George Washington to Beverley Randolph, 7 December 1791
George Washington to Beverley Randolph
Philadelphia Dec. 7. 1791.
Sir
I have recieved your letter of Nov. 18. covering a resolution of the legislature of Virginia of Nov. 14. and a Memorial of sundry citizens of that commonwealth on the subject of their property carried away by the British, contrary, as they suppose, to the stipulations of the treaty of peace. A regular channel of communication with that government being now open, I shall not fail to pay due attention to this subject.—I have the honor to be with due consideration Yr. Excellency’s Most Obedt. Sr.
Dft (DNA: RG 59, MLR); in TJ’s hand except for complimentary close added by Lear; at foot of text TJ wrote “The Governor of Virginia,” to which Lear prefixed the words: “His Excellency.” PrC (DLC); without Lear’s additions. Entry in SJPL reads: “[draught] of letter from G.W. to Govr. of Virga. on property carried away.”
Governor Randolph had transmitted to Washington a resolve of the Virginia General Assembly requesting the federal government to “enforce due execution of the [seventh] Article” of the treaty of peace and to help obtain compensation for the slaves lost to the British during the war (Beverley Randolph to Washington, 18 Nov. 1791, with enclosed 26 Aug. 1791 memorial to and 14 Nov. 1791 resolve of Virginia General Assembly, DNA: RG 59, MLR). TJ had already brought this issue to the attention of the British minister (TJ to Hammond, 29 Nov. 1791).