George Washington Papers
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https://founders.archives.gov/documents/Washington/05-19-02-0033

From George Washington to George Lewis, 13 October 1795

To George Lewis

On the Road between George Town [D.C.]
& Baltimore 13th October 1795

Dear Sir:

Your letter of the 10th instant I received after I had commenced my journey for Philadelphia.1 And being detained on the Road (at Spurrie[r]s Tavern2 by rain), I acknowledge the receipt of it, with a view principally, to let you know that you have furnished me with no data on which to decide whether I will take General Spottswoods horse, or not. You say his price was so far beyond what you conceived to be his value and what I might be inclined to give; and being a year younger than you expected, that you forbore to make the purchase until I should inform you whether his age and price would suit me, but have not mentioned a word what the price is.

Let me know what the price asked is and how he could be got to Phila. with ease and safety; and I shall be better able to decide than I am now. The horse of your Brother Henry3 was showy when under the Saddle and put upon his mettle; but how he looked in harness I know not. When you write me again, mention the Breed of Gen. Spottswoods horse & what proportion of English blood he has in him, which can easily be ascertained if he raised him, himself. I am—Dear Sir Your sincere friend & affectionate Uncle

G. Washington

Typescript, DLC:GW, ser. 9.

1Lewis’s letter has not been found.

2The typist wrote “Spurrieis”; Spurrier’s tavern was located at what is now Waterloo, Md., roughly twelve miles southwest of Baltimore. GW stopped there on 14 Oct. (Diaries, description begins Donald Jackson and Dorothy Twohig, eds. The Diaries of George Washington. 6 vols. Charlottesville, Va., 1976–79. description ends 6:213).

3George Lewis did not have a brother Henry. This may have been a reference to his brother-in-law Henry Daingerfield (1771–1815) or possibly a typist’s error in a reference to George’s brother Howell Lewis.

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