From George Washington to Bushrod Washington, 29 December 1787
To Bushrod Washington
Mount Vernon Decr 29th 1787.
Dear Bushrod
Altho’ I have little expectation that this letter will find you in Richmond I still send it thither. Under this persuation, I shall add no more than to acct for the enclosure being so long in my possession.
The truth of the case is, with a letter for myself, from Mr Smith, it was enclosed with the Papers with which he was furnished for prosecuting the ejectments of the People living on my lands on Shurtee; & these being accompanied by another letter from that Gentleman, I took it for granted that the bundle (which was sealed) contained only the Papers which related to my land and therefore never opened it till the day before yesterday. If it is of consequence I am sorry for its detention, if that will avail any thing. Mr Smiths letter to me, under the same predicament, would, had I have opened it in time relieved me from a suspence respecting some matters which I was unable to acct for.1 You have my best wishes & I am Dr Bushrod with sentiments of very gt regd Yr Affecte Uncle
Go: Washington
ALS (photocopy), owned (1990) by Mr. Joseph M. Maddalena, Profiles in History, Santa Monica, California.
1. The “letter for myself, from Mr Smith,” is the one that GW refers to in his letter to Thomas Smith of 16 Sept. 1787. The letter from Smith that had been enclosed which GW had recently discovered was dated 22 May 1787. Neither letter has been found. See GW to Thomas Smith, 22 Feb. 1788.