To George Washington from Alexander Smith, 9 November 1796
From Alexander Smith
Alexandria [Va.] Novr 9th 1796
Sir
Need usaly Allone is the Only Cause of my troubling You Once more when I wrote last I had Every Reason to beliave that it would be in my power to pay Your mony when Due by makeing Some Small Sacrafise but my hopes in Some mesure is blasted Since that t⟨i⟩me I have had payments with held to Amtt ⟨mutilated⟩ near ten thausand Dollars for flour Sold and Cash lent and I find that I Cannot Callect therefore Shall be Obliged to Give time1 I have Sufitiant to pay Every Gentlmn that I Owe One Shilling without Selling Reael Estate but at the Same time will Dispose of Any property I have to pay my Debts I therefore Request it as A Singuler favour to Only Give me Ninty Days more indulgance from the 24th this month At which time Your mony becoms Due you Shall have the Same inclosur I hav⟨e⟩ Communicated my mind to mr Wm Pear⟨ce⟩ and Showed him a Statement of my books in Order that he may more fully Sattisfy you that their is no Danger of Loosing Any mony by me at present I Do not think it will be in my power to take up my note a few lines On this buisness will be thankfully Received By Your Obednt Hule Sart2
Alexr Smith
ALS, DLC:GW. The cover is marked “Free.” Above the address, the cover also has “Alex. 9 Nov: pr post.”
1. Smith, indebted to GW for flour he had purchased from Mount Vernon, last wrote GW on 4 Oct. about his note that was due on 24 November. For more on Smith’s difficulties in making payments to GW, see Tobias Lear to GW, 20 November.