To Thomas Jefferson from George Washington, 13 May 1793
From George Washington
Philadelphia May 13th. 1793.
Dear Sir
Sometime last fall I sent to Mr. Young transcripts of the accounts respecting the Agriculture of this Country, which I had collected from Gentlemen of the best information on this subject, with whom I was acquainted in the middle States, New York and Virginia.
The account which you had the goodness to draw up was among the number.
I have lately received from Mr. Young a letter in reply to mine which accompanied these accounts—in which he makes the observations and queries relative to the Virginia Statement, which you will find enclosed.
As I wish this matter to be brought before Mr. Young in as clear a light as the nature of it will admit—you will oblige me by giving, when convenient,1 such answers to the queries and such solution of the difficulties stated by him as your knowledge of the Subject may enable you to do, that I may2 give him the most satisfactory information in my power. I am always, with much truth & sincerity—Yr. Affecte Servt
go: washington
RC (DLC); at foot of text: “Mr. Jefferson.” Dft (DLC: Washington Papers); in the hand of Tobias Lear; endorsed by Washington. FC (Lb in same); follows Dft. Recorded in SJL as received 14 May 1793.
Washington had written Arthur Young on 18–21 June 1792, not Last fall, enclosing the account TJ had Had the goodness to draw up, as well as the other Accounts of American agriculture (Notes on Arthur Young’s Letter to George Washington, 18 June 1792, and note). For two related letters that the President wrote to the noted English agricultural reformer in the fall of 1792, see , xxxii, 192, 250–1.
1. Preceding two words interlined in Dft in place of “at your leisure.”
2. In Dft Lear here wrote “<be able> in my next letter to that Gentleman.”