24. At home all day. Mr. Richd. Washington came here to Dinner, as did Mrs. Newman.
Richard Washington, a London merchant to whom GW apparently believed he was distantly related, had been a correspondent and tobacco dealer for GW from 1755 to 1763. GW warmly assured him that “in the Event of your ever visiting America . . . Mrs. Washington and I both woud think ourselves very happy in the oppertunity of shewing you the Virginia Hospitality . . . and I must . . . add, that I shall think myself very happy in seeing you at Mt. Vernon where you might depend upon finding the most cordial entertainment” (27 Sept. 1763, 10 Aug. 1760, DLC:GW). The other guest was possibly the Mrs. Newman who was employed by George Mason of Gunston Hall as a schoolmistress for his daughters at this time ( , 1:97).