From George Washington to John Rumney, 5 July 1784
To John Rumney
Mount Vernon 5th July 1784
Sir,
I have been favor’d with your letter of July 1783. the business which gave rise to it, was settled before the letter came to my hands.1 Having imbibed a warm friendship for your oldest Son while living,2 any act by which I could consistently have given aid to your other son,3 or that would render a service to you, would have afforded me pleasure: of this I pray you to be assured, as also of the sincerity of my condolence on the loss you have sustained in Colo. Rumney who was an amiable Man, & a worthy Citizen of this Country. I am Sir &c. &c.
G: Washington
LB, DLC:GW.
1. Letter not found.
2. GW’s friend Dr. William Rumney, who died in 1783, was a surgeon in the British army during the French and Indian War. In 1763 at the end of the war, he settled in Alexandria and lived there until his death.
3. His “other son” was John Rumney, Jr., whose English firm had a store in Alexandria. See GW to John Rumney, Jr., 3, 5 July 1784.