541From George Washington to Frederick Kitt, 29 January 1798 (Washington Papers)
Your letter of the 15th instant has been duly received, and we were glad to hear that you & Mrs Kitt were well, and had escaped the malady with which the City has been afflicted. But sorry to be informed that two, who had been my domestics, had fallen victims to it. Continue your enquiries, I pray you, after Herculas; and if you should find it necessary, hire some one who is most likely to be...
542[Diary entry: 30 January 1798] (Washington Papers)
30. Lowering—in the Morning, Wind still at No. Et. Mer. 24. Afternoon calm, clear & pleasant. Mer. at 42 at its height & 37 at Night.
543From George Washington to Bushrod Washington, 30 January 1798 (Washington Papers)
I had heard with much concern, before your letter of the 21st instant was received, of your illness; and congratulate you on your recovery. Be careful in guarding against a relapse, by taking cold. I hope my letter of the 19th of this month got safe to your hands (by the Post); contained therein, were $120 to enable you to do the needful relative to the taxes of my Western Lands; accompanied...
544[Diary entry: 31 January 1798] (Washington Papers)
31. Clear with the Wind at No. Wt. and Mer. at 31 in the Morning—lowering towards night. Mer. 45 when highest and 35 at Night.
545From George Washington to Albin Rawlins, 31 January 1798 (Washington Papers)
Your letter of the 26th instant came to my hands yesterday. There has been some misconception of the application from General Spotswood to your Brother, for it was not a person to be employed in writing and riding he was desired to enquire after—but for a house keeper—or, if a housekeeper could not be had—then for a man who was qualified for the Office of Butler—who could set out a...
546February—1798 (Washington Papers)
1. Clear wind about So. Wt. & Mer. 28 in the Morning. Pretty brisk from No. Wt, about Noon & calm towards night & clear all day. Mer. 40 at Night & 45 when highest. A Mr. Lad & a Mr. Gibbes from Rhode Island dined here & returned to Alexandria. John G. Ladd was a merchant in Alexandria. GW was possibly referring to George Gibbs (1776-1833) of Newport, R.I., a well-known mineralogist ( Brady,...
547[Diary entry: 1 February 1798] (Washington Papers)
1. Clear wind about So. Wt. & Mer. 28 in the Morning. Pretty brisk from No. Wt, about Noon & calm towards night & clear all day. Mer. 40 at Night & 45 when highest. A Mr. Lad & a Mr. Gibbes from Rhode Island dined here & returned to Alexandria. John G. Ladd was a merchant in Alexandria. GW was possibly referring to George Gibbs (1776-1833) of Newport, R.I., a well-known mineralogist ( Brady,...
548From George Washington to James Anderson, 1 February 1798 (Washington Papers)
Observations in going over Mr Andersons Accounts 1. That there is no Cash A/c raised in his Ledger, which is as essential as any other A/c; because, in a greater or less degree, it is the foundation of all others, or nearly allied to them: and is the one from whence the balance of the receipts and expenditures of money is to appear. And if a column in this a/c be instituted for correspondent...
549[Diary entry: 2 February 1798] (Washington Papers)
2. Clear, moderate & pleasant all day with but little wind & that Westerly. Mer. 32 in the Morning—56 at highest & 52 at Night.
550[Diary entry: 3 February 1798] (Washington Papers)
3. Wind brisk from No. Wt. & Mer. 42 in the Morning—clear and but little of it afterwards. Mer. 44 at highest & 38 at Night. A Mr. Adamson from Hamburgh & Doctr. Stuart came to Dinner. William Adamson wrote GW a letter on 5 Feb. 1798 thanking him for “the polite & kind reception” that he had received at Mount Vernon ( DLC:GW ). Dr. David Stuart was at Mount Vernon to discuss with GW what was...
551From George Washington to John Fitzgerald, 3 February 1798 (Washington Papers)
Thursday next is the day on which the Stock holders in the Potomack Navigation, are summoned to meet, in George Town. I have been pressed to attend; and mean to attend, if the weather will permit, and no unforseen event happens to prevent it—and if you are not otherwise engaged will take a family dinner with you, on my way up, the preceeding day (Wednesday). I wish, & hope that the meeting may...
552[Diary entry: 4 February 1798] (Washington Papers)
4. Wind Southerly, & weather lowering. Mer. at 31 in the morning. 44 at Noon, & at Night. Afternoon clear. Mr. Adamson went away after breakfast & Mr. Craik & Mr. Marshall came to dinner—the latter returned after it.
553[Diary entry: 5 February 1798] (Washington Papers)
5. Wind violent at No. Wt. in the morning & Mer. at 40–46 at highest & 37 at Night. Clear all day & wind ceasing towards Night. Doctr. Stuart went away after breakfast.
554From George Washington to James Anderson, 6–7 February 1798 (Washington Papers)
It would seem by the reply you handed to me yesterday, in explanation of the observations I had made, in going over your A/cs that you were hurt by the remarks. The notes were not taken with that view—and you were told so in explicit terms. On the contrary, I remarked that the A/cs were perfectly fair, & only required explanation in one or two instances to make them clear. Not having the Bank...
555[Diary entry: 6 February 1798] (Washington Papers)
6. Clear, with a brisk Southerly Wind. Mer. at 29 in the morning—46 at highest & 41 at Night.
556From George Washington to Timothy Pickering, 6 February 1798 (Washington Papers)
Your letters of the 20th & 27th Ulto have been duly received; and the Pamphlets, with Colo. Monroe’s View, came safe. If no direct opportunity to Alexandria should present itself soon, by which the W[or]ks of Mr Nancrede could be sent with convenience & without liability to damage, I would thank you for putting them (carefully wrapped up) into the hands of Colo. Biddle, who is the Agent...
557[Diary entry: 7 February 1798] (Washington Papers)
7. Wind Southerly in the Morning but shifted before 10 oclock & turned very cold. Mer. 31 in the Morng. Went to a meetg. of the Potomak Co. in George Town. Dined at Colo. Fitzgeralds & lodged at Mr. T. Peters. This was a special meeting of the Potowmack Company shareholders, called to try to shore up the crumbling financial condition of the company (see entry for 7 Aug. 1797 ). The president...
558From George Washington to James McHenry, 7 February 1798 (Washington Papers)
Your two letters, both dated the 1st instant, came to hand yesterday only. I thank you for giving me the perusal of their enclosures; and as I am upon the point of setting out to a meeting of the Stockholders of the Potomack Navigation, and may be from home two or three days, I return them without delay. I had, it is true, entirely forgot my old Coach until reminded thereof by Mr Small; upon...
559From George Washington to Bushrod Washington, 7 February 1798 (Washington Papers)
Your letter of the 1st instant came to my hands by Saturdays Post; with the Auditors Receipts. If no bad consequences flow, from the delay, in that Office, it is immaterial when I obtain the result of his investigation of the state of my taxes, on the Western Waters; but to prevent it, let me request you, to keep his enquiries alive. The tract of 587 Acres lyes, I presume, in the County of...
560[Diary entry: 8 February 1798] (Washington Papers)
8. Visited the Public buildgs. in the Morng. Met the Compy. at the Union Tavern & dined there—lodged as before. Weather very cold. Wind Northerly. Visitors to the Capitol and the president’s residence in Feb. 1798 found the buildings well along. At the Capitol the superintendent reported “the freestone work on the outside is raised as high as the top of the Corinthian capitals all round the...
561[Diary entry: 9 February 1798] (Washington Papers)
9. Returned home to Dinner—hard freezing the three last Nights. Weather still cold. Wind No. Easterly. Mer. at night 20. Found Mr. Geo. Calvert here.
562[Diary entry: 10 February 1798] (Washington Papers)
10. Clear morning with but little W. Mer. at 18. Pleasant all day. Mer. 28 at Night. Mr. Calvert left this after breakfast. Wind freshened from the Southward. In MS “left” is written “let.”
563[Diary entry: 11 February 1798] (Washington Papers)
11. Clear—Mer. at 30, & wind Southerly in the Morning. 47 at highest & 40 at Night. Towards Night the Wind shifted to the No. Et. & the weather became lowering.
564From George Washington to Sally Ball Haynie, 11 February 1798 (Washington Papers)
I have received your letter of the 28th of last month, and without enquiring at this time why you left Mr Lewis’s family—or how you employ your time, I have requested him to furnish you with ten pounds to supply you with such necessaries as you may be in immediate want. But as you have no fortune to support you, Industry, economy, and a virtuous conduct are your surest resort, and best...
565From George Washington to Robert Lewis, 11 February 1798 (Washington Papers)
Your letter of the 31st Ulto came safe to hand; and the Deed therein enclosed, shall be executed in the manner, and in time, to obtain a certificate from the Clerk of this County at the Court next to be held for it, on the 19th instant, & transmitted to you. Enclosed is a letter for Sally Haynie, left open for your perusal before it is forwarded to her; with the contents of which, respecting...
566From George Washington to Alexander Spotswood, 11 February 1798 (Washington Papers)
Your letters of the 14th Ulto & 6th instt have been duly received. The receipt of the first, would have met with an earlier acknowledgment, had I not waited for the coming of the latter, agreeably to your assurances of forwarding one, so soon as the documents could be obtained from the Records in Richmond. The description which you have been at the trouble to give me in your former letters, of...
567[Diary entry: 12 February 1798] (Washington Papers)
12. Clear—Mer. at 35 and Wind at No. Wt. in the Morning—little or none afterwards—& at Night lowering. Went with the family to a Ball in Alexa. given by the Citzen[s] of it & its vicinity in commemoration of the Anniversary of my birth day. Feb. 11 was GW’s birthday according to the Julian (Old Style) calendar, but in 1752 the corrections of the Gregorian (New Style) calendar were adopted by...
568From George Washington to Albin Rawlins, 12 February 1798 (Washington Papers)
Your letter of the 7th instant in reply to mine of the 31st of January, was recd by the last Post; in which you say, the mode of living will be agreeable to you, and that you think two hundred dollars would be little enough to receive, as wages by the year. Wages are always high, or low, according to the abilities of the employed, and wants of the employer; and also, and essentially, on...
569[Diary entry: 13 February 1798] (Washington Papers)
13. A sprinkle of Snow fell in the Night. Wind at No. Et. Raw & threatning a fall of Weather all day. Returned home to dinner. Mer. 30 at Night.
570[Diary entry: 14 February 1798] (Washington Papers)
14. About an inch deep of Snow fell last Night. Weather cloudy & cold. Wind at No. & Mer. 25 in the morning—Clear afterwds. Mer. 33 at Night. Mr. Alexr. Spotswood & Wife & Mr. Fieldg. Lewis & Mr. Lear came to dinner. The latter returned afterwards.