To George Washington from John Trumbull, 6 March 1798
From John Trumbull
72 Welbeck Street London, March 6th 1798
Sir:
At length I have the satisfaction of informing you, that my two first Plates of the American Revolution are finished, and in a Style perfectly satisfactory to me: I had hopes of sending out their impressions to my Subscribers by this Convoy, but it has been impossible to print a sufficient number to deliver to all, and as I can make no distinctions, I must suffer the whole to wait the next Convoy, when they will all be sent.
In the mean time I have shipped on board the Suffolk, Capt. Wm Lovel, bound to Alexandria, a case directed for you, of which the Bill of Lading is enclosed, and which contains a pair of Proofs of these Prints, which I beg you will do me the Honour to accept: these, with those for which you are a Subscriber, & which you will receive by the next Ships, will form a complete Series of impressions, in the various Stages of the progress of this Work.1
I have only to regret that the Talents which I had to employ in this Work, were not more worthy of the greatness of the Subject; and that the Times in which I live, are so little favorable to its successful continuation. I beg to be remembered to Mrs Washington, and that you will believe me to be with the highest respect Sir Your much obliged Servant & Friend
Jno: Trumbull
ALS, DLC:GW.
1. The proofs that Trumbull sent were of the engravings of his paintings entitled The Death of Gen. Warren at the Battle of Bunker’s Hill and The Death of Gen. Montgomery in the Attack on Quebec. Trumbull completed the small oils for the engravings in March and June 1786 ( 71–72). GW wrote to Trumbull on 25 July 1798 to thank him for the proofs, and on 18 Sept. Trumbull sent GW “the Four Pair of Prints for which you did me the honour to subscribe so long since,” the reception of which GW acknowledged on 6 Feb. 1799.