To George Washington from Benedict Calvert, 4 November 1779
From Benedict Calvert
Mount Airy1 Novr 4th 1779
Dear Sir
I have taken the Liberty to Inclose you a Letter for Sr Robert Eden in which we Inclosed one for the Lords of the Treasury which I have left open for your perusal.2 You will see upon the reading of them, the necessity I was under of writing, acquainting them, with the final Settlement of an Affair, in which, I was considerably concerned and at the same time to apprise them of Bills of Exchange drawn on them.3 As I have been carefull of saying nothing in those Letters but was absolutely necessary to explain the motives for agreeing to the Settlement, hope they will meet with your Excellencys approbation, and if you have no exceptions must beg you will be so kind as to put your Seal on Sr Roberts Letter and send it by the first flag or to the English Lines. I must beg your Excuse for this, as nothing but the necessity of a Speedy conveyance of the Inclosed, would have induced me to have given you this trouble and I am Dear Sir Your Excellency Most Obedt & Obliged Servt
Benedt Calvert
ALS, DLC:GW.
Loyalist sentiments had compelled Calvert, father-in-law of GW’s stepson John Parke Custis, to live quietly at home and prompted former Maryland governor Robert Eden’s exile to England. Calvert’s half-sister Caroline had married Eden.
1. Mount Airy was Calvert’s property in Prince George’s County, Maryland.
2. The enclosed letters have not been identified.
3. This settlement has not been identified, but both Calvert and Eden had been active in land and business transactions prior to the revolution.