From George Washington to John Jay, 5 March 1794
To John Jay
Philadelphia 5th March 1794.
Dear Sir,
I thank you for the Nankeen Cotton-seed with which you had the goodness to furnish me. It shall be sent to Mount Vernon with orders to my Gardener to be particularly attentive thereto, but with little hope, I confess, of success; that climate & country being too high & cold for this plant.1
The common cotten has frequently been tried on my estate, but hardly ever escaped the frost, of either Spring or Autumn. In the lower parts of Virginia where the climate is milder, and the soil has a larger proportion of sand in it, I have no doubt of its answering; and, accordingly, will furnish a gentleman of my acquaintance (living in that part of the state) with a few of the Nankeen Seed.2 With very sincere esteem & regard I am—Dear Sir Your Obedt & Affecte Servt
Go: Washington
ALS (photocopy), ViMtvL.
1. For the letter accompanying the cotton seed, see Jay to GW, 1 March. GW forwarded part of the seed and provided instructions for its planting, in a letter of 16–17 March to his estate manager, William Pearce.
2. GW sent the remainder of the seed with his letter to Edmund Pendleton of 17 March.