To George Washington from Henry Lee, 9 October 1795
From Henry Lee
Mccormes tavern five miles north
of Websters [Md.]1 Ocr 9th 1795
dear sir,
A report from Norfolk announcing the arrival of a corvette there, with letters of recal of the French minister in consequence of our treaty with G. Britain is circulating with much confidence.
I cannot think so illy of the wisdom & justice of the french republic as to credit the tale & in my own mind I class it among those daily inventions which charecterize the agitators of our country: yet I consider the event not among the impossible, in as much as I am certain that official influence in a certain quarter may be too obedient to the fraternity here.
My cheif object at present is for the sake of your & Misstres Washingtons accommodation to tell you that we have found in this tavern unexpectedly very agreable & comfortable quarters—Every thing clean neat & obliging with excellent forage for horses.
You will I am persuaded experience a happy change by making it your night stage. I am unaltreably & most respectfully Your friend & ob. sert
Henry Lee
ALS, DLC:GW.
1. Webster’s tavern, formerly Skerrett’s tavern, was located on the Philadelphia Road at the head of the Bird River in Baltimore County, Maryland. GW stopped at that tavern on 16 Oct. en route to Philadelphia ( 6:213). GW’s cash accounts indicate that he stopped at “McComers” tavern on his return to Philadelphia in August 1796, but he chose Webster’s tavern in June and October 1796 and March 1797 (RPJCB).