271From George Washington to George Washington Parke Custis, 29 August 1797 (Washington Papers)
Your letter of the 21st Instt came to hand by the last Post; and, as usual, gave us pleasure to hear that you enjoyed good health; were progressing well in your Studies; and that you were in the Road to promotion. Senior class having left, or being on the point of leaving College—some of them with great eclat—ought to prove a strong stimulus to those who remain to acquire equal reputation...
272From George Washington to Ludwell Lee, 29 August 1797 (Washington Papers)
General Spotswood, Mrs Miss & Captn Spotswood, and Miss Thornton of Culpeper (all relations I believe of yours) are now here. They, Mrs Washington and myself, would be glad to see you, Mrs Lee Miss Armistead & any others of your family, at Dinner tomorrow. With esteem & regard I am Dear Sir Your Obedt Hble Servt ALS , owned (1996) by Mr. Joseph Rubinfine, West Palm Beach, Florida. Alexander...
273From George Washington to Thomas Macdonald, 29 August 1797 (Washington Papers)
Your favor of the 19th, and the Vol[um]e of Reports which accompanied it, have been duly received. For your care of the latter, and particularly for having it bound, I pray you to accept my best thanks; and an assurance that, if inclination or business should induce you or Mr Rich to visit the State of Virginia, I should think myself honored in seeing of you at my Seat. Little doubt can be...
274From George Washington to Timothy Pickering, 29 August 1797 (Washington Papers)
Your favours of the 9th, 10th, & 19th instant have been duly received; for your care of my European letters, and attention to the copying Press, Laws of the U.S. and journals of Congress, I feel myself obliged. If the Vessel has not already left Philadelphia, the Tryal, Captn Hand, is up for Alexandria; and will afford a good conveyance for the above articles, as it has other small matters on...
275[Diary entry: 30 August 1797] (Washington Papers)
30. Clear, with the Wind, tho little of it Southerly. Mercury 80. Ludwell Lee Esqr. & Lady & Miss Armistead dined here. Richard Henry Lee’s eldest son, Ludwell Lee (1760–1836), served in the Virginia House of Delegates 1787–90 and was now speaker of the Virginia Senate. His first wife, Flora Lee, had died, and he was married again on 30 May 1797 to Elizabeth (Betsey) Armistead, daughter of...
276[Diary entry: 31 August 1797] (Washington Papers)
31. Appearances of rain in the Morning—clear & warm afterwards. Mer. at 84. Genl. Spotswoods family & ours dined with Mr. Ludwell Lee. And Mr. Nichs. Fitzhugh & his wife came here to dinner & Mr. Lawe. Lewis in the evening. dined with mr. ludwell lee : at Shuter’s (Shooter’s) Hill, Lee’s home just outside Alexandria. Nicholas Fitzhugh (1764–1814), one of 14 children of Henry Fitzhugh...
277From George Washington to Timothy Pickering, 31 August 1797 (Washington Papers)
The last Mail brought me your favour of the 24th instant, covering a letter from General Kosciuszko. And presuming that the Attorney General is on his way to Virginia, I hope to receive, soon, the Packets you committed to his charge. Not knowing where Genl Kosciuszko may be, I pray your care of the enclosed to him, as it is probable his movements will be known to you. It is with extreme regret...
278September [1797] (Washington Papers)
1. Clear & extremely warm being calm—Mer. at 90. 2. Calm in the forenoon & very warm—Mer. being at 91. In the afternoon a little rain fell here for a few minutes & apparently a good deal elsewhere. 3. A sprinkle of rain for a few minutes—Wind at No. Wt. Mer. at 79. Mr. & Mrs. Fitzhugh went away after breakfast & Mr. Lear came to dinner. 4. Wind at No. Wt. & clear—Mer. 77. Genl. Spotswood &...
279[Diary entry: 1 September 1797] (Washington Papers)
1. Clear & extremely warm being calm—Mer. at 90.
280From George Washington to Israel Shreve, 1 September 1797 (Washington Papers)
Your letter of the 30th of July has been received, but not until within the last three days. Your judgment Bond was, long before, sent to Mr Ross to bring suit on. What he has done in the matter I know not. To sue, cannot be more unpleasant and disagreeable to you, than it is to me, but as the want of money, and a punctual payment of it, were the only motives to sell my lands in the Counties...
281[Diary entry: 2 September 1797] (Washington Papers)
2. Calm in the forenoon & very warm—Mer. being at 91. In the afternoon a little rain fell here for a few minutes & apparently a good deal elsewhere.
282[Diary entry: 3 September 1797] (Washington Papers)
3. A sprinkle of rain for a few minutes—Wind at No. Wt. Mer. at 79. Mr. & Mrs. Fitzhugh went away after breakfast & Mr. Lear came to dinner.
283From George Washington to Lawrence Augustine Washington, 3 September 1797 (Washington Papers)
Your letter of the 23d of the last, was received on the first day of the present month. In the interesting event which you have announced, I sincerely wish you and the lady who is to be the partner of your future fortunes, all imaginable happiness. To attain which, depends very much upon the parties themselves: and from the character you have drawn of Miss Wood, and from what I have heard of...
284[Diary entry: 4 September 1797] (Washington Papers)
4. Wind at No. Wt. & clear—Mer. 77. Genl. Spotswood & family went away after breakfast.
285From George Washington to John O’Donnell, 4 September 1797 (Washington Papers)
I am going to take a liberty with you, for which I rely more on your goodness, than on any excuse I can make for pardon. A person of the name of Anthony Heusler, a German (in the vicinity of Baltimore) has offered himself to me as a Gardener. He professes to understand that business in all its branches, and well in each, representing himself moreover as a person of some property, and very...
286[Diary entry: 5 September 1797] (Washington Papers)
5. Clear—Mercury at 79.
287[Diary entry: 6 September 1797] (Washington Papers)
6. Clear—Do.—72.
288From George Washington to Clement Biddle, 6 September 1797 (Washington Papers)
Your favor of the 30th Ult. was received by the last Post. As the Encyclopædia might be useful, to have by me (though wanting the last Volume or two) I would if the binding business goes on as usual, request Mr Dobson to have all that are published, neatly bound and sent to me, except the last vole which may be retained as a sample to bind the remainder by. I do not recollect, but suppose the...
289From George Washington to William Pearce, 6 September 1797 (Washington Papers)
. . . but as the Season is now far advanced, and you have hitherto been unsuccessful, and the wages of those you think good, are besides high; I shall, rather than run a risk of doing worse, engage Cask [Cash], who seems to be a sober, active & obliging man, for the coming year, which will complete my wants. . . . The Collector, nos. 9–11 (1962), item r420. Only this printed fragment of the...
290[Diary entry: 7 September 1797] (Washington Papers)
7. Do.—Do. 70. Dined, with all the family, at Mr. Willm. Wilsons & returnd in the Even.
291[Diary entry: 8 September 1797] (Washington Papers)
8. Clear—Wind varying from No. Et. to So. Et. Mercury at 68.
292From George Washington to Henry Lee, Jr., 8 September 1797 (Washington Papers)
Your favour of the 27th Ult. with its enclosures, came safe to hand. When the negociable note for $1000 is paid, and the 30 barrels of Corn are received, the amount of both will be carried to your credit. I am told that the present price of Wheat in Alexandria is 8/ but I can fix no price now for what may be delivered 2, 3, 4 or even 6 months hence, or, perhaps, not at all (if you depend upon...
293[Diary entry: 9 September 1797] (Washington Papers)
9. Very great appearances of Rain in the Morning with some mist—but not to lay the dust. Mer. at 68. Wind at No. Et. all day.
294[Diary entry: 10 September 1797] (Washington Papers)
10. Clear & Cool Wind at No. Et. Mer. 68. Mr. Jno. Bassett—wife & 3 Childn. came here to Dinnr. Martha Washington’s nephew John Bassett and his wife, Elizabeth Carter Browne Bassett, had at least four children at this time.
295From George Washington to Tobias Lear, 10 September 1797 (Washington Papers)
I have almost determined to build the Walls of the House intended for a Distillery (at my Mill) of Stone, for the sake of expedition; as the Carpenters work can be carrying on at the same time. Having this in contemplation, I would thank you for informing at what price foundation Stone from the Falls could be delivered to a Boat as near to my Mill as the Vessel could get and whether any person...
296[Diary entry: 11 September 1797] (Washington Papers)
11. Wind at No. Et. & Cool. Mer. 70—Colo. Sam Griffin and Lady came to dinner.
297From George Washington to Tobias Lear, 11 September 1797 (Washington Papers)
Your letter of the 8th instant was given to me yesterday by Mr Jno. Bassett. If you had intimated a wish to Lease my River Farm a month or two ago, all matters might, with ease, have been arranged before this; but as I had heard nothing in that time from the English Farmer who had been in Treaty for it, I had relinquished the idea of letting it next year, & in consequence, have engaged Stuart,...
298[Diary entry: 12 September 1797] (Washington Papers)
12. Wind at So. Et. Mer. 70. Appearances of Rain in the Eveng. but none fell. Col. Otway Byrd, Doctr. Barraud came to Dinr. & Mr. Saml. Washington in the Afternoon. Francis Otway Byrd (1756–1800), son of William Byrd III (1729–1777) and his first wife, Elizabeth Hill Carter Byrd, resigned his post in the British navy at the beginning of the Revolution to take the position of aide to Maj. Gen....
299[Diary entry: 13 September 1797] (Washington Papers)
13. Some appearances of Rain in the evening but none fell. Wind southerly. Mer. 72. All the company went after breakfast.
300[Diary entry: 14 September 1797] (Washington Papers)
14. Wind at So. Wt. Mer. at 74, a Shower for abt. 6 Minutes in the afternoon.