From George Washington to Clement Biddle, 20 January 1789
To Clement Biddle
Mount Vernon 20th January 1789.
Dear Sir,
I have received your letters of the 27th Ulto1 and 4th Inst.—the former enclosing an acct of the Herrings, which I am sorry did not turn out better—however I am certain there was nothing wanting on your part to dispose of them to the best advantage.2
Neither of the Vessels on board of which you shipped articles for me have arrived. If they got out of the Delaware they could not have reached Alexandria, for the River has been impassable for several weeks; but there is now a prospect of its being soon open.
Enclosed is a Memorandum from Mrs Washington respecting some shoes which she wishes Mr Palmer to make for her, and I have sent a slipper herewith as a pattern which she will thank you to send to Mr Palmer.3
If there are any homespun Cloths in Philadelphia which are tolerably fine, that you can come readily at, I would be obliged to you to send me patterns of some of the best kinds—I should prefer that which is mixed in the grain, because it will not so easily discover its quality as a plain Cloth. With great esteem, I am, Dear Sir, Yr most Obedt Hble Servt
Go: Washington
The Memo, mentd above is in the Slipper—for Mr Palmer.4
LS, PHi: Washington-Biddle Correspondence; LB, DLC:GW.
1. Letter not found.
2. See Biddle to GW, 2 Oct., 14 Dec. 1788.
3. Mr. Palmer was Thomas Palmer, “silk and stuff shoemaker,” whose shop was at 74 Chestnut Street.
4. This sentence is in GW’s writing.