To George Washington from Edward Moyston, 4 April 1787
From Edward Moyston
Philadelphia 4th April 1787
Sir
As the Convention of the States is expected to meet in this City in the next Month, I make bold to request your influence with such Gentlemen of your acquaintance as may want Accommodations. I have fitted up Chambers in the most convenient manner, and am certain that they will find it more agreeable than any private Lodging House in Town, as they will always have more Attendants, should their own be out of the way, than are commonly to be found in private Houses, and as I have altered the House they may be as private as in any other. On my arrival in Philadelphia, I found the Cheese which I promised to send, entirely spoiled with the Heat. I sent two by the Sloop Dolphin Captain Steward, of the best quality I could find.1 Mr Drayton’s Negro having given himself to me, I have transmitted him home to his Master, he says he left some Cloaths at Mount Vernon, and if they are worth the Trouble, you will please to order some of your Servants to forward them to me, I shall send them home by the next Packet.2 Should you please to make use of any Tavern to Lodge at, I hope for the preference, and could I know that you would, before your Arrival, every thing in my power should be particularly fitted to suit your convenience. In the Philadelphia Paper of this Date is an Advertisement of mine, which I should be glad to have inserted in the Alexandria News Paper for three or four Months and hope you will take the trouble to order some of your People to acquaint the printer of it.3 Should you have any Commands that I can execute you will please at any time to send your orders to me and they shall be paid the strictest attention to. I am Sir With the greatest Respect Your most Obedient Servant
Edward Moyston
ALS, DLC:GW.
1. Edward Moyston had been the proprietor of the City Tavern on Second Street in Philadelphia since 1779. He consulted GW at Mount Vernon in July 1786 about the possibility of his opening a tavern in Alexandria (, 5:16).
3. Moyston’s advertisement does not appear in the Alexandria newspaper, but it is to be found in the Pennsylvania Packet, and Daily Advertiser, 4 April 1787. Moyston assured those who would “use his house” that he had, among other things, “provided himself with cooks of experience, both in the French and English taste” and had “laid in a fresh supply of liquors of the very first quality.”