From George Washington to Alexander Anderson, 18 November 1789
To Alexander Anderson
New York [November] 18 17891
Sir,
I have been favored with the receipt of your letter of the 14th of may last accompanying a parcel of seeds, which have been disposed of agreeably to the disposition suggested to you by Mr Benjamin Vaughan.2
I desire to express my sense of your obliging kindness and to assure you that I shall be happy to aid beneficent intentions on any other occasion. I am Sir very respectfully your most obedient Servant
G. Washington
LB, DLC:GW.
Alexander Anderson (d. 1811), the English botanist, had been named superintendent of the government’s botanical garden on St. Vincent in the Windward Islands, British West Indies, in 1785. In 1791 Anderson led a major botanical expedition to Guiana and received a number of honors for his work in the garden on St. Vincent. He held his post until shortly before his death.
1. The copyist dated the letter 18 Oct. 1789 in GW’s letter books. Since the president was on his New England tour in October it is likely the letter was sent in November.
2. Letter not found.