From George Washington to Robert Goodloe Harper, 10 July 1797
To Robert Goodloe Harper
Mount Vernon 10th July 1797
Dear Sir,
By the last Post I was honoured with your “observations on the dispute between the United States and France” and for your polite attention in sending them to me I pray you to accept my best acknowledgments.1
Being on the point of celebrating Harvest [at]2 home, I must be allowed, as a Farmer, to make every other matter yield to the accomplishment thereof; that being over, the Pamphlet, I am persuaded, will be read with edification and pleasure by Dear Sir Your Obedt Hble Servt
Go: Washington
ALS (letterpress copy), NN: Washington Papers; LB, DLC:GW.
1. Robert Goodloe Harper (1765–1825), who arrived in Congress from South Carolina in February 1795 and quickly evolved into a vehement Federalist, published in Philadelphia in 1797 Observations on the Dispute between the United States and France. Harper inscribed the copy that he gave to GW: “The writer of this little piece begs permission to present a copy of it to Genl. Washington as a token of his veneration for the Author of that wise system of policy which he has endeavoured to defend. Philadelphia June 30 1797” ( 98).
2. The copyist added the word “at” in the letter book.