From George Washington to William Pearce, 7 June 1795
To William Pearce
Philadelphia 7th June 1795.
Mr Pearce,
Your letter of the 31st of last month, enclosing the weekly reports, came duly to hand—yesterday.
Let the person who is to supply you with plank & Shingles, have the precise length of the first given to him, that it may not waste in cutting. This length you will be able to ascertain from knowing the uses for which it is intended; & by consulting the plan which I sent you.1 The plank for the lower floor of the Granaries, as I mentioned at first, ought, I have no doubt, to be of Inch & half stuff; & if the floors above them, were of Inch & quarter pine, they would not be the worse for it. Care too shd be taken that the shingles are of the dimensions (both in length, & the average width) that is agreed for; nothing being more common of late than to contract for 18 inch shingles, and give those of not more than 16 inches, and in that proportion with respect to the two, and three feet shingles: which is an unjustifiable imposition, as more nails, as well as more shingles, are consequently required.
Are the Cabbins at River and Union farms all removed, as were intended? I ask because I have seen work of this sort reported, but know not if it be compleated.
I wish you could find out the thief who robbed the meat house at Mount Vernon, & bring him to punishment.2 And at the sametime secure the house against future attempts; for our drafts upon it will be pretty large, I expect, when we come home; wch probably may be about the middle or 20th of next month.3 Nathan has been suspected, if not detected, in an attempt of this sort formerly; & is as likely as any one to be guilty of it now. Postilion Joe has been caught in similar practices; and Sam I am sure would not be restrain[ed] by any qualms of conscience, if he saw an opening to do the like.4 I am Your friend &ca
Go: Washington
ALS, ViMtvL; ALS (letterpress copy), DLC:GW.
1. For GW’s plan for a barn at River farm, see his letter to Pearce of 24 May.
2. Pearce had informed GW of the incident in his letter of 31 May.
3. GW, Martha Washington, and other family members left Philadelphia on 15 July and arrived at Mount Vernon five days later (see 6:204).
4. Nathan, one of GW’s slaves, was about 27 years old at this time and worked as a cook at the Mansion House. His wife, Peg, was another of GW’s slaves and lived at Muddy Hole farm.
Postilion Joe, a dower slave, appeared on the 1786 and 1799 slave lists for the Mansion House. His wife, Sall, was one of GW’s slaves and lived at River farm.