From George Washington to Richard Peters, 20 June 1792
To Richard Peters
Philadelphia June 20th 1792
Dear Sir,
Excuse my giving you the perusal of a letter that is tinctured with compliment. Pass these over, and solve the queries & doubts of the author;1 and you will much oblige Yr Obedt Servt
Go: Washington
ALS, PHi: Dreer Collection.
On the cover of this letter, GW wrote: “Expecting Mr Peters might be in Town, this letter was sent to Colo. [Francis] Johnston’s; not finding him there, & the Ship by which the P—— means to write to Mr Y—— on the point of Sailing (say saturday [23 June]) he sends it to him in the Country.” Peters’s country estate was six miles from Philadelphia. Francis Johnston (1748–1815), who had served in the Pennsylvania conventions of 1774 and 1775 and had risen to the rank of colonel in the Continental army during the Revolutionary War, had been appointed receiver general of Pennsylvania in 1781. He was still serving in that capacity at this time.
1. GW apparently forwarded to Peters his letter to Arthur Young of 18–21 June, which included GW’s observation that Peters was “one of the best farmers in the State of Pennsylvania.” For Peters’s attempt to answer Young’s queries, see his letter of this date.