George Washington Papers
Documents filtered by: Author="Washington, George" AND Recipient="Biddle, Clement" AND Period="Adams Presidency"
sorted by: editorial placement
Permanent link for this document:
https://founders.archives.gov/documents/Washington/06-01-02-0274

From George Washington to Clement Biddle, 21 August 1797

To Clement Biddle

Mount Vernon 21st Augt 1797.

Dear Sir,

Since writing to you on the 14th Inst. I have received your letter of the 12 th with the cost of the Picture frames and Glasses; to receive which soon would be convenient and agreeable to me.1

The large Plated wine cooler reserved from sale in my last, I pray you to have carefully packed up and sent with the letter enclosed by a safe conveyance to Colo. Hamilton of New York.2

I am in want of an open stove for a room that has no fire place in it. this stove is intended to stand crosswise an angle in a Garret room, and must have a conductor from the upper part thereof into the flue of the adjoining chimney. An Iron hearth and a fender to suit the same of a cheap kind must accompany it.

Enclosed I have endeavoured to describe in a parallel sketch my idea of the Kind and size I want, but if this should be imperfectly understood I wou’d then ask you to look into what was my private study (over the bathing room) in the house I occupied in Philadelphia. I do not however see any occasion for the second turn wch that Pipe takes; and which probably is the cause of its smoking; an evil to be avoided if possible.

The sooner I could receive this stove the more convenient it would be; as the room into which it is to be placed is now in hand.3

I presumed when the Congress exempted me from postage of letters it was intended that I should be placed on the ground I formerly stood; that is—that letters to and from me should pass free: if it is not so understood and you are charged postage for the letters I address to you, it is my desire that this postage should be paid at my cost as it was not my intention for the trifling and troublesome business you transact for me to saddle you therewith. With Esteem & regard I am Dear Sir Your Obet Hble Servt

Go: Washington

LB, DLC:GW. Parke-Bernet advertised the ALS on 24–25 May 1943 and on 6 Mar. 1968.

1Letter not found, but for the frames see GW to Biddle, 28 May, n.3.

3The private owner of the letter from GW to Biddle of 15 Oct. 1797 also owns the sketch of an “open stove about 3 f. wide” with instructions, all in GW’s hand. This is probably the memorandum that GW refers to here. With reference to the sketch, GW writes:

Iron hearth, to the back of the Stove
From 1 to 2 about 20 Inches—more or less
From 3 to 4 about 27 Do  Do  Do

He then writes: “If there are no Stoves of the above form to be had, any other kind that is open, and can be fixed in the manner, and in such a place as is mentioned in the letter, will answer the purpose. If the Pipe that goes from 3 to 4 could be turned to the right so as to enter the chimney obliquely, that is, not in a line with the side of the Stove at ⟨4⟩, nor yet in a streight direction from the back of it but about half way between both it would be better accomodated to the angle of the room in which it is to stand; as the stove is a substitute for a Corner chimney—the fire in which, looks as much to one side, as to the other of the Room. for the Conductor therefore of the smoke to enter the chimney square, or at right angles, it must proceed in an oblique direction from the top, or first turn of the Stove at figures 2 & 3.”

Index Entries