1From George Washington to David Stuart, 26 July 1789 (Washington Papers)
In the first moments of my ability to sit in an easy chair (and that not entirely without pain) I occupy myself in acknowledging the receipt of, and thanking you for your letter of the 14th instt. Although my time (before I was confined) had been, and probably now will be, much engaged, yet, your communications—without any reserve—will be exceedingly grateful & pleasing to me. While the eyes...
2From George Washington to David Stuart, 21 September 1789 (Washington Papers)
Your letter of the 12th instt came duly to hand. I have given the subject of it every consideration that time and my situation would enable me to do. The result is—that if Mr Alexander—upon your re-conveying of the Land for which the price, & mode of payment is disputed—and paying rent for it during the time it has been out of his possession (the latter to be fixed by Men of judgment and...
3From George Washington to David Stuart, 23 March 1790 (Washington Papers)
The only answer I can give to your letter of the 11th Instt is, that under my present view of the subject, the agreement you have entered into with Mr Robt Alexander had better be carried into effect. But I must declare to you at the sametime, that from my imperfect knowledge of the original bargain—of the proceedings which have been had under it—and of the points on which the dispute between...
4From George Washington to David Stuart, 28 March 1790 (Washington Papers)
Your letter of the 15th enclosing the Act of Assembly authorising an agreement with Mr Alexander came to my hand in the moment my last to you was dispatched. I am sorry such jealousies as you relate should be gaining ground, & poisoning the minds of the Southern people. But, admit the fact which is alledged as the cause of them, and give it full scope, does it amount to more than what was...
5From George Washington to David Stuart, 11 April 1790 (Washington Papers)
I have given my consent in the manner the law directs, to the agreement you have made with Mr Alexander; and, agreeably to your desire, have this day forwarded it under cover to Mr Lund Washington; being persuaded, under the existing circumstances, it is better to do this than hazard a decision at Law—but it is a strange affair! I wrote to you a few days ago, and directed for you at Abingdon...
6From George Washington to David Stuart, 15 June 1790 (Washington Papers)
Your letter of the 2d Instant came duly to hand. If there are any Gazettes among my files at Mount Vernon which can be of use to you they are at your Service. Your description of the public mind, in Virginia, gives me pain. It seems to be more irritable, sour & discontented than (from the information I receive) it is in any other state in the Union, except Massachusetts; which, from the same...
7From George Washington to David Stuart, 25 June 1790 (Washington Papers)
According to promise, you ought to have received the enclosed at an earlier period; but no inconvenience, I apprehend, will arise from my omitting to do it before now. Our best wishes attend you all and I am—Dear Sir Your Affecte Hble Servt ALS , ViHi . The enclosures were probably documents related to the suit brought by Robert Alexander against the estate of John Parke Custis that Stuart had...
8From George Washington to David Stuart, 12 December 1790 (Washington Papers)
On my return to this City, at Elkridge landing (eight miles beyond Baltimore) a Negroe fellow of the name of Paul, (brother to your Rose) came to, and informed me, that he was taken (more probably runaway from the White House Quarter) by the Troops under Lord Cornwallis. That he was put on board a British Vessel, was taken by an American one, and carried into Baltimore; where he was sold to a...
9Commission, 22 January 1791 (Washington Papers)
Know Ye, That reposing special Trust and Confidence in the Integrity, Skill, and Diligence of Thomas Johnson and Daniel Carroll of Maryland, and David Stuart of Virginia, I do . . ., in Pursuance of the Powers vested in me by the Act intituled “An Act for establishing the Temporary and Permanent Seat of the Government of the United States,” hereby appoint them the said Thomas Johnson, Daniel...
10Circular on the State of American Agriculture, 25 August 1791 (Washington Papers)
Some enquiries having been made of me by important Characters on the state of agriculture in America, comprehending its Several relations, and intended to ascertain the value of our lands, with their yield in the several kinds of grain, grass &ca—the prices of farming stock, the prices of produce &ca together with a list of the Taxes in the different States, which may in any way affect the...
11From George Washington to David Stuart, 18 October 1791 (Washington Papers)
Bladensburgh [Md.] Oct. 18th 1791 Dear Sir, half past 5 Oclock A. M. I pray you to drop me a line by the Mail of to morrow (which closes in the evening) informing me of the number of Lots sold, and the amount of them. When the business of the meeting is ended I shall be obliged to you for some acct of the final issue of the Sales &ca. I am now writing by Candle light, and this is the only...
12From George Washington to David Stuart, 20 November 1791 (Washington Papers)
I had heard before the receipt of your letter of the 29th of October—and with a degree of surprize & concern not easy to be expressed—that Majr L’Enfant had refused the Map of the Federal City when it was requested by the Commissioners for the satisfaction of the purchasers at Sale. It is much to be regretted—however common the case is—that men who possess talents which fit them for peculiar...
13From George Washington to David Stuart, 23 November 1791 (Washington Papers)
After closing my letter to you of the 20th I recollected that I had omitted to take notice of your observation respecting Wood covers to Brick or Stone buildings, in the Federal City. It is much to be wished that this evil could be avoided without involving a greater; for it is difficult to decide between things to be wished—and things that are attainable. It has a claim however to...
14From George Washington to David Stuart, 8 March 1792 (Washington Papers)
In a short letter which I wrote to you by the last Post, I promised a lengthy one by the Post of tomorrow; but such is my present situation that I must pass by some things & be more concise on others than I intended. That Mr Johnsons health did not permit him to come to this City as he proposed & was expected, is matter of exceeding great regret, as many things relative to the Federal...
15From George Washington to David Stuart, 8 April 1792 (Washington Papers)
The letter from the Commissioners to Mr Jefferson of the has been laid before me, and I have desired him to approve the Contract respecting the bridge over Rock-Creek: but in future, it would be more agreeable to me, after a plan, or the principles leading to the measure, is approved, not to have the details or the execution suspended for a reference to me. Because, to judge properly of the...
16From George Washington to David Stuart, 9 July 1792 (Washington Papers)
Although I did not acknowledge the receipt of the letter you wrote to me some time ago respecting Bowl[e]s, I was not unmindful of the contents: but upon consulting some Professional Gentlemen I was informed that his being brother to the noted Bowls was not, without some overt act of his own, sufft to lay hold of him. If nothing more happens than I am aware of at present, I shall leave this...
17From George Washington to David Stuart, 21 October 1792 (Washington Papers)
You informed me when I was at George Town on my way to this City that Colo. Mercer, upon receiving, or being told of Colo. Hamiltons letter to him requesting to know if the words with which he was charged by Major Ross as having uttered in his public harangues against the conduct of the Secretary of the Treasury were true expressed, if I understood you rightly much surprize at the application;...
18From George Washington to David Stuart, 30 November 1792 (Washington Papers)
Knowing that tomorrow is the time appointed for the monthly meeting of the Commissioners at George Town, I had intended to have written you a line or two on a particular subject by Wednesday’s Post; but one thing or another put it out of mind until it was too late. I now set down to do it, as the letter in the common course of the Post will reach George Town on Monday—probably, before you...
19From George Washington to David Stuart, 1 February 1793 (Washington Papers)
Yesterday I wrote two letters to the Commissioners. One public, the other private. The first giving ideas of the compensation which ought to be made them for their past, and an allowance for future services. In doing this I did not, as the Law is silent, chuse to be governed wholly by my own Judgment; and therefore took the opinion of known friends to the District, and to yourselves. The...
20From George Washington to David Stuart, 3 March 1793 (Washington Papers)
The Official letter from the Commissioners to me—dated the 8th of last Month—promising their sentiments on the subject of compensation, so soon as a meeting was had with Mr Johnson, prevented my acknowledging the receipt of your private letter of the same date, and on the same subject until now; nor shall I do more than slightly touch upon it until I receive the further Sentiments of the...
21From George Washington to David Stuart, 4 March 1793 (Washington Papers)
Since writing my letter of yesterday, I have recd the enclosed from Mr Jefferson, w[hic]h I send to you just as I recd it. I am Dr Sir &c. Note the enclosed was the copies of 2 letters writte[n] by Mr Jefferson to Mr Ellicott, w[hic]h he says is all that he has written to him in the years of 1792 & 93. Copy, in Tobias Lear’s writing, DNA : RG 59, Miscellaneous Letters; LB , DLC:GW . The...
22From George Washington to David Stuart, 9 April 1793 (Washington Papers)
On Thursday next at one o’Clock, I mean to pay the last respect to the remains of my deceased Nephew, by having the funeral obsequies performed. Mrs Fanny Washington & myself would be very glad to see you, mistress Stuart & the Girls here on that occasion; for this reason, & knowing they have not the means of getting down, a carriage is sent for them: and I believe it would be extremely...
23From George Washington to David Stuart, 20 January 1794 (Washington Papers)
Your letter of the 6th instant came duly to hand. As you appear to have taken a final determination, I can say nothing more on the subject of its disclosure than that it would have been pleasing to me if it had been convenient to yourselves, that those who began shd have compleated the work; and not to have left the harvest to your labours to be reaped by others. As you are better acquainted...
24From George Washington to David Stuart, 13 April 1794 (Washington Papers)
I have been favored with your letter of the 4th instt and thank you for the information respecting the depredations on my land, lying on four miles run. Mr Bushrod Washington a year or two ago, was desired to commence a suit or suits against some of the Trespassers; but whether he did, or not, or what the result was, I do not recollect ever to have heard. The growth of the land, is more...
25From George Washington to David Stuart, 21 September 1794 (Washington Papers)
Your letter of the 14th instt has been duly received. As it was, and is, my earnest wish to discharge my obligation to Mr Lund Washington, and all other debts; it will prove inconvenient to me to apply the money which you have lodged in the Bank of Alexandria, for my use, to the purpose of paying the debt due from my brother Samuel’s estate to that of Mr Custis’; yet I cannot, whilst there are...
26From George Washington to David Stuart, 6 April 1795 (Washington Papers)
Your letter of the 22d Ulto came duly to hand. I shall keep Mr White, with others, in remembrance, for the place suggested; but I shall come to no decision thereon before I arrive at the federal city; which, probably, will happen on the 18th instant if no accident happens on the road; as my present intention is to commence my journey for Mount Vernon on the 14th for a very short stay. The...
27From George Washington to David Stuart, 5 August 1795 (Washington Papers)
By the Mail which came into Alexandria, this day, I have received letters, advising me of the recall of Mr Hammond; & some other matters which have induced me to determine to proceed from Georgetown to Phila. As none but the Officers of Government have been made acquainted with my determination respecting the ratification of the Treaty (as communicated to you last night) I request you would...
28From George Washington to David Stuart, 7 February 1796 (Washington Papers)
I am glad to find by the last letters which we have received from our friends in the Federal city, that you had recovered from the indisposition the preceeding ones announced. You will perceive by the enclosed Advertisement, that I am making an essay to accomplish what I communicated to you in confidence, when I was last in Virginia. I call it an essay, because I have no sanguine expectation...
29From George Washington to David Stuart, 8 January 1797 (Washington Papers)
Your letter of the 18th Ulto with its enclosures, came to hand in the usual course of the Post; but the pressure of public business has prevented my giving it an acknowledgment until now. The first thing I shall do after I am settled at Mount Vernon, will be to adjust all my accounts of a private nature; the doing of which, as they ought, has been prevented by public avocations. What effect Mr...