1Memorandum for James Anderson and William Pearce, 5 November 1796 (Washington Papers)
...the price. To ascertain the difference with certainty between the Sand & pounded Stone take two pieces of Plank (plained, a foot square each will be Sufficient) and paint them in the usual manner with white lead gr[oun]d in oil and after the first coat is dry give them a second (the paint a little thicker) and while it is fresh throw (the board standing perpendicular on one edge) sand...
2From George Washington to William Pearce, 20 November 1796 (Washington Papers)
...the price cd have been so high. I will make enquiry into these matters here, & inform you of the result in my next; as I shall also do abt Paints & Oil; but when you spoke of White Lead ground in Oil being 24/ pr Keg, you ought to have mentioned what the Keg contained, as they are of various sizes from 25 to 100 lbs. weight.