51[Diary entry: 15 January 1785] (Washington Papers)
Saturday 15th. Mercury at 38 in the Morning—42 at Noon and the same at Night. Wind Easterly in the Morning but before noon it shifted to the So. West & blew fresh & towards Night it veered round to the No. Wt. & blew very hard. With the Easterly wind there was a little rain which ceased with it. Grew clear & turned cold.
52[Diary entry: 16 January 1785] (Washington Papers)
Sunday 16th. Mercury at 36 in the morning—38 at Noon & night. Wind light all day from the No. West. Weather clear & pleast.
53[Diary entry: 17 January 1785] (Washington Papers)
Monday 17th. Mercury at 34 in the Morning—36 at Noon & 46 at Night. Day fine & pleasant—wind at South. Went to and returned from Alexandria to day. At my return found dispatches from the assembly respecting the Potomack Navigation. On 22 Jan. 1785 GW wrote to William Grayson , a member of the Virginia House of Delegates for Fairfax County, acknowledging receipt of “your letter, with the Books,...
54[Diary entry: 18 January 1785] (Washington Papers)
Tuesday 18th. Mercury at 50 this Morning—55 at Noon & 58 at Night. Wind Southwardly & fresh all day and now and then dripping of rain. In the evening the Clouds dispersed & the Sunset clear. Sent the dispatches which came to me yesterday to Messrs. Fitzgerald and Hartshorne (managers named in the act for improving & extending the Navigation of Potomack and) who are appointed to receive...
55[Diary entry: 19 January 1785] (Washington Papers)
Wednesday 19th. Mercury at 48 in the Morning—the same at Noon and at Night. Day clear & fine. The Wind at No. West & Cool. Employed until dinner in laying out my Serpentine road & Shrubberies adjoining. Just as we had done dinner a Mr. Watson—late of the House of Watson & Cossoul of Nantes—and a Mr. Swift Merchant in Alexandria came in, and stayed all Night. Elkanah Watson (1758–1842), born in...
56[Diary entry: 20 January 1785] (Washington Papers)
Thursday 20th. Mercury at 40 in the Morning—42 at Noon and 45 at Night. Wind at No. Et.—day raw—lowering—damp & disagreeable. Mr. Watson and Mr. Swift went away after breakfast. I continued my employment of yesterday—arranging the Walk &ca. Began to grub & clear the under growth in my Pine Grove on the margin of Hell hole.
57[Diary entry: 21 January 1785] (Washington Papers)
Friday 21st. Mercury at 52 in the Morning—54 at Noon & 55 at Night. More or less rain all night and variable wind—which, at times, blew exceedingly hard. In the Morning the wind was at No. Et. attended with rain. Before Noon it shifted to the Southward—blowing pretty fresh. The weather then cleared. This day a large Ship went up—on Tuesday last 4 square rigged vessels also went past wch. was...
58[Diary entry: 22 January 1785] (Washington Papers)
Saturday 22d. Mercury at 45 in the Morning—the same at Noon & 44 at Night. Clear weather—the wind being at No. West all day. In the Evening Doctr. Craik Junr. came here & stayed all Night. James Craik, Jr. (died c.1803), was the son of Dr. James Craik. His company, Jas. Craik & Co., did some business with GW in 1786 ( General Ledger B General Ledger B, 1772–1793. Library of Congress, George...
59[Diary entry: 23 January 1785] (Washington Papers)
Sunday 23d. Mercury at 36 in the Morning—38 at Noon & 42 at Sun setting. Clear & quite calm all the forenoon. Towards evening the Wind sprung up from the Eastward. Doctr. Craik left this after breakfast—attending Miss Bassett to his Fathers—to the wedding of his Sister Sally. Sarah (Sally) Craik, daughter of Dr. James Craik, was married 25 Jan. 1785 to Dr. Daniel Jenifer, Jr. (1756–c.1809).
60[Diary entry: 24 January 1785] (Washington Papers)
Monday 24th. Mercury at 41 in the morning—57 at Noon & 54 at Night. Drizzly at intervals all day—Fresh wind from the South. Renewed my labors on the Walks, Shrubberies &ca.—but was much interrupted by the unsettledness of the weather. In the Night it rained pretty much.
61[Diary entry: 25 January 1785] (Washington Papers)
Tuesday 25th. Mercury at 46 in the Morning 38 at Noon—and at Night. In the Morning early it rained a little, but the wind coming out from the No. West it soon cleared—blowing hard until night when it moderated & soon ceased. A little before Dinner a Doctor Gilpin & a Mr. Scott—two West India Gentlemen came here introduced by a letter from Mr. Rob. Morris of Philadelphia and a little after them...
62[Diary entry: 26 January 1785] (Washington Papers)
Wednesday 26th. Mercury at 29 in the Morning, 38 at Noon & 39 at Night. But little Wind and that from the Southward—day clear & very pleasant overhead, but sloppy & disagreeable under foot, after it began to thaw—the ground having been hard froze in the Morning—which freezings & thawings it is apprehended, will be very injurious to the Winter grain.
63[Diary entry: 27 January 1785] (Washington Papers)
Thursday 27th. Mercury at 32 in the Morning—the same at Noon & 37 at Sunsetting. Wind at No. West & clear all day—air pretty sharp in the forenoon. Made Mr. & Mrs. Lund Washington a mornings visit—from thence I went to Belvoir and viewed the ruined Buildings of that place. In doing this I passed along the side of Dogue Creek & the river to the white Ho[use] in search of Elm & other Trees for...
64[Diary entry: 28 January 1785] (Washington Papers)
Friday 28th. Mercury at 32 this Morning—42 at Noon and the same at Night. Wind pretty fresh from the Southward, with Sun shine, and appearances of rain alternately. In the evening it lowered very much. Road to day to my Plantations in the Neck—partly with a view to search for Trees; for which purpose I passed through the Wood and in the first drain beyond the Bars in my lower pasture, I...
65[Diary entry: 29 January 1785] (Washington Papers)
Saturday 29th. Mercury at 42 in the Morning and the same at Noon & Night. Raining until about 10 Oclock when it ceased. About 12 the Sun appeared and the day became exceedingly pleasant afterwards. The Wind, until some time after noon came from the Southward but not very fresh. Towards the evening it inclined to the westward more—blew fresh & grew cold.
66[Diary entry: 30 January 1785] (Washington Papers)
Sunday 30th. Mercury this morning at 26 at Noon 32 and at Night 28. Wind fresh from the No. Wt. & Cold—day clear. In the Afternoon Mr. Willm. Scott with the two Miss Blackburns came in and stayed the Night. William Scott (c.1751–c.1787) was a son of Rev. James and Sarah Brown Scott of Dettingen Parish, Prince William County, and the uncle of the Blackburn girls. Scott lived at Strawberry Vale...
67[Diary entry: 31 January 1785] (Washington Papers)
Monday 31st. Mercury at 22 in the Morning 28 at Noon & 29 at Night. Wind at No. Wt. & pretty fresh in the forenoon—less of it & from the Eastward in the afternoon. Day clear until the Evening when it lowered & after dark turned very cloudy. About one oclock Mr. Wm. Hunter of Alexa. with a Mr. Hadfield (a Manchester Mercht.) recommended by Colo. Sam Smith of Baltimore & Colo. Fitzgerald & a Mr....
68February—1785 (Washington Papers)
Tuesday 1st. Mercury at 29 in the Morning, 28 at Noon and 34 at Night. Snowing, raining, or Hailing all day & Night and very disagreeable. Wind at No. Wt. and West the whole time. Wednesday 2d. Mercury at 28 in the Morning 32 at Noon and at Night. The Snow this morning is about 9 Inches deep & pretty well compressed. Wind at No. West and very cold. Mr. Scott went away after Breakfast. Employed...
69[Diary entry: 1 February 1785] (Washington Papers)
Tuesday 1st. Mercury at 29 in the Morning, 28 at Noon and 34 at Night. Snowing, raining, or Hailing all day & Night and very disagreeable. Wind at No. Wt. and West the whole time.
70[Diary entry: 2 February 1785] (Washington Papers)
Wednesday 2d. Mercury at 28 in the Morning 32 at Noon and at Night. The Snow this morning is about 9 Inches deep & pretty well compressed. Wind at No. West and very cold. Mr. Scott went away after Breakfast. Employed myself (as there could be no stirring without) in writing Letters by the Post and in Signing 83 Diplomas for the members of the Society of the Cincinnati and sent them to the care...
71[Diary entry: 3 February 1785] (Washington Papers)
Thursday 3d. Mercury this morning at 22 at Noon and at Night 28. Wind at No. West all day but it did not blow hard—clear & cold. Mr. Benja. Dulany came here to Dinner & returned afterwards. We concluded a bargain which has been long in agitation for the Exchange of his Land in this Neck which he & his wife have the reversion of for the tract I bought of Messrs. Adam Dow & McIver on Hunting...
72[Diary entry: 4 February 1785] (Washington Papers)
Friday 4th. Mercury at 22 in the Morng.—28 at Noon and at 32 at Night. Calm, clear, and very pleasant over head, all day. The Snow began to melt a little. The two Miss Blackburns left this after breakfast, in order to return home—but it is to be feared they would meet with some difficul⟨ty⟩ at the ferry at Occoquan.
73[Diary entry: 5 February 1785] (Washington Papers)
Saturday 5th. Mercury at 25 in the Morning—32 at Noon & 32 at Night. Day lowering with appearances of Snow. In the Morning the Wind (tho’ there was not much of it) was at No. West. At Noon there was scarce any and towards night that which did blow came from the No. East.
74[Diary entry: 6 February 1785] (Washington Papers)
Sunday 6th. Mercury at 31 in the morning—38 at Noon and 39 at Night. Morning lowering with appearances of Snow or rain. Abt. Noon the Sun came out—but soon disappeared and became thick & lowering. No Wind. Doctr. Brown was sent for to Frank (waiter in the House) who had been seized in the Night, with a bleeding of the Mouth from an Orifice made by a Doctr. Dick who some days before attempted...
75[Diary entry: 7 February 1785] (Washington Papers)
Monday 7th. Mercury at 39 this morning—44 at Noon and 48 at Night. Day clear, perfectly calm, Warm & pleasant. The Snow began to dissolve fast.
76[Diary entry: 8 February 1785] (Washington Papers)
Tuesday 8th. Mercury at 39 in the morning—42 at Noon—46 at Night. Morning lowering—clear at Noon, & cloudy afterwards. Wind in the forenoon abt. So. East. Afterwards it veered more Easterly, & blew fresher. Thawed a good deal. Finding that I should be very late in preparing my Walks & Shrubberies if I waited till the ground should be uncovered by the dissolution of the Snow—I had it removed...
77[Diary entry: 9 February 1785] (Washington Papers)
Wednesday 9th. Mercury at 44 in the morning—at Noon 50 and at Night 56. Morning lowering—but clear, calm, warm & pleast. afterwards which with the rain that fell last night had uncovered the ground in many places & was dissipating the Snow very fast. Transplanted an English Walnut tree from the Corner near where the old School house stood to the opposite side wch. with the one that was moved...
78[Diary entry: 10 February 1785] (Washington Papers)
Thursday 10th. Mercury this Morning at 46 at Noon and at Night 52. Day clear, calm, & pleasant until the Evening when it grew a little hazy & the Sunset in a bank. The little wind that stirred came from the Southward. Road up to Alexandria today and dined with Colo. Fitzgerald.
79[Diary entry: 11 February 1785] (Washington Papers)
Friday 11th. Mercury at 46 this Morning—51 at Noon and the same at Night. The first part of the Morning was hazy & rather cool. Before Noon it grew clear, warm, and pleasant and towards the Evening it lowered & the Sun set in a bank. The Wind in the Morning was Northwardly. Afterwards it got round to the Southward but there was very little of it. Employed all day in marking the ground for the...
80[Diary entry: 12 February 1785] (Washington Papers)
Saturday 12th. Mercury at 44 this Morning, 44 at Noon and 44 at Night. Planted Eight young Pair Trees sent me by Doctr. Craik in the following places—viz. 2 Orange Burgamots in the No. Garden, under the back wall—3d. tree from the Green House at each end of it. 1 Burgamot at the Corner of the border in the South Garden just below the necessary. 2 St. Germains, one in each border (middle...
81[Diary entry: 13 February 1785] (Washington Papers)
Sunday 13th. Mercury at 34 this Morning, 38 at Noon, & the same at Night. Wind at No. West all day but not fresh—clear & not unpleasant—ground hard froze.
82[Diary entry: 14 February 1785] (Washington Papers)
Monday 14th. Mercury at 31 in the Morning—34 at Noon and 33 at Night. Morning clear and calm—Ground hard froze. Wind afterwards, fresh from the No. West with flying Clouds which gave a rawness & chill to the air. In company with Mrs. Washington made a visit to Colo. McCarty & family. Dined there and returned home afterwds.
83[Diary entry: 15 February 1785] (Washington Papers)
Tuesday 15. Mercury at 28 this morning—at noon not observed, but at Night 36. Morning fine, wind Southwardly, which shifted to the Eastward & grew colder. Abt. Noon it began to Snow, & continued to do so until past 3 oclock. Went this day to ascertain the quantity of Land given to, and received from Mr. Willm. Triplett by way of exchange & to run a dividing line betwn. him & the Land I let Mr....
84[Diary entry: 16 February 1785] (Washington Papers)
Wednesday 16th. Mercury at 36 in the Morning—45 at Noon & 49 at Night. Wind Southwardly & pretty fresh in the forenoon—calm afterwards and somewhat lowering. Transplanted along the So. side of the Wall of the No. Garden, the Ivy; which I had taken up with as much dirt about the roots of it as I could obtain. Weather soft and thawing—the Southwardly having dissolved all the Snow that fell...
85[Diary entry: 17 February 1785] (Washington Papers)
Thursday 17th. Mercury at 39 in the Morng.—46 at Noon and 49, at Night. Wind at No. West all day but not hard. Clear and cold in the Morning. More moderate about Noon & very pleasant in the Afternoon being calm. In the morning early I went to Mr. L. Washingtons (to Breakfast) in order to finish the Work I had began on Tuesday last but after having plotted & measured the slipes which were to be...
86[Diary entry: 18 February 1785] (Washington Papers)
Friday 18th. Mercury at 36 this Morning, 40 at Noon and 44 at Night. Not much Wind. In the forenoon, the little that blew was Northwardly—in the afternoon Eastwardly. The two Doctr. Jenifers went to Alexandria after breakfast. Planted border of Ivy under the No. side of the So. Garden wall. Also four Lime or Linden Trees, sent me by Govr. Clinton of New York which must have been out of the...
87[Diary entry: 19 February 1785] (Washington Papers)
Saturday 19th. Mercury at 40 in the Morning, 43 at Noon, and 48 at Night. Morning lowering, but the Clouds dispelling about Noon, it became warm & pleasant afterwards. The Sun set in a bank. Little or no wind at any time of the day. Went to Mr. Tripletts and rectified the mistakes in running the Lines and finished the business respecting the quantities of Land given in Excha. and the partition...
88[Diary entry: 20 February 1785] (Washington Papers)
Sunday 20th. Mercury at 43 in the Morning, 47 at Noon and 50 at Night. Wind pretty fresh all day from the Southward. Morning lowering. About Noon great appearances of rain—but towards sunsetting the clouds dispersed and the Sun came out. A large, but not a very distinct circle about the moon.
89[Diary entry: 21 February 1785] (Washington Papers)
Monday 21st. Mercury at 42 in the Morning at Noon, and 46 at Night. Wind at No. West, and pretty fresh all day—weather clear and very pleasant. Went to Alexandria with Mrs. Washington. Dined at Mr. Dulany’s and exchanged Deeds for conveyance of Land with him & Mrs. Dulany—giving mine, which I bought of Messrs. Robt. Adam, Dow & McIvor for the reversion of what Mrs. Dulany is entitled to at the...
90[Diary entry: 22 February 1785] (Washington Papers)
Tuesday 22d. Mercury at 36 in the Morning, 42 at Noon and the same at Night. Wind pretty fresh all day from the No. Wt. and Cool. Weather perfectly clear—ground hard froze. Removed two pretty large & full grown Lilacs to the No. Garden gate—one on each side, taking up as much dirt with the roots as cd. be well obtained—also a Mock Orange to the Walk leading to the No. Necessary. I also removed...
91[Diary entry: 23 February 1785] (Washington Papers)
Wednesday 23d. Mercury at 36 in the Morning—40 at Noon and 42 at Night. In the Morning it was calm and clear. About 10 oclock the wind, for about an hour, blew pretty fresh and cool from the No. West. It then shifted to the Eastward—died away and grew cloudy and towards Night had all the appearances of falling weather. Planted trees on the South Shrubbery similar to those of yesterday, in the...
92[Diary entry: 24 February 1785] (Washington Papers)
Thursday 24th. Mercury at 40 in the Morning, 44 at Noon and 42 at Night. About two Inches of Snow fell in the Night. Before daylight, it began to rain, and continued to do so until near Sundown when it ceased, & the horizon became clear to the Westward. Prevented by the weather from preparing my grounds or transplanting trees. Wind Eastwardly in the forenoon & westwardly afterwds.
93[Diary entry: 25 February 1785] (Washington Papers)
Friday 25. Mercury at 40 in the Morng. 42 at Noon and 38 at Night. Wind Westwardly and cloudy all day—rather cool—although the ground was not frozen this morning. Laid off part of the Serpentine Road on the South side the grass plat, to day. Prevented going on with it, first by the coming in of Mr. Michael Stone about 10 oclock (who went away before noon)—then by the arrival of Colo. Hooe, Mr....
94[Diary entry: 26 February 1785] (Washington Papers)
Saturday 26th. Mercury at 33 in the Morning, 38 at Noon and 37 at Night. Wind at No. West all day and at times pretty fresh—more or less cloudy and in the evening lowering. The ground was hard froze this morning. Finished laying out my Serpentine Roads. Dug most of the holes where the trees by the side of them are to stand and planted some of the Maple which were dug yesterday and some of the...
95[Diary entry: 27 February 1785] (Washington Papers)
Sunday 27th. Mercury at 30 in the Morning 34 at Noon and 37 at Night. Weather clear—Wind fresh from the No. West all day. After Breakfast Mr. Crawford, his wife & Sister went away—they crossed at my Fer⟨ry⟩ to Marlborough. Mr. Bushrod Washington also set off for his fathers passing through Maryland.
96[Diary entry: 28 February 1785] (Washington Papers)
Monday 28th. Mercury at 33 in the Morning 36 at Noon and 43 at Night. Wind No. Wt. & westerly all day & cool—ground hard froze—Flying clouds but no appearance of rain. Planted all the Mulberry trees, Maple trees, & Black gums in my Serpentine walks and the Poplars on the right walk—the Sap of which and the Mulberry appeared to be moving. Also planted 4 trees from H. Hole the name unknown but...
97March 1785 (Washington Papers)
Tuesday 1st. Mercury at 34 in the morning 38 at Noon and 42 at Night. Wind at No. West all day, & sometimes pretty fresh; at others very moderate. In general clear with some flying clouds. Planted the remainder of the Poplars & part of the Ash Trees—also a circle of Dogwood with a red bud in the Middle close to the old Cherry tree near the South Garden Ho[use]. Began with my two Tumblers to...
98[Diary entry: 1 March 1785] (Washington Papers)
Tuesday 1st. Mercury at 34 in the morning 38 at Noon and 42 at Night. Wind at No. West all day, & sometimes pretty fresh; at others very moderate. In general clear with some flying clouds. Planted the remainder of the Poplars & part of the Ash Trees—also a circle of Dogwood with a red bud in the Middle close to the old Cherry tree near the South Garden Ho[use]. Began with my two Tumblers to...
99[Diary entry: 2 March 1785] (Washington Papers)
Wednesday 2d. Mercury at 35 this Morning—40 at Noon and 39 at Night. Wind at No. West all day, and for the most part of it pretty fresh and cold. Cloudy and towards Sunsetting much the appearance of Snow. Planted the remainder of the Ash Trees—in the Serpentine walks—the remainder of the fringe trees in the Shrubberies—all the black haws—all the large berried thorns with a small berried one in...
100[Diary entry: 3 March 1785] (Washington Papers)
Thursday 3d. Mercury at 34 in the Morng., 40 at Noon and at Night. Morning calm, warm, and very pleasant—wind afterwards from the Southward & pretty fresh. Sun set in a bank. Planted the remainder of the Locusts—Sassafras—small berried thorn & yellow Willow in the Shrubberies, as also the red buds—a honey locust and service tree by the South Garden House. Likewise took up the clump of Lilacs...