From George Washington to Sally, 1749–1750
To Sally
[1749–1750]
Dear Sally
This comes to Fredericksburg fair1 in hopes of meeting with a speedy Passage to you if your not there which hope you’l get shortly altho. I am almost discouraged from Writing to you as this is my fou[r]th to you since I receivd any from yourself. I hope you’l not make the Old Proverb good out of sight out of Mind as it’s one of the greatest Pleasures I can yet foresee of having in Fairfax in Often hearing from you hope you’l not deny it me.
I Pass the time of much more agreabler than what I imagined I should as there’s a very agreable Young Lady lives in the said house where I reside (Colo. George Fairfax’s Wife Sister) that in a great Measure chears my sorrow and dejectedness tho. not so as to draw my thoughts altogether from your Parts I could wish to be with you down there with all my heart but as it is a thing almost Impractakable shall rest my self where I am with hope’s of shortly having some Minutes of your transactions in your Parts which will be very welcomely receiv’d by Your.
ADf, DLC:GW. For background to this letter, see the editorial note to GW to Ann Washington, Sept.–Nov. 1749; GW to Thomas Fairfax, Oct.–Nov. 1749, source note; and GW to Robin, 1749–50, source note.
Sally has not been identified.
1. At this time the Virginia Assembly provided that a semiannual fair be held in Fredericksburg, then the seat of Spotsylvania County, “for the sale and vending of all manner of cattle, victuals, provisions, goods, wares, and merchandizes, whatsoever . . . on the Wednesday next after the court days of . . . Spotsylvania, in the months of June, and October, in every year” (5 82–83, 105–6, 207–8; 6 ibid., 300). In 1749 the June court met on the sixth day of the month and the October court on the third day. In 1750 the June court met on the fifth and the October court on the second and third (Spotsylvania County Order Books, 1749–55, p. 508; 1738–49, pp. 7, 59, 88–96).