From George Washington to Rufus King, 25 August 1796
To Rufus King
Private
Philadelphia 25th Augt 1796
Dear Sir
Will you do me the favor to cause the enclosed notification to be inserted in some public Paper, agreeably to the Decree of the High Court of Chancery in Virginia—annexed thereto.1
It has been a long, troublesome and vexatious business to me; and I wish to close it finally and effectually in the manner designated. One part of which (depositing of the money) I have already complied with—and wish to do the same by the other part—namely, the Publication in England.
The persons interested (if any of them are in existence) lives, most probably, at or near Newcastle in Northumberland County England. Whether it would be best therefore to send it there in the first instance for publication, or to publish it in the Metropolis (London) with a request that it may be re-published there, I leave to your better judgment in these matters.
Whatever expence is incurred, be pleased either to charge in your public account, or send me a note of it, and the amount shall in either case be paid to the Secretary of State here.2
I am sorry and almost ashamed to give you trouble in so trifling (though to me, interesting a business) but as I conceived it would be the most effectual mode of executing it, I rely on your goodness to excuse it—and to send me one of the Papers containing the publication of the notice.
I hope you and family had a short and pleasant passage—Present me if you please to Mrs King,3 and be assured of the esteem & regard with which I am—Dear Sir Your most Obedt Servt
Go: Washington
ALS, NHi: Rufus King Papers; ADfS, DLC:GW; LB, DLC:GW. The word “Copy” has been written near the top of the ALS in an unknown handwriting.
1. GW enclosed a notice dated 25 July: “The Administration of the Estate of Colo. Thomas Colville late of Fairfax County in Virginia being now closed, it appears by the Settlement that there is a Ballance in my Hands of Nine hundred and Thirty two Pounds Seventeen Shillings and Seven pence three Farthings Current Money of Virginia (Dollars at Six Shillings) which by the Will of Colo. Colville is to be divided among the nearest Relations of his Mother Catherine Colville of the name of Stott, Wills, Richards and Smith. Not chusing to take upon myself a decision of the various Claims to this Legacy I have filed a Bill in the High Court of Chancery to bring the several Claimants into that Court for a discussion of their Claims. In this Suit the customary Order has been made where the parties or any of them reside out of the State which by the Laws of the State is equivalent to the Service of the Subpœna. Those who are interested will pay attention to this Order, as a neglect may bar their Claims. The Money is deposited in the Bank of Alexandria and the Order of Court hereto subjoined” (NHi: Rufus King Papers). For the chancery decree, see Bushrod Washington to GW, 3 July, n.2. The notice and decree appeared in The London Gazette several times between the issues dated 29 Nov. 1796 and 21–24 Jan. 1797.
2. King enclosed this paragraph of the ALS in square brackets. He also marked an open bracket before the first sentence of the letter and at the end of the first sentence of the second paragraph. King then wrote in the left margin of the first page: “N. Yk Ap. 28. 1804. the sentences included in Brackets sent to the treasury as a voucher for the charge of advertising &c.”
3. Mary Alsop King (1769–1819) had married Rufus King in 1786.