From George Washington to George Lewis, 13 October 1795
To George Lewis
On the Road between George Town [D.C.]
& Baltimore 13th October 1795
Dear Sir:
Your letter of the 10th instant I received after I had commenced my journey for Philadelphia.1 And being detained on the Road (at Spurrie[r]s Tavern2 by rain), I acknowledge the receipt of it, with a view principally, to let you know that you have furnished me with no data on which to decide whether I will take General Spottswoods horse, or not. You say his price was so far beyond what you conceived to be his value and what I might be inclined to give; and being a year younger than you expected, that you forbore to make the purchase until I should inform you whether his age and price would suit me, but have not mentioned a word what the price is.
Let me know what the price asked is and how he could be got to Phila. with ease and safety; and I shall be better able to decide than I am now. The horse of your Brother Henry3 was showy when under the Saddle and put upon his mettle; but how he looked in harness I know not. When you write me again, mention the Breed of Gen. Spottswoods horse & what proportion of English blood he has in him, which can easily be ascertained if he raised him, himself. I am—Dear Sir Your sincere friend & affectionate Uncle
G. Washington
Typescript, DLC:GW, ser. 9.
1. Lewis’s letter has not been found.
2. The typist wrote “Spurrieis”; Spurrier’s tavern was located at what is now Waterloo, Md., roughly twelve miles southwest of Baltimore. GW stopped there on 14 Oct. ( 6:213).
3. George Lewis did not have a brother Henry. This may have been a reference to his brother-in-law Henry Daingerfield (1771–1815) or possibly a typist’s error in a reference to George’s brother Howell Lewis.