George Washington Papers

From George Washington to Burwell Bassett, 9 September 1770

To Burwell Bassett

Mount Vernon Septr 9th 1770

Dear Sir

If this Letter reaches you in time, it will serve to ask if you have any commands to Yaughyaughgany, as I purpose to set out for that part of the World about the 3d or 4th day of Octr Next for a Short stay1—A Report prevails here that the Ministry have lately granted to a Company in England, a large Tract of Country on the Ohio2 (Including the Lands we have just given £2500 Sterg for) to be formd into a Proprietary Government immediately—If this is true I suppose our Governor must have Authentick Accts of it; in which case, & you have time, I shoud be glad to get a certain Acct of the matter, & how far it is thought this Grant will affect the several Orders of Council for Lands to the Westward of us—& what in general is said & thought of it.3

Patcy is much as usual—Mrs Washington is very well—& the Family tolerable—We all join in best wishes to yourself Mrs Bassett, & little ones & I am Dr Sir Yr Most Affecte Hble Servt

Go: Washington

ALS, PHi: Am .00151.

1On 5 Oct. GW “Set out in Company with Doctr. [James] Craik for the Settlement on Redstone &ca.,” and he did not return home until 1 December. See Diaries description begins Donald Jackson and Dorothy Twohig, eds. The Diaries of George Washington. 6 vols. Charlottesville, Va., 1976–79. description ends , 2:277–328.

2For the activities of the Walpole, or Grand Ohio, Company, see Jonathan Boucher to GW, 18 Aug. 1770, n.4, and GW to Botetourt, this date, n.3.

3See GW to Botetourt, 5 Oct. 1770, and notes.

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