George Washington Papers
Documents filtered by: Author="Washington, George" AND Recipient="Herbert, William" AND Period="Adams Presidency"
sorted by: date (ascending)
Permanent link for this document:
https://founders.archives.gov/documents/Washington/06-04-02-0233

From George Washington to William Herbert, 1 September 1799

To William Herbert

Mount Vernon Septr 1st 1799

Dear Sir,

Your letter with its enclosure, was not received until after candle light last night; owing, I presume, to my not having sent to the Post Office on friday: rarely sending—oftener than every other day, for my letters & Papers.1

I have put my name to the enclosed note, although it ought to have been at the Bank yesterday; to be returned, or destroyed, as circu[m]stances require.

This business of borrowing & discount (as you will perceive) I am quite a novice in. What I meant by renewing my note, was no more than, instead of taking it up, by applying so much of my deposit in Bank to this purpose (in payment thereof) to let it remain—so as that, this sum might be at my command; whether I adopted proper means to effect this end, you are the best judge.

It is quite immaterial to me, whether the discount was made last week—or may be this week—or the next—provided all things are right with respect to the old note; which being for Sixty days I know ought to be paid at the end thereof, or renewed. With this explanation of my intentions, you will please to do, or cause to be done, what is proper on my part—that I may not be brought into any unpleasant predicament at the Bank.

It is far from my intention, or wish, to saddle you with the expence of stamps; and therefore pray to be charged with their cost, and to be told where, & in what manner I can be provided with others.2 With very great esteem—I am—Dear Sir Yr Most Obedt & Affece Servt

Go: Washington

ALS (letterpress copy), NN: Washington Papers.

1Herbert’s letter is printed in GW to Herbert, 30 Aug., n.2.

2Herbert responded from Alexandria the next day, 2 Sept.: “I Received your favor by Doctr [James] Craik, Covering the Note I Sent you, Executed, as I looked for it, I had the Accounts of last Week, Kept Open, Untill it Came to hand, of Course Matters Stand, as if it was Offered at the Precise Day. Without a renual of your Note, It would be Impossible to Continue the loan, the Laws & regulations of the Bank, making such a Measure Indispensable—This Being Complyed With, your Deposit in Bank, Stands undiminished, farther, than What the Discount of the last Note Comes to, Whenever you Send up your Bank Book, your Account Shall be Settled, & the Old Note, which is, for the Present, entered up as a Check, will be returned to you. The Stamps that I furnished, I have Charged you With, & Can be Settled When we meet, a Mr Page, Who Writes in the Collectors Office, is the Vender of Stamps in this Town” (DLC:GW). Mr. Page is probably William Byrd Page, who was married to Light-Horse Harry Lee’s sister Anne.

Index Entries