From George Washington to Hanburys & Lloyd, 4 August 1774
To Hanburys & Lloyd
Williamsburg August 4th 1774
Gentn
A few days after receipt of your Letters by Capt⟨n⟩ Eston and giving him orders for Twelve Hogsheads of Tobo (as mentioned in my last of the first of June) I came to the knowledge of your having noted the Bills which I drew in behalf of my Ward Mr Custis and in favour of John Page Esqr. for Protest although it since appears by your acct that you did afterwards pay them.
Your Motives for this piece of conduct surprizing as they seem to me I do not mean to give you the trouble of Accounting for. I was going however upon the first notice of it, to recall my order to Captn Eston; but, as my word was out to him, I did, upon Second thoughts, forbare to do this, but now desire that the proceeds of these twelve Hhds of Tobacco so soon as sold—together with the Ballance of Mr Custis’s Acct be it more or less be paid into the hands of Robt Cary Esqr. & Co. who shall be empowerd to receive them.1 I am Gentn Yr Most Obedt Servt
Go: Washington
ALB, DLC:GW.
1. Neither of Hanbury’s letters of 24 Mar., that to GW nor that to John Parke Custis, indicates that the bills GW drew on 4 Nov. 1773 in favor of John Page were protested. Perhaps GW learned of it from the copy of John Parke Custis’s missing current account with Hanburys & Lloyd which Hanbury enclosed in the letter to GW of 24 March. Hanbury wrote GW on 14 Nov. explaining why the company had not immediately accepted the bills, but before receiving this explanation GW repeated his order to Hanburys & Lloyd to transfer to Robert Cary & Co. what it owed John Parke Custis, ending his relations with the company dating back to the time of his marriage to Martha Custis. See GW to Robert Cary & Co., 10 Dec. 1774, and Cary & Co. to GW, 18 Feb. 1775, and GW to Hanburys & Lloyd, 10 Dec. 1774.