From George Washington to William Tilghman, 18 August 1791
To William Tilghman
Philadelphia August 18th 1791.
Sir,
Your favor of the 14th Ulto came duly to hand—but a confinement of some weeks, and much business since, has prevented my acknowledging the receipt of it until now.1
It has not appeared from any Papers I have yet seen that the settlement which seems to have taken place between Messrs Chalmers & George was ever communicated to Mr West. To me it never was. I will, however, again write to the Gentleman who has them in keeping to make a further search, and as soon as his answer is received I will trouble you with another letter on this subject.2
In the meanwhile, I offer you my thanks for the trouble this business must have given you & for the assurance of your readiness to prosecute it further. I am—Sir Yr Most Obedt Hble Servt
Go: Washington
ALS, RPJCB; LB, DLC:GW.
1. For background to this letter, see GW to William Tilghman, 3 April. For the recent illness of GW, see A. Hammond to GW, 8 July, n.3, and GW to William Moultrie, 9 August.
2. GW sent attorney James Keith on 19 Aug. a copy of Tilghman’s letter of 14 July, writing: “You will perceive by the enclosed letter how the matter stands between the Executors of Colonel Thomas Colvill and Mr Sydney George. If you think it will be of any avail to make further research among the papers of the deceased Mr West for an entry of this transaction—or, to prosecute any new enquiry of his Son respecting it, I would thank you for so doing. At any rate please to advise the steps you think I had best pursue to bring this particular matter to a close—and to inform me whether a judgment has been obtained against the Assignees of Semple upon their bond? In that case, whether for principal and interest or principal only? and, when you think I shall be able to close my administration of that estate, it being a matter I am exceedingly anxious to effect” (LB, DLC:GW). No reply from Keith has been found, and when GW wrote Tilghman on 21 July 1793 he did not mention the Colvill estate. In his reply of 25 July to that letter, however, Tilghman wrote GW that Sidney George, Jr., had promised to pay his outstanding bond to John West out of the proceeds of his present crop of tobacco, provided that GW would indemnify him for the payments. See also Tilghman to GW, 16 Aug. 1793.