1531From George Washington to William Peacey, 5 August 1786 (Washington Papers)
Excuse the liberty I take in putting the inclosed Letters under cover to you. It is to oblige Mr James Bloxham who now lives with me, but who scarcely has sufficient knowledge of his own mind to determine whether to continue more than the present year (for which he is engaged) or not. In a word he seems rather to have expected to have found well organized farms, than that the end and design of...
1532From George Washington to Wakelin Welch, 5 August 1786 (Washington Papers)
On the other side is a copy of my letter to you of this date under cover to Arthur Young Esqr. of Bradford Hall, near Bury in Suffolk. The articles which I have written to him for are, 2 ploughs, with spare shares & coulters; & a mould to form others on. A little of the best kind of cabbage seeds for field culture. 20 lb. of best Turnip seeds. 10 bushels of Sainfoin seeds. 8 Do of the winter...
1533[Diary entry: 6 August 1786] (Washington Papers)
Sunday 6th. Mercury at 75 in the Morng.—84 at Noon and 79 at Night. Clear and tolerably pleasant. At home all day without company.
1534From George Washington to Arthur Young, 6 August 1786 (Washington Papers)
I have had the honor to receive your letter of the 7th of Jany from Bradford-Hall, in Suffolk, and thank you for the favor of opening a correspondence, the advantages of which will be so much in my favor. Agriculture has ever been amongst the most favourite amusements of my life, though I never possessed much skill in the art, and nine years total inattention to it, has added nothing to a...
1535[Diary entry: 7 August 1786] (Washington Papers)
Monday 7th. Mercury at 72 in the Morning—78 at Noon and 77 at Night. Went to Alexandria to the Genl. Meeting of the Potomack Co. Colo. Humphreys accompanied me. A sufficient number of shares being present to constitute the Meeting the Accts. of the Directors were exhibited and a Genl. report made but for want of the Secretarys Books which were locked up, and he absent the Orders and other...
1536Potowmack Company Annual Report, 7 August 1786 (Washington Papers)
The president and directors of the Potomac Company beg leave to report that they have called for four dividends on the several subscriptions as follows—the 1st of 5 pCt[,] 2—2[,] 3—10[,] and 4—10[,] Amounting in the whole to Twelve thousand four Hundred & thirty Pounds Sterling, of which there has been paid, Five thousand Nine hundred & forty pounds Sterling. The several expenditures will...
1537[Diary entry: 8 August 1786] (Washington Papers)
Tuesday 8th. Mercury at 72 in the Morning—79 at Noon and 75 at Night. Wind Southerly and day warm, especially the forepart of it. In the Evening there were appearances of a settled rain, enough of which fell to make the eves of the House run but it was of short continuance. Rid by Muddy hole Plantation to my meadow in the Mill swamp; and leveled from the old dam, just below Wades Houses, to...
1538[Diary entry: 9 August 1786] (Washington Papers)
Wednesday 9th. Mercury at 74 in the Morning—81 at Noon and 79 at Night. Wind Southerly—Morning a little lowering but clear afterwards till about 3 oclock when a cloud in the So. West produced a pretty heavy shower of rain attended with a good deal of wind in a short space. In the Night it again rained. Began to sow Wheat at the Ferry and in the Neck yesterday—at the first in the cut on the...
1539[Diary entry: 10 August 1786] (Washington Papers)
Thursday 10th. Mercury at 73 in the Morng.—74 at Noon and 70 at Night. Wind at No. Et. with mists and very light showers till towards noon when the Sun came out. Warm till towards the afternoon when it grew cooler & pleasanter. Rid to Muddy hole, Dogue run, and ferry Plantations—at the first of which Wheat Seeding will commence tomorrow. At the second things are not in order for it & at the...
1540From George Washington to Armand, 10 August 1786 (Washington Papers)
I am to acknowledge the receipt of the agreeable letter you did me the honor to write to me on the 20th of Jany, & at the same time to congratulate you on the happy event announced in it. Permit me to assure you that nothing affords me more satisfaction than to receive good news of my friends; and you must allow me the liberty of considering your marriage to an amiable lady, with a handsome...
1541[Diary entry: 11 August 1786] (Washington Papers)
Friday 11th. Mercury at 68 in the Morning—76 at Noon and 74 at Night. Clear & pleasant with the wind at So. West. Rid to Muddy hole and Dogue run Plantations. At the first, Sowing wheat begun this Morning. At the latter I agreed with one James Lawson who was to provide another hand to ditch for me in my mill swamp upon the following terms—viz.—to allow them every day they work—each 1 lb. of...
1542[Diary entry: 12 August 1786] (Washington Papers)
Saturday 12th. Mercury at 72 in the Morning—79 at Noon and 74 at Night. Warm, with a tolerably bri[s]k Southerly wind all day. Mr. Barnes went away before Breakfast. After which I rid to my Meadow in order to mark out a middle ditch, and to try how much the water within the Meadow is above the water in the run below where the two courses of it unite, below the old Mill Seat, and which is found...
1543From George Washington to John Francis Mercer, 12 August 1786 (Washington Papers)
The Clerks notes in the Suits ordered by you on the Bonds taken at Colo. Geo: Mercer’s sale, are (many of them) brought against me; some of wch without adverting thereto, I have paid, supposing them to have arisen on distresses made by Mr Muse for my rents. A few days ago a Bill from the Clerk, I believe, of Berkley, was handed to me amounting to near six hundred pounds of Tobacco, which not...
1544[Diary entry: 13 August 1786] (Washington Papers)
Sunday 13th. Mercury at 69 in the Morning—70 at Noon and 69 at Night. Day lowering with the wind at East—now and then a little sprinkle of rain but not enough to wet the roots of any thing. Mr. Shaw quitted this family to day. Colo. Humphreys, Geo. Washington & wife went to Church at Alexandria to day & dined with Mr. Fendall. The first remained there all Night. William Shaw resigned to go to...
1545[Diary entry: 14 August 1786] (Washington Papers)
Monday 14th. Mercury at 72 in the Morng.—73 at Noon and 70 at Night. Day clear, and the wind fresh from the No. West, from Morn till eve. Went by way of Muddy hole & Dogue run plantations to the Meadow, in my Mill Swamp, to set the Ditche[r]s to work, only one of whom appeared. About Noon he began on the side ditch, East of the meadow. After doing this, and levelling part of the ground (with a...
1546[Diary entry: 15 August 1786] (Washington Papers)
Tuesday 15th. Mercury at 64 in the Morning—70 at Noon and 65 at Night. Cool, & for the most part of the day lowering, with but little wind. At home all day. Doctr. Stuart & Mr. Keith, deputed by the Potomack Co. to present its thanks to the President & directors thereof came for that purpose, dined here & returned in the Afternoon. James Keith (1734–1824), the son of Rev. James and Mary Isham...
1547From George Washington to Theodorick Bland, 15 August 1786 (Washington Papers)
By Colo. Fitzhugh I had the satisfaction to receive the humorous accot you were pleased to give me of your nocturnal journey to Fredericksburg. I recollect very well, the Lady whom you mention to have had for a fellow traveller, & if you should chance to be in her company again, I should be much obliged by your presenting my compliments to her. The even tenor of my life (in which I can expect...
1548From George Washington to John Jay, 15 August 1786 (Washington Papers)
I have to thank you very sincerely for your interesting letter of the 27th of June, as well as for the other communications you had the goodness to make at the same time. I am sorry to be assured, of what indeed I had little doubt before, that we have been guilty of violating the treaty in some instances. What a misfortune it is the British should have so well grounded a pretext for their...
1549From George Washington to Lafayette, 15 August 1786 (Washington Papers)
I will not conceal that my numerous correspondencies are daily becoming irksome to me; yet I always receive your letters with augmenting satisfaction, and therefore rejoice with you in the measures which are likely to be productive of a more frequent intercourse between our two nations. Thus, motives of a private as well as of a public nature conspire to give me pleasure, in finding that the...
1550From George Washington to David Stuart, 15 August 1786 (Washington Papers)
Mrs Washington is prevented from dining with you tomorrow by the arrival of a French Gentleman of Rank—Genl Duplessis—who is introduced, and very warmly recommended to me by the Count de Estaing, the Marqs de la Fayette &ca—in consequence I have persuaded Colo. Humphreys to Postpone his visit to Abingdon. Wishing to shew this Gentleman (Genl Duplessis) all the Civilities in my power, I should...
1551To John Jay from George Washington, 15 August 1786 (Jay Papers)
I have to thank you very Sincerely for your interesting letter of the 27 th . of June, as well as for the other communications you had the goodness to make at the same time. I am sorry to be assured, of what indeed I had little doubt before, that we have been guilty of violating the treaty in some instances. What a misfortune it is the British should have so well grounded a pretext for their...
1552[Diary entry: 16 August 1786] (Washington Papers)
Wednesday 16th. Mercury at 66 in the Morning—71 at Noon and 70 at Night. Cloudy and lowering for the greater part of the day and in the night a good deal of rain fell—wind at So. West. Colonels Fitzgerald and Lyles Mr. Brailsford (an English Gentleman) and Mr. Perrin came here to dinner & returned afterwards. In the afternoon a Major Freeman who looks after my concerns west of the Alligany...
1553[Diary entry: 17 August 1786] (Washington Papers)
Thursday 17th. Mercury at 68 in the Morning—74 at Noon and 70 at Night. Drizling morning with the Wind at So. West—Cloudy and misting at times all day. About breakfast time my Baggage which had been left at Gilbert Simpsons arrived here. Settled Accts. with Major Freeman and engaged him to continue his agency till he should remove from his present residency to Kentucke & then to put all my...
1554[Diary entry: 18 August 1786] (Washington Papers)
Friday 18th. Mercury at 70 in the Morning—74 at Noon and 72 at Night. Misty morning, with light showers of rain through the day—wind at No. East. Rid to the plantations at the Ferry, Dogue run, & Muddy hole, and to the Mill—The hands at each place working on the Public roads. At Dogue Run the Plows & Hoes began to put in wheat on Wednesday last. The ditcher at the Meadow wd. by noon have...
1555From George Washington to Clement Biddle, 18 August 1786 (Washington Papers)
This letter serves to acknowledge the receipt of your favor of the 13th & to inform you that I have this day, sent a small box to Alexandria to go from thence by the Packet, or first conveyance to Philada to your address. It contains two window curtains which I pray you to get new dyed of the same color, green, & returned to me as soon as may be. I am obliged by your care of my letters; &...
1556From George Washington to Chastellux, 18 August 1786 (Washington Papers)
I cannot omit to seize the earliest occasion, to acknowledge the receipt of the very affectionate letter you did me the honor of writing to me on the 22d of May; as well as to thank you for the present of your Travels in America and the Translation of Colonel Humphreys’ Poem, all of which came safely to hand by the same conveyance. Knowing as I did, the candour liberality & philanthropy of the...
1557From George Washington to Josiah Parker, 18 August 1786 [letter not found] (Washington Papers)
Letter not found: to Josiah Parker, 18 Aug. 1786. On 9 Sept. Parker wrote GW : “Your favor of the 18th Ultimo reached me a few days since.”
1558[Diary entry: 19 August 1786] (Washington Papers)
Saturday 19th. Mercury at 69 in the Morning—72 at Noon and 70 at Night. Wind Easterly, misting, & lowering in the forenoon but clear afterwards. General Duplessis left this by 5 Oclock in the Morning. After breakfast I accompanied Colo. Humphreys by water to Alexandria and dined with him at Captn. Conways to whom he had been previously engaged. The Tools & Baggage of Mr. Rawlins’s workmen were...
1559From George Washington to Metcalf Bowler, 19 August 1786 (Washington Papers)
I have received your letter of the 21st of July together with the Treatise on Agriculture & practical Husbandry. I consider the latter as a mark of attention which merits my warmest acknowledgments. It is a subject highly worthy the attention of every gentleman in this country who has leisure, abilities, or opportunity to improve it. It is the only source from which we can at present draw any...
1560From George Washington to Thomas Newton, Jr., 19 August 1786 (Washington Papers)
Inclosed is a duplicate of my letter to you of the 26th of May which was forwarded by Peter Kirwins who received fifty barrels of superfine Flour to be deliver’d to you at Norfolk. It is now almost three months since the flour was sent: as I have not heard from you, and am unacquainted with Mr Kirwin, I do not know whether it has come to your hands or not. If you have received it, & it is...