To George Washington from Robert Lewis, 7 August 1799
From Robert Lewis
Spring Hill August 7th 1799
Hond Uncle,
Inclosed you will receive a draught on Mr Russell Mercht of Alexandria, for the balance of Mr Ariss’s rent, which you will be so kind as to get Mr Anderson to present immediately—Mr Ariss’s infirmities prevents me from being as rigid as I ought to be—He is always, and ever will be (I am fearful) backward in discharging his rent.1 When my execution accounts are settled with the Sheriffs of Berkley & Fauquier, I shall either remit you the money by some safe hand or come with it myself.2
A few days since I had the pleasure of seeing my Brother Lawrence & his Lady at Mr Carters in Culpeper. They are both well—My brother has received great benefit from the sulphur mud which he has been advised to apply to his eye, and drinking freely of the water obtain’d from Mr Voss’s Springs.3
An intense drought from the latter end of June to the last week in July has been the means of lessening our crops of Hay, Since which we have been very seasonable—The last fall’s drought and Hessian flye combin’d, has depriv’d us completely of seed wheat—Crops of corn & Tobacco are remarkable fine.
Mrs Lewis presents her affectionate regards to you & my Aunt—with Your much oblig’d & very dutiful Nephew
Robt Lewis
ALS, ViMtvL.
1. John Ariss, the noted housebuilder who died before the end of the year, had been renting a 700–acre tract on Bullskin Run in Berkeley County from GW for £60 per annum since 1786. See Ariss to GW, 5 Aug. 1784, and notes. GW wrote Lewis on 17 Aug. 1799 that he had received Ariss’s draft on James Russell of Alexandria for £42, but see also GW to Lewis, 23 August.
2. GW does not record in existing accounts any further payments from Lewis.
3. Voss’s spring may have been on the land of Robert B. Voss (died c.1811) of Mountain Prospect, Culpeper County.