31To George Washington from James Anderson (of Scotland), 3 August 1797 (Washington Papers)
I wrote to you by post on the 21t June last acknowledging the receipt of your favour of the 7th April, with the inclosures respecting a gardener, which I hope you have received. I have by the assistance of Mr Harper and Mr Foreman at last succeded in finding a Gardener for you whom I have engaged this day, and who will, I hope, afford you satisfaction. He will be the bearer of this. His name...
32To George Washington from James Anderson, 19 June 1798 (Washington Papers)
In reply to Your highly esteemed favor of 11th Inst. I am well Satisfied with the aditions You have been pleased to make to my present Accomodations, Viz. what flour my family may use, Fish as they may need them, and Spirits of Your own Distillation—and then only while You continue to fish at, or near to my house, and while You manufacture flour at Your Mill, & Distill Whiskie at Your...
33Farm Reports, 2–8 April 1797 (Washington Papers)
When in November 1785 GW himself took over for a few months the direct, day-to-day supervision of his several farms at Mount Vernon, he devised the general format for the weekly reports that successive farm managers thereafter followed. The reports of the farm manager were based upon the reports that the overseers of the individual farms made to him each week and often included reports from...
34To George Washington from James Anderson (of Scotland), 8 February 1798 (Washington Papers)
I have been favoured with your much esteemed favour of the 4th Novr last which came to hand about ten days ago. It gives me great pleasure to learn that you are in good health, and enjoying in peaceful serenity your well earned lawrels. That you may long continue to do so is the sincere wish of not me alone, but also of almost every person in Europe. I am glad to find that the gardener has the...
35To George Washington from James Anderson (of Scotland), 21 June 1797 (Washington Papers)
I am favoured with your letter of the 7th April last, and lose not one moment in acknowledging the receipt of it. I have forwarded the letters inclosed in it—with a request that the persons to whom they are addressed, to communicate with me on the subject. I shall use my best endeavours to find out a person who will suit you—and I hope I shall be able soon to write to you in a satisfactory way...
36To George Washington from James Anderson, 13 September 1799 [letter not found] (Washington Papers)
Letter not found: from James Anderson, 13 Sept. 1799. In his letter to Anderson of 16 Sept. GW refers to Anderson’s “letter of the 13th instant.”
37Farm Reports, 9–15 April 1797 (Washington Papers)
1797 April 9 in the Morning 50 N.W. clear 52 N.W. clear 50 W. cloudy 10 41 N.W. clear 46 N.W. clear 42 N.W. clear 11 52 W. clear 56 S.W. clear 52 S.W. clear 12 *62 S. clear 64 S. clear 62 S. clear *began Planting Corn on River Farm 13 62 S. cloudy
38To George Washington from James Anderson, 23 June 1799 (Washington Papers)
On day of June 1797 I took the liberty to Write You relative to the management of the Farms on this Estate, And on the 18th of same month I had the honor of Your Answer. In this letter it was proposed to lessen the number of hands And Abridge the quantity of Land yearly to be under the Plough. Circumstances unnecessary to mention, prevented the Execution of this Plan. And since a Scheme of...
39To George Washington from James Anderson, 7 November 1798 (Washington Papers)
Inclosed are the reports of last week I am just now Arranging And fixing the Stock in Winter Quarters, When I shall be able to take a correct Account And send in my next for Your information. Nothing new since Your departure And every part of the work is carrying on in the Order You direct—The Ditchers are employed in making good the weak places of the Mill Race before they begin to the...
40To George Washington from James Anderson, 22 May 1798 (Washington Papers)
I wrote You on the 19th to which I beg leave to refer You —In that letter I informed of the Robery of the Fish house. After some pains, have discovered Cooper Moses was in Town offering Fish in Barrels for Sale, He partly confesses that He did, But that I had given Him some. And He caught in the Run as many more as nearly filled one B[arre]ll. I have given some to Him. I do not think exceeding...
41To George Washington from James Anderson, 19 September 1799 (Washington Papers)
Your favor of 16th is before me, And have duely considered the same, I will beg leave to trouble You with a very short reply—Well knowing You have but little time to Spare. As You in the Spring on Muddyhole ground, & in the field in the which Davies House stands spoke to me respecting continuing. And that the Sickly season is nearly gone, I have made no Arrangements for the next Year. And...
42Farm Reports, 16–22 April 1797 (Washington Papers)
1797 April 16 in the Morning 54 S.E. & Rainy 56 S.E. & rain 54 S.E. & rain 17 56 S.E. & clear 60 S.E. clear 57 S.E. & rainy 18 51 N.W. cloudy 53 N.W. cloudy 51 N.W. clear 19 45 N.W. cloudy 47 N.W. clear 45 N.W. cloudy 20 46 N.W. cloudy 48 N.W. clear
43To George Washington from James Angell, 16 May 1797 (Washington Papers)
The above account would have been forwarded ere this had I not been absent from America. You will oblige me by forwarding the amount to any person you please in this town, to whom I will give a receipt. I have no agent at present in Alexandria. I am Sir with respect Your Humble Servant ALS , DLC:GW . In August 1789 William Goddard made his wife’s brother James Angell (d. 1797) of Rhode Island...
44To George Washington from James Ash, 8 March 1798 (Washington Papers)
I take the liberty of inclosing you, my proposals for printing, a Digest of, the Laws of Maryland, from 1785 to the time of publication. The manifold Services, which you have rendered our Country, in the walks of public and private life—the love and veneration to which your character is so deservedly entitled, renders it an incumbent duty, approved by the warmest affections of my heart, to...
45To George Washington from James Athill, 21 July 1798 (Washington Papers)
When I had the honour to be at your hospitable mansion in the last Autumn with Mr Liston, I took the liberty to propose to send you some plants to assist in furnishing your green house, to which you politely consented. I then expected to have been here before Christmas, & to have had much time & leisure to prepare a collection not entirely unworthy your acceptance. Several circumstances...
46To George Washington from John Avery, 2 October 1799 [letter not found] (Washington Papers)
Letter not found: from John Avery, 2 Oct. 1799. On 13 Oct. GW wrote Avery : “I have received your letter of the 2d instant.” Avery’s letter of 13 Oct. is printed as a note to GW’s letter to Avery of 25 September .
47To George Washington from John Avery, 2 September 1799 [letter not found] (Washington Papers)
Letter not found: from John Avery, 2 Sept. 1799. On 25 Sept. GW wrote Avery : “Your letter of the 2d instt came duly to hand.”
48To George Washington from Burgess Ball, 25 May 1799 (Washington Papers)
The Gentlemen whom I wish to recommend as Officers (and yesterday mention’d to you) are Mr Arther Lee in the County of Northumberland, and Mr Reuben Beale of Richmond County. They are Gent. of Family, and I think will be actuated by proper principles. Those Gentlemen aspire to nothing higher than to commence with an Ensigncy or Cornetcy, provided, Officers of the Cavalry are furnish’d with...
49To George Washington from Burgess Ball, 16 September 1799 [letter not found] (Washington Papers)
Letter not found: from Burgess Ball, 16 Sept. 1799. On 22 Sept. GW wrote Ball : “Your letter of the 16th instt has been received.”
50To George Washington from Burgess Ball, Sr., 31 August 1797 (Washington Papers)
This will be handed to you by Capt. Washington. I have lately been apply’d to by Mr Chs Carter (who was a Fellow Student with my Son Burges who died with the Fever in Philadelphia) for a Ballance due him for monies paid for my Son. Since his application I’ve found a Letter of his acknowledging the rect of money from Mr Dandridge, & mentioning that “he had then paid off the last Accot.” I think...
51To George Washington from George Ball, 24 April 1797 (Washington Papers)
Upon considering the writing more attentively, which pass’d between us, respecting the land—I think a part of it meterially improper—and I am confident when I state some facts you will think with me—the writing says I shall pay six Pr centum upon the purchase money from 1789 untill the whole is discharged. Your letter to Geo: Fitzhugh states that your terms are eight hundred pounds with...
52Address of Baltimore City Council, 12 March 1797 (Washington Papers)
To partake of the prosperity arising from your unwearied attention to the Welfare of our Country—To admire that firmness which has never been disconcerted in the greatest difficulties, and which has acquired vigor in proportion to the exigency. To feel that honorable ascendancy you have obtained in the well founded opinion of your fellow Citizens by a Wise administration, and the exercise of...
53To George Washington from Joel Barlow, 2 October 1798 (Washington Papers)
On hearing of your late nomination as commander in chief of the American Armies I rejoice at it, not because I believe the war which that nomination contemplates is yet inevitable and that it will furnish an occasion for a farther display of your military talents, but because it may enable you to exert your influence to a greater effect in preventing the war. By becoming more the centre of...
54To George Washington from Ezekiel L. Bascom, 22 February 1799 (Washington Papers)
Permit one of the sons of Columbia to state his situation, and if consistent to ask your patronage. I have a desire to enter some business under Government, either of a civil or military nature, where, by assiduity and attention, I may obtain a handsome support. To the flowers of language and politeness I do not pretend. I shall write that simplicity of style, in which my Father has instructed...
55To George Washington from Burwell Bassett, Jr., 30 June 1798 (Washington Papers)
You are right in your claim of promise concerning the honey locust indeed you could not be wrong as I have now proferd to attend with pleasure to any thing with in your views this way The growing crop of hony locust fully supports me in the assurance that you shall have the half bushel of seed in the course of the winter for they ripen late and are tedious to get out from their being to moist...
56To George Washington from Burwell Bassett, Jr., 26 November 1797 (Washington Papers)
I have to day seen Mrs Forbes who accounts for her delay in geting to Mount Vernon from disappointments by Mr Brokes not having paid her some moneys he is in her debt and without which she cannot come up, but promises to be ready to take the stage early in the week after this if she can be furnished with money for her expences which Mr B. Washington has promised to do and also myself, that she...
57To George Washington from Burwell Bassett, Jr., 2 December 1799 (Washington Papers)
To communicate to our friends agreable incidents we are readily promptd by the pleasure it gives but it is duty alone which can lead us to be the communicators of uncomefortable tidings Tis this that impels me to inform my friends at Mount Vernon that Mrs Henley was attacked about ten days since with a severe bilious pleurisy her weak constitution was unequal to the shock and in five days she...
58To George Washington from Burwell Bassett, Jr., 22 December 1797 (Washington Papers)
Yours of the 13th reached me to day you would not have been disappointed in your expectation of hearing the event of my application to Major Burwell but that I had not an answer myself untill meeting with him here a few days scince when he told me the supposed desire in him to part with his cook was a mistake. Colo: Finne shall have your answer. The time of the Legislature have been hitherto...
59To George Washington from John Bassett, 23 September 1797 (Washington Papers)
We arrived here in safety on the 18th Inst. after a pretty sultry Journey from Mount Vernon, which was protracted by the fatigue of Mrs Bassett and the Children, that obliged us to lay by a day or two. It was with the deepest regret we left so soon the Company of our good Aunt and yourself. But our sollicitude to return to our domestic Avocations could be restrained only for a few days to...
60To George Washington from William Baynham, 10 August 1799 (Washington Papers)
I returned last evening from a visit to Gloucester, and found your servant, Tom, who had arrived on the day after I left home, waiting with your letter of the 30th July. I have this morning operated on both Eyes, although, I must confess, with no very sanguine expectations of the boy’s deriving essential relief by the operations: but I have thereby given him the only chance, which the case...