From George Washington to Burwell Bassett, 9 August 1773
To Burwell Bassett
Mount Vernon Augt 9th 1773
Dear Sir,
As I wrote to you by the last Post, and nothing New has happend since, this Letter only serves to cover the Inclosed to Mrs Bassett.1 The Horse Abel left here, is got quite well of his Lameness, but not recoverd of an exceeding swelld, & sore back which he received in coming up—This, and the boy telling me you did not work, or put him to any particular kind of Service, is the Reason why I have not sent him down before—If he is wanted, please to let me know by the Post & I will contrive him down to you before we may come ourselves, as it will be in October before this can happen—I hope this Letter will find Mrs Bassett in better health, & more composed under her losses, than when you wrote last2—My best wishes ⟨atten⟩d her, yourself & Family, as also Mrs Dandridge & other Friends, and I am Dr Sir Yr Most Affecte Friend & Servt
Go: Washington
ALS (photocopy), ViMtvL.
1. GW’s letter “by the last Post” has not been found. GW’s last known letter to Bassett is dated 12 July. The “inclosed,” probably a letter from Martha Washington to her sister Anna Maria Bassett, has not been found.
2. No recent letter from Bassett has been found. The Bassetts’ daughter Elizabeth had died earlier this year, and the Virginia Gazette (Purdie and Dixon; Williamsburg) of 29 July announced the death of “Miss Nancy Bassett, second Daughter of Burwell Bassett, Esq; of New Kent, in her tenth Year.”