To George Washington from Peterson & Taylor, 13 February 1788
From Peterson & Taylor
Alexandria February 13. 88
Sir
on account of the Severity of the Winter, it never has been in our power to convey your Bill of planke & Scantling to the Eastern Shore which will render it out of our power to furnish Said Bill, at the time mentioned, and will likely delay, when delivered untill Early the Month of May. however there now appears a prospect of the Navigation being open very Soon—at which time we will Send the Bill, and exert every means to have it delivered, as much Sooner as possible. the plank likely will be delivered Soon, as that we suppose is Sawed. Save the Inch & ¼.1 We are Sir your Obt Sevts
Peterson & Taylor
P.S. a few lines will be expected in Answer.2
LS, DLC:GW.
1. See GW to Peterson & Taylor, 5 Jan., and notes.
2. GW wrote in answer from Mount Vernon on 15 Feb.: “Gentn I have received your letter of the 13 inst. and am sorry to find that my bill of Scantling has not yet been forwarded to the Eastern Shore. I should have thought, notwithstanding the communication by water was stopped, that it might have been conveyed by land—I am now, in a manner, reduced to the necessity of depending upon you for the Scantling, because I have, in expectation of being supplied by you, imployed my own Carpenters in other matters when they would have been preparing it.
“As the River is now open I should imagin that it might be delivered much sooner then you mention in your letter; if it should not, I shall sustain a great injury, to say nothing of the disappointment. I am &c. Go. Washington” (LB, DLC:GW).