11From George Washington to Jonathan Boucher, 14 October 1769 (Washington Papers)
I congratulate you upon your easy passage over the Sickly Months: We have had a much more troublesome time of it in this Family, but are now tolerably well recoverd of those disorders which prevaild pretty generally in this part of the Country. Business of an unexpected kind, will detain me so long at home, as to leave no time to spend on the Road otherwise we shoud with great pleasure call...
12From George Washington to Jonathan Boucher, 4 December 1769 (Washington Papers)
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. 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...
13From George Washington to Jonathan Boucher, 3–10 February 1770 (Washington Papers)
The uncertainty of your return from Maryland (as we heard that Potomack was Froze below Cedar Point) added to the difficulty, & indeed danger of crossing the Waters between this and your House are the Reason’s of Jackys detention here so long. We therefore if he shoud be too late in comg hope your excuse for it. He brings down several pair of very good London made Shoes, which being too small...
14From George Washington to Jonathan Boucher, 13 May 1770 (Washington Papers)
Your favour of the 9th came to hand last Night, but I do not think myself prepared at this time, to give any conclusive answer to the questian you propounded, respecting Mr Custis’s travelling to perfect his Education. It is a matter of very great consequence, and well deserving of the most serious consideration, especially by one who stands in the degree of Affinity to him that I do—A natural...
15From George Washington to Jonathan Boucher, 2–9 June 1770 (Washington Papers)
Your favour of the 21st Ulto containing very judicious remarks on the advantages of Travelling (to youth who have a turn to Improvement) served to convince me of the Utility of the measure. but when I came to converse with sevl Gentlemen who have had some experience of the expence, and of whose judgments I entertaind a better opinion of than my own, I find myself embarrassed; Not because I...
16From George Washington to Jonathan Boucher, 30 July 1770 (Washington Papers)
The Books you wrote for, I hope you will receive in good order by Joe, as I desired Lund Washington to pack them up carefully & see them put into the Portmanteau —No thread came from Mr Addison’s, nor any from Mr Digges’s to which place I sent, thinking it might be contrivd there along with Jacks Key’s. We coud easily have carried down, & most certainly shoud have done so if it had ever got...
17From George Washington to Jonathan Boucher, 15 August 1770 (Washington Papers)
Your favour of the 13th this Instant came to hand, & we have to thank you for your care of the Medicines sent by Mr Johnson —We are glad to hear that you and Jack were well—Patcy has been very unwell since we had the pleasure of seeing you, not only with her old complaint, but the Ague and fever also, but from the latter she has recoverd. Miss Boucher favourd us with her Company at...
18From George Washington to Jonathan Boucher, 16 December 1770 (Washington Papers)
According to appointment Jacky Custis now returns to Annapolis—His Mind a good deal relaxed from Study, & more than ever turnd to Dogs Horses & Guns; indeed upon Dress & equipage, which till of late, he has discoverd little Inclination of giving into. I must beg the favour of you therefore to keep him close to those useful branches of Learning which he ought now to be acquainted with, & as...
19From George Washington to Jonathan Boucher, 2 January 1771 (Washington Papers)
Jack’s return has been delayd, as well from a belief that you might not be well settled, or from a desire of gratifying him in his favourite amusement of Hunting, these Holliday’s —He returns now he says, with a determination of applying close to his Studies; and I confide entirely in your promise of making him do so, as time slips of a pace, and other Idea’s & pursuits, will soon render it...
20From George Washington to Jonathan Boucher, 3 February 1771 (Washington Papers)
Colo. Robert Fairfax, with whom I have often talk’d, & who much approves, of Jacks intended Tour for Improvement, purposes to leave this on his return to England sometime in March; before his doing of which he is desirous of seeing Jacky and has instructed me to say, that he shoud be very glad of seeing you with him. The warmth with which he has made a tender of his Services, & the pressing...