George Washington Papers
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To George Washington from Samuel Powel, 5 July 1785

From Samuel Powel

Philadelphia July 5. 1785

Sir

The Society for promoting Agriculture, lately established in this City, having done themselves the Honor of electing you a corresponding Member, have charged me with the Care of communicating the same to you. It is with particular Pleasure that I fulfill this Injunction, & doubt not that you, after having so eminently contributed to the Establishment of the Independence of our Country in the Field, will, chearfully, become a Member of a Society whose Views are solely directed to the Increase of it’s Advantages, by cultivating one of the most usefull Arts of Peace.1

In Conformity to the Directions of the Society, I have enclosed its Address to the public, & also a summary View of a Course of Crops &ca written by a Mr Bordely of Maryland.2 I have the Honor to be Sir Your most obedt humble Servt

Samuel Powel

ALS, DLC:GW.

1The Philadelphia Society for Promoting Agriculture composed of twentythree members living in or about Philadelphia was founded in February 1785. At its first meeting on 1 Mar., Samuel Powel was elected president of the society and served until his death in 1793. As the stated purpose of the society was “the promoting a greater increase of the products of land within the American states,” it sought to add honorary, or corresponding, members like GW from other states and from abroad (Gambrill, “John Beale Bordley,” description begins Olive Moore Gambrill, “John Beale Bordley and the Early Years of the Philadelphia Agricultural Society.” Pennsylvania Magazine of History and Biography 66 (1942): 410–39. description ends 419).

2John Beale Bordley (1727–1804) of Maryland, the first vice president of the Philadelphia Society for Promoting Agriculture, published in Philadelphia in 1784 A Summary View of the Courses of Crops, in the Husbandry of England & Maryland . . . .

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