To George Washington from Charles Washington, 23 November 1785
From Charles Washington
Happy Retreat Novr 23d 1785
Dear Brother
Your Letter of the 29 of Octr, I recd by Mr Muse,1 and am Sorry to find the two Little boys are at a place where they are gaining so little Improvement at so high an Expence, perhaps they might do better at Alexandria, Mr McCray tils me there is a well Established School at that place, and supposees there Expence would not amount to nere what it is at present,2 or if you think it more advisable for them to go to a prvet School, there is a high learnt Man a Minester in about two miles of me to whom my Little Son gose to, will take them, and there Brother Thornton Washington will Board them I shall be happy to have your Advice on the Accation.3
I have Muster’d up for the present £26:2:6 which I send you by Mr McCray, and am in hopes it will not be long before it will be in my power to send more.4 the Family join in Love to you Mrs Washington and new Married Couple and am Dear Sir with Esteem your Loving Brother
Chas Washington
ALS, NjMoHP.
1. Letter not found. Battaile Muse had dinner at Mount Vernon on 27 Oct. and then “went up to Alexandria” (, 4:215).
2. See GW to William Bailey and to Stephen Bloomer Balch, both 22 November. Robert McCrea (c.1765–c.1840), a Scot, was a merchant in Alexandria.
3. The minister was the Rev. Robert Stubbs. See Charles Washington to GW, 30 December.
4. At the bottom of the page Charles Washington wrote:
| 74 Dollars | £22. 4.0 |
| Double Guinea | 2.16.0 |
| Pistole | 1. 2.6 |
| £26. 2.6 |