To George Washington from Landon Carter, 8 September 1798
From Landon Carter
Cleve 8 Sepr 1798
Dear Sir
I beg your pardon for this intrusion; but indulged by you as I have been in a late correspondence I am bold to adress to you my own tender concerns: But first let me join my country men in a prayer of thanksgiving to almighty God that he has, in his bounty to us all, rescued from Disease a Life so importantly interesting. To God be all praise! amen.
Hovering, and in doubt, over the various seminaries in america my Sons are yet unfixed & my grief & concern are great at the quick passage of time over their youthfull heads without an improvement so ardently to be wished for by a fond affectionate parent. I have heard that Mrs Washington’s Grandson is sent to an academy at Anapolis—his present father in marriage no doubt has had some hand in the choice—So good a judge in concurrence with your excellent judgement has raised in me a fond hope that there my sons me acquire knowledge.
If you have liesure, now that your philanthropic temper has again plunged you into the perplexity of public action, I flatter myself your goodness will afford me a statement of matters relating to that seminary—its estimation in your mind—its rules—its expence &c. I need not tell you how free I am to acknoledge the favor.1
I have been pressed by the Agricultural society in Culpepper County to communicate to it those sentiments which made up my correspondence with you & with your permission I am inclined to comply with the wish of that society from my own file.2 With a heartfelt respect and very sincere regard for you & your estimable Lady I am Dear Sir Your most devoted & greatly obliged h [u] mble Servt
Landon Carter
ALS, DLC:GW. GW wrote on the cover “⟨arr⟩ived the 18th.”
1. Landon Carter of Cleve had three sons, Robert Charles Carter (1783–1849), St. Leger Landon Carter (1785–1851), and Robert W. Carter.
2. Carter began his correspondence with GW about agricultural matters on 28 Sept. 1796. After receiving a number of letters from Carter, mostly about peas, GW on 27 Feb. 1797 wrote his farm manager at Mount Vernon, James Anderson, complaining that a recent letter from Carter was “so unintelligible, that I scarcely know what to expect from it.” GW’s reply to this letter from Carter of 8 Sept. has not been found, but see GW to Carter, 5 October.