To George Washington from Edmund Randolph, 28 October 1793
From Edmund Randolph
Spencer’s October 28. 1793.
Sir
By the time, when this letter is delivered to you by Major Lenox, you will have received the different letters, which I forwarded to you at Baltimore and Elkton, stating, among other things, what I had done concerning your lodgings.1 Colo. Franks not being in town, and his agent not being willing to let the house for any period, short of six months, I could not combine the objects, which you have in view so effectually, as to conclude an arrangement with the German Clergyman near the schoolhouse.2 I wish the accommodation was complete; but it is certainly the best, which can be had. I have agreed for three rooms, and two beds for yourself and Mr Dandridge, and breakfast and tea in the afternoon, at ten dollars each per week. I was afraid, that your servants would have been obliged to lodge three or four hundred yards from you; but this morning I engaged board for them on the lot, adjoining your rooms.3 Should you want another room, I am pretty well satisfied, (’tho I do not know it absolutely) that it may be procured. Your horses are to be at Mr Feree’s stable about two hundred yards from the schoolhouse.4 The only remaining difficulty is dinner; for the clergyman cannot go so far, as this meal. A tavern-keeper was to see, if he could get a cook; in which case he would send a dinner to your lodgings. I shall settle with him to morrow, and can give him the information, with which Major Lenox has furnished me, respecting such a servant. I have the honor, sir, to be with the highest respect and sincere attachment yr mo. ob. serv.
Edm: Randolph.
ALS, DLC:GW.
1. See Randolph to GW, 22, 24, and 26 October.
2. An entry for 18 Nov. in GW’s accounts records that he “pd Fred: Herman in full for 1½ weeks board & lodging of the President & B.D.—Candles &c. per rect—[$]37.94.” (; see also Account Book, 2 Sept. 1793–4 April 1794, DLC:GW). Frederick Herman, a native of Holland who had come to the United States in 1786, was a pastor of the Germantown Reformed Church and teacher at the Germantown Academy. His house, built about 1766, still stood in 1915 at 130 West School House Lane in Germantown (Charles F. Jenkins, Guide Book to Historic Germantown [Germantown, Pa., 1915], 79–80).
3. On 18 Nov. GW paid John Merkel $15.82 “for boardg & lodging Lewis & Austin 1½ weeks—& for washg” (; see also Account Book, 2 Sept. 1793–4 April 1794, DLC:GW).
4. Joseph Ferree (c.1729–1804), who represented Lancaster County in the Pennsylvania general assembly, 1770–74, moved to Germantown in 1775. He was a trustee of the Germantown Academy. On 2 Jan. 1794 GW paid Ferree $24.64 for stabling GW’s horses at Germantown (; see also Account Book, 2 Sept. 1793–4 April 1794, DLC:GW).