From George Washington to Arthur Young, 7 May 1793
To Arthur Young
Philadelphia May 7th 1793
Sir,
At the request of several Gentlemen of my particular acquaintance in this City, I have taken the liberty of putting this letter into the hands of Dr Edwards, as an introduction of that Gent[l]eman to you.1
I am informed that Dr Edwards has two objects in view by going to Europe—the establishment of his health—and a desire of obtaining a knowledge of the agriculture of that part of the world. In order to facilitate the attainment of the latter object he is anxious to be made known to you—and those Gentlemen who have requested this letter speak of him as one of the best farmers in this State.2 I am therefore the more inclined to give you the trouble of this letter, as I hope your communications with Dr Edwards on agricultural affairs will be mutually pleasing and beneficial. with very great esteem I am Sir, Your most Obedt Servt
Go: Washington
LS, in Tobias Lear’s writing, sold by Maggs Bros., Ltd., Autograph Letters & Historical Documents, catalog 1047, item 180, 1984; Df, in Lear’s writing, ViMtvL; LB, DLC:GW. Opposite GW’s signature on the LS, an unknown hand wrote: “Given to Lady Cullum by Arthur Young Esqr.” Hardwick and Hawstead (Hawsted), the estates of Sir Thomas Cullum (1741–1823), seventh baronet, and his wife Mary Hanson Cullum were in Suffolk, England, as was Arthur Young’s residence at Bradfield Hall.
1. Although Enoch Edwards lived in Byberry Township, in Philadelphia County, he wrote to GW from “Mr Biddles [on] Market [High] Street” in Philadelphia on this date: “The Want of Health & a Desire of seeing the Agriculture of other Countries, have induced Me to take a Tour to Europe, I regret that I am not in the Character of a Farmer, sufficiently known to your Execellency to ask of you to be honored by a Recommendation to Arthur Young Esqr. who I am informed you have corresponded with—But Mr George Clymer, Mr [Samuel] Powell & most of the Gentlemen in this City, who have a Turn for that Profession are sufficiently so—Should you from the Information of those Gentlemen think proper to let me have the Honor to take a Line from you to that Gentleman—I shall not forget to retain a proper Sense of the obligation of Gratitude it will lay Me under.
“I shall endeavour to make my Observations as usefull to my Country on my Return as will be in my Power” (DLC:GW).
2. For Edwards’s agricultural expertise, see his letter to GW of 1 May 1792.