To George Washington from Thomas Peter, 27 August 1794
From Thomas Peter
George Town [Md.] 27th August 1794
Dear sir
I have for some time past been in treaty with Charles Carter Esqr. for a Tract of Land in Louden County Virginia containing about 5,500 Acres which I consider to be a great bargain, & which I can not accomplish to secure unless I could borrow about £2,000 Maryland Money.1
My Father enables me to say that he will be my Security, if it could be borrowed for a few Years—I could Negotiate for it, at the Bank of Columbia, but he is perfectly against having any thing to do with Negotiation of that kind, & Rather recommends my endeavouring to get it in some other way—He has given me some Land in this State, & Property in the City of Washington, therefore I am averse to press him into any Mode of Negotiation for the Accomplishment of this very desireable object contrary to his own inclination; but he assures me that this sum shall be replaced in a few years & the Ints. Annually paid till fulfill’d.
The Land is a great object with me, & if the Money could be secured through your Ints. on the above conditions he will chearfully support it—It hurts me to address you on a subject of this Nature, but the bargain would be so advantageous in my Oppinion (as Land is raising so Rapidly in Value) that I hope it may Plead my Excuse with you for such Presumtion—I remain with the utmost Esteem Dear sir Your Obt servt
Thomas Peter
P.S. As I must give an answer soon to C. Carter Esqr. it will be pleasing to hear shortly from you. T.P.
ALS, DLC:GW.
Thomas Peter (1769-1834) was the son of the prosperous tobacco merchant Robert Peter, at this time mayor of Georgetown. He married GW’s step-granddaughter Martha Parke Custis in 1795.
1. Peter probably was negotiating with Charles Carter of Ludlow, who sold his claim to a large acreage in Loudoun County to Joseph Jones on 18 Dec. 1794 ("Jones and Carter v. Roberts, &c." [1809], Call, Reports, 6:187-204).