George Washington Papers
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https://founders.archives.gov/documents/Washington/05-21-02-0109

From George Washington to Tobias Lear, 25 November 1796

To Tobias Lear

Philadelphia 25th Novr 1796.

My dear Sir,

Your letter of the 20th instt was received yesterday, and the principal design of this is to cover the copy of a letter from Mr Van Vleck to me, respecting the reception of Maria at the School for young Ladies in Bethleham. It will be necessary for you to fix (for I presume it will be necessary that Mr Van Vleck should know) precisely, when she will enter; for as he is pressed by others; and receiving Maria may be considered as a favour (at this time) I would wish the matter to be regulated with punctuality.1

As you, and Mr Pearce both, seems to think that the Security offered by Mr Alexr Smith is, under present appearances, good, I will not now, ask for any other, but as it may be in your way to discover without much enquiry or trouble, how matters work in Alexandria before March; I would thank you for advice, if, in your judgment, it shd become expedient for me to resort to further means for the security of the sum which will be due to me at that time from him.2

I am sorry to hear your crop of Wheat turned out so indifferently—mine I expect will be, proportionably, no better.3 But all these things only serve as evidences to convince me, that if we were to reduce our cultivation, or rather grounds, to half the present quantity, and manure & till that half well, that our profits would be greater; while the other half would be improving. But this is a subject too copious for my present occupations, to allow time to enter upon: and therefore I will add nothing further at this time than that the family are all (except Mr Frestal) well, & unite in best wishes for you & yours, with Dear Sir Your Sincere friend & Affectionate Servt

Go: Washington

ALS, ViMtvL: Storer-Decatur Collection. Beneath the dateline, Lear noted that he received this letter on 1 December. He replied to GW on 2 December.

1Rev. Jacob Van Vleck had written GW from Bethlehem, Pa., on 15 Nov.: “Your Esteemed favor of the 9th Inst., signifying Your desire to place Your Niece in our boarding-School is before me.

“Under a lively Sense of the honor done to our humble Institution for the education of young Ladies by the Confidence Your Exlly is pleased to place in our imperfect endeavors to promote as far as in us lies, the wellfare of the rising generation, and with a sincere Wish, to render even the smallest Service to the beloved father of our Country; Tho’ not without diffidence, lest the merits of our School might have been overrated and your favorable Expectations with respect to your Niece may be disappointed in the end—I do myself the honor to inform You, that I will endeavor to accomodate Your Niece within the Course of two or three Months, agreeable to your request” (ALS, DLC:GW). GW’s letter to Van Vleck of 9 Nov. has not been found, but it concerned efforts to enroll Anna Maria Washington—GW’s grandniece and Lear’s stepdaughter—into Van Vleck’s boarding school in Bethlehem (see GW to Lear, 16 Nov., and n.2 to that document). Van Vleck authorized a May 1797 start date for Anna Maria at his school, but she never attended (see Lear to GW, 17 Jan. 1797, and n.5).

2For Alexander Smith’s debt to GW, and for Lear’s advice about endorsers of Smith’s negotiable notes, see Smith to GW, 4 Oct. and 9 Nov., and GW to Smith, 14 Nov.; see also Pearce to GW, 17 Nov.; GW to Lear, 16 Nov.; and Lear to GW, 20 November.

3For GW’s recent concerns about his wheat crop at Mount Vernon, see GW to Pearce, 20 Nov. and 11 December.

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