To George Washington from Alexander Smith, 4 October 1796
From Alexander Smith
Alexandria [Va.] Octr 4th 1796
Sir
I am Justly indedted to You for flour purchd to Amount of Six thousand four hundred & thirty nine Dollars which will become Due On the twenty fourth Day of November1 I Only have to Observe that I have been misfortunate in Some of my purchases the last Season and from that Considderation I take the liberty of Addressing you at present and if Consistant with Your Conveniance Shall Esteem it a Singular favour to Lend me Your mony for twelve months Or shorter time As may best Sute Yourself I Shall make You perfeckly Safe in the payment and Allow Six pr Cent intrest which we pay the bank if I Am Obliged to pay the mony at the time it becomes Due it will Cramp me much in my living at this perticuler time a few lines from You will much Oblige Your Obedent Hule Sert2
Alexr Smith
P.S. if not Conveniant to Spare the mony you Shall be paid punttaly if I Should be Obliged to make a Sacrafice to Rase it.
A.S.
ALS, DLC:GW. Smith wrote on the cover: “favord by Mr Wm Pearce.”
1. On 24 May, GW’s farm manager William Pearce had sold Smith over 400 barrels of fine and superfine flour, and eleven barrels of condemned flour for a total amount equivalent to $6,439, payable in six months (see GW to Pearce, 15 May 1796, and n.2 to that document). GW’s cash accounts for 24 May indicate that Smith’s negotiable note for $6,439 was then “lodged in the Bank of Alexandria” by Pearce (, 25).
2. GW later extended the due date on Smith’s note (see GW to Smith, 14 Nov., and n.4; see also Smith to GW, 9 Nov.).