George Washington Papers
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https://founders.archives.gov/documents/Washington/02-08-02-0135

From George Washington to Jonathan Boucher, 24 April 1769

To Jonathan Boucher

Mount Vernon 24th April 1769

Revd Sir,

Your favour of the 17th came to my hands this day; the contents of which, or the Letter itself, shall soon reach Mr Addison’s hands1—In respect to the Dancing Gentry, I am glad to find you have such choice of them, and that Newman has got the start of his Rival Spooner, because I have heard him well spoken of as a teacher in that Science—The other’s Misfortunes might recommend him to the notice & charity of the well dispos’d, but if his accomplishments in that way are inferior to the others, it ought by no means to entitle him to the preference. you will be so good therefore Sir to enter Mastr Custis with Mr Newman for a year or otherwise, as he may form his School2—Mrs Washington I can venture to assure you, will be very glad to see you at Mount Vernon in the recess of Whitsun Hollidays, but it is a ⟨pleasure⟩ I must be deprivd of as I expect to be in Williamsburg before, & long after that time3—Our best wishes attend yourself Miss Boucher & Family and I am Revd Sir Yr Most Obedt Hble Servt

Go: Washington

ALS, ViMtvL.

1Letter not found.

2On 20 July Boucher wrote GW that the “Dancing School” was to be held at his house the next Friday and that John Parke Custis had already missed two lessons. Neither Spooner nor Newman has been identified.

3Whitsunday in 1769 was 14 May; GW left for Williamsburg on 30 April and did not return home until 22 May, where he “Found Mrs. [John] Bushrod Mrs. W[arner] Washington & their families here—also Mr. Boucher Mr. [Henry] Addison Mr. [Walter] Magowan and Doctr [William] Rumney” (Diaries description begins Donald Jackson and Dorothy Twohig, eds. The Diaries of George Washington. 6 vols. Charlottesville, Va., 1976–79. description ends , 2:153).

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