15651[Diary entry: 14 October 1787] (Washington Papers)
Sunday 14th. Thermometer at 50 in the Morning—60 at Noon and 56 at Night—weather clear—Wind at No. W. in the Morning, & So. Wt. in the afternoon; A severe frost this Morning, which killed Pease Buckwheat, Pumpkins, Potatoe Vines &ca. turning them quite bla[ck].
15652GW to Lafayette, 15 September 1788 [letter not found] (Washington Papers)
Letter not found: GW to Lafayette, 15 Sept. 1788. On 27 Nov. 1788 GW wrote Lafayette : “I wrote to you my dear Marquis, on the 15th day of September last.”
15653[Diary entry: 1 September 1787] (Washington Papers)
Saturday. Sepr. 1st. Dined at home and drank Tea there.
15654[Diary entry: 24 September 1784] (Washington Papers)
24th. And crossed it at the Mouth, as it was thought the river was too much swelled to attempt the ford a little higher up. The fork was about 2 Miles & half from Colo. Philups, & the ground betwn. very hilly tho’ rich in places. The Cheat at the Mouth is about 125 yds. wide—the Monongahela near dble. that. The colour of the two Waters is very differt., that of Cheat is dark (occasioned as is...
15655[Diary entry: 31 January 1787] (Washington Papers)
Wednesday 31st. Mercury at 32 in the Morng.—48 at Noon and 40 at Night. Wind at No. West and pretty fresh early in the Morning, but decreased as the Sun rose and became quite calm & a little lowering towards Night. Accompanied by Colo. Lee I rode to the Ferry, Frenchs Dogue run and Muddy hole Plantations and also to my Mill & the Ditches. At Dogue run the Women were altering the Meadow fences...
15656From George Washington to Clement Biddle, 6 October 1788 (Washington Papers)
It was intended, tho’ omitted in my last, to have requested you to ask the Brewers in your City what they will give for spring Barley delivered at my Landing—or in Philadelphia—and in the latter case for you to have known what the freight would be. My Barley is raised from the Seed you obtained for me from Mr Haynes; and is, as I mentioned to you in a former letter, mixed in some degree with...
15657[Diary entry: 7 March 1787] (Washington Papers)
Wednesday 7th. Mercury at 36 in the Morning—63 at Noon and 54 at Night. Cloudy with the wind brisk at So. Et. in the Morning, and varying more westerly afterwards and blowing fresh all day—Clear after 8 Oclock. Mr. G. W. Lewis went away after breakfast. Colo. Ball rid with me to the Plantations at the Ferry, Frenchs, Dogue run, & Muddy hole—Sowing Oats at the 3 first as also grass seeds—At the...
15658[Diary entry: 4 November 1787] (Washington Papers)
Sunday 4th. Thermometer at 42 in the Morning—52 at Noon and 51 at Night. Clear & pleasant with but little Wind. After the Candles were lighted Mr. & Mrs. Powell came in.
15659[Diary entry: 21 February 1787] (Washington Papers)
Wednesday 21st. Mercury at 24 in the Morning—45 at Noon and 36 at Night. Morning clear, but cold; ground hard froze—wind fresh all day from West. Doctr. Craik went away before breakfast—after wch. I rode to Muddy hole and Neck Plantations. Began to Sow Oats at the latter in the ground which the Plows went into on Monday abt. Noon, & finished yesterdy. about dinner time. They were not more than...
15660The Virginia Plan, 29 May 1787 (Washington Papers)
[Philadelphia, c.29 May 1787]. GW’s Copy of the Original Plan for a New Government as Given into Convention by the State of Virginia appears in CD-ROM:GW . AD , DLC:GW . It is not known when GW made his copy of the document, but as a member of the Virginia delegation, he probably made it before Edmund Randolph presented the Virginia Plan to the Convention on 29 May. Randolph’s copy of the...
15661From George Washington to Frederick Weissenfels, 10 January 1788 (Washington Papers)
I have received your letter of the 10th of December in answer to that, as well as those which you wrote to me in June last, I am sorry to inform you that I cannot, with any propriety, make application to Congress had [I] the offices to bestow or any other publick body in your behalf for an appointment; because it would be acting directly contrary to a resolution which I made, when I quitted...
15662[Diary entry: 11 March 1787] (Washington Papers)
Sunday 11th. Mercury at 40 in the Morning—58 at Noon and 50 at Night. Calm, clear and remarkably pleasant all day till about Sun down when the wd. sprung up fresh from the So. Et. and the Sky became Muddy. Doctr. Craik came here to dinner to day. Mrs. Jenifer came here to dinner yesterday. Mrs. Jenifer is probably Sarah Craik Jenifer, Dr. Craik’s daughter.
15663From George Washington to Thomas Johnson, 20 December 1785 (Washington Papers)
It so happened that your letter of the 4th ulto with its enclosures, did not meet a quick passage to me; & that some delays afterwards, more the effect of accident than neglect, prevented the petition & Bill, (which you were so obliging as to draw) from getting to the Assemblies of the two States, so soon as were to be wished; however they are now before them; & from that of Maryland, I am...
15664[Diary entry: 29 August 1787] (Washington Papers)
Wednesday 29th. Did the same as yesterday.
15665From George Washington to the Mayor, Recorder, Aldermen, and Common Council of Philadelphia, 20 April 1789 (Washington Papers)
I consider myself particularly obliged to you, Gentlemen, for your congratulatory address on my appointment to the Station of President of the United States. Accustomed as I have been to pay a respectful regard to the Opinion of my Countrymen, I did not think myself at liberty to decline the Acceptance of the high Office, to which I had been called by their United suffrage—When I contemplate...
15666[Diary entry: 1 April 1787] (Washington Papers)
Sunday. first. Mercury at 36 in the Morning—54 at Noon and 50 at Night. Wind at No. West in the Morning and Southerly afterwards but not very fresh at any time of the day—Weather clear. At home all day. Mr. Hunter, Mr. Rumney, Mr. Porter, Doctr. Craik and a Captain Nixon dined here—all of whom except Mr. Hunter went away after it. In the evening, one Young who lives on Colo. Balls place, a...
15667[Diary entry: 19 September 1787] (Washington Papers)
Wednesday 19th. Prevented by rain (much of which fell in the Night) from setting off till about 8 Oclock, when it ceased, & promising to be fair we departed. Baited at Wilmington—dined at Christiana and lodged at the head of Elk—at the bridge near to which my horses (two of them) and Carriage had a very narrow escape. For the rain which had fallen the preceeding evening having swelled the...
15668From George Washington to Henry Knox, 31 May 1787 (Washington Papers)
It gave me great pleasure to find by your letter of the 29th that you were freed from all apprehension on acct of Miss Lucys eye—and that we might flatter ourselves with the expectation of seeing Mrs Knox & you at this place. It was not untill Friday last that Seven States assembled in Convention. By these I was, much against my wish, unanimously placed in the Chair—Ten States are now...
15669[Diary entry: 7 July 1786] (Washington Papers)
Friday 7th. Mercury at 72 in the Morning—80 at Noon and 75 at Night. Clear in the forenoon but very sultry, with wind, thunder, lightning & rain in the afternoon. Rid to all the Plantations; The Plows at Muddy hole (where 3 were at work) had finished the East cut of Corn, and had begun to plow that cut by the bars, adjoining the drilled Corn the 3d. time. Those at Morris’s, four in number, had...
15670From George Washington to James Tilghman, 5 June 1786 (Washington Papers)
I have just had the pleasure to receive your favor of the 26th ulto. Of all the numerous acquaintances of your lately deceased son, & amidst all the sorrowings that are mingled on that melancholy occasion, I may venture to assert that (excepting those of his nearest relatives) none could have felt his death with more regret than I did—No one entertained a higher opinion of his worth, or had...
15671From George Washington to James Madison, 3 December 1784 (Washington Papers)
Gentlemen: I returned yesterday from Annapolis, having conducted the Marquis La Fayette that far on his way to New York, and left him proceeding on the road to Baltimore, on Wednesday last. This trip afforded me opportunities of conversing with some of the leading characters in the different branches of the Legislature of Maryland, on the subject of inland navigation, and the benefits which...
15672From George Washington to Henry Knox, 2 April 1787 (Washington Papers)
The early attention which you were so obliging as to pay to my letter of the 8th ulto is highly pleasing and flattering to me. Were you to continue to give me information on the same point, you would add to the favor; as I see, or think I see, reasons for and against my attendance in Convention so near an equilibrium, as will cause me to Determine upon either, with diffidence. One of the...
15673From George Washington to Charles Pettit, 2 December 1783 (Washington Papers)
I have been favored with your letter of the 28th ulto. The honor which the Merchants of Philada—have in contemplation to shew me; is very flattering, & deserving of my best acknowledgments. I expect to leave this place on Thursday afternoon or Friday morning, and to be in Philada on Monday:but as there may be an intervention of circumstances not altogether within my controul, I can not speak...
15674[Diary entry: 23 September 1787] (Washington Papers)
Sunday. 23d. Thermometer at 60 in the morning—70 at Noon and 70 at N. Foggy Morning—calm & clear afterwards. Mr. Blair remained. Colonels Fitzgerald, Simms, Ramsay & Lyles; Mr. Hunter, Mr. Murray & Mr. Taylor and Doctr. Stuart, Mrs. Stuart, and the girls came to dinner: All, except Mr. Blair, Doctr. & Mrs. Stuart went away afterwards.
15675From George Washington to Alexander Spotswood, 23 January 1787 (Washington Papers)
Your favor of the 13th came to my hands a few days after my Nephew G: Washington left this for New-Kent, which, & his not seeing you on his way down, were unlucky circumstances as he could, & no doubt would have arranged matters so as that a Vessel which is sent from Colchester to York river for Negroes which Colonl Bassett has given him, might have stopped at the mouth of Potomac creek for...
15676[Diary entry: 11 July 1786] (Washington Papers)
Tuesday 11th. Mercury at 77 in the Morning—83 at Noon and 82 at Night. Clear, with the wind at So. Wt. and pretty fresh. Rid to the Ferry, Dogue run, & Muddy hole Plantations and to the Mill. At the first, the Plows had just finished plowing the drilled Corn & Potatoes by the Fish House—at the second got into stacks all the wheat in the Meadow by the Overseers House. Finished cutting the...
15677[Diary entry: 29 December 1786] (Washington Papers)
Friday 29th. Mercury at 30 in the Morning—55 at Noon and 51 at Night. Clear, calm, warm, and exceeding pleasant all day. The hollidays being over, and the People all at work, I rid to the Ferry—Dogue run, and Muddy hole Plantations—also to the Ditchers (who were at Work). At the first Plantation cutting stalks and getting farm pen in order—at the next (Dogue run) measured the remainder of the...
15678[Diary entry: 17 October 1788] (Washington Papers)
Friday 17th. Thermometer at 57 in the Morning—72 at Noon and 71 at Night. Clear and calm in the Morning. Pleasant all day. Colo. Carrington going away after breakfast—I vis[i]ted all the Plantns. In the Neck—All the Plows were stopped to tread out Wheat and all the hands were employed about the same. From Muddy hole all the hands were at Dogue run. At Dogue run—some hands from the Ferry had...
15679[Diary entry: 1 August 1786] (Washington Papers)
Tuesday 1st. Mercury at 67 in the Morning—69 at Noon and 66 at Night. Morning heavy & sometimes mizzling but clear afterwards, till Night when the clouds assembled and rained the whole Night, sometimes very fast—Wind at East. Mrs. Fendall, Harriot Washington, and Lucy Lee (a child)—Colo. Fitzgerald, Colo. Simms, Captn. Conway, Messrs. Saml. and Thos. Hanson & Mr. Charles Lee came here to...
15680[Diary entry: 26 January 1786] (Washington Papers)
Thursday 26th. Thermometer at 33 in the Morng.— at Noon and 39 at Night. Clear and pleasant all day and more especially in the afternoon—Not much wind, but that from the No. West. Renewed my Ice operation to day, employing as many hands as I conveniently could in gettg. it from the Maryland shore, carting, and pounding it. Mr. Shaw went up to the dancing assembly at Alexandria after Dinner.
15681From George Washington to Thomas Mifflin, 3 December 1783 (Washington Papers)
In my Last Letter to your Excellency I had the honor to acquaint Congress with the arrangement Sir Guy Carleton had made for the Evacuation of New York on the 23 Ulto, I have now to inform you that the Embarkation was postponed two days on account of the badness of the Weather. On the 25 of November the British Troops left this City and a Detachment of our Army marched into it. The Civil Power...
15682From George Washington to Battaile Muse, 24 January 1787 (Washington Papers)
It would seem by your letter of the 3d instt that you had not received my last; in which I desired that whatever money you had, or could command of mine, might be sent to me; or an order drawn on some responsible person in Alexandria; as I was much in want of it. This request I now repeat, as I have, since that time been disappointed of other sums wch I thought myself sure of receiving. &...
15683[Diary entry: 7 November 1788] (Washington Papers)
Friday 7th. Thermometer at 62 in the Morning 62 at Noon and 60 at Night. Brisk Wind from the So. Wt. with great appearances of much rain till towards evening when it cleared—Sprinklings now & then through the day. Went with Mr. Fairfax to my New Barn and to the Plantations at the Ferry, French’s, Dogue run and Muddy hole. At the Ferry—five plows were breaking up Field No. 5. The other force...
15684From George Washington to Thomas Brereton, 20 April 1786 (Washington Papers)
Within these few days I have received your letter of the 12th, & some time ago, I recollect to have been favored with another letter from you, which in the hurry of business got overlooked. It is now more than two years, since indirectly I obtained a sight of the deceas’d Mrs Savage’s will —I then thought, & still do think it strange that the Executors of this will, should never have made any...
15685[Diary entry: 16 February 1786] (Washington Papers)
Thursday 16th. Thermometer at 36 in the Morning—46 at Noon and 46 at Night. Morning cloudy and not pleasant, wind being at No. West, but not fresh. Afterwards it became clear, calm, and exceedingly agreeable. The warm & pleasant afternoon almost carried of the Snow. Put one of Doctr. Gordons Subscription Papers (yesterday) in the hands of Doctr. Craik to offer to his acquaintance. Dr. William...
15686From George Washington to Caleb Gibbs, 3 April 1788 (Washington Papers)
Your letter of the 24th of Feby and the enclosed news papers came duly to hand. The conduct of New Hampshire has I believe, been a matter of surprize in eve[r]y part of the Country, and from what I can learn, wholly unexpected by a considerable part of the Convention themselves; The adjournment was, however, (circumstanced as they were) a very prudent step, for it appears that the great...
15687[Diary entry: 24 February 1788] (Washington Papers)
Sunday 24. Thermometer at 30 in the Morning—42 at Noon and 40 at Night. Clear Morning with the Wind still at No. W. where it continued all day but went down with the Sun. In the Evening the Revd. Mr. Fairfax came in.
15688From George Washington to Dominique-Louis Ethis de Corny, 5 December 1785 (Washington Papers)
I am really ashamed to have been so long in acknowledging the receipt of your letter of the 3d of August last year; but circumstances which would be more tedious in the recital, than important when told, have been the cause of it. I have now the honor of enclosing you the receipt of the Treasurer of the Society of the Cincinnati of this State, for your Bill on Colo. Wadsworth; & wish it was in...
15689From George Washington to Josiah Parker, 18 August 1786 [letter not found] (Washington Papers)
Letter not found: to Josiah Parker, 18 Aug. 1786. On 9 Sept. Parker wrote GW : “Your favor of the 18th Ultimo reached me a few days since.”
15690[Diary entry: 21 October 1788] (Washington Papers)
Tuesday 21st. Thermometer at 54 in the Morning—54 at Noon and 54 at Night. Flying clouds all day, with the Wind very hard from the No. Wt. Went up to Alexandria to move the Court to appoint Commissioners to settle the Accts. of the Administration of Colo. Thos. Colvills Estate to whose Will I was an Executor. Colo. Fitzgerald, Mr. William Herbert & Mr. Robt. McCrae being nominated for this...
15691[Diary entry: 30 January 1786] (Washington Papers)
Monday 30th. Thermometer at 54 in the Morning—56 at Noon and 50 at Night. The Morning foggy, with showers at intervals till near 11 oclock after which it cleared, with a brisk Southwardly wind. Mrs. Washington with Betcy & Patcy Custis came home, from Abingdon before dinner and after it Colo. Greyson & Mr. Orr left this. Planted the Hemlock Pine wch. was brought to me by Cornelius McDermot Row...
15692[Diary entry: 6 March 1786] (Washington Papers)
Monday 6th. Thermometer at 36 in the morng.—37 at Noon and 37 at Night. Cloudy & heavy all day, with little wind & that soft. Mr. Lee went away about 10 Oclock and Mr. Thornton Washington came in after we had dined and stayed all night. Mr. Lund Washingtons Negro Shoemaker left working here on saturday last. Returned to the erection of my deer paddock, which the bad weather had impeded....
15693From George Washington to George Clinton, 23 October 1783 (Washington Papers)
I was extremely glad to hear by a Letter from Colonel Varick that tho’ not yet restored to your usual State of health you was recovering it daily. From many circumstances I think it now pretty evident that the British will leave New York in all next Month Sir Guy Carleton has informed me verbally, through Mr Parker, that he expects to evacuate the City by the 20th and that when the Transports...
15694From George Washington to Charles Thomson, 22 January 1784 (Washington Papers)
The original letter & other Papers from the Chevr de Heintz respecting the order of the Knights of Divine Providence, were transmitted to Congress without a Copy being taken; I am a little at a loss therefore in what manner to direct my letter to him, more especially as I have a feint recollection that their is a mode pointed out for the address by the Secretary himself—Let me pray you...
15695[Diary entry: 14 March 1788] (Washington Papers)
Friday 14th. Thermometer at 52 in the Morning—60 at Noon And 60 at Night. The Wind pretty fresh from the Southward and weather exceedingly hazy with heavy clouds but no rain. Went with Mrs. Washington to Alexandria. Visited Captn. Conway Doctr. Craik, Colo. Saml. Hanson, Mr. Murray, & Mr. Porter with the last of whom we dined. Returned in the Eve. Samuel Hanson of Samuel had served as a...
15696[Diary entry: 11 November 1788] (Washington Papers)
Tuesday 11th. Thermometer at 50 in the Morning—52 at Noon and 52 at Night. In the Night past the Wind shifted more to the Southward and blew most violently . About day it began to rain (which it had done by intervals durg. the Night) and continued to do so till about sun rise when it cleared but still continued to blow very hard at So. West the whole day. All my People, except those in the...
15697From George Washington to John Rawlins, 29 August 1785 (Washington Papers)
Your letter of the 20th of this month, only came to my hands by the last Post, or I would have replied to it sooner. I have a room 32 by 24 feet, & 16 feet pitch, which I want to finish in stucco: it is my intention to do it in a plain neat style; which, independantly of its being the present taste, (as I am inform’d) is my choice. The Chimney is in the centre of the longest side, for which I...
15698[Diary entry: 20 February 1786] (Washington Papers)
Monday 20th. Thermometer at 35 in the Morning—38 at Noon and 38 at Night. Missling all day intermixed at times with Rain with but little wind. Began, though the ground was too wet, to set the Posts of my Paddock fence. Mr. Lawrence Washington of Chotank, Mr. Wm. Thompson Mr. Willm. Stuart and Mr. Lund Washington came here to dinner—all of whom except the first went away after it. William...
15699From George Washington to François Barbé de Marbois, 4 April 1788 (Washington Papers)
I have regularly received the letter you did me the honor to write to me on the 30th of November last, accompanied by one from the Count de la Luzerne, respecting the claim of the M. de Saqui des Tourets to be admitted a member of the Society of the Cincinnati. I should certainly find myself extremely happy in an opportunity of gratifying the wishes of so meritorious an officer as M. des...
15700[Diary entry: 4 April 1788] (Washington Papers)
Friday 4th. Thermometer at 46 in the Morning—60 at Noon And 60 at Night. Calm, clear, and very pleasant all day. Rid to all the Plantations. In the Neck, Plowing, sowing Barley & Grass Seeds, and other work as on Wednesday. At Muddy hole, stopped the roller in order that two harrows might be covering Oats. At this place the first sown Barley was coming up & appeared to be thick. At Dogue run...