1To George Washington from Lieutenant Colonel Burgess Ball, 30 January 1781 (Washington Papers)
Having been indulg’d with a Parole, unsolicitted, and unexpected, thro the Interest of Genl Phillips (as I’m inform’d) for Virginia or elsewhere, and, ever desireous to conduct myself so as to avoid any reproach from Your Excellency, I have thought it expedient thus to write to you. It being, in my present situation, improper and out of my power to take any active part in a military capacity,...
2To James Madison from Burgess Ball, 8 December 1788 (Madison Papers)
Influenc’d by the best motives, friendship for you and love for my Country, I take the liberty of writing to you. The Proceedings of our Assembly no doubt you are acquainted with. It is here believ’d that a Majority of that Body under the Controul of —— are disposed to do every thing they can to disappoint & hurt your feelings. The Counties annexed to yours are arranged so, as to render your...
3To George Washington from Burgess Ball, 25 August 1789 (Washington Papers)
I am sorry that it devolvs on me to communicate to you the loss of your Mother who departed this Life abt 3 oClock today. The Cause of her desolution (I believe) was the Cancer on her Breast, but for abt 15 days she has been deprived of her speech, and for the five last days she has remain’d in a Sleep. She has lived a good Age &, I hope, is gone to a happier place than we live at present in....
4To George Washington from Burgess Ball and Charles Carter, 8 October 1789 (Washington Papers)
We have perused your Letter to Mrs Lewis dated the 13th of September, and shall take pleasure in giving her all the Assistance in our power. We shall in the next paper advertize the Stocks &c. to be sold abt the 29th Inst., and, in the same Paper shall request all Persons having Claims against the Estate, to bring ’em in properly attested, but, we believe we have already the whole Accots (as...
5To George Washington from Burgess Ball, 26 December 1789 (Washington Papers)
I fear you will think we have been very dilatary respecting the Settlement of the Old Ladys Affairs &c., as it has been a long time since we have given you any Information of them. For my part I have been so embarrass’d for some time by being Security for Majr Willis, that I cd scarcely think of any thg else. The Negroes are at length divided, but all the things of the Old Ladys are not yet...
6To George Washington from Burgess Ball, 11 July 1793 (Washington Papers)
Being sensible that the sooner your communications were made known to Mr Fitzhugh, and the result to you, so much the sooner wou’d your mind be reliev’d, I waited on him today and fully inform’d him of everything respecting the Conversation the Gentleman had with you at the Dinner in Alexandria on the 4th of July, and of your Sentiments on that Subject—Mr Fitzhugh had hear’d nothing, and says,...
7To George Washington from Burgess Ball, 25 July 1793 (Washington Papers)
I recd yours of the 21st Inst. this Evening, and, as you seem to be misinform’d respecting Mr Laurence Lewis’s Intention of changing his State, I thought it best, on Information from Mrs Lewis (he being at present in Berkly) and his other friends here, to lose no time in writing to you again—They say (& I also believe) that he has no Notion at all of entering into the matrimonial State, and...
8To George Washington from Burgess Ball, 11 August 1793 (Washington Papers)
In my first Letter respecting Mr L: Lewis, I only meant that he wou’d answer your purposes at Mt Vernon ’till you got furnish’d with a Manager to your wishes; But, when I reciev’d your Answer thereto, wherein you seem’d to think, if he possess’d the Qualifications you required, he might (with the Plans you had laid down for your Overseers, and your frequent directions) answer altogether, I...
9To George Washington from Burgess Ball, 31 August 1793 (Washington Papers)
On our way to Loudon &c. we arrived here today—Everythg abt here, from the late rains, seem to look smiling, and from what I’ve seen as I rode along, you’re not suffer’d for rain anythg like so much as abt Fredericksbg. I have brot with me two Bush: of Early Wheat, and wish I cou’d have brot for you much more, for ’tho a good deal may be got in Fredericksbg, no opportys offer to this part of...
10To George Washington from Burgess Ball, 16 November 1793 (Washington Papers)
We have been here about ten days, and are now tollarably fix’d. I have been making Enquiry about Buck Wheat, and have given notice that I will give 2/ ⅌ Bush: (a Price the Merchts told me I might purchase for) but, from the Scarcity of Corn, which now sells @ 12/ ⅌ Barrell, I fear I shall not be able to get the Buck wheat for less than 2/6—For this price I’m sure I can get any quantity in a...