From George Washington to Robert Townsend Hooe, 10 March 1794
To Robert Townsend Hooe
Philadelphia Mar: 10th 1794
Dear Sir
To the best of my recollection, when you paid me for my flour of last year, you asked the refusal of it this year.1
By the report from my Mill, I perceive about 3,000 bushels of Wheat has been manufactured; but how much flour it has made, and of what sort, I am yet to learn.2 If you incline to purchase what there is, let me know the best price you will give; or to make the matter short, and to save time, you may have the Superfine (if any is made) and fine flour at what they sell for in this market with a deduction of the usual freight pr barrl from Alexandria to this place. The cash prices in this City ⟨are⟩
| Superfine | 50/ |
| Common | 47/6. |
Two or three months credit I should not ob⟨jec⟩t to.
Your answer, as soon as it is convenient to you, will oblige3 Dear Sir Your Obedient Servt
Go: Washington
P.S. I have more than what is mentd above to grind.
ALS (letterpress copy), NN: Washington Papers; LB, DLC:GW.
1. On the previous purchase of flour from Mount Vernon by Hooe, a merchant in Alexandria, Va., see Hooe to GW, 23 May 1793, and Tobias Lear to GW, 24 June 1793.
2. The report from miller Joseph Davenport has not been found.
3. In his reply to GW of 15 March, Hooe wrote: “I do myself the Honor to acknowledge the Reciept of Your Excellencys Letter of the 10th Inst.—and return you many thanks for the offer of Your Flour. At present I have a heavy quantity of both Wheat & Tobacco on my lands, which Articles not being able to get Vessells to carry off, & the great rumour of War with Britain—alarms me to such a degree, that I have Suspended my Purchases.
“This is very much the case with all the Merchts of this Town—I have made enquiry & cannot find any of them willing to Purchase” (DLC:GW).