George Washington Papers
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https://founders.archives.gov/documents/Washington/05-20-02-0238

From George Washington to James McHenry, 1 July 1796

To James McHenry

Private

Mount Vernon 1st July 1796
Friday 7 Oclock in the Morng

Dear Sir

By the Post, rather than by the Express, you will receive my Official letter, and its Enclosures.1 For the difference of a few hours, in a case that is not urgent, I would have you avoid sending an Express to me. The latter does not travel faster than the Mail; of course there cannot (unless Sunday intervene’s) be more, in any case (supposing an occasion to arise in one hour after the Mail was closed) than the difference of 48 hours in the receipt of the dispatches; as I send regularly, every Post day, to Alexandria for my letters. Your Express came in yesterday at 5 oclock in the afternoon, and if you had sent the letters by the Mail of Wednesday, they would have been here at 9 ’oclock this Afternoon; a difference of 28 hours only.2

The information brot by Captn Lewis is very pleasing; and I hope the orders on both sides will go smoothly into effect: but the Aurora will have doubts, that all is not well, notwithstanding. This, however, is a matter of course; for the Executive Acts must be arraigned.

I hope you have got perfectly recovered, and that Mrs McHenry and the rest of your family are well also.

When I left Philadelphia, it was expected that Mr & Mrs Liston (and from their own declarations) was to follow, on a visit to this place, in ten days; an interval of a few days—and then the Chevr de Freire & Lady were to follow them; and altho’ Mr Adet gave me (tho’ asked) no assurance that he would make me a visit, yet to Mr Fayette he said he should set out in ten days. Since which I have heard nothing from, or of any of them, which occasions suspence, that impede other arrangements.

If you could therefore indirectly, or at least informally, ascertain whether and when, I am to receive these visits, I should be obliged to you; as it would enable me to regulate some other matters which depend thereon. With sincere esteem & regard I am—Dear Sir Yr Affectionate

Go: Washington

Have you allotted any Infantry for the Posts of Oswego & Niagara? How many, & when will they be there?3

ALS, NhD.

1GW is referring to his first letter to McHenry of this date.

2The express carried McHenry’s second letter to GW of 27 June and his letter of 28 June, found at McHenry’s first letter to GW of 27 June, n.8.

3McHenry replied to GW from Philadelphia on Sunday, 3 July, at 8:00 P.M.: “I have been honoured about an hour since with your private letter of the 1st instant by the return express.

“I had been looking very anxiously for above a week, for Captn Lewis; a circumstance that contributed to increase the pleasure I felt on learning the success of his mission, and which led me at the same time to make you the earliest communication.

“Capn Bruff marched one complete company of artillery and about twenty five infantry. There have arrived at West Point since his departure about as many infantry as he carried with him which if you think proper may be ordered to follow. I think it was about the 23 ulto that the detachment moved from Schenectady.

“I will endeavour to send you by Wendnesdays mail some information respecting what has delayed the visitors you mention; or whether all or any of them may be expected and when.

“I was very much indisposed on friday and part of yesterday but I am pretty well to-day” (ALS, DLC:GW; ADf, DLC: James McHenry Papers; GW acknowledged this letter when he wrote McHenry on 8 July). Capt. James Bruff’s detachment was sent to replace the British troops evacuating forts at Niagara and Oswego, New York. McHenry wrote GW on 5 and 7 July with information on visitors expected at Mount Vernon.

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