From George Washington to Jonathan Boucher, 4 December 1769
To Jonathan Boucher
Eltham 4th Decr 1769
Revd Sir,
Jacky will inform you of the Reasons why he brings not the Books you wrote to me for, and to him I refer—perhaps all, or most of them, were Included in the Catalogue I sent to England for him, and if so, I expect they will be in, in less than three Months.1
The Printer has promisd to have a Musick Book Rul’d for Mr Boucher agt I come up, if so it shall be brought—Jack’s stay has been longer here than we intended but we hope he will endeavour to make atonemt by extray diligence.2 I am Revd Sir with great esteem Yr Most Obedt Servt
Go: Washington
ALS, NNYSL.
1. In his invoice to Robert Cary & Co. of 25 July 1769 ordering goods from London for John Parke Custis, GW enclosed a list of books to be bought for his ward. Cary listed in its invoice of 23 Jan. 1770 for John Parke Custis fifty books bought from Francis Newbery and being shipped to GW for young Custis (DLC:GW).
2. For the journey to Williamsburg, see GW to Boucher, 3 Oct. 1769, n.1. GW remained in Williamsburg with his wife and stepdaughter until the House of Burgesses adjourned on 21 Dec., when they returned to Eltham. They spent Christmas in Fredericksburg with Fielding and Betty Lewis, stayed the night of 26 Dec. with GW’s mother, and were overtaken on 27 Dec. at Dumfries by Boucher and John Parke Custis, who accompanied them to Mount Vernon on 28 December. See , 2:203–4.