11[Diary entry: 9 December 1799] (Washington Papers)
9. Morning clear & pleasant, with a light Wind from No. W. Mer. at 33. Pleasant all day—afternoon Calm. Mer. 39 at Night. Mr. Howell Lewis & wife set off on their return home after breakfast and Mr. Lawe. Lewis and Washington Custis on a journy. to N. Kent.
12[Diary entry: 8 December 1799] (Washington Papers)
8th. Morning perfectly clear, calm and pleasant; but about 9 oclock the wind came from the No. Wt. and blew fresh. Mer. 38 in the morning and 40 at Night.
13From George Washington to Clement Biddle, 8 December 1799 (Washington Papers)
Your letters of the 23d Ulto and 1st instant have both been received. the part which relates to Mr Custis’s pay—as an Officer in the Cavalry—has been given to him, and he writes you himself on the subject. I have naught therefore to add on it. Captn Ellwood had not arrived at Alexandria yesterday, from hence I conclude he was to have touched at Norfolk; otherwise his passage will have been...
14From George Washington to John Mason, 8 December 1799 (Washington Papers)
I have received your letter of the 4th instant, enclosing a Resolution of the Legislature of Maryland to take, on account of the State, one hundred & thirty shares in the augmented Capital of the Potomak Company, and thank you for your politeness in forwarding of it to me. Altho’ this mode of obtaining money to complete the Navigation of the River, differs from the plan adopted at the last...
15From George Washington to William Thornton, 8 December 1799 (Washington Papers)
For the communications contained in your letter of yesterday, I thank you. As a citizen of the United States, it gives me pleasure, at all times, to hear that works of public ⟨uti⟩lity are resolved on, and in a state of progression—wheresoever adopted, and whensoever begun. The one resolved on between the Chesapeake and Delaware is of great magnitude, and will be, I trust, the Precursor of...
16From George Washington to Alexander White, 8 December 1799 (Washington Papers)
Your favour of yesterday I received this morning. Altho’ the Legislature of Maryland has taken up the business of the Potomack Company upon different ground, than on that which was adopted at the last General meeting of the Stockholders, and less advantageous for them if they could have carried their mode into effect; yet, as my primary wish, is to see the work completed, I rejoice that the...
17[Diary entry: 7 December 1799] (Washington Papers)
7. Rainy morning, with the Wind at No. Et. & Mer. at 37. Afternoon clear & pleasant wind westerly. Mer. 41 at Night. Dined at Lord Fairfax’s.
18From George Washington to Robert Lewis, 7 December 1799 (Washington Papers)
Your letter of the 10th of Septr came duly to hand, but as there was nothing contained in it that required to be acted upon immediately, I postponed acknowledging the receipt of it at an earlier period. The death of Mr Airess, of which I have been informed—and the direct conveyance, afforded by your brother Howells return, have induced me, to write you at this time. What prospect the death of...
19From George Washington to William Thornton, 7 December 1799 (Washington Papers)
Your favour of the 5th instant was received last night. Not sending up to the Post Office every day, is the cause of its not getting to hand in time for my answer by the Mail of this day. Enclosed is a list of such fruit Trees as my Gardener has chosen. Be so good as to have them sent to the care of Colo. Gilpin in Alexandria, who will receive—take care of—and give me notice of their arrival:...
20[Diary entry: 6 December 1799] (Washington Papers)
6. Morning heavy, with appearances of clearing now & then, but about 2 oclock it set in to raining. Mer. 34 in the morning & 37 at Night.
21[Diary entry: 5 December 1799] (Washington Papers)
5. Morning raining and it continued to do so moderately through the day with the Wind at So. Et. Mer. 38 in the Morning & 36 at Night.
22[Diary entry: 4 December 1799] (Washington Papers)
4. Morning clear—wind at No. Wt. and Mer. at 36. From 10 oclock until 2 very like for Snow. It then cleared & became mild & pleasant. Mer. 38 at N.
23[Diary entry: 3 December 1799] (Washington Papers)
3. Morning extremely foggy. Mer. at 38 and wind what there was of it Southerly. Abt. 2 oclock the fog dispelled and it became extremely pleasant. Mrs. Stuart & daughters went away after breakfast.
24From George Washington to James McHenry, 3 December 1799 (Washington Papers)
I take the liberty of enclosing a letter from Colo. Parker to Mr Lear, in which he requests that I will write to the proper department, to have arrangements made for the payment of two thousand one hundred & seventy five dollars and one third, being the amount of the purchase of one hundred and ninety six acres of land, bought, for the United States, adjoining the public ground at Harper’s...
25From George Washington to Thomas Peter, 3 December 1799 (Washington Papers)
Have you succeeded, or are you likely to succeed, in procuring the Hemp seed I required? The fly has got into my Wheat, very generally this Fall; and I lay my account for great ravages thereon next Spring; which makes me more desirous of laying (to use a Sea term) an anchor to windward for something else. I congratulate you and Patcy on the birth of a “Manchild” —My best wishes attend the...
26[Diary entry: 2 December 1799] (Washington Papers)
2. Rained in the Night. Morning heavy. Wind Southerly and Mer. at 36. Afternoon calm, & less clouded. Mer. 38. Lord Fairfax, Lady, Daughter & Miss Dennison dined here.
27From George Washington to Edward Carrington, 2 December 1799 (Washington Papers)
Since you mentioned the Plaster of Paris which was for Sale in Richmond, (but after you left this) it occurred to me, that as it was not a saleable article with you, it might be my cheapest mode to purchase there to supply my want of this article next year on my Farms around me. Permit me, for this reason, to ask the favour of you to learn from the Gentleman who has it for Sale, what quantity...
28From George Washington to William Price, 2 December 1799 (Washington Papers)
I have been duly favoured with your letter of the 25th Ulto, enclosing a copy of the Survey made for William Shepherd, for four & three quarter acres, and the form of a Caveate against the issuing a Patent therefor. I cannot from the survey, discover with precision where this land lays, and therefore shall give no further opposition to the Grant of it. If it be, where I suspect, it is within...
29[Diary entry: 1 December 1799] (Washington Papers)
1. Morning clear & but little Wd.—that Southerly. Mer. 26. Lowering towards evening. Mer. 36. Mr. Foot dined here.
30From George Washington to James Piercy, 1 December 1799 (Washington Papers)
In answer to your letter of the 27th Ulto —If you have no Vessel passing below this (from whence the Sugar could be landed with very little trouble or delay) I request that it may be deposited at Colo. Gilpin’s, in Alexandria. Let the cask in which it is packed, be well secured; the Sugars hitherto had from you, has, sometimes, fallen short in weight. I am Sir—Your very Hble Servant ALS...
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.