From George Washington to Dominique-Louis Ethis de Corny, 5 December 1785
To Dominique-Louis Ethis de Corny
Mount Vernon 5th Decr 1785.
Sir,
I am really ashamed to have been so long in acknowledging the receipt of your letter of the 3d of August last year; but circumstances which would be more tedious in the recital, than important when told, have been the cause of it.1
I have now the honor of enclosing you the receipt of the Treasurer of the Society of the Cincinnati of this State, for your Bill on Colo. Wadsworth; & wish it was in my power to have accompanied it with a Diploma: but it has so happened, that except a few which were struck at Philadelphia for the members of that State at their own expence, none have yet been presented to me by the Secretary, for signing.2 I have the honor to be &c.
Geo: Washington
LB, DLC:GW.
1. Corny’s letter of 3 Aug. 1784 has not been found, but see the letter that François Barbé de Marbois wrote to GW in Corny’s behalf on 12 June 1785.
2. The treasurer of the Virginia Society of the Cincinnati, William Heth (1750–1807), wrote a letter for Corny from “Wales near Petersburg 24th Decr [17]85,” which was sent “By Stage”: “Sir I have some time Since reed Collo. De Cornys first bill on Jeremiah Wadsworth esqr. for 75 Dlrs—together with your letter to General [George] Weedon on the subject, & advising, that you were in possession of the third bill, of the Same tenor & date—expecting of which, hath hitherto prevented my forwarding the first for paiment, and which, I hope, will plead my apology, for troubling you with this” (DLC:GW).