From George Washington to Sarah Cary Fairfax, 7 June 1755
To Sarah Cary Fairfax
[Fort Cumberland, Md., 7 June 1755]
To Mrs Fairfax,Belvoir
Dear Madam
When I had the pleasure to see you last, you expressd an Inclination a wish to be informd of my safe arrival at Camp, with the charge that was entrusted to my care;1 but at the same time desird requested that it might be communicated in a Letter to some body friend of yours acquaintance: This I took as a Gentle rebuke and polite manner of forbidding my corrisponding with you; and conceive this opinion is not illy founded when I reflect that I have hitherto found it impracticable to engage one moment of your attention: If I am right in this, I hope you will excuse my present presumption and lay the imputation to elateness at my successfull arrival; If on the contrary these are fearfull apprehensions only, Am I to consider the proposd mode of Comn as a polite intimation of your wishes to withdraw your corrispondence? To a certain degree it has that appearance; for I have not, been honored with a line from you since I parted with you at Belvoir. If this was your object in what manner shall I apologise for my present disobedience—but on the contrary, if it was the effect of your delica[c]y how easy is it to remove my suspicions, enliven my Spirits, dull hours and make me happier than the Day is long I am able to express, by honouring
me with a the corrispondance which you did once partly promise you had given me hope of.2
Please to make my Complts to Miss Hannah Fairfax, and to Mr Bryan Fairfax to whom I shall do myself the pleas[ur]e of writing so as soon as I hear he is returnd from Westmoreland. I am Madam Yr most Obedt & most Hble Servt
G. W——n
LB (original), DLC:GW; LB, DLC:GW; ALS (photostat), DLC:GW. The letter that GW sent to Mrs. Fairfax differs somewhat from the original letter-book text in wording as well as spelling and punctuation. It reads:
“Dear Madam
When I had the happiness to see you last, you express’d an Inclination to be informd of my safe arrival In camp with the charge that was entrusted to my care, But at the same time desird it might be communicated in a Letter to some body of your acquaintance: This I took as a gentle rebuke and polite manner of forbidding my corrisponding with you: and conceive this opinion is not illy founded, when I reflect that I have hitherto found it impractacable to engage one moment of your attention. If I am right in this, I hope you will excuse the present presumption, and lay the imputation to elateness at my successful arrival: If on the Contrary these are fearful apprehensions only, how easy is it to remove my suspicions, enliven my Spirits, and make me happier than the Day is long; by honouring me with a corrispondanc⟨e⟩ which you did once partly promise to do. Please to make my Compliments to Miss Hannah, and to Mr Bryan to whom I shall do myself the pleasure of writing, so soon as I hear he is returnd from Westmoreland. I am Madam Yr most Obedt & most Hble Servt
Go: Washington
Fort Cumberland at Will’s Creek 7th of June 1755.”
1. GW saw Sally Fairfax as he passed through Fairfax County in May on his way to Williamsburg to get £4,000 sterling for Braddock. See GW to John Augustine Washington, 28 May 1755.
2. For GW’s previous attempts to engage Mrs. Fairfax’s correspondence, see GW to Sarah Cary Fairfax, 30 April 1755 and 14 May 1755.