To George Washington from Samuel Athawes, 8 April 1774
From Samuel Athawes
London 8th April 1774.
Dear Sir
Our Mutual Friend the Honble George Wm Fairfax, Esqr. having communicated to me that since his return to England a Person has offered to purchase the Blomary which he has in conjunction with Mr Carlisle Dalton &c. tho. not the whole of the Land belonging to it & he being desirous of not only parting with it but of putting an End to that Matter intirely has executed a Power of attorney to this purpose & which Power of attorney accompany’s this to you1—The Reason of my troubling you on this occasion is my having long had an Inclination to a small Tract on Shenandoe & finding by my Friend that possibly a Gentleman in the Neighbourhood of the Blomary may sell a little Matter which he has there I should wish to know if that is the Case what are his Terms & whether you think them eligible if you should our mutual Friend seems to think that the Land which belongs to the Blomary & which the purchaser of it does not mean to take & which as you will find by the Power our Friend wishes to have divided into Four parts of equall Value in order to put an End to the partnership acct & as this Tract lays contiguous to that which may possibly be sold—He has intimated to me his entire inclination & Wish that his Fourth part or proportion might adjoin to that which I am disposed to purchase as our Friend if I was to become a purchaser would let me have that which would make the Purchase compact & more compleat—our Friend has wrote to you & pointed out the Estate above hinted & if you wish would make the Enquiry you would oblige me very particularly tho. I could wish the Enquiry not to be made in my Name I know not how or in what Manner I shall be able to return the Civility but if I should have it in my Power I trust you would not find me ungrateful. I am with Esteem Dear Sir Your obligd & Obedt Servt
Saml Athawes
DS, CSmH; copy, signed by Athawes, DLC:GW.
1. The power of attorney has not been found. For the problems regarding the settling of the accounts of the bloomery on the Shenandoah River owned by George William Fairfax and others in preparation for its sale, see Fairfax to GW, 10 Jan. 1774, n.9.