From George Washington to Burgess Ball, 23 March 1794
To Burgess Ball
Phila. March 23d 1794.
Dear Sir,
By a letter I have just received from my Manager, Mr Pearce, dated the 18th instt I find he had received no more at that time, than 131 bushls of the Buck Wheat you were to procure for me. I hope there will be no disappointment of the remainder. It would fall hard upon me, as I have not the quantity of Seed Oats necessary to carry my plan into affect this year; a failure of both would leave my grounds unoccupied.1
My love, in which Mrs Washington & the family unite is tendered to Mrs Ball & yours.2 I am—Dear Sir Your Affecte
Go: Washington
ALS (letterpress copy), NN: Washington Papers; LB, DLC:GW.
1. William Pearce’s letter of 18 March has not been found. For Ball’s promise to send buckwheat seed to Mount Vernon, see his letter to GW of 21 January. Contrary to GW’s expectation, Ball sent the buckwheat seed in several shipments that extended from late January until early April (Pearce to GW, 4 Feb.; Ball to GW, 13 Feb. and 5 April). In a letter to Pearce of 12 Jan., GW indicated that he would need 340 bushels of oat seed and 363 bushels of buckwheat.
2. The letter-book copy has “yourself.”