From George Washington to James Craik, 4 August 1788
To James Craik
Mount Vernon August 4th 1788
Dear Sir,
With this letter you will receive the Horse I promised you; And which I now beg your acceptance of. He is not in such good order as I could wish, but as good as my means would place him.
I also send you Thirty pounds Cash for one years allowance for the Schooling of your Son G.W. I wish it was in my power to send the like sum for the other year, which is now about, or near due; and that could discharge your account for attendance and ministrens to the Sick of my family—but it really is not; for with much truth I can say, I never felt the want of money so sensibly since I was a boy of 15 years old as I have done for the last 12 Months and probably shall do for 12 Months more to come.1 Sincerely and affectly I am Yrs &c.
Go. Washington
LB, DLC:GW.
1. GW entered in his diary on 31 Aug. 1785: “This day I told Doctr. Craik that I would contribute One hundred Dollars pr. Ann., as long as it was necessary, towards the Education of His Son Geo. Washington either in this Country or in Scotland” (, 4:188). After completing his education, GW’s old friend’s son George Washington Craik (1774–1808) practiced law in Alexandria briefly before becoming GW’s private secretary in 1796.