401From George Washington to Mason Locke Weems, 29 August 1799 (Washington Papers)
I have been duly favored with your letter of the 20th instant—accompanying “The Philanthropist.” For your politeness in sending the latter, I pray you to receive my best thanks. Much indeed is it to be wished that the sentiments contained in the Pamphlet, and the doctrine it endeavours to inculcate, were more prevalent. Happy would it be for this country at least, if they were so. But while...
402From George Washington to Mason Locke Weems, 3 July 1799 (Washington Papers)
For your kind compliment—“The Immortal Mentor,” I beg you to accept my best thanks. I have perused it with singular satisfaction; and I hesitate not to say that it is, in my opinion at least, an invaluable compilation. I cannot but hope that a book whose contents do such credit to its title, will meet with a very generous patronage. Should the Patronage equal my wishes, you will have no reason...
403From George Washington to James Welch, 26 May 1799 (Washington Papers)
I was not disappointed in the contents of your letter of the 16th instant, because I had formed no hope from the proposed application at Fredericksburgh. Inconvenient, and indeed distressing as it is to me to lay out of the money you were obligated to pay me the first of the present year, and to receive which was the only inducement that led to the Bargain which exists between us for my Lands...
404From George Washington to Roger West, 19 September 1799 (Washington Papers)
Sometime ago the Servant who waits upon me, named Christopher (calling himself Christopher Sheels) asked my permission to marry a Mulatto girl belonging to you. As he had behaved as well as servants usually do, I told him I had no objection to the union, provided your consent (which was necessary) could be obtained. This I presume happened⟨,⟩ because I understand they are married. I was in...
405From George Washington to Roger West, 23 April 1799 (Washington Papers)
I will answer the queries contained in your letter of this date, to the best of my recollection. In the morning visit you did me the honor to make, sometime last Autumn, at which you delivered me a letter from Colo. Hooe, intimating your desire to engage in the Military Service of our Country, I understood, from the conversation that passed on that occasion, that your object was to enter into...
406From George Washington to Alexander White, 8 December 1799 (Washington Papers)
Your favour of yesterday I received this morning. Altho’ the Legislature of Maryland has taken up the business of the Potomack Company upon different ground, than on that which was adopted at the last General meeting of the Stockholders, and less advantageous for them if they could have carried their mode into effect; yet, as my primary wish, is to see the work completed, I rejoice that the...
407From George Washington to William White, 30 May 1799 (Washington Papers)
The Sermon on the duty of Civil obedience as required in Scripture, which you had the goodness to send me, came safe a Post or two ago; and for which I pray you to accept my grateful acknowledgments. The hurry in which it found me engaged, in a matter that pressed, has not allowed me time to give it a perusal yet: but I anticipate the pleasure & edification I shall find when it is in my power...
408From George Washington to Ralph Wormeley, Jr., 18 November 1799 (Washington Papers)
Your favour of the 3d Instant came duly to hand. Whence the Report of my visiting Norfolk could have arisen, I know not. From any intention of mine it did not, for nothing was ever more foreign from them. I have never been farther from home since I left the Chair of Government, than the Federal City except when I was called to Philadelphia by the Secretary of War—and that distance, I am...
409I, 15 December 1799 (Washington Papers)
The following circumstantial account of the last illness and death of General Washington was noted by T. Lear, on Sunday following his death, which happened on Saturday Eveng Decr 14th 1799 between the hours of ten and eleven. On Thursday Decr 12th the General rode out to his farms about ten o’clock, and did not return home till past 3 oclk. Soon after he went out, the weather became very bad,...
410Editorial Note (Washington Papers)
[9 July 1799] George Washington prepared his will alone, without, as he attested, any “professional character” being “consulted” or having “any Agency in the draught.” He dated the will, the work of many “leisure hours,” the “ninth day of July” in 1799, probably the date that he finished making the final copy. And he put his name at the bottom of all but one of its twenty-nine pages. Six...