From George Washington to John Henry, 28 January 1797
To John Henry
[Philadelphia] Saturday 28th January 1797.
The President of the U. States presents his compliments to Mr. Henry, and with them, returns Mr. Smith’s letter to him.1
In that letter, Mr. Smith supposes the Plank contained in the President’s memo. may be delivered at Mount Vernon for 10/ a 11/3, (I presume Maryld currency, i.e. dollars at 7/6) but as this mem. comprehended plank of three thicknesses—viz.—Inch, 1¼ & 1½, he is unable (perhaps from not understanding the mode of selling) to apply this price, unless as an average Be this however as it may, the P. would take the quantity formerly mentioned, upon as good terms as Mr Smith can afford to deliver ⟨it⟩ at Mount Vernon, and if this could be done certainly by the first of April, it wd be in time as no use would be made of it until he gets fixed up at that place. The Inch plank. (wanted chiefly for railings, or Posts 5 feet apart) should be in lengths of 10, 15, 20 or 25 feet, and 6 or 12 inches wide to avoid waste in the application. The 1¼ & 1½ may be of the usual lengths, & breath, avoiding as in the former memo safe ⟨sap⟩ as much as possible.2
It will not be in the power of the President before he gets home, to say anything more respecting Scantling, nor is he in urgent want of it, but Mr. Smith probably has it in his power to say what it could be delivered for, by the thousand feet, in the course of next Summer or Autumn, havg notice of the quantity & sort.3
Go: Washington
Transcript, ViMtvL. A purported AD of the letter was offered for sale in 1978 by Cohasco, Inc., catalog 21, item no. 595. The words in angle brackets are taken from a transcription in the Cohasco catalog.
1. The letter from Maryland merchant Alexander Smith has not been found. However, this document suggests that it may have been written in response to the unfound “President’s memo.” about plank, which Henry forwarded to Smith. In a letter to Henry of 13 Jan., GW had written that barring “a Memo, from the Overlooker of my Carpenters [John Neale],” he was “unable to furnish an accurate Bill of the Plank & Scantling my purposes require.” GW conveyed his need for 5,000 feet of 3-inch plank and another 3,500 feet of plank of less thickness. He also inquired whether plank could be supplied at Mount Vernon upon receipt of a bill of scantling (Smith to GW, 10 April 1797, n.1, in 1:94–95).
Alexander Smith of Vienna, Dorchester County, Md., was a merchant and shipowner. From 1784 to 1785, he partnered with Levin Kirkman to run a retail store in Vienna, where Smith likely had a lumber mill in the 1790s (see n.3 below).
2. For GW’s directives regarding the placement of post and rail fences at the Mount Vernon farms, see Memorandum for James Anderson and William Pearce, 5 Nov. 1796. GW’s demand for plank at Mount Vernon may have also been related to his instructions to construct a threshing machine and to make repairs to the barn at Dogue Run farm (see GW to James Anderson, 8, 15, and 29 Jan.).
3. Henry replied to GW on 3 March: “I have neglected till this Moment to inclose the letter of Mr Smith respecting the plank which you wanted.
“He is a very honest worthy Man, and as far as my recollection serves me, the prices are such as is usual for choice plank.
“The freight will be no more than what is customary. From the Industry and attention of this person, I think you may rely that his endeavours will not be wanting upon this or any other future occasion to serve you to the best of his ability” (ALS, DLC:GW).
Smith’s letter to Henry, written on 6 Feb. from Vienna, Md., reads: “I have received your letter of the 25 Ulto, Enclosing the President of the United States answer to my letter to you respecting his plank and Scantling—The Supposed prices aluded to in my last letter for plank delivered at Mount Vernon as the President presumed was maryland Curry and for Inch plank only, the price of all other thickness of plank being higher in proportion.
“Since I received Your last letter have Ingaged the Presidents plank wanted by the fir[s]t of april next—to be cutt out of the first quality of timber as Clear of Sap & Knotts as posiable agreeable to the presidents directions.” Smith then gave the cost of plank of varying thickness: “Inch plank 8/3—Inch and quarter 12/6. Inch & half 15/—maryland Curry and will be delivered at Mount Vernon on or before the first week in april next, for a reasonable freight on the Same.
“It will give me pleasure to have it in my power to procure for the President the quantity of Scantling that he may want as soon as it may be Convenient for him to forward A Bill of the Same” (DLC:GW). Henry’s letter to Smith of 25 Jan. has not been identified. GW’s “answer” to Smith’s letter may refer to GW’s letter to Henry of 13 Jan. or to another “memo.” that has not been found (see n.1 above).
Smith wrote GW on 10 April to advise him of the shipment to Mount Vernon of “different kinds of plank.” The shipment had been delayed due to “some dificulty” that “arose in carting the plank to the landing.” On 21 April, GW, who had returned to Mount Vernon on 15 March, made a payment in the amount of £40.12.0 to Thomas Muir for “Alex. Smith for Plank pr rect” (Smith to GW, 10 April 1797, and n.2 to that document, in 1:94–95; ; and , 6:239).