1. For GW’s decision to apply the James River Company shares that he had received from the Virginia legislature to the support of education in Virginia, see his letter to Gov. Robert Brooke, 16 March 1795. Brooke submitted GW’s letter to the legislature, which resolved that GW should apply the shares to a seminary in the upper country (see Brooke to GW, 9 Jan. 1796, n.2).

2. It seems likely that Hancock did not obtain an interview, for he wrote again on 12 Jan. to present his recommendation for the location of the college, expressing then “a hope that you will pardon that which otherwise might appear an intrusion.” Hancock suggested Fincastle, Va., which “is Situate about ten miles from James River, the adjacent country is fertile abounding in provisions, its population considerable and rapidly increasing. It being in the Vicinity of the sweet springs, no part of the continent perhaps is less liable to sickness of any kind.

“The distance from it to the Carolina line by the nearest route is between Eighty and Ninety Miles, but to continue up the valley (as it is called) to the southwestern boundary line the distance is 160 miles, Alexandria lies in a North East direction, & is computed 190 Miles in a direct line. From the above description, allowing the Academy at Alexandria to extend its accommodation one hundred Miles to the so. west Fincastle will be found nearly equidistant from that point and the Carolina line.

“The Country to the south of James River beyond the mountain, at present consists of Nine Counties, The natural channel for the transportation of the produce of all which country is, by Fincastle to Crowsville on the River, except the counties of Greenbryar and Kenawha to whom it will be more convenient to load & unload at the junction of Jacksons River & the Cowpasture.

“It may not be improper here to observe that by making the Botetourt seminary the object of your Donation you will meet the almost entire concurrence of all the inhabitants to the south of James River, above the mountain. I believe a number of the Representatives from that Country have requested Col. Breckenridge to express it as their wish—And to me Sir it appears reasonable that the toll which is collected from the transportation of their produce (Since it is to be appropriated to Charitable uses) would be as well applied to the convenience of those who pay it, as any others.

“A few inhabitants of Botetourt about seven years ago subscribed about 2000 Dollars for the support of the Botetourt seminary, and procured an act of incorporation from the Legislature but that sum being inadequate to the Object it has not been carried into effect, in 1794 the Legislature granted about 600 Dollars in aid of individual donations[.] A consideration which it is presumed will have some weight in giving a preference to Botetourt is its easy access in every direction, here the great road leading from Philadelphia to the southern states, and the road leading from Richmond to the Territory south of Ohio & Kentucky intersect, and so easy is the pass thro the mountain on the last mentioned road that a Stranger would not know when he approached or passed it, Thus Sir I have endeavored to sum up the Circumstances which appear to Constitute the claim of Fincastle to your Benefaction, in the name of our infant seminary I respectfully Solicit it” (ALS, DLC:GW).

3. James Breckinridge (1763–1833), a brother of John Breckinridge, was a Fincastle lawyer who had represented Botetourt County in the Virginia House in 1789 and 1790. He later served again in the Virginia House, and he represented Virginia in Congress from 1809 to 1817.