From George Washington to Clement Biddle, 6 October 1788
To Clement Biddle
Mount Vernon October 6th 1788
Dear Sir,
It was intended, tho’ omitted in my last, to have requested you to ask the Brewers in your City what they will give for spring Barley delivered at my Landing—or in Philadelphia—and in the latter case for you to have known what the freight would be. My Barley is raised from the Seed you obtained for me from Mr Haynes;1 and is, as I mentioned to you in a former letter, mixed in some degree with Oats 2—This I am, told is no disadvantage to the Malt tho’ it is an objection to my sowing it again—I mention it that the purchaser may be acquainted therewith before hand—What the quantity may be that I shall have to dispose of I am unable to say—but it will not be great, not more than a few hundred bushels—the season beeing miserable bad for it—the grain is good—Your answer soon will oblige. Dear Sir Yrs &c.
Go: Washington
LB, DLC:GW.
1. Reuben Haines (d. 1793), a Philadelphia Quaker, was a partner with Godfrey Twells in the Philadelphia brewing firm of Haines, Twells & Company until 1777. By 1785 he was operating the brewing firm of Reuben Haines and Sons, and by 1791 his brewing company was called Haines & Caspar. Biddle purchased barley for GW from Haines in December 1786 (GW to Biddle, 3 Dec. 1787).
2. See GW to Biddle, 10 Aug. 1788.