To George Washington from Adam Stephen, January–February 1755
From Adam Stephen
[Jan.–Feb. 1755]
Dr Sir
It is with the greatest Chearfulness that I comply with your Desire in letting the Soldiers enjoy your Gratuity mention’d to Capt. Perouny: Believe me, Sir, we well always Set a high value upon every Mark of your Esteem, and for my own part it gives me the Greatest uneasiness to have Reason to believe that I do not Enjoy the same Share of your Confidence and friendship that I once was happy in: Depend on it, Sir, my Constant Endeavours Shall be to deserve it.
Our Orders for marching are postpon’d, and as I foresee no bad Consequence from it, I hope the pleasure of Seeing you in Town. The Humour of Soldiers at Pay time prevents my Seeing you to day, or I would have done myself the pleasure to Wait on you. I offer my Complemts to Colo. Fairfax, His Lady & Miss Fairfax, and Am with Regard Dr Sir, Your own
Adam Stephen
ALS, DLC:GW. The letter seems to have been written between late Dec. 1754 and early Feb. 1755. On 1 Jan. 1755 Governor Dinwiddie wrote Stephen, who had succeeded GW as commander of the Virginia forces, that he was sending up the December pay for the troops and urged him to hasten to Winchester with his men. Stephen remained at Alexandria until after 22 Jan. at which time he wrote receipts to GW for six black walnut chairs and some blacksmith tools. He had left town before 6 Feb., however, for on that day he wrote Dinwiddie from Winchester. GW was in and about Alexandria during most of this time. The Library of Congress index to the Washington Papers assigned the date April–Aug. 1757 to the letter. See Dinwiddie to Stephen, 12 Dec. 1754, and 1, 10, and 18 Jan. 1755, ViHi: Dinwiddie Papers; receipt from Stephen to GW, 22 Jan. 1755, ViMtvL; receipt from Stephen to GW, 22 Jan. 1755, Thomas Birch’s Sons Auctioneer, Catalogue no. 663.