectful & Obedient h’ble Servt
Thos Turner.
P.S. I have transmitted to your Excellency a pair of pistols1 &c. &c. your acceptance of which will confer a singular obligation on
T: T.
ALS, DLC:GW. The cover, which is addressed to GW “pr favr Capt. Fauntleroy,” is docketed by GW.
Thomas Turner (1751–1787) was a grandson of Col. Thomas Turner (d. 1758) of Walsingham, King George County, who served in the Virginia House of Burgesses, 1736–40 and 1752–55. For GW’s knowledge of Turner, see GW to George Lewis, 3 May 1778.
1. The pistols may well have been those given to GW’s nephew Bartholomew Dandridge, Jr., before GW’s death and now in the West Point Museum at the United States Military Academy. Made by Richard Wilson and John Hawkins of London in 1748, they are fourteen inches long, with a brass barrel, wood stock, and silver ornamentation.