1. On the enclosed bond, see Tilghman to GW, 25 July 1793, and note 3. The bond reads: “Know all men by these presents that I George Washington President of the United States am held & firmly bound to Sydney George of Cæcil county in the State of Maryland Esquire in the sum of four hundred pounds lawful money of Pennsylvania to be paid to the said Sydney George his Executors Administrators or assigns to which payment I bind myself my heirs Executors & Administrators firmly by these presents sealed with my seal & dated this [ ] day of August in the Year of our Lord seventeen hundred & ninety three.

“Wh[e]reas the above named Sydney George did on or about the thirteenth day of August in the year of our Lord seventeen hundred & seventy four pass his bond to John West deceased who was one of the Executors of the last will & testament of Thomas Colville formerly of Virginia deceased for the penal sum of one hundred & eighty pounds current Money of Pennsylvania conditioned for payment of ninety pounds like money with legal interest for the same to the said John West as Executor of the said Colville on the tenth day of June next ensuing the date of the said bond & whereas the said bond is not now to be found & the said Sydney George is about to make payment of the same to the above bound George Washington who is surviving Executor of the last will & testament of the said Thomas Colville Note the condition of the above obligation is such that if the said George Washington his heirs Executors or Administrators shall for ever indemnify & save harmless the said Sydney George his heirs Executors & Administrators from all suits actions claims or demands in law or Equity of all persons whatsoever on account of any payments on the said bond which the said Sydney George his heirs Executors or Administrators shall make to the said George Washington his Executors or Administrators then the above obligation to be void otherwise of force.

“Sealed & deliver’d in the presence of [ ]” (DLC:GW).

2. The enclosed receipt reads: “Recd the 8th Sept. 1774 the sum of one hundred pounds Pennsylvania currency of Sydney George Executor of Sydney George late of Cæcil county deceased in part of a debt due to Col. Thomas Colville formerly of Virginia deceased & also a bond of the first aforesaid Sydney George of date the 13th day of August last for the sum of one hundred & eighty pounds money aforesaid with a condition to pay the sum of twenty pounds money aforesaid with legal Interest for the same to John West one of the Executors of the said Colville on the 10th day of June next. Geo. Chalmers Atty for the Exs. of Thos Colville” (DLC:GW). George Chalmers (1742–1825) emigrated in 1763 from Scotland to join other family members in Maryland. He practiced law in Baltimore from 1768 until 1775 when he departed for Great Britain, where he became known as a historical and political writer.

3. A clerk’s docket on this letter reads “From William Tilghman Esqr 17th Augt 1793 Mr Tilghman was informed that before I gave my bond to indemnify Mr George against his—I wished him to write to & hear from Mr Chambers on the subject—which he promised to do—and thought likewise that such proceedure would be most proper.” For Tilghman’s compliance with this request, see his letter to GW of 1 Mar. 1794 (DLC:GW).