From George Washington to Richard Washington, 18 March 1758
To Richard Washington
Williamsburg 18 March 1758
Dear Sir,
Since my last of the 8 Jany I have receivd your favour of the 9th of Septr preceeding together with an Invoice and Acct Currt but the carelessness of the Captn prevented their coming to my hands till near Six Weeks after his arrival: and the Goods got home but a few days ago. I suppose I shoud not have receivd them at all, had I not been at great pains and expence myself to Send them up. So unaccountably Indolent is Captn Dick! The Powder I have not receivd—and the Cyder was all lost.1
The China came without any breakage, for which Reason I must counter order the addition to it desird in my last, & instead thereof beg you’ll send me a Sumpture Saddle, Bridle &ca compleat for Furniture; with a sett of Holster Caps and a housing of fine blew Cloth, with a small edging of Silver Embroidery round them.2 My expectation of a large Crop of Tobo has fallen greatly short; However, besides those you have an Acct of already, I shall put on board a Vessell of Mr Grymes’s to your Consignment about 15 Hhds which I hope you will make the most of and least She may (being a very large Ship) lye sometime in the Country I shall remit you a Bill of Exchange, so soon as I can meet with a good one, of about £50 or 60;3 which with my other remittances and the £50 Insurance savd in the Integrety Captn Thompson may go to my Credit.4
I have been much afflicted by Sickness since last Fall, and am not yet recoverd, but hope I am now in a fair way of regaining my health—I shoud always be glad to hear of your prosperity and am Dr Sir, Very Affectely Yr Most Obedt Hble Servt
Go: Washington
LB, DLC:GW. The letter-book copy is in GW’s hand.
1. Richard Washington’s letter of 9 Sept. 1757 has not been found, but see his Invoice of 20 Aug. 1757. For a summary of the business transactions between GW and Richard Washington before this time, see GW to Richard Washington, 26 Dec. 1757, n.4.
2. All of this is equipage, or furniture, for a horse. A sumpter saddle was a saddle for a baggage horse; holsters were attached to saddles; and housing was the cloth that went over the back of the horse. GW wrote Richard Washington, 5 April 1758, instructing him not to send this “Horse Furniture” but to send other things noted instead.
3. See GW to Richard Washington, 10 Sept., 26 Dec. 1757, for references to his tobacco shipments. GW shipped nine hogsheads of tobacco in the Arnold belonging to Benjamin Grymes (1725–c.1776) of Spotsylvania County. He netted £91.13.2 on the sale of this shipment. In April 1758 GW sent a bill of exchange on his brother-in-law Fielding Lewis of £50 sterling, and subsequently a number of others (, folio 15). For the bills of exchange, see also GW to Richard Washington, 5 April 1758.