To George Washington from Anthony Heusler, 20 August 1797
From Anthony Heusler
Baltimore 20th August 1797.
Sir!
Agreable to your Exelencies ordre I have the honnour to informe you that I am rady to go into your service, and Dew not pretant to pointe out to you anny new Rouls, but will satisfay my self white the same apointements as your other Gardner Injoire now, only white that Tiferance, to Recive frome your Exelencies an Ecquivalent of the amaunte of seele mad Yearly which will not bee any more. I Iam persuaded that your Generosity will provid so fare for me as to be able to Leave white my familie, and to give an Aducation to my Children. I on my side will neglecte Nothing in ordre to provide for your table as plentifuly as will be necessarie. your Exelencies will bleas to give your ordrs to me what time I Cane Come,1 mean time I have the honnour to be white Due Respect your Exelencise Most obediant humble Servant
ant: heusler.
Bleas to Directe to Man: Heuisler Nurserie & seeds man Baltimore.
ALS, DLC:GW.
1. At some point before this time, Heusler had come to Mount Vernon and talked to GW about succeeding John Christian Ehlers as gardener. Before responding to this letter from Heusler, GW on 4 Sept. wrote to John O’Donnell of Baltimore, whose tenant Heusler was, to ask him about Heusler. On 9 Sept. O’Donnell informed GW of what he knew and could learn about Heusler and his wife. O’Donnell spoke of the Heuslers in generally complimentary terms, but GW further delayed responding to Heusler because he was waiting to hear from Dr. James Anderson to whom GW had written on 7 April asking Anderson to hire for him a Scottish gardener. On 18 Sept., a day or two after receiving a letter from Anderson dated 3 Aug. saying that he had hired for GW a young Scot named William Spence who would arrive in early fall, GW wrote Heusler that “a few weeks will decide whether I am to receive a Gardener from Scotland, or not.” If not, he would, he assured Heusler, let him know what his terms were. Spence finally arrived at Mount Vernon on 27 Oct. (GW to Anderson, 4 November).