From George Washington to Thomas Jefferson, 13 May 1793
To Thomas Jefferson
Philadelphia May 13th 1793.
Dear Sir,
Sometime last fall I sent to Mr Young transcripts of the accounts respecting the Agriculture of this Country, which I had collected from Gentlemen of the best information on this subject, with whom I was acquainted in the middle States—New York & Virginia.
The account which you had the goodness to draw up was among the number.1
I have lately received from Mr Young a letter in reply to mine which accompanied these accounts—in which he makes the observations & queries relative to the Virginia Statement, wch you will find enclosed.2
As I wish this matter to be brought before Mr Young in as clear a light as the nature of it will admit—you will oblige me by giving, when convenient, such answers to the queries & such solution of the difficulties stated by him as your knowledge of the subject may enable you to do, that I may give him the most satisfactory information in my power.3 I am always, with much truth & sincerity—Yr Affecte Servt
Go: Washington
ALS, DLC: Jefferson Papers; DfS, in Tobias Lear’s writing, DLC:GW; LB, DLC:GW. The complimentary closing of the draft was written by GW.
1. GW did write to English agriculturalist Arthur Young on 20 Oct. and 2 Dec. 1792, but he sent the abovementioned information in his letter of 18–21 June 1792 (see also GW to Jefferson, 17 June 1792, and note 2).
2. See Young to GW, 17 Jan. 1793.
3. After being reminded of this request by GW on 23 June, Jefferson sent his response to the president on 28 June. GW enclosed a copy of Jefferson’s answers in a letter to Young of 1 September. GW made a similar request in his letter to Richard Peters of 16 May.