To George Washington from Benedict Calvert, 25 August 1773
From Benedict Calvert
Mount Airy [Md.] Augst 25th 1773
Dear Sir
I Received yours by Major Jennifer at Annapolis and have given Orders to my Deputy to look out for such a person as you want. He tells me that Tradesmen well recommended sell very high. I have desired him to buy none but such.1 I was in hopes to have had the pleasure of attending the Governor to Mount Vernon, but some business at my Office on the Eastern Shore obliges me to set off on Sunday.2 I expect to be back the last of next Week. If you have any commands there shall be glad to execute them.
I am very much obliged to you for the Wheat you was so kind as to spare me I wish mine in return had been better. Everybody here joyn in their respectfull Compliments Nelly who goes with the Governor will deliver hers in person.3 I am Dear Sir Your Most Obedt Servt
Benedt Calvert
ALS, MiDbEI; Sprague transcript, DLC:GW.
1. The letter conveyed by Daniel of St. Thomas Jenifer from Mount Vernon on 18 Aug. ( , 3:199) has not been found. GW was evidently trying to acquire a joiner. On 21 Dec. 1773 James Cheston assigned a convict named John Broad to GW for a term of seven years (DLC:GW). GW notes in his on 4 Feb. 1774 that he “paid Mr Calvert for the Joiner he bot of Mr Cheston for me” the sum of £45 Maryland currency. Broad seems to have been sick frequently and died in February 1776 after complications from an accidental wound. See Lund Washington to GW, 31 Jan. and 22 Feb. 1776.
2. Benedict Calvert served as collector of customs for the Patuxent district of Maryland and as such he and his deputy were in a position to take up the indentures of any craftsmen entering Maryland through that district. There was a dispute in jurisdiction between the Patuxent and the Chester customs districts, part of which lay on the Eastern Shore. See , 40.