From George Washington to William Washington, 26 April 1793
To William Washington
Phila. April 26th 1793
Dear Sir,
At the request of Mr David Clark,1 a Coach maker of this City, I inform you that he made the Carriage which I had with me at Charleston on my Southern tour, and which you saw there.2 I am told that this Carriage is pronounced a very handsome one in its appearance by persons of taste & judgement in that way, who have seen it & given an opinion upon it—As to the goodness of the materials & workmanship I can pronounce with truth that they are equal to any I have ever met with—and the Carriage has been put to a pretty severe test for the time I have had it.
Mr Clark says the reason of his wishing this information to be given you, is, that he understands you propose having a Carriage made in this City—and he is very desirous of having the job—not only on Acct of the advantage to be immediately derived from it; but he thinks it will prove the means of his getting more work from that quarter.3 With sincere regard I am Dear Sir Your Most Obed. Ser.
Df, in Tobias Lear’s writing, ViMtvL; LB, DLC:GW.
1. Throughout the letter-book copy this name is spelled “Clarke.”
2. On GW’s tour in 1791 of the Carolinas, Georgia, and Virginia, see GW to William Washington, 8 Jan. 1791, source note, and Itinerary of a Southern Tour, February 1791, editorial note.
3. Clark succumbed to yellow fever during the epidemic of 1793. Evidence that William Washington purchased a carriage from him has not been identified.