1To George Washington from Tench Tilghman, 29 March 1784 (Washington Papers)
I was yesterday honored with your Excellency’s letter of the 24th and immediately applied to the Gentlemen who have the consignment of the Palatines, to know whether there were any among them answering the description of those you want—I am sorry to inform you there are not. There are no Bricklayers at all—There are Carpenters, but they are of the common kind—I cannot find that any more of...
2To George Washington from Tench Tilghman, 7 June 1784 (Washington Papers)
Upon the receipt of your Excellency’s favr of the 28th ulto giving me a greater latitude than you had before done, in regard to the qualifications of the Bricklayer and Joiner wanted by you, I went to the persons who have the disposal of the Irish Servants lately arrived, but found none of those Trades left upon hand. One or two more Ships are daily expected, and out of them you may be assured...
3To George Washington from Tench Tilghman, 15 July 1784 (Washington Papers)
Only one Vessel has arrived from Ireland since I had last the honor of writing to your Excellency, and she came in last Night. As she had 450 people on Board, I thought I stood a good chance of procuring the two Tradesmen you have commissioned me to purchase —Upon enquiry, I found only ninety were servants—among them none who would suit you. The remainder were persons who paid their own...
4To George Washington from Tench Tilghman, 27 July 1784 (Washington Papers)
Since I had the honor of writing to you a few days ago, I have met with a House Joiner, in a Ship just arrived from Ireland—He says much for himself, and the Captain says he is a well behaved Man. His price is £22.10/ Curry for 3 years and the Expences from hence to Alexandria by the Stage £1.14.8—I send him to the Care of Colo. Fitzgerald—I could not get his Indentures properly assigned in...
5To George Washington from Tench Tilghman, 18 August 1784 (Washington Papers)
I have recd your Excellency’s letters of the 4th and 11th. The first inclosing Bank Bills for 90 dollars which I beleive is more than sufficient—but Mr Peters has been so ill, that I have not been able to procure the Cost of the wheat Fan. My Clerk remembers shipping the Handle from hence. I am glad your Carpenter is like to please you—Having not met with a Bricklayer, I shall desist looking...
6To George Washington from Tench Tilghman, 14 May 1785 (Washington Papers)
I am desired by Mr Hollyday to transmit the inclosed to you, and to request the favor of an answer thro’ my hands. He has communicated the contents of his letter to me—That the Lady in question is the youngest Daughter of the late Capt. William Anderson of London, is well known to me and to many others; but if more regular proofs, than the bare assertions of Individuals, should be necessary to...
7To George Washington from Tench Tilghman, 30 May 1785 (Washington Papers)
I have had the honor of receiving your letter of the 23d I shall communicate so much of the Contents, as respect Colonel Colvils Legacy to Miss Anderson, to her Uncle Mr Hollyday. I have applied to the Revd Mr West on this Business. I find him intirely unacquainted with such parts of his Brothers affairs as relate to his Executorship to Colo. Colvils Estate. Matters must therefore remain as...
8To George Washington from Tench Tilghman, 4 June 1785 (Washington Papers)
Your favor of the 2d reached me this day—which was as soon as I expected your answer—Had your terms been agreeable to Mr Falconer, I do not think he would have suited all the purposes for which you wanted him—He is more a Man of letters than a Man of Business—and altho’ he might have managed your Correspondencies, I do not apprehend he would have made much hand of your Business abroad. The...
9To George Washington from Tench Tilghman, 25 August 1785 (Washington Papers)
I am honored with your favor of the 17th. Altho’ the greater part of the Cargo of the Ship Pallas is advertised for public Sale on the 1st of October next, it is not a matter of certainty that it will be disposed of in that manner—at least the whole of it. At any rate—I expect it will fall in a great degree under my Management, as Mr O’Donnell the Owner, who is a perfect Stranger in this...
10To George Washington from Tench Tilghman, 31 August 1785 (Washington Papers)
I have reed yours of the 29th with a letter for Mr Rawlings inclosed. I have delivered it to him. He has Business as far as Annapolis, and as he thinks he can judge better of the cost of finishing your Room after he has conversed with you upon the subject, he purposes to extend his ride as far as Mount Vernon; where he will be in the course of a few days. He is a Man of reputation in his...
11To George Washington from Tench Tilghman, 13 October 1785 (Washington Papers)
You will wonder at my long silence; but you will excuse me when I inform you, that your letter of the 14th of Sept. found me confined to my Bed by a most Severe nervous Fever, which kept me there near four Weeks. I am now far from being recovered, but as I can mount my Horse, I take daily Exercise, and find my Health and Strength returning by slow degrees. The packet for Mr Smith, contained in...
12To George Washington from Tench Tilghman, 10 November 1785 (Washington Papers)
I have had the honor of your letter of the 2d with one for Mr Rawlins inclosed, which I delivered myself. He confesses his delinquency, but pleads sickness—business at Annapolis and other matters, by way of Excuse—he however has promised to have your Designs compleated by saturday Night—If he keeps his word, I will forward them by the Monday’s Stage under cover to Fitzgerald. Mrs Tilghman...
13To George Washington from Tench Tilghman, 18 November 1785 (Washington Papers)
I have, by dint of dunning, obtained the plans in Stucco from Mr Rawlins, sooner than I expected—I forward them under cover to Fitzgerald, with a desire that he will send them to Mount Vernon as quickly as he conveniently can. We are told by the prints that his Catholic Majesty has presented you with four Jacks, and that one or two of them have actually arrived. If this be so, and they all...
14To George Washington from Tench Tilghman, 13 December 1785 (Washington Papers)
I do myself the honor to introduce to you Count Castiglioni knight of the Order of St Stephen, an Italian Nobleman, who, in pursuit of Botanical Knowledge, has thought it worth his while to visit this, hitherto, almost unexplored Continent. The recommendations he brings from Europe, not only ascertain his Rank, but, what you will esteem of more consequence, they speak in the most favorable...
15To George Washington from Tench Tilghman, 13 December 1785 (Washington Papers)
I have been honored with both your letters of the 30h ulto and 6h instant. To the first I sent you a verbal answer by Major Fairlie, not having time then to write—but lest he may have forgotten what I told him, I will repeat it—I waited upon Mr Gough, who is a Gentleman that inspects very minutely into his own affairs and those in which he is concerned with others—you could not therefore have...
16To George Washington from Tench Tilghman, 30 December 1785 (Washington Papers)
Since I last had the honor of writing to you, I have had several interviews with Mr Gough, who seems of opinion that Mr Rawlins charge of £160 for finishing your Room is full as reasonable if not more so than what he charged him for Work of the same kind —Upon this I have come to the following heads of agreement with him, which will be committed to firm after I have heard from you. The Work to...
17To George Washington from Tench Tilghman, 16 January 1786 (Washington Papers)
In consequence of yours of the 7th I have set Rawlins to work—it is more than probable that he, knowing he has no immediate Competitor, may be extravagant in his prices—The only consolation you therefore have, is knowing you are served as cheap as your Neighbours. Inclosed you have a plan or pattern in paper of the Joiner’s Work necessary to be done about the Cornice previous to beginning upon...
18To George Washington from Tench Tilghman, 1 March 1786 (Washington Papers)
I have recd your favr of the 22d ulto in consequence of which I sent for Rawlins and have prevailed upon him to go down to Mount Vernon, as I found him incapable of giving such directions in writing as would have been intelligible—The Expences of this journey are certainly provided for in the Agreement, which you have inclosed. I did not hint at a doubt of this, as I knew if I gave Rawlins the...
19To George Washington from Tench Tilghman, 19 March 1786 (Washington Papers)
Inclosed is an account of the seeds which I have procured for you & which shall be forwarded by next Wednesdays Stage to Alexanda to the Care of Colo. Fitzgerald. They should have been sent to morrow, had there been Time sufficient to get them ready before the setting out of the Stage—There was no turnip Cabbage, nor Carrot seed. All the Clover, except a little of the White, which is 2/6 ⅌...
20To George Washington from Tench Tilghman, 23 March 1786 (Washington Papers)
I hope you have ere this recd the Bag of seeds which I sent by the last Stage to Alexanda By to morrow’s Stage, I shall forward a Cask of Seed which was sent to my Care by Mr Clemt Biddle of Philada It will be directed to the Care of Colo. Fitzgerald. I am still unable to leave my Chamber, tho I think I am rather better than when I wrote to you last. I remain Dr Sir very sincerely, yr obt...