From George Washington to Clement Biddle, 7 August 1787
To Clement Biddle
August 7th 1787.
Dear Sir
In addition to the articles contained in the Memo. given to you some time since,1 I pray you to procure, and send by Captn Steward the following.
A Wimble bit—compleat.
Pickled Walnuts & India Mangoes none were sent before.
Thompsons Seasons and Gutheries Geography and the Art of Speaking.2
Some Pamphlets which have been sent to me since I came to Town; and Books purchased for my amusement whilst in it, I now send to be packed up, and sent round.3
The Top of the Cupolo (from Mr Rakestraw)—The Venetian blind from Mr Davis. A hogshead of Plaister of Paris, & a coob with two or three fowls, from Mr Barge; and the Chair—I mean shall take the opportunity afforded by the Dolphin of going to Mount Vernon.4 and I pray you to recommend them to the particular care of the Captn.
I have bought one and mean to buy another, piece of fine linnen which I shall send to you.5 I am—Dear Sir Yr Obedt Servt
Go: Washington
ALS, PHi: Washington-Biddle Correspondence.
1. GW’s memorandum has not been identified, but it was not the one referred to in GW to Biddle, 22 Aug., n.1. See GW to George Augustine Washington, 12 August.
2. The books were James Thomson’s The Seasons (London, 1787), William Guthrie’s A New System of Modern Geography (London, 1786), and James Burgh’s The Art of Speaking (Philadelphia, 1786). Entries in GW’s cash accounts for 10 Sept. show charges for the books and for, among other things, a bottle of East Indian mangoes and 200 pickled walnuts (, 261).
3. For other books purchased, see Philadelphia Cash Accounts, 9 May–22 September.
4. Jacob Barge was an established merchant in Philadelphia at 191 High Street.
5. See GW’s record of his purchase of linen from John Waggener (Wagener, Wagner) entered on 27 July and 10 Aug. in Philadelphia Cash Accounts, 9 May–22 Sept. 1787.