From George Washington to William Crawford, 25 September 1773
To William Crawford
Mount Vernon 25th Septr 1773
Dr Sir,
Since writing the enclosed, I have further understood that the Governor, from some displeasure at Capt: Bullet’s conduct, (whether for surveying at all, or for other persons, besides those claiming under the Proclamation; or whether for a speech & engagement wch he entered into with the Indians,) has order’d him in—If the Govrs displeasure proceeded from the last mention’d cause, I should be glad (in case of your going down the river in pursuit of your own Land) if you could obtain a license from him to survey my quantity of 10,000 acres, as I will endeavour to get him to authenticate it, in order that I may proceed to Patenting of it, if the Govr thinks himself at liberty to grant one.1
I have wrote to Bullet to this effect, & though I know I gave him mortal offence, by interesting myself in procuring the commission I did, for you, yet I have some expectation of his complying with my request.2 If he does comply, you must know from him, what surveys he has made, as also what Entries are lodged, in order that you may steer clear of them; and I would recommend it to you to use dispatch, for depend upon it, if it be once known that the Governor will grant Patents for these Lands, the Officers of Pennsylvania, Maryland, Carolina &c. &c., will flock there in Shoals, & every valuable spot will be taken up, contiguous to the river, on which, the Lands, unless it be where there are some peculiar properties, will always be most valuable. I am as before Dr Sir Your very humble Servt
G: Washington
LB, DLC:GW.
1. GW had not yet received Dunmore’s letter of 24 Sept. in which Dunmore informed GW that he did not intend to grant any patents under the royal Proclamation of 1763 and confirmed that he had written Thomas Bullitt “adviseing him to return again immediately.” Bullitt had made a visit to the Shawnee village at Old Chillicothe north of the Ohio on the Scioto River while on his surveying expedition into Kentucky. There he held a council with the Indians, informing them that he and his party intended living on the south side of the Ohio River but promising them friendship and no interference with their hunting in that area. He also promised substantial presents to both the Shawnee and Delaware (, 20–22).
2. Thomas Bullitt surveyed 2,000 acres for GW “about 18 miles up the Turtle or Salt river. which Emptys into the Ohio about 23 miles Below the Falls. Including a large Buffilo Lick on the East side of sd river or Creek” (A List of Surveys Made by Thos Bullitt and Deputys under the Claimers of the Proclamation of 1763, May 1774, DLC: Breckenridge Family Papers).