To George Washington from Benjamin Rush, 14 April 1788
From Benjamin Rush
Philadelphia April 14th 1788.
Dr Rush presents his most respectful compliments to General Washington, and has the pleasure of sending him herewith a print of the celebrated Mr Napier, which was committed to the Doctors care, for the General, from the Right Honble the Earl of Buchan of Scotland.1
AL, DLC:GW.
1. The response from Mount Vernon, dated 28 April, was: “General Washington presents his best compliments and thanks to Doctor Rush, for the polite attention manifested in forwarding the elegant engraving from the Right Hble the Earl of Buchan. The General takes the liberty of requesting that the Doctor (whenever an occasion may happen) will have the goodness to make his most grateful acknowledgments to that patriotic Nobleman, for so flattering a token of his esteem and friendship” (LB, DLC:GW). The eccentric and very wealthy David Steuart Erskine, eleventh earl of Buchan (1742–1829), of Dryburgh in Scotland, was a political and agricultural reformer, a zealous antiquarian and historian, a prolific writer, and an avid courter of men of distinction. In 1787 he and Walter Minto published their study of Francis Scott, fifth Lord Napier of Merchiston (d. 1773), the engraving of whom he sent to GW.