To George Washington from Thomas Fielder, 29 August 1793
From Thomas Fielder
Kensington 29th Augt 1793
Honorable sir
Your favor of Twenty Dollars on Loan I recieve with gratitude,1 I regreted much that though I kept my appointment with Mr Henry Sheaf my utmost exertions were not sufficient to be in time to explain to your Excellency how far the utility of my Machine for improving Agriculture extends, the experience of which has only been obtain’d by my accurately observing on its operations, as I understand by Mr Powell2 that you intend me the Honor of making one for your Estate, if admissable to favor me with an opportunity of being farther explanatory it will be duly acknowledg’d by Honble sir yr much Oblig’d & Most Obedt
Thos Fielder
ALS, DNA: RG 59, Miscellaneous Letters.
1. Fielder wrote GW on 19 Aug. about his new invention, a “Machine for making Hay,” and asked GW for his assistance in “its being brought into immediate effect” (DNA: RG 59, Miscellaneous Letters). According to GW’s for 20 Aug. 1793, GW lent Fielder the money “towards enabling him to make his new invented Rake.” For Fielder’s previous communication with GW about another invention, see Fielder to GW, 24 Oct. 1789.
2. The purpose of Fielder’s appointment with Philadelphia wine merchant Henry Sheaff is not clear, but Samuel Powel, along with GW, was a member of the Philadelphia Society for Promoting Agriculture.