31From George Washington to William Thornton, 1 December 1799 (Washington Papers)
Your favour of the 30th Ulto, enclosing Mr Blagdens dimensions of the rooms in my houses in the City, came to my hands this morning; With a list of the different kinds of Fruit trees in the Frenchmans Garden; to whom I was a subscriber. The terms on which the subscription was set on foot, have entirely escaped me; my motive for subscribing—namely—to encourage a nursery of that sort, still...
32November [1799] (Washington Papers)
1. Morning clear. A little breeze from the northward. Mer. at 55. Clear all day, & calm in the Afternoon. Mr. Craik went away after Breakfast. Mer. 49 at Night. 2. Morning clear. Mer. at 45. Wind at So. Wt. Afternoon a little hazy with indications of Rain. Mr. Jno. Fairfax (formerly an overseer of mine) came here before dinner and stayed all Night. John Fairfax resigned from GW’s employ in...
33[Diary entry: 30 November 1799] (Washington Papers)
30. Morning cloudy—but no appearance of Rain. Wind So. W. but soon Shifted to No. Wt. Mer. at 24 in the morning & 31 at Night. Colo. & Mrs. Carrington went away after B[reakfas]t.
34From George Washington to Bryan Fairfax, 30 November 1799 (Washington Papers)
I thank you for the courses of so much of your land on Difficult, as had any relation to my small tract at the Bridge, over that stream, and for the communications contained in your favour of the 28th Instt. The information derived from these sources, has satisfied me that the opinion of the Borderers on my land that it extended to Tankervilles line; and my own opinion (when I found the lines...
35[Diary entry: 29 November 1799] (Washington Papers)
29. Morning until about 9 Oclock Snowing—but not to lay on the grd. Mer. at 33 and wind at No. Wt. but neither hard nor cold. Afterwards it increased & turned colder. Young D. McCarty came to dinner and Mr. Howell Lewis & wife after dinner. Howell Lewis’s wife was Ellen Hackley Pollard Lewis (1776–1859).
36[Diary entry: 28 November 1799] (Washington Papers)
28. Morning Cloudy—Wind Southerly and Mer. at 32. About 2 oclock it began to rain & continued to do so all the afternoon. Mer. 33 at Night. Colo. & Mrs. Carrington came to Dinner.
37From George Washington to Charles Little, 28 November 1799 (Washington Papers)
Mr Johnston delivered me your favour of yesterday, and a map of the Land—formerly Lord Tankervilles; but as he came late in the afternoon, and said he was obliged to return that evening, I did not incline to detain him until I could examine, & get such information from the plat as was necessary for my purpose. I therefore dispatched him, & took the liberty of detaining the latter until this...
38From George Washington to Samuel Sommers, 28 November 1799 (Washington Papers)
Colo. Little forwarded your letter of the 25th instant to me, yesterday evening; & I have now to request (if it is not already done) that my Entry may be made in the County Surveyors Book of Record, and the Treasury Warrant deposited therewith. Not having the Laws of this Commonwealth (since the Revolution) by me, I am entirely unacquainted with the regular mode of proceeding with respect to...
39[Diary entry: 27 November 1799] (Washington Papers)
27. Morning clear—Wind Southerly and Mer. at 30. Wind, and appearances of Clouds afterwards, variable. Mer. 34 at Night. Doctr. Craik who was sent for to Mrs. Lewis (& who was delivered of a daughter abt. oclock in the forenoon) came to Breakfast & stayed [to] dinner. Mr. Dublois dined here, and both went away afterwards. Eleanor Parke (Nelly) Custis Lewis’s daughter was named Frances Parke...
40[Diary entry: 26 November 1799] (Washington Papers)
26. Morning clear. Mer. at 31—wind at No. Wt. Cold & fresh all day. Mer. 30 at Night.
41From George Washington to Bryan Fairfax, 26 November 1799 (Washington Papers)
In the early part of this month, I went up to Difficult-run to examine with more accuracy than I had ever done before, the small tract of Land you were so obliging (many years ago) to accomodate me with, for a Stage for my Waggons whilst I had plantations in Berkeley County; to see if it would now (having many years since removed my people from those Lands) answer for a small Farm; those...
42From George Washington to John Gill, 26 November 1799 (Washington Papers)
Under cover with this, you are furnished with the Invoice of such goods as I require. As it was not so much in my power to fix the prices, as to designate the quality of the Goods, the amount of the cost of them may exceed, or fall short, of the sum due from you to me. If the first, the balance shall be paid by me; if the latter, I shall look to you for the deficiency. I have drawn up, and...
43From George Washington to William Thornton, 26 November 1799 (Washington Papers)
For, and on account of Mr Blagden, I enclose you a Post note of the Bank of Columbia, for ninety three dollars forty three cents, and a check on the Bank of Alexandria for nine hundred and six dollars and fifty seven cents. Together, amounting to one thousand dollars, requested by Mr Blagden. With esteem and regard I am Dear Sir Your Obedt Humble Servt Let me request the favour of you to...
44[Diary entry: 25 November 1799] (Washington Papers)
25. A little rain had fallen in the night. Morning cloudy. Wind brisk from the Southward and Mer. at 52. After 10 oclock the Clouds dispelled, and it became a clear & pleasant day. Mer. 50 at Night. Doctr. Craik & Doctr. Stuart both went away after Breakfast.
45[Diary entry: 24 November 1799] (Washington Papers)
24. Morning calm & clear. Mer. at 41. Fresh Southerly wind afterwards with great appearances of Rain. Mer. 58 at Night.
46From George Washington to Alexander Addison, 24 November 1799 (Washington Papers)
Your favour of the 8th instant came duly to hand. Whatever is found to be the contents of the Land I sold to the deceased Colo. Ritchie, by ⟨firm⟩ and actual measurement I shall abide by. I have not heard a tittle from Mrs Ritchie nor her brother in law on the subject of the Instalment, due me, and with pain I add, that if payment of what is due thereon is not immediately made, my own want of...
47From George Washington to Clement Biddle, 24 November 1799 (Washington Papers)
A considerable time ago, in consequence of some applications from Officers of Cavalry, to know in what manner they were to draw pay, I wrote to the Secretary of War on the Subject; & received for answer—that as no Pay master was appointed to that Corps, they were to draw on the Pay master General. Mr Custis (cornet in the Light Dragoons) being one of those alluded to, above, drew an order, as...
48From George Washington to Timothy Pickering, 24 November 1799 (Washington Papers)
Your favour of the 5th instant came to hand in due course; and the manner in which you proposed to dispose of my letter to Mr Murray, was perfectly agreeable to me. Knowing nothing of the writer of the enclosed letter, and unwilling to be hasty in encouraging proposals of this sort, without some information of the characters who are engaged in the Work; I take the liberty of enquiring, through...
49[Diary entry: 23 November 1799] (Washington Papers)
23. Early morning, had much the appearance of Snow; Wind Southerly and Mer. at 40. Clear & mild afterwards. Mer. 54 at Night. Colo. Carrington & Lady went away after Breakfast. Doctr. Craik came to dinner & Doctr. Stuart at Night.
50From George Washington to Hepburn & Dundas, 23 November 1799 (Washington Papers)
Your letter of the 19th was recd yesterday. If my attendance at Mr Heiskill’s in Alexandria on the 26th could render you any real Service, I would do it with pleasure. But all that I could relate would be hearsay whilst means exist, to obtain (I presume) positive proofs of the facts you wish to establish. With respect to the division of the tract, of (what you call) 51,302 acres, I am as...
51[Diary entry: 22 November 1799] (Washington Papers)
22. Morning a little lowering & raw, with appearances of Snow. Mer. at 41 and Wind Southerly. Clear afternoon & calm. Colo. Carrington & Lady came in the afternn. Lt. Col. Edward Carrington was married to Elizabeth Jaquelin Ambler Brent (1765–1842), daughter of Jaquelin Ambler (1742–1798) and Mary Burwell Ambler. She was the widow of William Brent, Jr. (c.1755–1785), son of William Brent...
52From George Washington to Benjamin Goodhue, 22 November 1799 (Washington Papers)
Your favour of the 3d of Octr never came to my hands until last night. ⟨On⟩ hearing that Captn Hammond had arrived at Alexandria, I shall send up for the Fish, and pay him the cost of them—nine dollars. For your kind recollection of my want of this article, I thank you. They came very opportunely; and just as I was thinking of writing to you for a fresh supply. Without expressing any opinion...
53[Diary entry: 21 November 1799] (Washington Papers)
21. Morning perfectly clear & calm. A remarkably white hoar frost and Mer. at 30—but little wind all day. Mer. 41 at Night. Mrs. Stuart and the two eldest Miss Stuarts came here to dinner.
54[Diary entry: 20 November 1799] (Washington Papers)
20. Morning clear & cold. Wind at No. Wt. and Ice. Mer. at 27. Calm in the afternoon & Mer. 34 at Night. Mr. McCarty went away after breakfast and Mrs. Summers—Midwife for Mrs. Lewis came here abt. 3 Oclk.
55From George Washington to Charles Little, 20 November 1799 (Washington Papers)
The week before the last, I went up to Difficult Run to Survey a small tract of land which I hold thereon, at the Bridge; and to view a lot (No. 10) which Mr Jno. Gill, late of Alexandria, purchased as part of the land formerly belonging to the Earl of Tankerville, and which he (Gill) had offered to me in discharge of a demand I had upon him. I was plagued, and indeed unable to find, either...
56From George Washington to William Price, 20 November 1799 (Washington Papers)
Your favour of the 15th instant, in answer to my letters of the 7th & 8th, addressed to the Surveyor General of the Land Office (wch proves the necessity there was for my plea of ignorance) came duly to hand; with the Land Office Treasury Warrant; for your obliging attention to which, I pray you to accept my thanks. Perceiving by your letter that Willm Shepherd has made a Survey, & returned it...
57From George Washington to Samuel Sommers, 20 November 1799 (Washington Papers)
In consequence of your letter, and the information of Mr Rawlins, I sent to Richmond and obtained the enclosed warrant—With which (in the absence of Colo. Payne) I pray you to do what will be necessary to give it legal and proper effect and advise me thereof by a line lodged in the Post Office as the most certain mode of getting it to hand. You will perceive that the Warrant is for 100 Acres...
58From George Washington to William Thornton, 20 November 1799 (Washington Papers)
When I wrote to you the other day, I expected to have settled matters with the Bk of Alexandria so as to have been enabled to have sent you, for Mr Blagdens use, a check thereon for $1000—But not being well enough acquainted with the rules of the Bank, I suffered what are called discount days, to pass over before I applied; for which reason the business there must remain over until after...
59[Diary entry: 19 November 1799] (Washington Papers)
19. Morning clear & wind fresh & cold from No. Wt. Mer. at 40—at highest 46 and at Night 33.
60[Diary entry: 18 November 1799] (Washington Papers)
18. Morning clear with the Wind very fresh from the Southward and Mer. at 48. Cloudy afterwards, with Rain from No. Wt. abt. 3 or 4 oclock. Mer. 58 at highest and 50 at Night.