451From George Washington to James McHenry, 5 May 1799 (Washington Papers)
Private My dear Sir, Mount Vernon 5th May 1799 Your private letter of the 29th Ulto was received yesterday, and requires but a short reply. From an observation of yours, in answer to my letter of the 23d Ulto, I perceive my meaning with respect to the settlement of relative Rank, has been misunderstood; or, if taken properly, I must adhere to the opinion I gave of the injustice which would be...
452From George Washington to John Marshall, 5 May 1799 (Washington Papers)
With infinite pleasure I receiv’d the news of your Election. For the honor of the District, I wish the Majority had been greater; but let us be content; and hope, as the tide is turning, the current will soon run strong ⟨in our⟩ favor. I am sorry to find that the publication you allude to, should have given you a moments disquietud⟨e⟩. I can assure you, it made no impression on my mind, of the...
453From George Washington to Thomas Peter, 5 May 1799 (Washington Papers)
I have had the enclosed Tobacco note by me sometime. Too long perhaps for the best Market. If Mr Peter (your father) whom I presume is a good judge of these matters, should be of opinion that it had better be sold now than wait longer, for a rise in the price of that article, I pray you to sell it for what it will fetch. I give you this trouble because the Tobacco is in the Warehouse at George...
454From George Washington to John Tayloe, 5 May 1799 (Washington Papers)
I received, yesterday, your favour of the 29th Ult.; and by tomorrow’s Post for Baltimore, the enclosed will be dispatched, to meet you at Annapolis. I hope the contents of it will meet your ideas—I have given these, as nearly as I could recollect them, in my communication to the Secretary of War. With sincere pleasure I received the information of Generals Lee & Marshall’s Elections. Had the...
455From George Washington to Bushrod Washington, 5 May 1799 (Washington Papers)
Your letter of the 26th Ulto—as also that of the 10th, have been duly received. The Elections of Generals Lee and Marshall are grateful to my feelings. I wish however both of them had been Elected by greater majorities; but they are Elected, and that alone is pleasing. As the tide is turned, I hope it will come in with a full flow; but this will not happen if there is any relaxation on the...
456[Diary entry: 4 May 1799] (Washington Papers)
4. Morning clear & pleasant, but cool. Mer. at 40. Wind, what there was of it—North westerly. Mer. 46 at night. Messrs. Wm. & Washington and a Mr. Jeffries dined here & returned. messrs. wm. & washington : GW probably meant William and George Washington Craik.
457[Diary entry: 3 May 1799] (Washington Papers)
3d. Wind fresh from No. Et. & very Cloudy. Mer. at 50 in the morning. About 9 Oclock it began to rain & contd. to do so until near 2 Oclk. when it ceased & became a clear afternoon. Mer. 43 at night.
458[Diary entry: 2 May 1799] (Washington Papers)
2. Clear & calm in the Morning. Mer. at 52. Brisk So. westerly wind afterwards—still clear. Mer. 58 at Night.
459[Diary entry: 1 May 1799] (Washington Papers)
1. Morning Cloudy & very heavy. Wind Easterly & Mer. at 50. After dark a heavy squall of Wind & Rain from the No. Wt. Mer. 52 at Night.
460April [1799] (Washington Papers)
1. Clear (except being smoky). Mer. at 46. Wind Northerly—afterwds. Easterly and towards Night lowering. 2. Very thick mist—afterwards Raining with the Wind at East & Mer. at 48 in the Morning. In the afternoon the wind shifted to No. Wt. Blew fresh & turned cold. 3. Extreme cold (but forgot to see what the Mercury was). Wind very high from the No. Wt. and continued so all day. Went up to four...
461[Diary entry: 30 April 1799] (Washington Papers)
30. Engaged in the same business as yesterday & returned home in the afternoon. Morning clear & fine. Wind Easterly—afterwards fresh from the Southward. Clouded up and between 2 & 3 began to rain. Conti[nue]d to do so steadily until I went to bed. Mer. then at 50.
462[Diary entry: 29 April 1799] (Washington Papers)
29. A little cloudy & Wind about North in the Morning. Mer. 62. Clear afterwards. Went up to run round my land on 4 Mile run. Lodged at Colo. Littles. Although GW mentions no one else as being present this day, he had met all of the major owners of the lands adjoining his Four Mile Run land at the election in Alexandria (24 April). At that meeting, GW later wrote, “all the parties . . ....
463[Diary entry: 28 April 1799] (Washington Papers)
28. Morning clear—with a light breeze from the Southward. Mer. at 60 & at night 68. About 9 Oclock the Wd. came from the No. Wt. & blew pretty fresh but not cold. Doctr. Craik & a Mr. Halsted dined here & returned.
464From George Washington to Clement Biddle, 28 April 1799 (Washington Papers)
Since my last I have receiv’d the Seeds which you sent me by Captn Hand—after several fruitless enquiries after them. There was a Manufactury of Machines for raking Meadows, and Harvest fields after they are cut, at Kensington while I resided in Philadelphia—These are worked by a horse, and were, in my opinion useful impliments on a Farm, for expeditiously gleaning the fields of the scattered...
465[Diary entry: 27 April 1799] (Washington Papers)
27. Mer. at 57 in the Morning. Rain last Night—wind at So. Et. and from abt. 8 oclock in the Morning continual Rain until Night—with thunder & lightning after dark. Mer. 62 at Night.
466[Diary entry: 26 April 1799] (Washington Papers)
26. Mer. at 50 in the Morning and Wind at No. Et. which afterwds. shifted to So. Et. Mer. 58 at Night. Doctr. Stuart went away after breakfast and Mr. & Mrs. Law. Lewis came from Hope Park in the afternoon.
467From George Washington to Ludwell Lee, 26 April 1799 (Washington Papers)
Your occupation on Wednesday last, put it out of my power to speak to you without giving interruption to more important business than I am now about to communicate. Having good information that some land which I hold on four mile run was much depredated on, I went up some short time ago to run round the Lines, and found the fact to be as reported; but not being able to ascertain all the...
468[Diary entry: 25 April 1799] (Washington Papers)
25. Mer. at 50 in the morng. & 58 at Night. Calm Morning & evening & a light Southerly wind abt. Midday. Doctr. Stuart came to dinner.
469From George Washington to Doddridge Pitt Chichester and Daniel McCarty Chichester, 25 April 1799 (Washington Papers)
I shall be obliged to you, or either of you, who may be in the practice of hunting, or driving Deer on my land, for desisting from that practice. My Lands have been Posted, according to Law, many years; and never has, nor while I possess them, will be revoked. Besides this, in order to have the notification better understood by those who bordered on me, I had (as you will perceive by the...
470[Diary entry: 24 April 1799] (Washington Papers)
24. Mer. at 52. Morning clear no Wind—afterwards at No. Wt. & high. Mer. 46 at Night. Gentlemen who came yesterday went away after breakfast and I went up to Alexa. to an Election of a Representative from the District to Congress & from the County to the State Legisla[tur]e. from the district : GW voted for Henry (Light Horse Harry) Lee, who won election to the United States House of...
471[Diary entry: 23 April 1799] (Washington Papers)
23d. Morning very heavy & cloudy with the wind at East & the Mer. at 46. About 6 oclock in the afternoon a fine rain began & continued for an hour. Mer. 54 at Night. Doctr. Craik went away before breakfast & a Majr. Jones—a british Officer came to dinner & Mr. George Peter at Night. George Peter (1779–1861), youngest brother of Thomas Peter of Georgetown, had come to Mount Vernon soliciting a...
472From George Washington to James McHenry, 23 April 1799 (Washington Papers)
Private My dear Sir, Mount Vernon 23d April 1799 Six days do I labour, or, in other words, take exercise and devote my time to various occupations in Husbandry, and about my Mansion. On the seventh, now called the first day, for want of a place of Worship (within less than nine miles) such letters as do not require immediate acknowledgment I give answers to (Mr Lear being sick & absent). But...
473From George Washington to Roger West, 23 April 1799 (Washington Papers)
I will answer the queries contained in your letter of this date, to the best of my recollection. In the morning visit you did me the honor to make, sometime last Autumn, at which you delivered me a letter from Colo. Hooe, intimating your desire to engage in the Military Service of our Country, I understood, from the conversation that passed on that occasion, that your object was to enter into...
474[Diary entry: 22 April 1799] (Washington Papers)
22. Morng. clear & Wind Easterly. Mer. at 44 in the Morning & 49 at Night. Mr. Coxe went awy. after breakfast & Mr. Vanstapherst came to dinner & Doctr. Craik to see Mr. Lear afterwards. mr. vanstapherst : probably a connection of the Amsterdam banking firm of Nicholaas and Jacob Van Staphorst. The Van Staphorst brothers, in connection with the Amsterdam firm of Jan and Wilhem Willink and a...
475From George Washington to Jesse Simms, 22 April 1799 (Washington Papers)
Until I see General Lee (which according to his promise may be expected early in next month), I shall give no definitive answer to your letter of the 19th instant. It may not be improper, however, in the meantime to add, that your deceptious treatment of me, has not impressed me with the most favorable sentiments of your candour; and if a report which I hear has been propagated by you, or some...
476[Diary entry: 21 April 1799] (Washington Papers)
21. Morning clear & calm. Mer. at 42. But little wind all day & that No. Westerly. Mer. 54 at Night. A B. Heppesley Coxe Esqr. recomd. by Mr. Bingham came here to dinnr. b. heppesley coxe : probably John Francis Buller Hippisley Coxe of Stone Easton, Somerset, Eng. He was the son of James Buller of Devon and his wife, Mary Hippisley Coxe Buller, of Somerset. In 1793 Young Buller by royal...
477From George Washington to Clement Biddle, 21 April 1799 (Washington Papers)
Your letters of the 21st of March and 11th instant are both before me. By the first, it appears that you had shipped by Captn Hand for Alexandria, on my a/c, 12 lbs. of white Clover Seed and the like quantity of Lucerne; but none has been delivered by him at the Custom house, or elsewhere that I can discover, which is a considerable disappointment to me; for depending thereon I enquired for no...
478From George Washington to William Thornton, 21 April 1799 (Washington Papers)
Your favor of the 19th is before me, and for the details it contains respecting my buildings in the City, I thank you. As I do for directing the exterior door Cills thereof to be made of Stone. I never attended so closely to the specification of the work, as to know they were, originally, intended to be of Wood; On the contrary, as the Frontispiece was to be of Stone I took it for granted that...
479[Diary entry: 20 April 1799] (Washington Papers)
20. Mer. at 32. Wind still fresh from No. Wt. & having blown (it is believed) throu the Night. It is hoped the fruit has escaped, altho’ there Ice had formed. Mrs. Washington of Hayfield—Genl. O’Donald, Mr. Barry, Mr. Oliver Mr. Thompson & a Doctr. dined here & returned. Mer. 47 at N. genl. o’donald : probably John O’Donnell (died c.1805), eldest son of John O’Donnell (1715–1780) of County...
480[Diary entry: 19 April 1799] (Washington Papers)
19. Mer. 54 in the morning. Wind Northerly & cool, & beginning to lower. Clear afterwards wind encreasing. Mer. 46 at Night & blowing.
481[Diary entry: 18 April 1799] (Washington Papers)
18th. Calm & pleasant—a refreshing Rain fell in the night. Mer. at 60 in the morning & 66 at Night. About 9 Oclock the wind sprung up from No. Wt. but did not blow fresh nor cold. In the afternoon it shifted to So. Wt. Mr. Tayloe & Mr. Jno. Herbert went away after breakfast.
482From George Washington to Henry Lee, Jr., 18 April 1799 (Washington Papers)
Your favor of the 28th of Feby came duly to hand. On the subject of which I shall say nothing until I have the pleasure of seeing you in May, as promised. The intention of this letter is to enquire—as you have frequently offered it—whether you have, at this time, any Corn for Sale. I want more than my Nephew of Westmoreland can furnish me with, and will allow for what you can spare the same...
483[Diary entry: 17 April 1799] (Washington Papers)
17. Lowering morning—brisk Southerly wind. Mer. at 58 in the morning and 66 at Night. Jno. Tayloe Esqr. & Mr. Jno. Herbert came here to dinner. John Tayloe (1771–1828) was one of the most notable owners of racehorses in Virginia at the turn of the century. He divided his time between his family home, Mount Airy, in Richmond County and his town house—the Octagon House—built for him in the...
484[Diary entry: 16 April 1799] (Washington Papers)
16. Calm & clear in the Morning. Brisk Southerly wind afterwards. Mer. 48 in the Morning & 62 at Night.
485[Diary entry: 15 April 1799] (Washington Papers)
15. Clear & Calm morning. Mer. at 43. Clear & calm all day. Mer. 62 at Night.
486[Diary entry: 14 April 1799] (Washington Papers)
14. Clear Morning; Mer. at 30, Wind at No. Wt. but light. Calm afterwards & lowering; Mer. 58 at Night.
487[Diary entry: 13 April 1799] (Washington Papers)
13. A little rain fell last night. Wind at No. Wt. & Mer. 45 in the Morning—contd. at No. Wt. all day—but not hard. Mer. 50 at Night.
488[Diary entry: 12 April 1799] (Washington Papers)
12. Morng. Calm & Heavy. Mer. 45. Wd. afterwards, first Southerly & then Easterly but not fresh. Weather clear. Mer. 54 at Night. Doctr. Wade came this Aftn. Spread Plaster of Paris this Morning on the circle & sides before the door & on the Lawn to the Cross Path betwn. the Garden gates & on the Clover by the Stable. Dr. Robert H. Wade had been to Mount Vernon three times during March and...
489[Diary entry: 11 April 1799] (Washington Papers)
11. Mer. at 32 in the morning and 49 at Night. Wind Southerly and towards evening the Weather was a little lowering. Mr. Foot dined here & with Mrs. Washington returned home in the afternoon.
490To Alexander Hamilton from George Washington, 10 April 1799 (Hamilton Papers)
Mount Vernon, April 10, 1799. “I have received your letter of the 27th. ulto., enclosing a design of dividing the State of Virginia into Divisions, & Subdivisions, for the head quarters of the Rendezvouses in each: asking my opinion of the proper distribution of them, for the convenience of the Recruiting Service. The Grand division of the State, I conceive to be well allotted and with …...
491[Diary entry: 10 April 1799] (Washington Papers)
10th. A hard frost—morning clear and Cold. Wind at No. Wt. & Mer. at 28.
492From George Washington to Alexander Hamilton, 10 April 1799 (Washington Papers)
Private My dear Sir, Mount Vernon 10th April 1799 I have received your letter of the 27th ulto, enclosing a design of dividing the State of Virginia into Divisions, & subdivisions, for the head quarters of the Rendezvouses in each: asking my opinion of the proper distribution of them, for the convenience of the Recruiting Service. The Grand division of the State, I conceive to be well...
493From George Washington to William B. Harrison, 10 April 1799 (Washington Papers)
Your letter of the 28th of last month has been duly received, and is entitled to my thanks for the details it contains; and for the assurance you have given me ⟨o⟩f a preference in Renting yr Land. But as there is not the smallest probability of my Renting, or buying, while you hold both at the rates which have been mentioned, I by no means desire that you should miss an opportunity of doing...
494From George Washington to James McHenry, 10 April 1799 (Washington Papers)
Enclosed is a letter and sundry Certificates which have been handed to me by a Monsr Demoumonier, a French Gentln who is desirious of entering into the service of the United States in the military line. I forward this letter & these documents to you as I have done all of a similar nature which have come to my hand; but how far it may comport with the line of policy marked out by the Govt of...
495From George Washington to Daniel Morgan, 10 April 1799 (Washington Papers)
I had the pleasure to receive your letter of the 3d instant, covering the Copy of a letter from Captn A.C. Randolph to yourself, expressing a wish to be removed from the Infantry to the Cavalry. These letters I have forwarded to the Secretary of War, who, I have no doubt, will, considering the favourable auspices under which Captn Randolph is introduced, make any arrangement he can, consistent...
496[Diary entry: 9 April 1799] (Washington Papers)
9. In the morning Mer. at 56. Wind very fresh from South & very likely for Rain. Shifted abt. 9 Oclock & blew violently at No. W. turned cold. Mer. 32 at Night. Mrs. Washington of H: came. mrs. washington of h : Elizabeth Foote Washington of Hayfield.
497[Diary entry: 8 April 1799] (Washington Papers)
8. Hazy & smokey with a light breeze from the Southward in the Morning & Mer. at 46. Wind fresh from the same point afterwards. Mer. 62 at Night. Colo. Ball & Mr. White went away after breakfast.
498[Diary entry: 7 April 1799] (Washington Papers)
7. Clear & calm in the Morning. Mer. at 41. Wind moderately from the No. Wt. the remainder of the day. Mer. 52 at Night.
499From George Washington to William Booker, 7 April 1799 (Washington Papers)
Your letter of the 31st Ulto has been duly received. The first of June will answer my purposes very well, for you to be here; and I shall expect you at that time, or by the 10th accordingly. It will not, I presume, require much time to erect the Mill, and if done before the Water of my Grist Mill fails, it is all I require. In the meanwhile the Scantling shall be prepared agreeably to your...
500From George Washington to James McHenry, 7 April 1799 (Washington Papers)
Private My dear Sir, Mount Vernon 7th April 1799 When your letters of the 30th & 31st Ulto were brought here, I was on a Survey of some land I hold in the vicinity of Alexandria; on which, as I was informed, & as the fact proved, considerable trespass had been committed. To complete this business I was employed near three days; and now, company will allow me to do but little more than to...