To George Washington from Edmund Randolph, 13 October 1794
From Edmund Randolph
Philadelphia
October 13. 1794. ½ past ten o’clock
(Private)
Sir
Mr Freire, the Portuguese Minister, is arrived; and he is to call upon me to-day at 2 o’clock.
Mrs Washington having written this morning will have told you, that she and the family are in good health.1
There is great reason to fear, that the French are making rapid strides towards Amsterdam; notwithstanding the interruption, which Breda and Maestricht are likely to give them.2
I am writing to Mr Jay; and shall keep the letter open, in case his private letter to you should induce you to send any particular instruction.3 I have the honor, sir, to be with the highest respect and affectionate attachment yr mo. ob. serv.
Edm: Randolph
ALS, DLC:GW.
1. Martha Washington’s letter has not been found.
2. Breda and Maastricht are towns in the Netherlands near its current border with Belgium, Breda more or less on the direct line from Brussels to Amsterdam, and Maastricht a little over sixty miles southeast of Breda. Maastricht fell to the French in November 1794, and Breda was invested in December but not taken until 1795.
3. Randolph’s letter to Jay of 11 Oct. was continued with entries dated 13, 18, and 19 Oct., but it was closed without any instruction from GW (DNA: RG 59, Diplomatic and Consular Instructions, 1791–1801). The private letter, forwarded with Randolph’s second letter to GW of 11 Oct., probably was Jay’s letter to GW of 11 August.