1To George Washington from Armand, 19 May 1785 (Washington Papers)
permit me to remember to your mind one of your most faithfull servant, I would have done it sooner but knowing that your Exellency would be pleased in the good treatment I should receive from the court, I waited untill the final settlement of my rank & Command in our army—but although nothing is perfected on that head, I can not deny to myself any longer the pleasure of discharging my duty...
2To George Washington from Châteaufort, 19 May 1785 [letter not found] (Washington Papers)
Letter not found: from Châteaufort, 19 May 1785. On 15 June GW wrote the chevalier de Châteaufort : “By the Post I had the honor to receive the letter which you did me the favor to write to me on the 19th of last month.”
3From George Washington to Christopher Richmond, 19 May 1785 (Washington Papers)
Your letter of the 10th not getting to my hands ’till the 15th, I had no opportunity of writing to you before the meeting of the subscribers on the 17th, at which I exhibited the list you sent me, which was received & acted upon. Agreeably to the Laws of the two States, the subscription books ought to have been at that meeting; after which all subscriptions are to be made with the President &...
4From George Washington to Nathanael Greene, 20 May 1785 (Washington Papers)
After a long & boisterous passage, my Nephew G.A. Washington returned to this place a few days since, & delivered me your letter of the 25th of April. Under the state of the case between you & Capt: Gun, I give it as my decided opinion that your honor & reputation will not only stand perfectly acquited for the non-acceptance of his challenge, but that your prudence & judgment would have been...
5To George Washington from John Harvie, 20 May 1785 (Washington Papers)
When I last Wrote to you I did not Recollect of any Survey being in the Land office for the Round Bottom, except the One upon which your Grant Issued but upon looking over the Caveat Book, I find a Survey for this Tract of Land return’d by the Heirs of Michael Cresup decd—and claim’d under a Certificate for Settlement made in the year 1771—Van Swearingen enter’d a Caveat against their Survey,...
6From George Washington to William Fitzhugh, 21 May 1785 (Washington Papers)
Mr Boulton delivered me your letter of the 13th, last evening; I thank you for sending him to me. I have agreed with him to finish my large room, & to do some other work; & have no doubt from the character given of him by you, that he will answer my purposes, as he has no one now to lead him into temptation, and will be far removed from improper associates, unless he is at much pains to hunt...
7To George Washington from Thomas Johnson, 21 May 1785 (Washington Papers)
I shall forward your Letter of the 18 Inst. to Mr Lee I have no Opportunity of consulting him as to the place or Hour of Meeting: as it can make very little Difference to him or me and Alexandria will be most convenient to you and the other Gent. I propose to meet there at 10 OClock and shall write Mr Lee accordingly—I much wished to have been at the Meeting the 17th if I could have attended I...
8From George Washington to Jaquelin Ambler, 22 May 1785 (Washington Papers)
I had the honor to receive your favor of the 12th in time for the meeting; and in consequence of the power given me by you, represented the State on the 17th inst. I have the pleasure to inform you that the subscriptions (including those in behalf of the two States) amounted to upwards of four hundred shares; consequently the company became legally constituted & incorporated—a president &...
9From George Washington to Burwell Bassett, 23 May 1785 (Washington Papers)
It would have given me much pleasure to have seen you at Richmond; and it was part of my original plan to have spent a few days with you at Eltham whilst I was in the lower parts of the Country; but an intervention of circumstances not only put it out of my power to do the latter, but would have stopped my journey to Richmond altogether had not the meeting, the time, and the place been of my...
10Memorandum of Agreement with Joseph Davenport, 23 May 1785 (Washington Papers)
Memorandum of an Agreement made & enter’d into by Robert Lewis & Sons of Philadelphia, for & in behalf of his Excellency George Washington Esquire of Mount Vernon in the State of Virginia of the one part, and Joseph Davenport of the County of Burlington in the State of New-Jersey of the other part, Witnesseth, that the said Davenport shall immediately proceed with his Family to a Mill near...
11From George Washington to John Swan, 23 May 1785 (Washington Papers)
The little share I had in the administration of Colo. Colville’s Estate, & the time which has elapsed since I had any concern at all with the Affairs of it, render me very incompetent to give the information you require. Mr John West deceased was the principal acting Executor of the will of Colo. Colvill, & the revd Mr West of Baltimore is the executor of John, & has I am told taken much pains...
12From George Washington to Tench Tilghman, 23 May 1785 (Washington Papers)
The last Post brought me your letter of the 14th, inclosing one of the 30th of April from Mr Hollyday. As soon as it is in my power to refresh my memory by having recurrance to my Papers, I will write you, or Mr Hollyday, more fully on the subject of the legacy in Colo. Colvils Will to Miss Anderson; or person under whom she claims; for, strange as it may seem, it is nevertheless true, that I...
13To George Washington from William Minor, 24 May 1785 (Washington Papers)
The proposition that your Excellency was pleased to make of Leaving to Some Gentlemen the Matter I laid before you on Saturday the 21st Instant in Regard to my Claim against you on Account of Lawrence Posey—is perfectly agreeable to me. I wish I had had presence of mind to have asked your Excellency to have Appointed Some Gentlemen to do the Business when I was at your Place—but I did not know...
14From George Washington to Robert Lewis & Sons, 25 May 1785 (Washington Papers)
In consequence of your letter of the 5th of last month, I discharged Wm Roberts from my Mill. It now is, & has been for some time past without a Miller; & as Mr Davenport from your Accot would be ready to take charge of it in about three weeks (now seven), & not yet come, nor any reason given why he has not; I am apprehensive of some disappointment. If this is the case I should be glad to know...
15To George Washington from Edward Newenham, 25 May 1785 [letter not found] (Washington Papers)
Letter not found: from Edward Newenham, 25 May. On 25 Nov. GW wrote Newenham : “I have been favored with your letters of the 3d of March, 25th of May.”
16From George Washington to David Parry, 25 May 1785 (Washington Papers)
I have had the honor, lately, to receive your favor of the 18th of July last year. For the politeness with which your Excellency was pleased to receive my Nephew G: A. Washington, & for the distinguished marks of attention which you shewed him whilst he was in the Island of Barbadoes (for which he retains a grateful sense) I feel myself exceedingly obliged, & should be happy in opportunities...
17To George Washington from William Grayson, 27 May 1785 (Washington Papers)
The Ordinance for the disposal of the Western territory was pass’d three days ago, & I take the earliest oppertunity of inclosing you a copy. I have the honor to be with the highest respect yr Affect. fd & Most Obd. Sert ALS , DLC:GW . The Land Ordinance of 1785 for dividing the Northwest Territory into townships to be divided into lots of 640 acres for sale was passed on 20 May ( JCC,...
18To George Washington from Robert Johnston, 27 May 1785 (Washington Papers)
The High Character you have so Justly aquired for the Love of your Country, and the desire that your Fellow Citizens may do Justice to mankind, has prompted me to Write you on a subject that very much concerns me, and a very numerous Family. Mr Charles Turnbull of Virginia died in 1782 (who probably you would know)[.] so long ago as 1756 he sent his sister my Mother in Law a will leaving her a...
19From George Washington to William Minor, 27 May 1785 (Washington Papers)
My objection to paying your account when here—was, now is, &, whether it is done or not, will be—that it comes neither under the letter nor spirit of my letter to Mr Baker. My object was to give Lawce Posey a years schooling, to fit him for some of the better occupations of life: to do this, I agreed to pay his board also, both of which together, I was inform’d would amount at the free school,...
20To George Washington from Christopher Richmond, 27 May 1785 (Washington Papers)
I had the honor of receiving your Letter of the 19th this day. Since I transmitted the List John Allen Thomas has subscribed for two Shares. I will take the first opportunity of informing him of what is further to be done by him, in order to the having his subscription established. I have the Honor to be your Excellencys obedient humble servt ALS , DLC:GW .
21To George Washington from Robert Turnbull, 27 May 1785 (Washington Papers)
The greatness and dignity of your character for the virtues of a Patriot will command the Veneration of future ages; and those graces that adorn, and render aimiable your private life encourage and embolden me to address you in an affair, in which I am much interested. Tho I trust I have a mind above the Love of money, yet as old age is approaching; for I have been above forty two years a...
22To George Washington from Charles-Guillaume-Frédéric Dumas, 28 May 1785 (Washington Papers)
Since full nine years I have the honor to be a Servant, as unexpectedly called as scrupulously loyal to the United States in this Country, I wanted only a proper occasion for paying your Excellncy directly my share in the admiration which Mankind owes to your Virtues. Now it presents itself with the most charming grace, my eagerness in taking it up, will not, I hope, appear unseasonable....
23To George Washington from Richard Henry Lee, 29 May 1785 [letter not found] (Washington Papers)
Letter not found: from Richard Henry Lee, 29 May 1785. On 22 June GW wrote Lee : “I stand indebted to you for your favors of the . . . 29th of last month.”
24To George Washington from William Goddard, 30 May 1785 (Washington Papers)
As the Manuscript Papers of General Lee, after his decease, came into my hands, I have been induced from several motives to arrange & prepare them for publication. The General in his Life time requested it from me, & my Profession as a Printer & Bookseller made it an object of interest worthy my attention. But as I cannot be ignorant of some unhappy differences which subsisted between Your...
25To George Washington from Tench Tilghman, 30 May 1785 (Washington Papers)
I have had the honor of receiving your letter of the 23d I shall communicate so much of the Contents, as respect Colonel Colvils Legacy to Miss Anderson, to her Uncle Mr Hollyday. I have applied to the Revd Mr West on this Business. I find him intirely unacquainted with such parts of his Brothers affairs as relate to his Executorship to Colo. Colvils Estate. Matters must therefore remain as...
26From George Washington to John Harvie, 31 May 1785 (Washington Papers)
I am informed that a patent (in consequence of a Certificate from Commrs appointed to enquire into, & decide upon Claims for settlement of the Western Lands) is about to issue to the heirs of Michl Cresap, from the Land Office of this Commonwealth, for a tract of land on the river Ohio formerly in Augusta County, now commonly called & distinguished by the round bottom: against granting which...
27To George Washington from Burwell Bassett, 1 June 1785 (Washington Papers)
Your favour of the 23 of may is now before me I most sincearly return you my thanks for the offer you made Fanny[.] Majr Washington had my permisson to pay his addresses to Fanny & from my long acquantance with him I have no reason to alter the good opinion I ever entertain of him I think myself they had better put of there intended marriage till they return from the springs where I intend...
28To George Washington from William Augustine Washington, 1 June 1785 (Washington Papers)
Your Esteem’d favr by Mr Blane, I recd and was particularly attentive in collecting of the Holly Berrys, agreeable to your request, wch I trust has got safe to hand —I have been industrious in inquiring for some Wild Goose & Swans for you, at length I have procured these Geese, which I now send you, the one with a tame Goose for a Mate is a present from Mr McCarty to you, who desired me to...
29To George Washington from Rochambeau, 2 June 1785 (Washington Papers)
I come, my Dear Général, of taking leave from Doctor franklin. I could not See without being moved to pity that respectable man at eighty years old, with a very sharp and weighty cause of sickness, having the courage to undertake So a long voyage to go and die in the bosom of his native country. it will be impossible to him, at his coming-back in america, to go and visit you, but I told him...
30From George Washington to Tench Tilghman, 2 June 1785 (Washington Papers)
As your letter of the 30th Ulto did not reach me until late this afternoon, and the Post goes from Alexaa at 4 Oclock in the morning, I have scarcely a moment (being also in company) to write you a reply. I was not sufficiently explicit in my last. The terms upon which Mr Falconer came to this Country are too high for my finances—and (to you, my dear Sir, I will add) numerous expences. I do...