To George Washington from William Booker, 6 July 1798
From William Booker
Richmond 6 July 1798
Sir
I receivd your Letter of the 22 Ulto1 and on Wednesday Last (being the first opportunity Since) have Shipped on board the Schooner Republican Capt. Bagnal, the Rawhide band put up in a Small Barrel to be delivd to Col. Gilpin of Alexandria.
I have put it up in a barrel in order to make it more handy to Carry &c. not from fear of rats and mice it being well Greased with train oil which I have found a sufficient preventative from them,2 Some of those bands have been used Last fall and one in particular in a horse Mill it has been Constantly Exposed and have Never Receivd the Least Injury from any Vermin whatever, and there are a great abundance ⟨of⟩ rats and mice in the Same house. The first ba⟨nd⟩ I Ever made Receivd Some Injury but it was before it was Greased. I was then told of the Grease and have always used it and have never as yet heard a Complaint.
I am Extreemly Glad to hear you are Gathering your wheat Straight I make not the Least doubt but the machine will please.
I will (if possible) be at Mount Vernon between the 25 and Last of this month, nothing of any Consequence will be wanting for the alterations Necessary for the machine but may be Easily got after I come, as the alterations Chiefly Consist in the manner of pla[c]ing Some parts of the machine farther and Some nearer than it now is—from Each Other.3 I am your Most Ob. Set
Wm Booker
P.S. The Captains receipt is Inclosed.4
ALS, DLC:GW.
1. Letter not found.
2. Train oil is whale oil.
3. See Booker to GW, 15 June, printed in GW to Booker, 15 April 1798, n.2. Booker was at Mount Vernon 14–18 Aug. and 14–25 Oct. (, 6:313, 320, 321).
4. The receipt dated 4 July at Richmond and signed by Joseph Bagnal reads: “Recd of Henry Reed on a/c of Mr Booker one barrel which I promise to deliver to Col. [George] Gilpin at Alexandria he payg freight for the same” (DLC:GW).