101From George Washington to William Pearce, 25 January 1796 (Washington Papers)
The letter which accompanies the two parcels of Rice herewith sent, gives all the information I am able to transmit, respecting the cultivation of them: and to which I request you to pay particular attention. As these small things may be laid by, & forgot when the season for sowing or preparing ground for them arrives; and even after sowing them, may be forgotten in the due cultivation of...
102From George Washington to William Pearce, 27 January 1796 (Washington Papers)
Your letter of the 17th Instt which I expected on Saturday, came to hand by the Post of yesterday. These delays are, I presume, occasioned by the extreme badness of the Roads, wch by all accounts never were worse. I am very sorry for the death of Mr Davenport on many accts; and not the least on acct of his poor family; who must, I am sure, be left in great distress. for this reason I request...
103From George Washington to William Pearce, 31 January 1796 (Washington Papers)
Your letter of the 24th inst. with the reports, came to hand, at the usual time, yesterday. and I am sorry to find by them that sickness is so prevalent among the people. It is occasioned I presume by the changeableness of the weather; and will I hope, be carried off by the steady cold which seems to be now setting in. Had your grain been covered with Snow? If not, how does it, and is it...
104From George Washington to William Pearce, 7 February 1796 (Washington Papers)
Your letter, begun on the 31st of last month, and ended the 2d of this, came, with the Reports enclosed, duly to hand yesterday; together with the list of Dower Negros which are taken exactly as I wished. I now wish you would forward to me a list of all the remaining Negros on the Estate; distinguishing French’s from the others; & both made out in the manner of the last—giving the ages &ca....
105From George Washington to William Pearce, 21 February 1796 (Washington Papers)
Since my last to you, I have received your letters of the 7th & 14th Instant. I am under no apprehension of flour falling; but keep me advised of the Alexandria price. The fears expressed by the purchasers, of its falling, is calculated to alarm the Sellers. They know full well, it is not likely to happen. The scarcity and demand being so great. As I wish, after this Crop of Wheat is...
106From George Washington to William Pearce, 28 February 1796 (Washington Papers)
Your letter of the 21st instt with the Reports of the preceeding week came to my hands yesterday. I do not recollect that I have missed writing to you by Mondays Posts since you returned from the Eastern shore. I have no doubt of your having many applications to Rent, both my farms and Mill; but I question if it be from such persons, or on such terms, as I would chuse to engage; for which...
107From George Washington to William Pearce, 9 March 1796 (Washington Papers)
As I did not receive your letter of the 28th Ulto, until eight o’clock last night; and am hurried this morning in preparing other letters for the Post—I shall do no more than inform you, that besides the Cask of Clove[r] Seed by Captn Hand, there went a small box of Apple grafts for the Gardener. The apples are of a most extraordinary large size, & good for eating. Desire Ehler (as I hope he...
108From George Washington to William Pearce, 13 March 1796 (Washington Papers)
Your letter of the 28th of Feby (as I mentioned in a short letter written to you on Wednesday last) did not reach my hands until tuesday evening; and I had it not in my power next morning, before closing the Mail, to mention some things which I am about to do in this letter. The scarcity of Corn, & high price of that article in all the Southern states, and in the Southern & western parts of...
109From George Washington to William Pearce, 20 March 1796 (Washington Papers)
Your letter of the 13th instt and the reports of the preceeding week came duly to hand yesterday—and will, I presume, do so regularly through the course of the Spring & Summer. I am sensible that by dividing my farms into small tenements I add very much to the consumption of my Timber, (and perhaps of the fuel) until hedges sufficient against every thing but Hogs could be raised (which of...
110From George Washington to William Pearce, 27 March 1796 (Washington Papers)
Yesterday brought me your letter of the 20th instant, with the Reports of the preceeding week. I am sorry to find by it that your winter grain has changed its appearance, for the worse; and that your fences have been so much deranged by the high wind you have had—in a greater degree I think than it was here—tho’ it was very violent with us also. These being acts of Providence, & not within our...
111From George Washington to William Pearce, 3 April 1796 (Washington Papers)
Your letter of the 27th Ulto, with a Post[s]cript of the 29th, came duly to hand yesterday. As I have expectation that by the time this letter will have reached you, a Vessel from Liverpool called the Commerce will have arrived at George Town with eight bushels of the field Pea; as much of the Chiccory as will sow four Acres of land; and eight bushels of the Winter Vetch—for, and on my...
112From George Washington to William Pearce, 10 April 1796 (Washington Papers)
Your letter of the 3d instant, with the Weekly reports, was received yesterday; and I have also seen Mr Lear, who arrived here yesterday about the sametime. As there is no prospect from the last European accounts (down to the first of March) of Peace; but on the contrary, every appearance of a vigorous prosecution of the War—at least for another Campaign—and they speak (tho’ flour is low in...
113From George Washington to William Pearce, 17 April 1796 (Washington Papers)
Your letter of the 10th instt with a Postcript three days later, came to hand in due course of Post. I am sorry to hear that Maria continues unwell—& that Charles Washington was siezed with a fever: Let them want for nothing, and whenever it is needful get Doctr Craik to attend them. It would be unlucky, as my crop of Wheat last year turned out but indifferently, and the prospect of a good one...
114From George Washington to William Pearce, 24 April 1796 (Washington Papers)
I am sorry to find by your letter of the 17th instant, accompanying the reports of the preceeding week, that the drought continued; and that the prospect for good crops of small grain was so unpromising. I should hope, however, that they cannot be so much injured yet, as not to be recovered by seasonable weather. If the grain stands sufficiently thick on the ground, I shall not regard the...
115From George Washington to William Pearce, 29 April 1796 [letter not found] (Washington Papers)
Letter not found : to William Pearce, 29 April 1796. GW wrote Pearce on Sunday, 1 May: “I wrote you on friday last.”
116From George Washington to William Pearce, 1 May 1796 (Washington Papers)
Your letter of the 24th Ulto has been received, and I am sorry to find by it that the drought still continued with you. On this day week there was a very good rain here, and on wednesday following a great deal fell; but the weather has been windy, cold and disagreeable ever since—notwithstanding which, the Grain and grass in these parts look extremely well. I am glad to find that you were, at...
117From George Washington to William Pearce, 8 May 1796 (Washington Papers)
I am glad to find by your letter of the first instant, that the rain wch fell here on the 27th Ulto had extended to you. The cold & drying Winds I knew would deprive the plants of some of its good effects; but benefit must have resulted to them notwithstanding. If the frosts which accompanied those Winds have injured the fruit (as you fear) it will be a circumstances much to be regretd altho’...
118From George Washington to William Pearce, 15 May 1796 (Washington Papers)
Your letter of the 8th, with the Reports, are at hand; and I am glad you sowed all the Peas (except the small reserve mentioned in your letter) and the Chiccory; as I think it better than withholding them, until next Seed time. I am glad also that you have got your flour off hand (as warm weather and accidents were against keeping it longer) altho’ I am convinced that if I had held it up a...
119From George Washington to William Pearce, 22 May 1796 (Washington Papers)
Your letter of the 15th instt, enclosing the Reports of the preceeding Week, came duly to hand. I am glad to hear that the weather has been Seasonable of late; but sorry indeed, to find by your letter that the grain & grass has received so little benefit from the rains which have fallen; here, in great abundance. And it is peculiarly unfortunate after giving so high a price for clover Seed,...
120From George Washington to William Pearce, 29 May 1796 (Washington Papers)
No Mail beyond Baltimore (Southerly) was received at the Post Office in this City yesterday; consequently, I got no letter from you; what may have been the cause I know not, unless the considerable falls of rain which happened here during last week, may have rendered the waters between Alexandria and Baltimore (if they extended so far) impassible. You have never mentioned in any of your late...
121From George Washington to William Pearce, 5 June 1796 (Washington Papers)
Since my last I have received your letters of the 22d & 29th of last Month—The first came to hand on Tuesday, the other on Saturday, as usual. On Wednesday last Congress closed their Session; but there is yet a good deal for me to do, before I can leave the Seat of the Government. My present expectation however is, that I shall be able to do this on tomorrow week: but as this is not certain,...
122From George Washington to William Pearce, 19 August 1796 (Washington Papers)
At this place I have seen Mr Thos Ringgold, who is very desirous of availing himself of your testimony in his pending suit. I have told him, that my consent to this measure has been freely given—and that it depended entirely upon yourself, and the state of your health, whether you attended or not. Mentioning to him the probability of your quitting the Superintendance of my business, he said it...
123From George Washington to William Pearce, 28 August 1796 (Washington Papers)
Your letter of the 23d instt with the Reports, came to my hands yesterday; and this will be put into the Post office tomorrow for Chester Town. From what you have said of the person I wa⟨s⟩ enquiring after, I am well Satisfied h⟨e⟩ would not answer my purposes, as a Manager. Propensity to gaming, & running about, are such disqualifications in ⟨m⟩y estimation, as scarcely to find a...
124From George Washington to William Pearce, 5 September 1796 (Washington Papers)
Your letter of the 31st of Augt from Chester Town, came duly to hand; but as you did not acknowledge the receipt of the one I wrote you from hence, this day week, I presume it had not got to hand; Owing, I conceive to a misapprehension of mine as to the time of closing the Mail for the Eastern shore which I find is an hour and an half earlier than those which go Southerly or Easterly. I put my...
125From George Washington to William Pearce, 11 September 1796 (Washington Papers)
Your letter of the 4th instt came to my hands yesterday, and the one you wrote me from Chester Town has also been received. My last would have informed you of the reason, which, probably, prevented your receiving a former one at that place, but which I expect has got to hand ’ere this; as the Postmaster was requested, in case you had left it to send it by the Mail to Alexandria. As your letter...
126From George Washington to William Pearce, 26 October 1796 (Washington Papers)
Cyrus was obliged to come on to this place, in order to take the horses back, which Mr Frestal & Mr La Fayette rode, which is the cause of his delay. Mrs Washington desires me to inform you that there was some Butter left in the Cellar, and some Beef in a Tub which (after supplying James ) may be applied to any uses you think proper. Let my Study be cleaned out, & the Room afterwards locked...
127Memorandum for James Anderson and William Pearce, 5 November 1796 (Washington Papers)
I shall communicate such directions as have occurred to me since I left Mount Vernon, and are necessary to be followed, in this way; that such of them as may not be executed, or executed in part only, by Mr Pearce, may be consigned over & compleated, or attempted to be completed by his Successor, Mr Anderson. The Plan for the Crops of next year (as handed to me by Mr Pearce) may be adopted: or...
128From George Washington to William Pearce, 14 November 1796 (Washington Papers)
Your letter of the 6th was received (with the Reports) on Saturday; but I do not clearly understand by it, whether James Wilkes reembarked with, or without a bed, or is yet at Mount Vernon. If the latter, he had better (if his health is sufficiently restored) offer himself to Mr Law as A Coachman; for before he could get here, and be well settled, I shall be making my arrangements to return to...
129From George Washington to William Pearce, 20 November 1796 (Washington Papers)
Your letter of the 13th instt, and the Reports of the preceeding week, were received yesterday. I am sorry to hear that the growing Wheat is suffering for want of Rain—but hope you had some on Tuesday last (three days subsequent to the date of your letter). If the fact however is otherwise, let the ground in which the Egyptian Wheat was deposited, be watered, & continu’d to be so until the...
130From George Washington to William Pearce, 27 November 1796 (Washington Papers)
Your letter of the 17th under cover from Mr Lear came duly to hand, as did the Weekly reports of the 19th yesterday. I am disposed to let Mr Smiths debt stand upon the security you have placed it—unless before the 24th of next month any circumstances should occur to render other measures necessary—or, on that day he should be unprepared to make payment & require further indulgence. In either...
131From George Washington to William Pearce, 4 December 1796 (Washington Papers)
Getting no letter from you by the Post of yesterday—nor receiving any account from home, leads me to conclude that something more than common has happened, as your last letter is dated the 17th of November. Hearing nothing of the state, in which my business is, for so long a time, especially too as the weather, for the Season, has been severe —I have but little to found my letter upon at this...
132From George Washington to William Pearce, 11 December 1796 (Washington Papers)
Since my last to you was dispatched, I have received your letters of the 30th of Novr and 4th inst. I am sorry to hear that your Wheat begins to heat. If it does this in a degree to do it much injury, it ought to be disposed of for the best price you can get; but otherwise, as I have waited so long to grind it, & shall have occasion for the Bran, I had rather Manufacture it myself. It is a...
133From George Washington to William Pearce, 18 December 1796 (Washington Papers)
Your letter of the 11th, with the enclosures, came to my hands yesterday; and I am sorry to find by it that so late as that , you were still without rain. I hope what has fallen to day, will have extended to you: here it has rained the whole day without ceasing. I do not know whether I understand Mr Alexr Smiths proposition, with respect to putting the note for 4839 dollars in the Bank, to be...
134From George Washington to William Pearce, 1 January 1797 [letter not found] (Washington Papers)
Letter not found : to William Pearce, 1 Jan. 1797 . GW wrote James Anderson on 8 Jan. : “My last letter (this day week) to Mr Pearce.”
135From George Washington to William Pearce, 17 July 1797 (Washington Papers)
My Overseers at Union and Dogue run Farms endeavouring to play the same game they did last year—that is—to raise their wages; but as I am fully resolved not to do it (especially as the price of produce is reduced a hundred prCt) I am induced to ask you—as Clark who engaged with Mr Craik is dead, & expectation from that quarter is at an end—if you could recommend a person whom you know would...
136From George Washington to William Pearce, 14 August 1797 (Washington Papers)
Your letter of the 24th of July has been received, and I thank you for your ready compliance with my request; but recollecting how I was served last year, I must remind you that the season will not allow me to wait long for your decisive answer—especially too, as persons are now applying in this quarter. I must repeat in this, what I said, or meant to say in my last—that is—that I do not wish...
137From George Washington to William Pearce, 6 September 1797 (Washington Papers)
. . . but as the Season is now far advanced, and you have hitherto been unsuccessful, and the wages of those you think good, are besides high; I shall, rather than run a risk of doing worse, engage Cask [Cash], who seems to be a sober, active & obliging man, for the coming year, which will complete my wants. . . . The Collector, nos. 9–11 (1962), item r420. Only this printed fragment of the...
138From George Washington to William Pearce, 6 May 1798 (Washington Papers)
A few days ago the enclosed a/c was sent in, and others of a similar nature have also been presented. To guard against these afterclaps was the reason why I urged you with so much earnestness to leave no accounts unpaid, of your own contracting. Why the balance, if just, was left unpaid, when you had money to go to, at pleasure, or why it was referred to Mr Lear to pay, I am unable to say—Some...