To George Washington from Henry Emanuel Lutterloh, 3 June 1791
From Henry Emanuel Lutterloh
Fayetteville [N.C.] June 3th 1791
Sir!
On the 8th of Aprill 1787, You honoured me, with an Answer, upon my Proposition, to bring several German family’s, into the State of Virginia—You was pleased to Mention the Dismal Swamp Company; and that you would convene them together to make my Proposalls &c. I took the Liberty to state My Reasons in My Answer of the 15th of May following why I could not come there.1
Since that time, I have Obtained from this assembly the inclosed Grand—and a Lottery for five Succeding Years—to Support, and to carry My Importation Plan into Effect.2
I feel myself exceedingly happy, to be able Thro’ this Grand, to offer my Service again, to Supply You, those few Mechanicks, which you were pleased to order: I wish to Know what Sort of Workman, You wante; and in which Ports, they should be delivered in Virginia.
The dismal Swamp Canal Company—is to finish The Canal, in which this state has joined—Therefore I wish to offer my Service to Them—and most humbly beg to honour me with, a recomendation That I may make my Proposalls, of my present plans. I Know by information from Europe; That I can procure any Number, of good Manufactoring, and Labouring Germans.
My Plan at present is not to receive any Cash in advance. but when the people arrived, to be paid in Produce.
if it was necessary and I received the order, I would come to Meet the Gentlemen of the Company—My being at Hilsborough with the Governor and Counsell to receive the inclosed Grand, prevented me, to show my respectfull attandance at Wilmington to assure in person, my profoundest respects in which, I have the honour to be. Sir, Your Most obedient and Most humble Servant
Henry, Emanuel Lutterloh.
ALS, DNA: RG 59, Miscellaneous Letters.
For background to this letter, see Henry Emanuel Lutterloh to GW, 3 Jan. 1787, John Page to GW, 9 Mar. 1787, and GW to Lutterloh, 8 April 1787 and 1 Jan. 1789 and source note.
1. No 15 May 1787 or 1788 letter to GW has been found, but Lutterloh might have been referring to his letter of 13 June 1787.
2. In November and December 1790 the North Carolina legislature passed “An Act to authorize Henry Emanuel Lutterloh to raise by way of Lottery a sum sufficient to enable him to bring into this State foreigners who are Artisans in various Branches of Business,” which authorized him to raise by lottery up to $6,000 a year for five years, provided he lay before the governor and council within a year “the plan and scheme of the said lottery upon which the Governor is required to issue unto . . . Lutterloh a license under the Great Seal of the State authorizing him to carry into effect the plan and scheme of the lottery aforesaid.” As soon as Lutterloh complied with that requirement the governor was to issue to him under the state seal another grant or patent “in which shall be comprehended the meaning of this Act” ( 21:802, 826, 831–32, 899, 969, 970, 994, 997, 1000, 25:94–95). The enclosed copy of this c.24–26 April 1791 grant has not been found.