To George Washington from Charles Pettit, 6 November 1787
From Charles Pettit
Philadelphia 6th Novr 1787
Sir
I have the Honor to inclose herewith an Invoice & Bill of Lading for 4 Chimney Backs & 8 side Plates or Jambs to correspond therewith, on board of the Sloop Charming Polly, Capt. Elwood pursuant to your Excellency’s Order. The Charges for Patterns are the Sums actually paid to the Workmen who made them in this Town. The Carriage to the Works & the alterations made there to accomodate them to the different Sizes successively, are not charged.1 The Plates since ordered are not yet come to Hand, but shall be forwarded by the first Opportunity after they arrive.2
Col. Biddle has been so obliging as to offer, on Behalf of your Excellency, to pay for these Articles & to take the Trouble of forwarding them; which offer I declined accepting, not knowing how far it might be agreeable to your Arrangements. If, however, such mode of Payment should be as much or more convenient to you than another, it will be at least equally so to me. With perfect Respect, I have the Honor, to be Your Excellency’s most obedt Servant
Chas Pettit
The Captain has a Certificate of the Plates being American Manufacture, to guard against Difficulties at the Custom House.
ALS, DLC:GW.
1. See Pettit to GW, 1 November. Pettit’s “Invoice of 4 Setts of Cast Iron Backs & Jambs ship’d by Charles & Andrew Pettit on Board the Sloop charming Polly John Ellwood Ju[nio]r Master bound for Virginia” was dated 6 Nov. and sent from Philadelphia (DLC:GW). The charge for four cast-iron backs and eight jambs was £15.5.7 with the additional charges of £1 for “making a Sett of Patterns,” 0.2.0 for “Porterage to the Sloop,” and £1.17.6 for “the Carvers Bill for Crest & Cypher,” bringing the total to £18.5.1. GW wrote Pettit from Mount Vernon on 3 Dec: “Sir, I have received your letter of the 6 Ulto—the Backs and Jambs mentioned in it arrived safe. I have requested Colo. Biddle to pay you the amount of your account sent to me which he will undoubtedly comply with. I am Sir, Yr most Obedt Hble Servant G. Washington” (LB, DLC:GW). GW’s letter to Clement Biddle in which he instructed him to pay Pettit is also dated 3 December.
2. See Pettit to GW, 1 Nov., n.1.