George Washington Papers

From George Washington to James McHenry, 3 December 1799

To James McHenry

Mount Vernon Decr 3d 1799

Sir

I take the liberty of enclosing a letter from Colo. Parker to Mr Lear, in which he requests that I will write to the proper department, to have arrangements made for the payment of two thousand one hundred & seventy five dollars and one third, being the amount of the purchase of one hundred and ninety six acres of land, bought, for the United States, adjoining the public ground at Harper’s Ferry.1

You will be pleased to observe that the Money is to be paid on the 1st day of January next, and that Major Campbell, who made the purchase, has given his bond therefor; and I am persuaded there will be no delay in fulfilling the engagement which he has made for the United States.2 With due consideration I have the honor to be Sir, Your most obedt St

Df, in Tobias Lear’s hand, DLC:GW.

1Tobias Lear wrote Thomas Parker from Mount Vernon on 6 Dec.: “I have been duly favor’d with your letter of the 28th Ultimo, which was laid before the Commander in Chief, who immediately communicated the same to the Secretary of War, requesting him to have provision made for the payment of Major [William] Campbell’s bond, which was given for the land purchased by him for the United States; and which will, without doubt, be duly attended to from that Department” (DLC:GW). Parker’s letter to Lear of 28 Nov. has not been found.

2McHenry wrote GW from Philadelphia on 12 Dec.: “I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 3d instant. The Quarter Master General has been directed to remit the monies for the purchase of land adjoining the public Ground at Harpers ferry, and I have understood it has been some time since forwarded” (DLC:GW). For the decision to buy additional land for the encampment at Harpers Ferry, see Lear to GW, 30 Oct., 4 Nov., and Parker to GW, 31 October. See also Lear to GW, 4 Nov., n.8.

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