To George Washington from William Frederick Ast, 7 October 1795
From William Frederick Ast
Richmond 7. Octr 1795.
Sir
Permit me to take the Liberty to send You hereinclosed the Plan of Mutual Assurance against fire for the State of Virginia which I have formed and suggested; with the Explanations thereof; the Law of the General Assembly of this State; and a Copy of the Subscribers—we have a good many more Subscribers besides what is on this printed Copy: but not sufficient yet to organize the Business.1
I hope that it will meet your Approbation, and as the Basis of this Institution is to succour the unfortunate and for the Good of Mankind I make no doubt but that You will be so kind to order Your Steward to sign for You. The present Subscription is only to comply with the Law;2 each subscribes according to the Amount of his Building: that is what they can be built for; the Buildings will afterwards be valued on which Valuation the Premiums will be paid. I have the honour to subscribe myself very respectfully Sir Your Excellency’s most obedient & most humble Servt
William F. Ast
ALS, DLC:GW.
1. The printed prospectus of “The Mutual Assurance Society, Against FIRE on BUILDINGS in the State of Virginia,” including the Virginia act of 22 Dec. 1794 and a list of more than 600 subscribers with the amount subscribed by each, is with this letter in DLC:GW.
2. The act specified that the full organization of the society would take place when “the sum subscribed for shall amount to three millions of dollars or upwards.”