George Washington Papers

To George Washington from John Page, 9 March 1787

From John Page

Rosewell March the 9th 1787

Dear Sir

The little Time Mr Griffith has to spend with me, & my present State of Mind must be my Apology for this short Scrawl.1

The Directors of the Dismal Co. I am certain will be perfectly satisfied with any Plan which you would adopt. The one you hint at in your Letter, is I think the only one which suits the Finances & Disposition of the Company.2 The Members are too Lukewarm to advance Money if they had it, & too indolent to attend to the Execution of any Plan which requires any Attention on their Part. I have no Hopes of deriving any Advantage from any other Scheme than that which you have suggested. I therefore wish you to encourage Col. Lutterlohs Plan as far as you may think proper—& I am of Opinion that we had better give ⅓d. or even ½ for reclaiming the whole than keep it upon the Terms we now hold it—I think the Col. might dispose of 100 Tradesmen & Farmers besides the Labourers which the Compy would take, immediately & on good Terms. I am dear Sir with the highest Respect & Esteem your most obedient Servant

John Page

ALS, DLC:GW.

1For reference to the Rev. David Griffith’s trip to tidewater Virginia, see GW to Robert Carter, 24 Feb., n.1.

2GW’s letter has not been found, but its likely contents are revealed in GW to Henry E. Lutterloh, 8 April. See also Lutterloh to GW, 3 Jan. 1787.

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