1From George Washington to George Washington Parke Custis, 24 July 1798 (Washington Papers)
Your letter of the 21st Instt was received ⟨last night⟩ The question, “I would thank you to inform me whether I leave it entirely, or not, so that I ⟨may⟩ pack up accordingly,” really astonishes me! for it would seem as if nothing I could say to you made more than a momentary impression. Did I not, before you went to that Seminary, and since by letter, endeavour to fix indelibly on your mind,...
2From George Washington to George Washington Parke Custis, 13 June 1798 (Washington Papers)
It is now near four weeks since any person of this family has heard from you, although you were requested to write to some one in it, once a fortnight, knowing (as you must do) how apt your Grandmama is to suspect that you are sick, or some accident has happened to you, when you omit this? I have said, that none of us have heard from you, but it behooves me to add, that from persons in...
3From George Washington to George Washington Parke Custis, 10 May 1798 (Washington Papers)
Your letter by Colo. Fitzgerald has been received—and I shall confine my reply at present, to the query contained in ⟨mutilated⟩ Postscript—viz.—“to whom I am to apply for money in case of want.” This has the appearance of a very early application, when it is considered that you were provided, very plentifully it was conceived, with necessaries of all sorts when you left this (two months ago...
4From George Washington to George Washington Parke Custis, 15 April 1798 (Washington Papers)
Your letter of the 2d instant came duly to hand, and gave us the pleasure (as you may naturally conceive from our solicitude for your well doing) at hearing that you had got over a slight indisposition; was happy in your present situation; and going on well in your studies. Prosecute these with deligence & ardour, and you will sometime hence, be more sensible than now, of the rich harvest you...
5From George Washington to George Washington Parke Custis, 19 March 1798 (Washington Papers)
Your letter of the 12th instt has been received; and it gives me, and your friends here much pleasure to find that you are ⟨agree⟩ably settled, and disposed to prosecute your studies with zeal & alacrity. Let these continue to be your primary objects & pursuits; all other matters, at your time of life, are of secondary consideration, for it is on a well grounded knowledge of these your...
6From George Washington to George Washington Parke Custis, 7 January 1798 (Washington Papers)
System in all things should be aimed at; for in execution, it renders every thing more easy. If now & then, of a morning before breakfast, you are inclined, by way of change, to go out with a Gun, I shall not object to it; provided you return by the hour we usually set down to that meal. From breakfast, until about an hour before Dinner (allowed for dressing, & preparing for it, that you may...
7From George Washington to George Washington Parke Custis, 29 August 1797 (Washington Papers)
Your letter of the 21st Instt came to hand by the last Post; and, as usual, gave us pleasure to hear that you enjoyed good health; were progressing well in your Studies; and that you were in the Road to promotion. Senior class having left, or being on the point of leaving College—some of them with great eclat—ought to prove a strong stimulus to those who remain to acquire equal reputation...
8From George Washington to George Washington Parke Custis, 23 July 1797 (Washington Papers)
Your letter of the 14th instt has been duly received, and gives us pleasure to hear that you enjoy good health, & are progressing well in your Studies. Far be it from me to discourage your Correspondence with Doctor Stuart, Mr Law, Mr Lear or Mr Lewis; or indeed with any others, as well disposed and capable as I believe they are, to give you specimens of correct writing, proper subjects, and...
9From George Washington to George Washington Parke Custis, 10 July 1797 (Washington Papers)
Your letter of the 1st instant was received by the last mail (on friday) and your other letter of the 8th of June remains unacknowledged; owing principally to engagements without doors, in my Harvest fields, and to company within; for we have scarcely been alone a day for more than a month; and now have a house full, among whom are your Sisters Law & Peter. To hear you are in good health, and...
10From George Washington to George Washington Parke Custis, 4 June 1797 (Washington Papers)
Your letter of the 29th Ulto came to hand by the Post of Friday, and eased my mind of many unpleasant Sensations, and reflections on your account. It has indeed done more, it has filled it with pleasure, more easy to be conceived than expressed; and if your sorrow, and repentence for the disquietudes occasioned by the preceeding letter, and your resolution to abandon the ideas which were...
11From George Washington to George Washington Parke Custis, 22 May 1797 (Washington Papers)
Having heard nothing from you, or of you, since you left the Federal City, but hoping you got safe to Princeton, the sole intention of this letter is to cover the enclosed. The one from your Sister will, I presume, detail the little occurences which have happened since you left us. and the other arrived after your departure —We are much in the same situation as when you left us. AL , ViHi :...
12From George Washington to George Washington Parke Custis, 3 April 1797 (Washington Papers)
Your letter of the 25th Ulto has been duly received; and as your Grand Mamma or Sister, will write to you by the Post, I shall leave it to them to furnish you with the details of our journey, and the occurances since our arrival. It gives me singular pleasure to hear that your time has been so well employed during the last Winter, and that you are so sensible of the good affects of it...
13From George Washington to George Washington Parke Custis, 27 February 1797 (Washington Papers)
Your letter of the 22d inst., as also one of the first, have been duly received. The affectionate sentiments contained in them, are highly pleasing to me. But that which affords a still higher gratification, is to hear that you are not only attentive to your studies, but pleased with them also. Hence, I draw the most agreeable presages, that you will reward my cares & anxieties to see you a...
14From George Washington to George Washington Parke Custis, 11 January 1797 (Washington Papers)
I hasten to acknowledge the receipt of your letter dated the 7th instant, but which did not get to my hands until yesterday; and to express to you, the sincere pleasure I feel in finding that I had interpreted some parts of your letters erroneously. As you have the best, and most unequivocal evidence the case is susceptible of, that I have no other object in view by extending my cares and...
15From George Washington to George Washington Parke Custis, 19 December 1796 (Washington Papers)
I am not certain whether I have written to you since my receipt of your letter of the first instant; for as my private letters are generally dispatched in a hurry, & copies not often taken, I have nothing to resort to, to refresh my memory: be this however as it may, we are always glad to hear from you, though we do not wish that letter writing should interfere with your more useful and...
16From George Washington to George Washington Parke Custis, 28 November 1796 (Washington Papers)
In a few hasty lines, covering your Sister’s letter and a comb on Saturday last, I promised to write more fully to you by the Post of this day. I am now in the act of performing that promise. The assurances you give me of applying diligently to your studies, and fulfilling those obligations which are enjoined by your Creator and due to his creatures, are highly pleasing and satisfactory to me....
17From George Washington to George Washington Parke Custis, 26 November 1796 [letter not found] (Washington Papers)
Letter not found : to George Washington Parke Custis, 26 Nov. 1796 . GW wrote Custis on Monday, 28 Nov. : “In a few hasty lines, covering your Sister’s letter and a comb on Saturday last, I promised to write more fully to you by the Post of this day.”
18From George Washington to George Washington Parke Custis, 15 November 1796 (Washington Papers)
Yesterday’s mail brought me your letter of the 12th instant, and under cover of this letter you will receive a ten-dollar bill, to purchase a gown, &c., if proper. But as the classes may be distinguished by a different insignia, I advise you not to provide these without first obtaining the approbation of your tutors; otherwise you may be distinguished more by folly, than by the dress. It...