Monday 19th. Thermometer at 40 in the Morning—53 at Noon and 51 at Night. Morning clear and calm, with a red sky in the Eastern horizon and some fog on the River.
Rid before breakfast to the Plantations at Frenchs, Dogue run & Muddy hole. Had the Barley at the former fanned, cleaned and Measured—quantity 126½ bushls. from about 9 acres of ground.
At Dogue run, laid down the Barley to tread out.
At Muddy hole digging Potatoes. The hands from the Ferry, and sml. gang from the Mansn. house assisting. The Ploughs would abt. finish breaking up field No. 4 this evening. Mr. Robt. Morris, Mr. Gour. Morris & Doctr. Ruston came in before Dinner.
On 13 Nov. Samuel Powel wrote GW from Philadelphia to thank the Washingtons for their hospitality, adding: “Messrs. Robert & Gouverneur Morris left this City Yesterday & will probably be with you before the Arrival of this Letter. They will be able to give you a full and ample Detail of all Matters relative to our grand Question, I mean the Acceptation of the federal Constitution” (DLC:GW). The Morrises were in Virginia for several months “to straighten out difficulties connected with Robert’s contract for a monopoly on the sale of American tobacco to the French Farmers General” (, 205).