431[Diary entry: 16 May 1799] (Washington Papers)
16. Mer. at 65 in the morning. Wind fresh from the Southward, but variable—great appearances of Rain & some sprinkles. Went up to Alexandria to the Purse Race, & returned in the Evening. Mr. Law & Doctr. Thornton here. Mer. at 70 at N. purse race : At 3:00 P.M. there was to be run “a Purse of Fifty-five pounds, the best two in three, 4 mile heats, free for any horse, mare or gelding” (...
432From George Washington to William B. Harrison, 16 May 1799 (Washington Papers)
I have given the proposition you have made me, respecting your part of Chapel land, all the consideration that is necessary; the result of which is. That I will give, as a Rent, thirty dollars for every hundred acres within the bounds you shall establish; and in that proportion for the overplus, or add[itional] acres, according to measurement: Provided I receive a Lease for the whole quantity,...
433[Diary entry: 15 May 1799] (Washington Papers)
15. Clear & warm. Mer. at 60, and Wind brisk from the Southward especially towards Night when it lowered. Mr. Thomson Mason came here to breakfast and attended Majr. Harrison & me on the Survey of the latters land & both dined here, as did a Mr. Season. Mer. 72 at Night. Thomson Mason owned land adjoining Harrison’s, which lay near GW’s mill on Dogue Run. mr. season : John Searson (b. 1750),...
434[Diary entry: 14 May 1799] (Washington Papers)
14. Morning clear & very smoaky. Mer. at 52 and but little wind—that Southerly. Mery. 62 at Night. Majr. Wm. Harrison came here to dinner. William B. Harrison, of Loudoun County, owned land adjoining Mount Vernon. GW, who believed Harrison’s tenants were stealing timber and livestock from Mount Vernon, wished to lease or buy Harrison’s land to rid himself of those particular neighbors. On 10...
435[Diary entry: 13 May 1799] (Washington Papers)
13. Clear & calm all day. Mer. at 47 in the Morning and 60 at Night. Mr. White went away before breakfast.
436From George Washington to James McHenry, 13 May 1799 (Washington Papers)
Your favour of the 2d Instt, covering your dispatches of the 10th Ultimo, was brought to me by the Messenger who carried my letters to you (of the 5 & 6th) to the Post Office in Alexandria. That no time might be lost in carrying the Presidents Plan, and the request contained in your letter of the 10th Ult., into effect, I have solicited the aid of Generals Morgan, Lee, & Marshall; & the...
437[Diary entry: 12 May 1799] (Washington Papers)
12. Morning clear & cool. Mer. at 48 and wind at No. W. Doctr. Stuart went away after Breakfast & Mr. Short after dinner. Mr. White came to dinner.
438From George Washington to James McAlpin, 12 May 1799 (Washington Papers)
Having heard nothing from you since my last request (now more than two Months ago) that you would complete, and send on my Uniform Suit so soon as the gold thread, which you informed me was expected in the Spring shipping, should have arrived; I give you the trouble of receiving this letter on the Subject: and to request that no unnecessary delay may prevent the accomplishment of it. Send the...
439From George Washington to John Marshall, Edward Carrington, and William Heth, 12 May 1799 (Washington Papers)
Although the letter, of which the enclosed is a copy, is of old date, it has but just been received from the Secretary of War. Without aid, it will be impossible for me to carry his views into effect; which, & the confidence I place in you, is the best apology I can make for asking you to assist me, in the business required. I have, with the exception of short intervals, been so many years...
440[Diary entry: 11 May 1799] (Washington Papers)
11. Morning clear—wind at No. Wt. & Mer. at 60—at Night 56. Doctr. Stuart came to dinner & a Mr. Small afterwards. Both stayed all Night. mr. small : GW is somewhat confused on the man’s name (see entry for 12 May 1799 ). He probably means Peyton Short (1761–1825), son of William and Elizabeth Skipwith Short of Spring Garden, Surry County, and brother of William Short, former chargé d’affaires...
441[Diary entry: 10 May 1799] (Washington Papers)
10th. Morning lowering & Mer. at 60. Clear afterwards with a brisk Wind from So. Wt. which in the Evening veered to No. Mer. 72 at Night. Mr. Thos. Digges & Mr. Jas. Welch dined here & retd. The due date for Welch’s first payment on the Kanawha lands (31 Dec. 1798) had gone by without GW receiving any word from Welch. GW wrote several times requesting the money due him. He not only needed the...
442From George Washington to Daniel Morgan, 10 May 1799 (Washington Papers)
I have just received a letter from the Secretary of War, in which, after giving it as the opinion of the President of the United States, that Officers for the twenty four additional Regiments ought to be had in contemplation; that, in case the exigency of our Affairs should require them, greater dispatch might be used in the formation, is the Extract which follows. Having given these Extracts,...
443[Diary entry: 9 May 1799] (Washington Papers)
9. No clouds, but smokey; Wind (tho’ not much of it) at No. Wt. Mer. at 56 and at Night 60. Genl. Lee Messrs. Rd. B. Lee & Wm. Ludwell Lee—Mr. Fitzhugh Mr. Page Mr. T. Turner dined here & returned in the Evening. Mr. Page is probably William Byrd Page (1772–1818), brother-in-law of Henry and Richard Bland Lee. Page, eldest son of Mann and Mary Mason Seldon Page (1754–1787) of Fairfield, Clarke...
444Election by the Sixth Triennial General Meeting of the Society of the Cincinnati, 8 May 1799 (Hamilton Papers)
Philadelphia, May 8, 1799. “… The members present then proceeded to the election of officers for the ensuing three years, when it appeared from the ballots that the following gentlemen were duly elected: General George Washington, President General. Major General Alexander Hamilton, Vice President General.…” “Journals of the Cincinnati, 1784–1787, Vol. I,” 93–94, Library of Congress.
445[Diary entry: 8 May 1799] (Washington Papers)
8. Clear, but cool—wind still at No. Wt. and Mer. at 46. Calm in the Evening and Mer. at 54.
446[Diary entry: 7 May 1799] (Washington Papers)
7. Morning clear—wind still Southerly & Mer. at 56. About 9 Oclk. it shifted to No. Wt. & blew hard—but did not turn suddenly cold. Mer. 59 at Night.
447[Diary entry: 6 May 1799] (Washington Papers)
6. Morning clear, Wind brisk from the Southward. Mer. at 50. At Night it lowered. Mer. 62. Mr. & Mrs. Lewis set out on their journey. Nelly and Lawrence Lewis left Mount Vernon on a prolonged round of visits to the homes of various members of Lawrence’s family. They were away from Mount Vernon most of the time until late October or early November (Eleanor Parke Custis Lewis to Elizabeth...
448From George Washington to William Booker, 6 May 1799 [letter not found] (Washington Papers)
Letter not found: to William Booker, 6 May 1799. On 15 May Booker wrote GW : “Your letter of the 6 Inst. I duly receivd.”
449From George Washington to James McHenry, 6 May 1799 (Washington Papers)
It is a point from which I have not deviated, to forward all recommendations, & applications, which have been made to me for Military appointments, to the Department of War. In confirmation of what is said in the enclosed letters from General Morgan, and the Colonels Meade and Parker, I may add that, the same good report of the merits of Major Lawe Butler has, verbally, been made to me by...
450[Diary entry: 5 May 1799] (Washington Papers)
5th. Morning calm & pleasant. Mer. 46. Wind afterwards at No. Wt. but not hard or cold. At night Mer. 54.
451From George Washington to James McHenry, 5 May 1799 (Washington Papers)
Private My dear Sir, Mount Vernon 5th May 1799 Your private letter of the 29th Ulto was received yesterday, and requires but a short reply. From an observation of yours, in answer to my letter of the 23d Ulto, I perceive my meaning with respect to the settlement of relative Rank, has been misunderstood; or, if taken properly, I must adhere to the opinion I gave of the injustice which would be...
452From George Washington to John Marshall, 5 May 1799 (Washington Papers)
With infinite pleasure I receiv’d the news of your Election. For the honor of the District, I wish the Majority had been greater; but let us be content; and hope, as the tide is turning, the current will soon run strong ⟨in our⟩ favor. I am sorry to find that the publication you allude to, should have given you a moments disquietud⟨e⟩. I can assure you, it made no impression on my mind, of the...
453From George Washington to Thomas Peter, 5 May 1799 (Washington Papers)
I have had the enclosed Tobacco note by me sometime. Too long perhaps for the best Market. If Mr Peter (your father) whom I presume is a good judge of these matters, should be of opinion that it had better be sold now than wait longer, for a rise in the price of that article, I pray you to sell it for what it will fetch. I give you this trouble because the Tobacco is in the Warehouse at George...
454From George Washington to John Tayloe, 5 May 1799 (Washington Papers)
I received, yesterday, your favour of the 29th Ult.; and by tomorrow’s Post for Baltimore, the enclosed will be dispatched, to meet you at Annapolis. I hope the contents of it will meet your ideas—I have given these, as nearly as I could recollect them, in my communication to the Secretary of War. With sincere pleasure I received the information of Generals Lee & Marshall’s Elections. Had the...
455From George Washington to Bushrod Washington, 5 May 1799 (Washington Papers)
Your letter of the 26th Ulto—as also that of the 10th, have been duly received. The Elections of Generals Lee and Marshall are grateful to my feelings. I wish however both of them had been Elected by greater majorities; but they are Elected, and that alone is pleasing. As the tide is turned, I hope it will come in with a full flow; but this will not happen if there is any relaxation on the...
456[Diary entry: 4 May 1799] (Washington Papers)
4. Morning clear & pleasant, but cool. Mer. at 40. Wind, what there was of it—North westerly. Mer. 46 at night. Messrs. Wm. & Washington and a Mr. Jeffries dined here & returned. messrs. wm. & washington : GW probably meant William and George Washington Craik.
457[Diary entry: 3 May 1799] (Washington Papers)
3d. Wind fresh from No. Et. & very Cloudy. Mer. at 50 in the morning. About 9 Oclock it began to rain & contd. to do so until near 2 Oclk. when it ceased & became a clear afternoon. Mer. 43 at night.
458[Diary entry: 2 May 1799] (Washington Papers)
2. Clear & calm in the Morning. Mer. at 52. Brisk So. westerly wind afterwards—still clear. Mer. 58 at Night.
459[Diary entry: 1 May 1799] (Washington Papers)
1. Morning Cloudy & very heavy. Wind Easterly & Mer. at 50. After dark a heavy squall of Wind & Rain from the No. Wt. Mer. 52 at Night.
460April [1799] (Washington Papers)
1. Clear (except being smoky). Mer. at 46. Wind Northerly—afterwds. Easterly and towards Night lowering. 2. Very thick mist—afterwards Raining with the Wind at East & Mer. at 48 in the Morning. In the afternoon the wind shifted to No. Wt. Blew fresh & turned cold. 3. Extreme cold (but forgot to see what the Mercury was). Wind very high from the No. Wt. and continued so all day. Went up to four...
461[Diary entry: 30 April 1799] (Washington Papers)
30. Engaged in the same business as yesterday & returned home in the afternoon. Morning clear & fine. Wind Easterly—afterwards fresh from the Southward. Clouded up and between 2 & 3 began to rain. Conti[nue]d to do so steadily until I went to bed. Mer. then at 50.
462[Diary entry: 29 April 1799] (Washington Papers)
29. A little cloudy & Wind about North in the Morning. Mer. 62. Clear afterwards. Went up to run round my land on 4 Mile run. Lodged at Colo. Littles. Although GW mentions no one else as being present this day, he had met all of the major owners of the lands adjoining his Four Mile Run land at the election in Alexandria (24 April). At that meeting, GW later wrote, “all the parties . . ....
463[Diary entry: 28 April 1799] (Washington Papers)
28. Morning clear—with a light breeze from the Southward. Mer. at 60 & at night 68. About 9 Oclock the Wd. came from the No. Wt. & blew pretty fresh but not cold. Doctr. Craik & a Mr. Halsted dined here & returned.
464From George Washington to Clement Biddle, 28 April 1799 (Washington Papers)
Since my last I have receiv’d the Seeds which you sent me by Captn Hand—after several fruitless enquiries after them. There was a Manufactury of Machines for raking Meadows, and Harvest fields after they are cut, at Kensington while I resided in Philadelphia—These are worked by a horse, and were, in my opinion useful impliments on a Farm, for expeditiously gleaning the fields of the scattered...
465[Diary entry: 27 April 1799] (Washington Papers)
27. Mer. at 57 in the Morning. Rain last Night—wind at So. Et. and from abt. 8 oclock in the Morning continual Rain until Night—with thunder & lightning after dark. Mer. 62 at Night.
466[Diary entry: 26 April 1799] (Washington Papers)
26. Mer. at 50 in the Morning and Wind at No. Et. which afterwds. shifted to So. Et. Mer. 58 at Night. Doctr. Stuart went away after breakfast and Mr. & Mrs. Law. Lewis came from Hope Park in the afternoon.
467From George Washington to Ludwell Lee, 26 April 1799 (Washington Papers)
Your occupation on Wednesday last, put it out of my power to speak to you without giving interruption to more important business than I am now about to communicate. Having good information that some land which I hold on four mile run was much depredated on, I went up some short time ago to run round the Lines, and found the fact to be as reported; but not being able to ascertain all the...
468[Diary entry: 25 April 1799] (Washington Papers)
25. Mer. at 50 in the morng. & 58 at Night. Calm Morning & evening & a light Southerly wind abt. Midday. Doctr. Stuart came to dinner.
469From George Washington to Doddridge Pitt Chichester and Daniel McCarty Chichester, 25 April 1799 (Washington Papers)
I shall be obliged to you, or either of you, who may be in the practice of hunting, or driving Deer on my land, for desisting from that practice. My Lands have been Posted, according to Law, many years; and never has, nor while I possess them, will be revoked. Besides this, in order to have the notification better understood by those who bordered on me, I had (as you will perceive by the...
470[Diary entry: 24 April 1799] (Washington Papers)
24. Mer. at 52. Morning clear no Wind—afterwards at No. Wt. & high. Mer. 46 at Night. Gentlemen who came yesterday went away after breakfast and I went up to Alexa. to an Election of a Representative from the District to Congress & from the County to the State Legisla[tur]e. from the district : GW voted for Henry (Light Horse Harry) Lee, who won election to the United States House of...
471[Diary entry: 23 April 1799] (Washington Papers)
23d. Morning very heavy & cloudy with the wind at East & the Mer. at 46. About 6 oclock in the afternoon a fine rain began & continued for an hour. Mer. 54 at Night. Doctr. Craik went away before breakfast & a Majr. Jones—a british Officer came to dinner & Mr. George Peter at Night. George Peter (1779–1861), youngest brother of Thomas Peter of Georgetown, had come to Mount Vernon soliciting a...
472From George Washington to James McHenry, 23 April 1799 (Washington Papers)
Private My dear Sir, Mount Vernon 23d April 1799 Six days do I labour, or, in other words, take exercise and devote my time to various occupations in Husbandry, and about my Mansion. On the seventh, now called the first day, for want of a place of Worship (within less than nine miles) such letters as do not require immediate acknowledgment I give answers to (Mr Lear being sick & absent). But...
473From George Washington to Roger West, 23 April 1799 (Washington Papers)
I will answer the queries contained in your letter of this date, to the best of my recollection. In the morning visit you did me the honor to make, sometime last Autumn, at which you delivered me a letter from Colo. Hooe, intimating your desire to engage in the Military Service of our Country, I understood, from the conversation that passed on that occasion, that your object was to enter into...
474[Diary entry: 22 April 1799] (Washington Papers)
22. Morng. clear & Wind Easterly. Mer. at 44 in the Morning & 49 at Night. Mr. Coxe went awy. after breakfast & Mr. Vanstapherst came to dinner & Doctr. Craik to see Mr. Lear afterwards. mr. vanstapherst : probably a connection of the Amsterdam banking firm of Nicholaas and Jacob Van Staphorst. The Van Staphorst brothers, in connection with the Amsterdam firm of Jan and Wilhem Willink and a...
475From George Washington to Jesse Simms, 22 April 1799 (Washington Papers)
Until I see General Lee (which according to his promise may be expected early in next month), I shall give no definitive answer to your letter of the 19th instant. It may not be improper, however, in the meantime to add, that your deceptious treatment of me, has not impressed me with the most favorable sentiments of your candour; and if a report which I hear has been propagated by you, or some...
476[Diary entry: 21 April 1799] (Washington Papers)
21. Morning clear & calm. Mer. at 42. But little wind all day & that No. Westerly. Mer. 54 at Night. A B. Heppesley Coxe Esqr. recomd. by Mr. Bingham came here to dinnr. b. heppesley coxe : probably John Francis Buller Hippisley Coxe of Stone Easton, Somerset, Eng. He was the son of James Buller of Devon and his wife, Mary Hippisley Coxe Buller, of Somerset. In 1793 Young Buller by royal...
477From George Washington to Clement Biddle, 21 April 1799 (Washington Papers)
Your letters of the 21st of March and 11th instant are both before me. By the first, it appears that you had shipped by Captn Hand for Alexandria, on my a/c, 12 lbs. of white Clover Seed and the like quantity of Lucerne; but none has been delivered by him at the Custom house, or elsewhere that I can discover, which is a considerable disappointment to me; for depending thereon I enquired for no...
478From George Washington to William Thornton, 21 April 1799 (Washington Papers)
Your favor of the 19th is before me, and for the details it contains respecting my buildings in the City, I thank you. As I do for directing the exterior door Cills thereof to be made of Stone. I never attended so closely to the specification of the work, as to know they were, originally, intended to be of Wood; On the contrary, as the Frontispiece was to be of Stone I took it for granted that...
479[Diary entry: 20 April 1799] (Washington Papers)
20. Mer. at 32. Wind still fresh from No. Wt. & having blown (it is believed) throu the Night. It is hoped the fruit has escaped, altho’ there Ice had formed. Mrs. Washington of Hayfield—Genl. O’Donald, Mr. Barry, Mr. Oliver Mr. Thompson & a Doctr. dined here & returned. Mer. 47 at N. genl. o’donald : probably John O’Donnell (died c.1805), eldest son of John O’Donnell (1715–1780) of County...
480[Diary entry: 19 April 1799] (Washington Papers)
19. Mer. 54 in the morning. Wind Northerly & cool, & beginning to lower. Clear afterwards wind encreasing. Mer. 46 at Night & blowing.