To George Washington from Leven Powell, 12 September 1786
From Leven Powell
Loudoun Sepr 12th 1786.
Dear Sir
I should have done myself the Pleasure of Answering your favor of the 20th of July earlier, if I had not then expected it would have been in my power to send you the Timothy seed wrote for in the course of a few weeks; for immediately upon the receipt of your letter I sent to a man in Frederick much to be depended on & from whom I have hitherto been supply’d, who readily engaged your Quantity.1
Eight or ten days ago I had information from him that he had secured a sufficiency of Timothy, but the continual rains had prevented his getting the seed out.
We have now an appearance of fair weather & I do expect it here in a few days, but as my son informs me it will be more agreeable to you not to take it, I shall endeavour to dispose of it in the mean time, if I cannot do so I shall immediately upon its coming to hand send it down to him.
He informs me you wish to know whether I can purchase 100 or 150 Bushels of Buck wheat for you.2
I can readily get you either of those Quantities of the New Crop which will soon be in & which I presume will be in time for your purpose. Be pleased to inform me the exact Quantity & when you will want it3 & be assured it will give me pleasure to serve you in that or any other respect in my power & that I am with due regard Dear Sir yr Obt & Hble Servt
Leven Powell
ALS, DLC:GW.
1. Letter not found.
2. The Mr. Powell who was at Mount Vernon on 23 July was probably William H. Powell (d. 1802), the oldest son of Leven Powell of Loudoun County. Young Powell had recently opened a general merchandise store in Alexandria.
3. For the continuing correspondence regarding the supply of buckwheat for GW, see GW to Powell, 30 Sept., 21 Dec. 1786, and Powell to GW, 18 Dec., 8 April 1787.