To George Washington from William Grayson, 5 September 1785
From William Grayson
New York Sepr 5h 1785.
Dear Sir
I had the honor of your favor by Post: The hounds you allude to arrived here in the midst of a hot war against their fraternity: they were not however friendless: your Acquaintance Doctr Cochran took very good care of them while they remained at this place & has sent them by Capt. Packard’s sloop to Mount Vernon. I make no doubt that they have got there safe.1
We have little news from Europe or elsewhere. Mr Otto came over in the last packett as chargé des affaires in the room of Mr Marbois who goes to the West Indies—We are informed the Chevalier de la Luzerne is to be here shortly in quality of Minister—The demand of the body of Longchamp is withdrawn.2
For some time past there has been very few States on the floor, of course very little has been done.
I am happy to hear that after inspection, you are of opinion the obstructions on the Potowmac, are not greater than you had supposed them to be. I have the honor to be With the highest respect Yr Affect. fd & Most Obed. servt
Willm Grayson
ALS, DLC:GW.
1. For the French hounds, which arrived at Mount Vernon on 24 Aug., see note 1 in GW to Grayson, 22 August. On 4 Aug. the New-York, or the Weekly Register urged calm in the city “at a time when terror is excited, by a variety of reports respecting MAD DOGS, and thereby conjuring up imaginary ills, calculated to disturb the minds of people whose nervous system is not very strong.”
2. Louis-Guillaume Otto, comte de Mosloy (1754–1817), arrived in New York on 25 Aug. to replace Barbé de Marbois as the French chargé d’affaires, a post he held until his return to France in 1792.