1From George Washington to John Francis Mercer, 1 February 1787 (Washington Papers)
I am perfectly satisfied with your determination respecting the Negroes—The money will be infinitely more agreeable to me than property of that sort. I will too, if I should want any of those people, procure them on more advantageous terms than I offered. I beg that the Certificates may be no longer delayed—I have already sunk one hundred pounds specie by consenting to take them at 4 for 1—at...
2From George Washington to Henry Knox, 3 February 1787 (Washington Papers)
I feel my self exceedingly obliged to you for the full, & friendly communications in your letters of the 14th 21st & 25th ult.; and shall (critically as matters are described in the latter) be extremely anxious to know the issue of the movements of the forces that were assembling, the one to support, the other to oppose the constitutional rights of Massachusetts. The moment is, indeed,...
3From George Washington to Henry Lee, Jr., 4 February 1787 (Washington Papers)
I thank you for asking my commands to Fredericksburg. It is not my wish to be your competitor in the purchase of any of Mr Hunters tradesmen: especially as I am in a great degree principled against increasing my number of Slaves by purchase and suppose moreover that Negros sold on creadit will go high. yet if you are not disposed to buy the Bricklayer which is advertized for Sale, for your own...
4From George Washington to Thomas Peters, 9 February 1787 (Washington Papers)
As your last letter of the 3d insta. places me on better ground with respect to seed Barley your former one of the 18th of November did—and as will be inconveniant and injurious to me to withhold some of my best grownd from Oats till it may be too late to put this grane in to advantage from the uncertain expectation of Barley. This letter is to pray that you will decline all further trouble in...
5From George Washington to Clement Biddle, 11 February 1787 (Washington Papers)
As we are now on the verge of the middle of Feby and the season is fast approaching when the ground should be in readiness to receive spring grain, permit me to remind you of the Barley you were so obliging as to procure for me—and beg (as I have been disappointed in another expectation) that the 50 bushels may be encreased to one hundred, if in your power to do it conveniently. At any rate...
6From George Washington to Benjamin Franklin, 11 February 1787 (Washington Papers)
On the 3d of Novr I had the honr of addressing your Excelly a letter, of which the enclosed is a copy. Having heard nothing from you since, I am led to apprehend a miscarriage of it, and therefore give you the trouble of a duplicate: not knowing what reply to make to Sir Edward Newe[n]ham, or what more to do in this business untill I am favoured with your answer. With the greatest respect &...
7From George Washington to Thomas Newton, Jr., 11 February 1787 (Washington Papers)
It is now two or three months since I requested, in very explicit terms, that if my flour was not then sold, that it might be disposed of for what ever it would fetch, & the money remitted to me by Doctr Stuart who was then attending the Assembly, or some other safe conveyance. As I have heard nothing from you since, it is probable the letter may have miscarried—I therefore beg that no further...
8From George Washington to David Stuart, 12 February 1787 (Washington Papers)
At length I have received the sheriffs acct against me for Taxes—a copy of which I enclose you. Mr Ratcliff supposes I am well acquainted with the manner of discharging it, but in truth I am not—nor whether his charges are right, or not; I shall thank you therefore for your Inspection, & comparison of it with the revenue Acts; and then, for providing me with the means for discharging it to the...
9From George Washington to Clement Biddle, 14 February 1787 (Washington Papers)
I forgot, in the letter I wrote to you the day before yesterday, to request the favour of you to send 6 Screw Augers, that will bore holes 2½ inches.—I want them for Posting and railing—If this size is not sufficiently large they may be made bigger—for this, or indeed any kind of work I am informed that Screw Augers are much preferred. I am, Dear Sir, Yr. Most Obedt. Servt., William J....
10From George Washington to Charles Washington, 14 February 1787 (Washington Papers)
When the enclosed was written, I knew nothing of Georges intention of visiting Berkeley. The safe conveyance offorded by him, is very favourable and gladly embraced it. Having seen Bushrod and Corben Washington on their way from Berkeley their information is the subject of this letter and is exceedingly distressing to me in as much as I have not the means of affording immediate relief. By them...
11From George Washington to Battaile Muse, 15 February 1787 (Washington Papers)
I have just received your letter of the 4th inst. and the 50 pounds sent by Mr A. Morton. Mr Wales accepted the order upon him, and says he will endeavour to pay it when it becomes due, but as the time of payment has not yet arrived I cannot say anything decided upon it. It is not in my power to send a person to meet you at Leesburg as the time which you mentioned to be there is already...
12From George Washington to Mary Ball Washington, 15 February 1787 (Washington Papers)
In consequence of your communication to George Washington, of your want of money, I take the (first safe) conveyance by Mr John Dandridge to send you 15 Guineas which believe me is all I have and which indeed ought to have been paid many days ago to another agreeable to my own assurances. I have now demands upon me for more than 500£ three hundred and forty odd of which is due for the tax of...
13From George Washington to Charles Willson Peale, 16 February 1787 (Washington Papers)
You will receive by the Stage the body of my Gold Pheasant, packed up in wool agreeable to your directions. He made his Exit yesterday, which enables me to comply with your request much sooner than I wished to do. I am afraid the others will follow him but too soon, as they all appear to be drooping; whether it is owing to their being confined, or to the Climate, I am not able to say: I am...
14From George Washington to Thomas Stone, 16 February 1787 (Washington Papers)
Your favor of the 30th Ulto came duly to hand. To give an opinion in a caus of so much importance as that which has warmly agitated two branches of your legislature, and which, from the appeal that is made, is likely to create great, and perhaps dangerous divisions, is rather a delicate matter; but as this diversity of opinion is on a subject which has, I beleive, occupied the minds of most...
15From George Washington to David Humphreys, 18 February 1787 (Washington Papers)
Colo. Wadsworth has handed me your obliging and much esteemed favor of the 20th ulto for which I offer you my sincere thanks. The tranquil state, in which the people of this commonwealth are affords me nothing to offer you in return for the interesting communications in your letter of the above date the House of Delegates, in maryland, have adjourned in high dudgeon. As you are neare the...
16From George Washington to Bridget Kirk, 20 February 1787 (Washington Papers)
I must beg the favor of you to give the bearer (Mr Lear a young Gentlemen who lives with me) a decided answer with respect to the money which is due to me from the Estate of Mr Kirk your late husband, I wish it may not be forgotten that the Flour for which this money is due ought to have been paid on the delivery of it notwithstanding I have been kept out of it so long. I beg leave to add that...
17From George Washington to Richard Henry Lee, 20 February 1787 (Washington Papers)
Dear Sir—Your favour of the 15th, with the seed of the honey locust came safe to hand, and claims my particular thanks. I have but one doubt of its forming the best hedge in the world; and that is, whether it can be sufficiently dwarfed. If this cannot be effected, the other purpose mentioned in your letter, and a valuable one too, of subserving stock, is alone sufficient to induce the...
18From George Washington to Jeremiah Wadsworth, 20 February 1787 [letter not found] (Washington Papers)
Letter not found: to Jeremiah Wadsworth, 20 Feb. 1787. In the Collector, September-October 1956, GW is quoted as writing: “The Post of this day, brought similar information of yours.” Goodspeed’s catalog (1918), no. 125, item 2761, indicates that GW referred to Henry Knox and is quoted as having written: “the gentleman at whose house I am.” The “gentleman” is identified as “Mr. Fendal.” GW and...
19From George Washington to Alexander Spotswood, 22 February 1787 [letter not found] (Washington Papers)
Letter not found: to Alexander Spotswood, 22 Feb. 1787. On 5 Mar. Spotswood wrote : “Your Favr of the 22d February . . . never came to my hands until this day.”
20From George Washington to Jaques Campion, 24 February 1787 (Washington Papers)
Your letter of the 26th of Jany came duly to hand. I am much obliged to you for your good wishes, and interest which you take in my welfare—The Asses are in very good order, but I am sorry to inform you that the Gold cock and the Silver hen pheasant are ded; the others appear to be drooping, and I am afraid that all the care and attention which is paid to them will not be able to preserve...
21From George Washington to Robert Carter, 24 February 1787 (Washington Papers)
The Gentleman who does me the honor of presenting this letter to you, is the Reverend Mr Griffith, with whom I have had a long acquaintance. As he has some business to transact with you, or proposion to make, I beg leave to introduce him to your civilities, and to yr attention as a Gentleman of worth and of very respectable character. My Compliments if you please to Mrs Carter. I am Sir yr...
22From George Washington to Benjamin Lincoln, Jr., 24 February 1787 (Washington Papers)
I have reed your letter of the 24th Ulto & the receipt for Messrs Josiah Watson & Co. bill of exchange which was enclosed in it. I am much obliged to you for the Acct of the political situation of your State which you gave me, and am very happy to find, by later advices, that matters are soon likely to terminate entirely in favor of Government by the suppression of the insurgents, and it adds...
23From George Washington to Henry Knox, 25 February 1787 (Washington Papers)
Accept, my dear General Knox my affectionate thanks for your obliging favors of the 29th, 30th, & 31st of Jany and 1st 8th & 12th of the present month. They were indeed, exceedingly satisfactory, and relieving to my mind which has been filled with great & anxious uneasiness for the issue of General Lincoln’s operations, and the dignity of Government. On the prospect of the happy termination of...
24From George Washington to George Steptoe Washington, 27 February 1787 [letter not found] (Washington Papers)
Letter not found: to George Steptoe Washington, 27 Feb. 1787. On 2 Mar. George Steptoe Washington wrote GW : “I receiv’d your letter dated 27th Feby.”
25From George Washington to William Hartshorne, 2 March 1787 (Washington Papers)
Whatever sum Colonels Gilpin and Fitzgerald think proper to order, or the state of the treasury will enable you to pay, the Contractor for supplying the Workmen for the Potomack Company—the same being due to him—will be agreed to by Sir Yr Most Obedt Hble Ser⟨vt⟩ ALS , Gallery of History, Las Vegas, Nevada. George Gilpin wrote below GW’s signature: “Considering the state of the Treasury and...
26From George Washington to David Humphreys, 8 March 1787 (Washington Papers)
Colo. Wadsworth, as I informed you in my last, presented me your obliging favor of the 30th of January and the Post since has handed me the subsequent one of the 11th Ulto. My sentiments, respecting the inexpediency of my attending the proposed Convention of the States in Philadelphia remain the same as when I wrote you last, tho’ Congress I am informed are about to remove one of the...
27From George Washington to Henry Knox, 8 March 1787 (Washington Papers)
Will you permit me to give you the trouble of making an indirect, but precise enquiry, into the alligations of the enclosed letters. I flatter myself that from the vicinity of Elizabeth Town to New York, and the constant intercourse between the two, you will be able to do it without much trouble. It is but little in my power to afford the pecuniary aids required by the letter writer; but if...
28From George Washington to Thomas Cushing, 10 March 1787 (Washington Papers)
By your letter & Acct of the 22d of Feby 1786, there appears a balance in my favor of fifteen pounds thirteen shillings Lawful Money, which I take the liberty to draw a bill for in favor of Mr Thomas Porter of Alexandria, payable ten days after sight. I am happy to find by the last Accounts from the Northward that the disturbances in your State were almost totally suppressed, & I hope before...
29From George Washington to Samuel Haven, 10 March 1787 (Washington Papers)
Although I gave the greatest credence to your acct of the talents & good behaviour of Mr Lear, yet before I subscribed to them, I was desirous of a little time to form my own judgment of both. To this, and this only, you will be pleased to attribute my not acknowledging the receipt of your favor of the 6th of May, at an earlier period. It is with pleasure I now inform you, that the deportment...
30From George Washington to John Jay, 10 March 1787 (Washington Papers)
I am indebted to you for two letters: The first, introductory of Mr Anstey needed no apology—nor will any be necessary on future occasions. The other, of the 7th of Jany is on a very interesting subject, deserving very particular attention. How far the revision of the fœderal system, and giving more adequate powers to Congress may be productive of an efficient government, I will not, under my...