To George Washington from Edmund Randolph, 7 October 1794
From Edmund Randolph
Philadelphia Oct: 7. 1794
E. Randolph, with affectionate wishes for the President’s health, has the honor of informing him, that Mrs Washington and the family were well this morning: that altho’ it is suspected by some, that Mrs Lenox, who now lies very ill in the house adjoining E.R.’s office, labours under the yellow fever; yet there does not seem to be any grounds for the apprehension.1 At least his clerks and himself do not hesitate to pass, and repass in the office as usual: The Potters’ field for ten-days past has not received its average of burials at this season: and of those, who have been buried, none are supposed to have died with the malignant disorder.
AL, DLC:GW.
1. Randolph was referring to Tacy Lukens Lenox (d. 1834), wife of David Lenox, the U.S. marshal for the District of Pennsylvania. They lived at this time at 118 Mulberry (or Arch) St., on the south side between Fifth and Sixth streets next to the State Department office, which was on the corner of Mulberry and Sixth (, 67). Mrs. Lenox was the daughter of John Lukens, the former surveyor general of Pennsylvania.