To George Washington from George Fitzhugh, 20 May 1796
From George Fitzhugh
Gloucester County [Va.] 20 May 96
Sir
A few days ago, as I promised in my last I shoud do,1 I took a full view of your Estate in this place; its soil does not altogether answer my expectation, however its situation with the advantages ariseing therefrom will make it a very agreeable little Farm, and as your terms are such that I can conveniently purchase under will esteem it a singular favour you will not dispose of it to any other Person till you see me, which shall be as soon as I hear of your arrival at Mount Vernon.2
There is very little Timber, and what there is, is chiefly of Pine; believe me I do not mention this to decry the Land for much Timber was not an object with me, but to inform there has been great damage commited by intruders.3 With every sentiment of esteem I am very respectfully Sir Your Ob. Hble Sert
George Fitzhugh
ALS, DLC:GW.
1. See Fitzhugh to GW, 28 March.
2. Fitzhugh wished to purchase roughly 400 acres on Back River in Gloucester County, Va., that GW had acquired from John Dandridge in 1789. GW had stated the terms in his letter to Fitzhugh dated 28 Jan. 1796.
3. Fitzhugh again wrote GW from Alexandria, Va., on 16 Aug.: “I intended to have visited you whilst in this Neighbourhood to have complyed with my promise in my last Letter to you but being disappointed in receiving a sum of money that has been long due to me in this place renders it useless as I woud not undertake to make a purchase of your Lands in Gloucester unless it was in my power to pay down the first advance and a certainty of punctuallity in the future payments as required It is a purchase I wish to make & flatter myself shoud you not dispose of it before Novr next it will then be in my power to advance Cash as my debtors give me every Assurance I shall receive payment from them by that time Wishing you every happiness” (ALS, DLC:GW). Fitzhugh eventually lost interest in purchasing this land (see GW to George Ball, 6 March 1797, n.1, in 1:7–8).