George Washington Papers

To George Washington from James Greenleaf, 19 May 1794

From James Greenleaf

New York May 19th 1794

Sir

I have the honor of transmitting you a letter I have just recd from Mr T. Lear, which was accompanied by a Bill of Loading of a small box Glass ware, Shipped on the 13th Feby, for your account, & to my address, on board the John & Jane bound from Glasgow to this port—the Vessel is not yet arrived, but may be hourly expected—you will please therefore, Sir, to honor me with your orders what to do with the box when I receive it.1

I shall leave this place for Philadelphia on the Evening of the 23d Instant, & should the John & Jane not have arrived, I shall leave such directions with my friends here, as will secure a due attention to your orders. I have the honor to be, with respect & veneration, sir, Your most obedt & most humble servant

James Greenleaf.

ALS, DLC:GW.

1Greenleaf evidently enclosed Tobias Lear’s letter to GW of 25 Dec. 1793. The brig John and Jane arrived at New York from Glasgow on this date (The Diary; or, Evening Register [New York], 19 May). Bartholomew Dandridge, Jr., transmitted GW’s orders in a letter to Greenleaf of 21 May: "The President will be further thankful if you will be good enough to leave directions with your friend in New York to have the box, as soon as it arrives, sent to this place; and as it contains glass, begs it may be by a conveyance which will ensure its safety.

"I am also directed by the President to request you to call on him when you come to this City for a sum of money which he is to pay to you on Mr Lear’s accot" (ALS, PHi: Gratz Collection).

An entry of 4 June in GW’s accounts records the payment of $109 to Greenleaf "on Accot of T. Lear for sundries purchas’d by him for the Presidt" (Household Accounts; see also Ledger C).

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