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.
1. The 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 ( 419).
2. John 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 . . . .