1501[Diary entry: 22 October 1797] (Washington Papers)
22. Clear all day. Wind at No. Wt. M. 57. Mr. Potts & wife & Mr. Smith & wife & Mr. Lear dined here. Mr. Smith may be Augustine Jaquelin Smith (1774–1830), son of Augustine Smith (1739–1774). Augustine Jaquelin Smith represented Fairfax County in the Virginia legislature 1796–98 and 1821–22. In 1796 he was married to Susannah Taylor, the daughter of Jesse Taylor, Sr., of Alexandria.
1502[Diary entry: 15 March 1797] (Washington Papers)
15. Recd. the Compliments of the Citizens of George Town as I had done the day before of those of the City of Washington. Stopped in Alexa. & got to Mt. V. to dinner. city of washington : The Washington Gazette on this day reported that “Yesterday George Washington (God bless him) passed through the city on his way to Mount Vernon. When he reached the Capitol the company of Artillery, under...
1503[Diary entry: 12 November 1797] (Washington Papers)
12. Raining all the forenoon with a strong So. Et. Wind. Clear afterwards—Mer. 55.
1504[Diary entry: 2 December 1797] (Washington Papers)
2. Wind at So. Wt.—raining and misting all day. Mer. from 32 to 33. Doctr. Fendall came in the afternoon.
1505[Diary entry: 27 September 1797] (Washington Papers)
27. Cold No. Wt. Wind in the Morning—more moderate afterwards. Mer. at 62. Mr. H. Peake & a Romh. Priest—Mr. Caffray dind here. Mr. H. Peake is Henry (Harry) Peake, son of Humphrey and Mary Stonestreet Peake. mr. caffray : Anthony Caffrey (McCaffrey), a Catholic priest who came from Ireland in 1792, was the founder and first pastor of St. Patrick’s Church in Washington. In 1794 he bought the...
1506[Diary entry: 28 February 1799] (Washington Papers)
28. Clear—wind at No. Wt. but not hard. Mer. at 28 in the Morning and 32 at Night. Evening lowering & calm.
1507[Diary entry: 25 October 1799] (Washington Papers)
25. Morning a little lowering—brisk wind from South and Mer. at 46. At Night it was 59. Mr. & Mrs. Liston and Mr. Gilmar left this after breakfast and Mr. Lawe. Washington Junior came here at night.
1508[Diary entry: 18 March 1799] (Washington Papers)
18th. Mer. at 22 in the Morning. Wind hard all day at No. Wt. and clear. Mer. at 24 at Night.
1509[Diary entry: 15 November 1799] (Washington Papers)
15. Morning very smoaky—but little wind and Mer. at 39. Calm all day. Rode to visit Mr. now Lord Fairfax who was just got home from a Trip to England. Retd. to dinner. While in England, Bryan Fairfax applied for certification as eighth Baron Fairfax of Cameron, succeeding his deceased cousin Robert Fairfax (d. 1793), seventh Baron Fairfax of Cameron. In May 1800 his claim was accepted by the...
1510[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.
1511[Diary entry: 5 December 1799] (Washington Papers)
5. Morning raining and it continued to do so moderately through the day with the Wind at So. Et. Mer. 38 in the Morning & 36 at Night.
1512[Diary entry: 22 March 1799] (Washington Papers)
22. Morning Cloudy, with but little wind (that No. Westerly). Mer. at 42 in the Morning and 44 at Night.
1513[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...
1514[Diary entry: 18 January 1798] (Washington Papers)
18. Lowering, with the wind pretty fresh from the Northward in the morning. Mer. then 38–32 at Night & 38 at its highest. Cold, raw & cloudy all day.
1515[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.
1516[Diary entry: 8 February 1798] (Washington Papers)
8. Visited the Public buildgs. in the Morng. Met the Compy. at the Union Tavern & dined there—lodged as before. Weather very cold. Wind Northerly. Visitors to the Capitol and the president’s residence in Feb. 1798 found the buildings well along. At the Capitol the superintendent reported “the freestone work on the outside is raised as high as the top of the Corinthian capitals all round the...
1517[Diary entry: 5 October 1798] (Washington Papers)
5. Clear all day. Mer. 60 in the Morning. Doctr. Thornton—Mr. Law and a Mr. Baldo a Spanish Gentleman from the Havanna came to Dinner.
1518[Diary entry: 22 January 1798] (Washington Papers)
22. Very cloudy & heavy. Wind Southerly. Mer. 32 in the Morn.—40 at Noon & 42 at Night. About two oclock it began to rain & continued to do so about 2 hours when it ceased but remained cloudy.
1519[Diary entry: 12 February 1798] (Washington Papers)
12. Clear—Mer. at 35 and Wind at No. Wt. in the Morning—little or none afterwards—& at Night lowering. Went with the family to a Ball in Alexa. given by the Citzen[s] of it & its vicinity in commemoration of the Anniversary of my birth day. Feb. 11 was GW’s birthday according to the Julian (Old Style) calendar, but in 1752 the corrections of the Gregorian (New Style) calendar were adopted by...
1520[Diary entry: 2 March 1798] (Washington Papers)
2. A very thick fog & very little Wind. Mer. at 31 in the morning. In the afternoon the weather cleared & towds. Night the Wind came out fresh at No. W. Snow all gone. Mer. 33 at Night 40 at high.
1521[Diary entry: 14 September 1798] (Washington Papers)
14. Morning clear—wind Southerly—Mer. 64–78 at Noon & 72 at Night. Clear all day.
1522Suggestions for Military Appointments, 14 July 1798 (Washington Papers)
Officers suggested for Appointments in the augmentation proposed Majr Genls Brigadiers Adjt Genl Qr Mastr Genl Directr Hospl The following, as far as my recollection serves are among the most intelligent and active Officers of the late American Army New Hampshire None recollected at present Massachusetts [Lt. Col.] David Cobb [1748–1830] very good [Col.] Henry Jackson [1747–1809] [Maj.] Leml...
1523[Diary entry: 24 June 1797] (Washington Papers)
24. Wind Westerly, but very little of it. Mery. 73.
1524[Diary entry: 14 July 1797] (Washington Papers)
14. Very little wind and clear—Mery. 91.
1525[Diary entry: 4 August 1797] (Washington Papers)
4. Wind at So. Et. & Easterly—appearances of Rain but none fell. Warm Mer. 85. Mrs. Peake & Miss Evelin dined here. miss evelin : GW undoubtedly means Fanny Edelen (see entries for 28 Dec. 1771 and 7 Nov. 1785 ). Mrs. Peake is probably Humphrey Peake’s widow, Mary Stonestreet Peake.
1526[Diary entry: 5 January 1799] (Washington Papers)
5. Extreme cold. Mer. at 10. Wind at No. Wt. and in the Night a considerable fall of Snow.
1527[Diary entry: 27 June 1799] (Washington Papers)
27. Brisk Southerly wind in the morning & cloudy. Mer. at 74 & the same at Night. Great appearances of Rain in the afternoon and showers around us but none fell here.
1528[Diary entry: 17 July 1799] (Washington Papers)
17. Morning clear—Wind at No. Wt. & Mer. at 72 and at night 78. Colonels Powell & Simms and Mr. Herbert and Judge Washington Captn. Blackburn & Mr. H. Turner dined here. The three first went away in the afternoon. Capt. Richard Scott Blackburn was interested in an appointment in the provisional army ( GW to Bushrod Washington, 31 Dec. 1798 , DLC:GW ). mr. h. turner : probably Henry Smith...
1529[Diary entry: 7 August 1799] (Washington Papers)
7. Mer. at 72 in the Morning, and 80 at Night. Wind Southerly. The following Gentlemen dined here—viz. Colo. Fitzgerald—Doctr. Craik & Son—Mr. Wm. Craik—Mr. Herbert & Son Jno. C. Herbert—Colo. Ramsay—Mr. Potts—Mr. Edmd. Lee—Mr. Keith—Lieut. Kean of the Marines—and Mr. Chas. Fenton Mercer. lieut. kean : probably Newton Keene (b. 1768), son of Capt. Newton Keene and Sarah Edwards Keene of...
1530[Diary entry: 21 July 1799] (Washington Papers)
21. Morning cloudy—Wind at No. Et. and Mer. at 70. After One Oclk. several fine showers. Mer. 72 at Night.
1531[Diary entry: 27 April 1798] (Washington Papers)
27. Morning, & the day throughout clear. Wind at So. Et. Mer. 56 in the M. & 68 at Night & no higher all day. Doctr. Craik went away after breakfast & Mr. & Mrs. Law and a Mr. Ghan, a Swedish Gentleman came to dinner. mr. ghan : Henry Gahn (d. 1834), a young Swede from Stockholm, was established in New York where he carried on “a very lucrative commerce” with Spain. He later served as a...
1532[Diary entry: 11 August 1799] (Washington Papers)
11. Morning clear—wind Southerly—and Mer. at 73; 83 at highest—& 80 at Night—clear all day—& wind pretty fresh.
1533[Diary entry: 17 May 1798] (Washington Papers)
17. Morning—Clear & calm—Mer. 52. Very lowering & likely for Rain afterwards with the Wind at So. Wt. Mer. 66 at Night.
1534[Diary entry: 1 September 1799] (Washington Papers)
1. A brisk Southerly wind in the Morning—clear & Mer. at 70 and at night 83. Cloud, thunder, lightning & Rain to the Northward of us but none fell here. Doctr. Craik dined here—sent for to Mrs. Washington who was sick.
1535[Diary entry: 7 June 1798] (Washington Papers)
7. Morning clear—Wind westerly Mer. 60. Appearances of Rain in the afternoon but none fell. Mer. 70 at Night. Wind West[erl]y.
1536[Diary entry: 26 May 1798] (Washington Papers)
26. Clear all day, with the Wind at No. Wt. Mer. at 60 in the Morning & 62 at Night.
1537[Diary entry: 24 October 1797] (Washington Papers)
24. Constant Rain from 8 in the Morning until 4 in the aftern. with the Wind at No. Et. then No. W. Mer. 42. Spanish Minister & Mr. Barry came to dinner. spanish minister : Don Carlos Martinez de Yrujo y Tacon, later marqués de casa, (1763–1824) came to America as Spanish minister in 1796, succeeding Don José de Jáudenes. In a previous visit, before his official reception, Yrujo spent two days...
1538[Diary entry: 11 June 1798] (Washington Papers)
11. Morning very heavy & misting. Wind at No. Et. No rain had fallen. Mer. 64. Fine Rain from 8 Oclock through the day. Mer. 64 at Night. Mr. Tracy came in the evening. Thomas Tracy was a local music master whose students included Nelly Custis (GW’s Cash Memoranda, 1 Sept. 1797–20 Feb. 1799: entry for 20 Dec. 1798, RPJCB ).
1539[Diary entry: 17 March 1797] (Washington Papers)
17. Wind in the same place with rain from 10 oclock until 12—clear afterwards.
1540[Diary entry: 14 November 1797] (Washington Papers)
14. Remarkable fine morning but lowering & windy from No. W. in the afternoon. Mer. 58 & 42. Mrs. Ramsay, Mr. & Mrs. Potts Mr. Wilson, Mr. Harrison & Da[ughter] & son dined here. In the afternoon Majr. Pinckney & Lady arrived. Maj. Thomas Pinckney (1750–1828), of South Carolina, was the son of Charles and Eliza Lucas Pinckney and brother of Charles Cotesworth Pinckney. Reared and educated in...
1541[Diary entry: 1 July 1798] (Washington Papers)
1. Morning—Clear & wind Southerly Mer. 74. Day clear & very warm. Mer. 86 at Noon & 84 at Night. Mr. Fitzhugh of Chatham & Doctr. Welford dined here—as did Dr. Fld. Dr. Robert Wellford (1753–1823), originally of Hertfordshire, Eng., came to America as a surgeon with the British army under Gen. William Howe in 1776. While stationed in Philadelphia, Wellford distinguished himself for his...
1542[Diary entry: 4 December 1797] (Washington Papers)
4. Excessively Cold wind in the same quarter—Mer. 10 to 18. All the creeks & great part of the River froze.
1543[Diary entry: 21 March 1797] (Washington Papers)
21. Wind Southerly and fresh all day—clear.
1544[Diary entry: 29 September 1797] (Washington Papers)
29. A very thick & heavy fog with appearances [of rain] but none fell. But little wind & that at No. Wt. Mer. 65. Col. Gilpin & Mr. Hartshorne dined here.
1545[Diary entry: 1 May 1797] (Washington Papers)
1. Went to Alexandria to settle some matters at the Bank. Day warm—wind at So. Wt. matters at the bank : “To Cash recd. from the Bank of Alexa. dividend on 10 Sh:—100 Dollrs.” (GW’s Cash Memoranda, 29 Sept. 1794–17 Aug. 1797, RPJCB ).
1546[Diary entry: 27 October 1799] (Washington Papers)
27. Morning heavy, with the Wind at No. Et., and Mer. at 54. Same weather & wind thro’ the day. Mer. 52 at Night. Doctr. Stuart & family and Mr. Lawe. Washington & young McCarty all went away after breakfast.
1547[Diary entry: 17 November 1799] (Washington Papers)
17. A very heavy & thick fog—morning calm, & Mer. at 41. About 2 oclock the Sun came out and the afternoon was pleasant. Went to Church in Alexandria & dined with Mr. Fitzhugh. On my return fd. young Mr. McCarty here on his way back from the Federal City. Young McCarty came to Dinr.
1548[Diary entry: 31 October 1799] (Washington Papers)
31. Clear morning—wind at So. Et. & Mer. at 48. Afterwards the wind got to So. Wt. & blew pretty fresh. Mer. 56 at Night. Colo. Griffen & Mr. Law went away after breakfast and Mr. William Craik came here in the Afternn.
1549[Diary entry: 7 December 1799] (Washington Papers)
7. Rainy morning, with the Wind at No. Et. & Mer. at 37. Afternoon clear & pleasant wind westerly. Mer. 41 at Night. Dined at Lord Fairfax’s.
1550[Diary entry: 24 March 1799] (Washington Papers)
24. Mer. at 32. Wind westerly—clear and pleasant. Mr. Robt. Stith came to dinner & stayed all N.