61To George Washington from Tobias Lear, 5 August 1792 (Washington Papers)
Since I had the honor of writing to you on the 21 ultimo nothing of a public nature has occurred in this quarter of sufficient importance to trouble you with an account of it. And being desireous of gaining all the knowledge of the sentiments of the people hereabouts respecting our public affairs, that I could obtain either personally or from the best information, I have delayed writing ’till...
62To George Washington from Tobias Lear, 23 September 1792 (Washington Papers)
I have the honor to inform you that I am thus far on my return from New Hampshire to Philadelphia. I have been detained at Portsmouth a fortnight longer than I expected to have been, in order to settle some matters that were interesting to me. I shall leave this place tomorrow and proceed to Philadelphia at the rate of about 30 or 35 miles per day. I have neglected no opportunity of obtaining...
63To George Washington from Tobias Lear, 7 October 1792 (Washington Papers)
I arrived in this place this morning when I was honored with your kind letters of the 21st of September and 1st of October, which were put into my hands by Mr Fraunces. I was detained in Portsmouth ten days longer than I expected to have been when I had the hononor of writing to you last from that place, in order to settle some affairs for my mother which I happily accomplished in a...
64To George Washington from Tobias Lear, 29 March 1793 (Washington Papers)
I have the honor to enclose a paper containing some seeds and a note from Mr Powel, which were sent here the evening after your departure. I called upon General Knox yesterday in order to communicate to him your observations and wishes respecting several matters mentioned in Genl Wilkinson’s letters. I found the General much better than he had been for some days past; but he said he was not...
65To George Washington from Tobias Lear, 1 April 1793 (Washington Papers)
I know of nothing relative to public affairs that has transpired since your departure. In our domestic concerns we go on as usual. General Knox is mending; but he has not yet been out of his room. I saw him yesterday, when he told me he had just received a letter from General Lincoln, and that he might be expected here about the middle of the present week. As General Knox observed that he was...
66To George Washington from Tobias Lear, 3 April 1793 (Washington Papers)
I have been honored with your letter of the 30th ultimo, from Baltimore—and was happy to learn that you had proceeded that far on your journey without any material accident. I have seen Mr De Barth, who informs me that he is not able to discharge his bond—and that it is impossible for him to say, with any precision, when he shall be able to do it. The reasons which he offers for his want of...
67To George Washington from Tobias Lear, 8 April 1793 (Washington Papers)
I was very happy to learn that you had arrived safe and in good health at Mount Vernon. Your kind remembrance of myself and little family was received by us with gratitude and thankfulness. On saturday a letter was brought here for you from Mr Seagrove: soon afterwards I saw General Knox, and learning from him that he had received no letters from that quarter, I carried your letter to him, and...
68To George Washington from Tobias Lear, 10 April 1793 (Washington Papers)
Agreeably to the wish expressed in your letter of the 5th instant, with which I have been honored, I have made enquiries respecting the price of flour &c. and find that superfine flour is now selling for forty three & six pence & forty four shillings per barrel, for the Cash—and at forty five & forty six shillings, for notes payable in sixty days. Common flour is from 3/ to 3/6 less. For a...
69To George Washington from Tobias Lear, 17 June 1793 (Washington Papers)
I have the honor to inform you that I arrived here about an hour since; but am very sorry to add, that Dr Craik, whom I met here, informs me that he conceives Mr Whiting to be at the point of death. The Doctor says he has written to you on the subject by this post, and has, at Mr Whiting’s request, pressed you to send Mr Dandridge, or some other person in whom you can confide, down to Mount...
70To George Washington from Tobias Lear, 19 June 1793 (Washington Papers)
I have just returned to this place from Mount Vernon, where I found and left poor Whiting in a situation that his life could not be counted upon from one hour to another. He was unable to move without assistance, and could only speak a few words at a time. He could give me but little information of the state of the matters under his care; but observed, generally, that he trusted they could be...
71To George Washington from Tobias Lear, 24 June 1793 (Washington Papers)
Upon my reaching this place from Mount Vernon a few minutes ago, I had the honor to receive your letter of the 21st instant, and am much gratified to find that my having gone to Mount Vernon was an acceptable act. If you should leave Philadelphia on monday, as you propose, you will not receive the account of poor Whitting’s death (which was sent by the Post of Saturday) before that time. He...
72To George Washington from Tobias Lear, 13 September 1793 (Washington Papers)
The desire which Mrs Washington had the goodness to express to know how my little boy got through his journey, has given her the trouble of the inclosed letter, which You will be so kind as to do me the favor to give to her. I arrived here this morning with my young companion in good health, we met with no accident of any kind on the road. Of rain we had only a sprinkling one day, and such...
73To George Washington from Tobias Lear, 10 October 1793 (Washington Papers)
On my reaching this place yesterday Mr Greenleaf put into my hands your very good & respected favor of the 25 of September, enclosing one hundred & twenty dollars for the purchase of a Watch &c. and a Ticket for my dear little boy, in the Hotel Lottery, which you have had the goodness to give him as a token of your affection. I feel, my dear Sir, more than I can express for the many proofs of...
74To George Washington from Tobias Lear, 3 November 1793 (Washington Papers)
Presuming that you are now in German Town, agreeably to the arrangement which you informed me you had made for that purpose, when I had the honor of seeing you at Mount Vernon, I shall address this letter to you at that place; and have taken the liberty to enclose two copies of some observations respecting the River Potomack, the Country about it and the City of Washington, which I have noted...
75Enclosure: Observations on the Potomac River, 3 November 1793 (Washington Papers)
The River Potomack forms a junction with the Bay of Chesapeak 150 miles from the Sea. From thence to the head of tide-Water is about 160 miles. “This River is 7½ miles wide at its mouth; 4½ at Nomony Bay; 3 at Aquia; 1½ at Hollowing-Point; 1¼ at Alexandria—and the same from thence to the City of Washington, which is within 3 miles of the head of tide Water. It’s soundings are 7 fathoms at the...
76To George Washington from Tobias Lear, 9 November 1793 (Washington Papers)
A thousand times after my letter to you, enclosing Observations on the Potomack &c. had gone, did I wish to recall it: for the more I reflected on your situation at this moment, in point of business, the more did I see the impropriety, as well as the unfriendliness of my adding to that burthen, which I could not but know was at least as great as it ought to be, and more especially as mine was...
77To George Washington from Tobias Lear, 25 December 1793 (Washington Papers)
I have the vanity to think you will not be displeased to hear of my safe arrival at this place. We had a passage of 28 days from New York, and in the course of it experienced much stormy weather. I have been here a fortnight, during which time I have been busily engaged in viewing the several large manufactories in the City and its neighbourhood, in some of which they exceed any other part of...
78To George Washington from Tobias Lear, 26–30 January 1794 (Washington Papers)
Presuming on the wish which you had the goodness to express when I left you last, that you might sometimes hear from me after my arrival in Europe, I have ventured to write you one letter from Glasgow, and now improve the opportunity offered by the Ship Delaware, Capt. Truxon, to write to you again. I was between 3 & 4 weeks in Scotland, during which time I improved every occasion (and many...
79To George Washington from Tobias Lear, 4 February 1794 (Washington Papers)
I had the honor of writing a long letter to you on the 26th ultimo by the Ship Delaware, Captain Truxon, to whose particular care I committed the Watch & chain for Mrs Washington, also a profile of the Earl of Buchan, by Tassie, which Lady Buchan committed to my charge with a note for Mrs. Washington. Since which I have received a letter from the Earl with the enclosed packets for you which he...
80To George Washington from Tobias Lear, 12 February 1794 (Washington Papers)
Having had the honor of writing to you very fully by the Ship Delaware, Capt. Truxon (by whom I sent the watch for Mrs Washington) —and a few days ago by the Ship Peggy of George Town, I shall at present take up no more of your precious time than to inform you that I have put on board the latter ship 5000 white thorn plants for you—and a packet containing Reports made to the Board of...
81To George Washington from Tobias Lear, 22 August 1794 (Washington Papers)
It is with peculiar pleasure that I inform you of my having once more arrived in this comparatively happy Country. I sailed from Liverpool on the 11th of June and reached this place today. I have brought with me a valuable cargo of goods—and have made my arrangements of business to my Satisfaction in England, Scotland & Holland. I have returned home without visiting other Countries, because I...
82To George Washington from Tobias Lear, 1 September 1794 (Washington Papers)
I have this moment been made happy by the receipt of your acceptable & good letters of the 28th ultimo, with their enclosures. The mail being on the point of closing will only allow me at this time to acknowledge the receipt of your favors, and express the grateful sense which I have of your continued kindness towards me. The offer which you have the goodness to make of appointing me one of...
83To George Washington from Tobias Lear, 5 September 1794 (Washington Papers)
I am afraid you will think I have too long delayed giving an Answer to one of the good letters with which you honored me under the date of the 28th of August. The reason of the delay has not been so much on account of the decision with respect to myself, as to enable me to gain such information of the light in which certain Characters were viewed as I conceived might be acceptable to you: And...
84To George Washington from Tobias Lear, 24 September 1794 (Washington Papers)
At a meeting of the Potomac Company yesterday, they did me the honor to elect me a director, by an unanimous vote, in place of Colo. Deakins who had resigned. As I have accepted this appointment, I thought it my duty to inform you thereof, lest, if you should first hear it from any other quarter, you might think my conduct inconsistent & unjustifiable in accepting this place when I had so...
85To George Washington from Tobias Lear, 5 November 1794 (Washington Papers)
A few weeks ago Mr William Bailey of this neighbourhood wished me to inform him, if I could, whether you had disposed of your lands on the Great & Little Kanawas & on the Ohio between these two Rivers, which he understood you were inclined to part with; and if you had not, he wished to know what you would be willing to take for them, as he and some others had it in contemplation to obtain...
86To George Washington from Tobias Lear, 5 December 1794 (Washington Papers)
In the enclosed letter to Mr Dandridge I have transmitted the Treasurers Rect for the second payment with Interest, on your lots in Square N. 667—Amounting to $405 25/100 which you had the goodness to put into my hands for that purpose. When I had the pleasure to see you in Philadelphia, I expressed a wish to have an inspection of some papers relative to the Potomac Company’s affairs, which I...
87To George Washington from Tobias Lear, 10 December 1794 (Washington Papers)
I am about to trouble you on a piece of business which is very unpleasant to myself, and sure I am that it can be no less so to you. At the meeting of the Potomac Company when they did me the honor of appointing me one of the Directors, it was determined that application should be made to the Legislatures of Virginia and Maryland for a prolongation of the time granted for opening the...
88To George Washington from Tobias Lear, 17 December 1794 (Washington Papers)
I am happy to inform you that my intended trip to Richmond is rendered unnecessary. An act to prolong the time, for two years, for opening the navigation of the Potomac having been passed in Virginia. I went to Alexandria on Monday Evening, and was on the point of departing from thence to Richmond when Mr Charles Lee arrived from the Assembly, and informed that the business was finished the...
89To George Washington from Tobias Lear, 24 December 1794 (Washington Papers)
I have this moment been honored with your respected favor of the 21st instant—and shall, as soon as possible, obtain information on the several points therein mentioned, which shall be immediately communicated to you. The law for extending the time for opening the navigation of the Potomac has been passed in this State as well as Virginia. I take the liberty to enclose a packet for Mr...
90To George Washington from Tobias Lear, 1 January 1795 (Washington Papers)
I have been duly honored with your respected favors of the 21st & 22d ultimo; the latter accompanying certain papers and plans relative to the navigation of the Potomac; for which I return you my best thanks. The assembly of this State has passed a Law similar to that of Virginia, granting a further Time of two Years for completing the Navigation of the River. At a meeting of the Directors of...
91To George Washington from Tobias Lear, 24 January 1795 (Washington Papers)
I have now the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your respected favors of the 9th & 12th current; the latter having reached my hands a few moments before I sat off on a trip to Fredericksburgh, from which place I have just returned, having had the pleasure to see Mrs F. Washington so far on her way to Eltham, without any unlucky accident, and with a fair prospect of reaching the end of her...
92To George Washington from Tobias Lear, 30 January 1795 (Washington Papers)
Your letter of the 14th of december, which was directed to me in Richmond, did not find its way to this place till yesterday, which I trust, will account for what must have appeared neglectful on my part, my not having before acknowledged the receipt of it. Upon reflection, I am strongly impressed with the propriety of your declining to write, on the subject of extending the time for opening...
93To George Washington from Tobias Lear, 13 February 1795 (Washington Papers)
Knowing the deep interest which you take in the progress of the Potomac Navigation, as an object of great public utility, I am led at this time, to intrude on your busy moments when I should not do it from any motives of personal advantage or gratification. Mr Weston has not yet made his appearance here, as from various quarters we were led to expect he would have done early in the present...
94To George Washington from Tobias Lear, 23 February 1795 (Washington Papers)
I have been duly honored with your respected favor of the 18th instant, and feel very grateful for the communication you have had the goodness to make respecting Mister Weston’s movements towards this quarter. From my anxiety to see this great work progressing as it ought, I am apprehensive, my dear Sir, that I have intruded myself too often upon you on this subject. If I have I pray you will...
95To George Washington from Tobias Lear, 8 March 1795 (Washington Papers)
By the post of friday I had the honor to receive your respected favor of the 4th instant: Since which I have had but little opportunity of hearing any opinions expressed on the points mentioned in your letter. I had, however, frequently heard the subject spoken on since the commencement of the misunderstanding between Mr Johnson and the Commissioners; and from what I could observe of the...
96To George Washington from Tobias Lear, 18 March 1795 (Washington Papers)
On the day that I left this place to accompany Mr Weston up the River, I had the honor of writing a few lines to you on a certain subject mentioned in your respected favor of the 4th instant. Having returned from that trip but yesterday, no further oppurtunity of obtaining information on the point alluded to has yet occurred. I am much pleased to inform you that Mr Weston found time to visit...
97To George Washington from Tobias Lear, 27 April 1795 (Washington Papers)
Once more, my dear Sir, I have taken the liberty to intrude upon you in this way, trusting that your goodness will not take it amiss. I propose setting out on my journey homewards in a few days; but it will probably be about the middle of may before I reach the Potomac, as I shall have occasion to make several stops on the Road. My business, as well as inclination, has led me to mix much with...
98To George Washington from Tobias Lear, 17 May 1795 (Washington Papers)
On my reaching this place yestreday, I was invited to a dinner where a large number of the most respectable merchants of the town were collected. While at dinner Genl S. Smith rece[iv]ed a letter from Mr John Purveyance, at Halifax, to which place he was carried in the ship Pomona. After perusal, Genl Smith handed the letter to me, in which I found the following Statement. That the owners of...
99To George Washington from Tobias Lear, 20 May 1795 (Washington Papers)
Shares may at this moment be bought in Alexandria Bank at par—and those of the Bank of Columbia at one per Cent under par. The Shares of the Alexandria Bank are 200 dollars each— and a dividend, of 6 Months interest at the rate of 9 or 10 per Cent per Annum will take place in July; but the present want of Cash operates to keep the shares down altho’ the period of receiving the interest is so...
100To George Washington from Tobias Lear, 26–27 May 1795 (Washington Papers)
I had the honor of writing to you on the 20th instant, and therein acknowledged the receipt of your respected favor of the 17th instant. Since which I have applied for your account with the Commissioners, and informed that I would settle it when presented. It has not yet been handed in; but as soon as there is a little leisure from the present press of business at their office I presume it...
101To George Washington from Tobias Lear, 29 May 1795 (Washington Papers)
In the postscript of a Letter which I had the honor of writing to you on the 26th instant, I acknowledged the receipt of your respected favor of the 25th (which P.S. was added, however, on the evening of the 27th when your letter got to hand and the mail was just closing) in which I noted the sum of money & order on the Bank of Alexa. enclosed in that letter; but on recurring to the order, I...
102To George Washington from Tobias Lear, 3 June 1795 (Washington Papers)
I have purchased for you five shares in the Bank of Alexandria and one hundred in the Bank of Columbia, all at par. I wished to have obtained more in the Bank of Alexandria, but could not get them at par. They have risen to 3 per Cent above since I purchased the 5 above mentioned. The directors of the Bank of Columbia having permitted the payment of ten dollars on each share, due on the ⟨1st⟩...
103To George Washington from Tobias Lear, 9 June 1795 (Washington Papers)
I have to acknowledge the receipt of your respected & acceptable favor of the 4th instant. The balance in my hands, as noted in the account current which I had the honor to transmit to you on the 3d, shall be appropriated as you desire. I should prefer vesting it in Shares of the Alexandria Bank as the property is equally as good as that in the Bank of Columbia, and a dividend is to take place...
104To George Washington from Tobias Lear, 19 June 1795 (Washington Papers)
I have been duly honored with your respected favor of the 15th instant, and shall, agreeably to your wishes, invest the balance in my hands in the Stock of Alexandria Bank as soon as a proper opportunity of doing it shall offer. I have been expecting a fall; but as the time of dividend draws so near I doubt whether they will be much below the principal & 4½ pr Cent Interest— and if they are to...
105To George Washington from Tobias Lear, 3 August 1795 (Washington Papers)
The weather has prevented the meeting of a sufficient number of the Potomak Company to do business today, they have therefore adjourned ’till Thursday, when it is expected that numbers will come in. If it should be convenient for you to attend I think your presence will be of great service; but should that not be the case, it would be well to send a power to vote in behalf of the shares you...
106To George Washington from Tobias Lear, 19 October 1795 (Washington Papers)
I have just returned from my trip up to the Shanandoah without being able to accomplish the object of securing for the public the property at the junction of that River with the potomac in the manner I wished. I am not, however, without hopes that it may yet be done. I found, on examination into the title, that the ferry tract, which contains about one hundred & twenty acres, by patent, was...
107To George Washington from Tobias Lear, 26 October 1795 [letter not found] (Washington Papers)
Letter not found: from Tobias Lear, 26 Oct. 1795 . In Timothy Pickering’s letter to Lear of 28 Jan. 1796, he referred to “your letter to the President of the 26th of October” ( MHi : Pickering Papers).
108To George Washington from Tobias Lear, 17 November 1795 (Washington Papers)
I should ere’ this have acknowledged the receipt of your respected favor of the 2d inst. but waited for a further communication, or for the arrival of Colo. Rochefontaine. The latter has just taken place. And I have informed Colo. Gilpin thereof, who told me a few days ago that he would be ready at a moments’ warning to accompany that Gentleman to the junction of the Potomac & Shanandoah; I,...
109To George Washington from Tobias Lear, 7 December 1795 (Washington Papers)
I have this moment returned from Annapolis, and had the happiness to meet your aceptable & respectable favors of the 30th of Novr and the 2d of Decr with their enclosures. As it is within a few hours of the closing of the mail it is not in my power to give a decided answer to Mr Myers’ proposition for superintending the works of the Potomac Company; but before the next mail, I will see the...
110To George Washington from Tobias Lear, 9 December 1795 (Washington Papers)
I had the honor to address you on the 7th inst. acknowledging the receipt of your respected favors of the 30th of Novr & 2d inst. The Assembly of this State have postponed the decision on the Potomac business ’till friday the 11th inst. ’till which the Directors do not feel themselves authorized to make any engagements on account of the Company, as the funds from the first subscription are...