George Washington Papers
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To George Washington from Thomas Johnson, 26 March 1772

From Thomas Johnson

Annapolis 26. Mar. 1772.

Sir.

I inclose you a Letter from my Bror John to your Lady he was at my House last week and intended then to have sent it but the post made so little Stay that tho’ my Bror went to the Office several Times he slipped him.1

There were some Expences on the Bill passed last Session in favr of Mr Semple it is usual here in Imitation of what I think a bad procedr. in England to tax Fees on private Bills—this was taxed

To the Speaker—6.

the Clk of the Lo. Ho.—3. Common Money i.e. Dollars at 7/6—and I believe in the Upper Ho. as much. I should be obliged by your having the Money remitted as I have paid some of it and promised to write to you on the Subject.2 I am sr Your most hble Servt

Ths Johnson Junr

ALS, DLC:GW.

1Since 1770 Dr. John Johnson had been sending Mrs. Washington medicine from Maryland for her daughter Martha Parke Custis. See Thomas Johnson to GW, 18 June 1770. Dr. Johnson’s letter, dated 21 Mar., reads: “Madam. The very bad Weather which prevented almost any Communication and my Expectation that the Means left with Miss Custis are not yet expended occasioned my not sending any more so soon as I designed—I now send by the Post a small Phial to be frequently smelt to as Hartshorne or other Drops commonly used to prevent faitiness and a small Bottle of Ointmt to be applied as before directed—The Decoction I left must be taken if Occasion requires it tho’ I hope Nature will perform her Office without. I imagine it will be unnecessary to assure Miss Custis that I have the greatest Hopes her Happiness will be much promoted by regular moderate Exercise, temporate living which she may think Abstemiousness and her being attentive to keep her Body cool and open which last may I hope be effectually done and agreeably to herself by the Use of Barley Water and light cooling Food—Frumenty made of Barley or even of Wheat wou’d I think be very proper Food is agreeable to many and perhaps might be so at Times to Miss Custis—I hear that Master Custis said in Annapolis she was better I have great Pleasure in it and should be glad to hear more particularly of her State. I am Madam Your most obedient Servant John Johnson” (DLC:GW).

2On 23 Nov. 1771 the Maryland assembly adopted “An Act to enable the Executors of Thomas Colvill to convey the Land therein mentioned.” The act provided that if Semple paid the Colvill executors on or before 20 April 1773 the amount agreed on between Colvill and Semple for the Merryland tract in Frederick County, Md., he should be given deed to the land. If the money was not forthcoming by that date, the executors could sell the land to the highest bidder (Md. Archives description begins Archives of Maryland. 72 vols. Baltimore, 1883–1972. description ends , 63:293–95). For GW’s involvement with the Colvill estate and John Semple, see Semple to GW, 8 Jan. 1770, source note, and GW to William Peareth, 20 Sept. 1770, n.2, and Cash Accounts, March 1772, n.5. For GW’s payments to these Maryland officials, see Cash Accounts, April 1772, and Johnson to GW, 10 May.

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