9121December [1785] (Washington Papers)
Thursday 1st. Thermometer at in the Morning— at Noon and 52 at Night. White frost, and clear morning—very little wind all day, and that Southerly. Took the Hounds out before Sun rise and about 8 Oclock, after being upon several drags, or the same drag several times, put up a Fox which the Dogs run very indifferently—being very much dispersed and often at Cold Hunting until about 12 or between...
9122[Diary entry: 1 December 1785] (Washington Papers)
Thursday 1st. Thermometer at in the Morning— at Noon and 52 at Night. White frost, and clear morning—very little wind all day, and that Southerly. Took the Hounds out before Sun rise and about 8 Oclock, after being upon several drags, or the same drag several times, put up a Fox which the Dogs run very indifferently—being very much dispersed and often at Cold Hunting until about 12 or between...
9123[Diary entry: 2 December 1785] (Washington Papers)
Friday 2d. Thermometer at in the morning—56 at Noon and 56 at Night. Colo. & Mrs. Macarty came here to Dinner—as did Colonels Fitzgerald and Gilpin and Mr. Chas. Lee & Doctr. Baker. Wind Southerly all day—clear & pleasant. Dr. Baker is probably Dr. William Baker of Alexandria.
9124[Diary entry: 3 December 1785] (Washington Papers)
Saturday 3d. Thermometer at 50 in the Morning—56 at Noon and 61 at Night. The day very pleasant until the afternoon, when it began to lower. The Wind in the morning was Westerly, & in the Evening Easterly but not much of it. Employed all day at my writing Table on business of the Potomack Company. Brot. 2 Hounds fm. Colo. McCarty. George Washington & wife went up to Abingdon after Breakfast....
9125[Diary entry: 4 December 1785] (Washington Papers)
Sunday 4th. Thermometer at 53 in the Morng. 56 at Noon and 59 at Night. A thick fog, or rather mist in the morning, without any Wind until about 10 Oclock when it turned to a slow rain—which ceased about Noon and assumed the appearance of fair Weather—but about 4 Oclk. it began to drip again. Last Night Jno. Alton, an Overseer of mine in the Neck—an old & faithful Servant who had lived with me...
9126[Diary entry: 5 December 1785] (Washington Papers)
Monday 5th. Thermometer at in the Morning—58 at Noon & 58 at Night. Lowering all day—with very little wind and that Northerly. It being a good scenting morning I went out with the Hounds (carrying the two had from Colo. McCarty). Run at different two foxes but caught neither. My French Hounds performed better to day; and have afforded hopes of their performing well, when they come to be a...
9127[Diary entry: 6 December 1785] (Washington Papers)
Tuesday 6th. Thermometer at 52 in the morng. 57 at Noon and 59 at Night. Morning clear & very pleasant with but little wind. Before Noon it sprang up from the Westward and afterwards became cloudy but the Sun set clear. Finished getting in the Woods the Posts & railing for the fencing of my paddock. Made another experiment of the difference in expence between burning Spirmaciti & Tallow...
9128[Diary entry: 7 December 1785] (Washington Papers)
Wednesday 7th. Thermometer at 52 in the Morning & 59 at Noon—but removing it afterwards out of the room where the fire was, into the East Entry leading in to my Study, this circumstance with the encrease of the cold fell the Mercury to 42. Morning clear calm & pleast.; but the wind coming out violently from the No. West about half after eight Oclock, it turned cold & uncomfortable. Doctr....
9129[Diary entry: 8 December 1785] (Washington Papers)
Thursday 8th. Thermometer at 30 in the Morning—38 at Noon and at Night. Wind to the Eastward of North, in the Morning, and Cold—ground hard frozen. Afterwards it died away in a great Measure and Shifted more to the westward backing. Finished removing the Earth for covering of, and the way in to my Ice House. And again set the People to taking up & planting small Pines in the Wilderness on the...
9130[Diary entry: 9 December 1785] (Washington Papers)
Friday 9th. Thermometer at 36 in the Morning—39 at Noon and at Night. Not much wind—thick and Misting all day. Towards Night it began to rain fast & continued to do so until day. Planted the Crab trees which were brought home yesterday and more young pines.
9131[Diary entry: 10 December 1785] (Washington Papers)
Saturday 10th. Thermometer at 36 in the Morning—38 at Noon and 40 at Night. Little or no wind all day but thick and Mizling as yesterday till Night when it began to rain fast again. Opened a drain into the Shoar that goes from the Cellers, to receive the water from the Gutters, and spout from the House top that it may be carried of under ground. Flooring the Ice House. Preparing with the...
9132[Diary entry: 11 December 1785] (Washington Papers)
Sunday 11th. Thermometer at 38 in the Morng. 50 at Noon and 58 at Night. A heavy mist all day with little or no wind. At or before dusk it began to rain fast and about 9 at Night it cleared with a puff of Wind from the Southward and the Moon & Stars appeared. Mr. Wilson, Mr. Sanderson and a Mr. Hugh Mitchel dined here and went away in the afternoon. Hugh Mitchell is probably a member of the...
9133[Diary entry: 12 December 1785] (Washington Papers)
Monday 12th. Thermometer at in the Morning— at Noon and 58 at Night. Morning cloudy and soft without any wind. In the Evening it began to Mizzle, and after dark to rain fast and continued to do so until I went to bed and how much longer I know not. Majr. Farlie went away before breakfast, with 251 Diplomas which I had signed for the Members of the Cincinnati of the State of New York, at the...
9134[Diary entry: 13 December 1785] (Washington Papers)
Tuesday 13th. Thermometer at in the Morng. 47 at Noon and at Night. Wind Westerly, fresh, & air turning cold. Flying Clouds all day, but clear at Night, and still. Finished killing my Hogs—The Number & weight of which are as follow. No. Wt. River Plantn. 44 6814 Dogue run Do. 28 4003 Muddy hole Do. 30 3638 Ferry—Do. 26 2930
9135[Diary entry: 14 December 1785] (Washington Papers)
Wednesday 14th. Thermometer at 36 in the Morng. at Noon and 42 at Night. Morning and day clear & pleasant—wind at So. East. Ground a little froze in the Morning. Mr. George Washington and his Wife set off to visit her friends in New Kent &ca.—Mr. Bassetts Carriage & Horses having come up for them on Sunday Night last. Rid to the Ferry Plantn. The Mill, and Dogue run Plantation and went & came...
9136[Diary entry: 15 December 1785] (Washington Papers)
Thursday 15th. Thermometer at 40 in the Morng. 45 at Noon and at Night. Moderate & clear all the fore part of the day with the Wind at So. East, but not fresh. In the Afternoon it began to lower—at Dusk turned very cloudy and in the Night set in to a constant rain. Mr. Shaw went up to Alexandria, after dinner, to a Ball I presume. And in the Evening Joseph Winzor & Willm. Kirchwall 2 of my...
9137[Diary entry: 16 December 1785] (Washington Papers)
Friday 16th. Thermometer at 50 in the Morng. 56 at Noon and 56 at Night. Rainy Morning and an Easterly wind, but not much of it. Drizzling all day and towards Night it began to rain again and threatned a wet Night. Very light wind all day. Before dinner Joseph Hickman, another of my Tenants from Frederick came in, to whom and those that came yesterday and Williams, I passed Leases for the Land...
9138[Diary entry: 17 December 1785] (Washington Papers)
Saturday 17th. Thermometer at 56 in the Morng. at Noon and at Night. Rainy Morning, wind though not fresh at No. West which afterwards more to the No. & East & continued raining off & on all day. Went to Alexandria to meet the Trustees of the Academy in that place and offered to vest in the hands of the said Trustees, when they are permanently established by Charter, the Sum of One thousand...
9139[Diary entry: 18 December 1785] (Washington Papers)
Sunday 18th. Thermometer at 44 in the Morning—54 at Noon and 52 at Night. Morning perfectly clear & pleasant, with but little wind and continued so through the day. Serene moderate and pleasant.
9140[Diary entry: 19 December 1785] (Washington Papers)
Monday 19th. Thermometer at 42 in the Morng. 56 at Noon and 52 at Night. Calm and pleasant all day, especially in the Morning. Towards evening the wind, though very little of it, came from the Eastward & the weather lowered. Rid to the Mill, and to Dogue run Plantation. Took the Hounds with me, and in the Pincushion found a fox, which the Dogs run very well for an hour—after which, coming to a...
9141[Diary entry: 20 December 1785] (Washington Papers)
Tuesday 20th. Thermometer at 42 in the Morng. 47 at Night and 45 at Noon. Morning tolerably clear; but a red sky at the place of the Suns rising (which is an indication of dirty weather) and the wind (tho not fresh) at No. East. The day continued tolerably clear and pleasant, until the Evening when it began to lower. Dispatched at his own reqt. the Spaniard who had the cha[rge] of my Jack from...
9142[Diary entry: 21 December 1785] (Washington Papers)
Wednesday 21st. Thermometer at 44 in the Morning—44 at Noon and 46 at Night. Lowering all day with but little Wind and that Easterly. Mr. Danl. Dulany (son of Danl.) Mr. Benja. Dulany, Messrs. Saml. & Thos. Hanson, Mr. Philp. Alexander, and a Mr. Mounsher came here to Dinner and Stayed all Night. Finished measuring my Corn at the several Plantations, which stand thus. River Plantation viz....
9143[Diary entry: 22 December 1785] (Washington Papers)
[Thursday 22d.] Went a Fox hunting with the Gentlemen who came here yesterday—together with Ferdinando Washington and Mr. Shaw, after a very early breakfast. Found a Fox just back of Muddy hole Plantation and after a Chase of an hour and a quarter with my Dogs, & eight couple of Doctor Smiths (brought by Mr. Phil. Alexander) we put him into a hollow tree, in which we fastned him, and in the...
9144[Diary entry: 23 December 1785] (Washington Papers)
Friday 23d. Thermometer at in the Morng. 44 at Noon and 42 at Night. Morning cloudy, with the Wind at West; which shifting to the No. Et. produced strong, and encreasing appearances of falling weather before the Evening. Went out with the two Mr. Hansons & Mr. Alexander, when they set out on their return after breakfast, with the Dogs; just to try if we could touch on a Fox as we went along...
9145[Diary entry: 24 December 1785] (Washington Papers)
Saturday 24th. Thermometer at 38 in the Morng. 34 at Night and 36 at Noon. Wind at No. East with rain in the Morning (a good deal of wch. appeared to have fallen in the Night). About 10 Oclock it began to Snow & continued to do so untill about 2 Oclock when it ceased—just covering the ground the Snow being wet.
9146[Diary entry: 25 December 1785] (Washington Papers)
Sunday 25th. Thermometer at 34 in the Morng. 42 at Noon and 42 at Night. Morning perfectly clear and fine without Wind. About 9 Oclock it sprung up from the Southward and blew fresh with various appearances of weather sometimes much like rain & then clearing. At Night the Wind Shifted to the Westward and before Morning got to No. West blowing hard all the while. Count Castiglioni, Colo. Ball,...
9147[Diary entry: 26 December 1785] (Washington Papers)
Monday 26th. Thermometer at 32 in the Morning—40 at Noon and 38 at Night. Clear and cold in the Morning with the wind high at No. West which moderated a little towards Night.
9148[Diary entry: 27 December 1785] (Washington Papers)
Tuesday 27th. Thermometer at 38 in the Morning—44 at Noon and at Night. Clear with the wind very high from the Southward until the Evening when it shifted to the Westward & blew equally hard but did not get to be very cold.
9149[Diary entry: 28 December 1785] (Washington Papers)
Wednesday 28th. Thermometer at 36 in the Morning—38 at Noon and at Night. Colo. Ball went away yesterday, after breakfast—tho’ it was unnoticed in the occurrances of the day. Wind exceedingly high from the No. West & clear. A Mr. Israel Jenny of Loudoun County came here in the Afternoon, respecting some Land which he has been endeavouring to obtain under an idea of its being waste, but which...
9150[Diary entry: 29 December 1785] (Washington Papers)
Thursday 29th. Thermometer at 29 in the Morning— at Noon and 40 at Night. Morning clear with very little wind and that from the South. Pleasand all day until the evening when it began to lower and about eight at Night set in to raining with a strong Southerly wind wch. continued through the Night. Count Castiglioni went away after breakfast, on his tour to the Southward. Mr. Jenny also left...