To George Washington from Charles Carter of Ludlow, 26 May 1792
From Charles Carter of Ludlow
Acadamy [Fredericksburg, Va.] May 26th 92
My Dr Friend
Your favor of the 19th came to hand last even. I am much obliged by your kind offer, of a Commn upon a vacancy, but that Life is entirely out of his line my Son has been from early Youth, inclined (indeed) devoted to Study in which (good Judges) say he has for his age made, a tolerable progress. he is now studying Physick, under Doctor Wellford,1 and intends to Philadelphia, in September, to attend the Lectures during the Winter he wished to have been in your Famy supposing, that he coud have devoted, the evenings to his particular pursuit, as he was told, the fare part of the day woud be only required believe me I am satisfied, you wd with pleasure, have reced him, had it been convenient. I am happy to hear you enjoy a good state of Health, and hope you found yr Farms, in a prosperous way. it gave me pleasure to hear, you had taken, my Young Friend under yr care, and hope it will turn out, to his advantage. Be pleased to present my compts to yr Lady in which Mrs Carter joins yr Aff. Friend & Much Obligd Hbe St
Chs Carter
ALS, DLC:GW.
1. Dr. Robert Wellford (1753–1823) was born in England and came to America with the British army during the first year of the Revolutionary War. On 13 June 1778, according to GW’s aide-de-camp John Laurens, “A Party of The Enemy was out. . . and in returning Left a Mr Welford formerly Surgeon in their Service—this Gentleman made himself disagreeable to the British officers, by his humanity to our wounded—and was obliged to resign—he has taken an opportunity of becoming a Willing prisoner to a People whose sentiments are congenial with his own” (John Laurens to Henry Laurens, 14June 1778, 13:457). Wellford established a medical practice first in Philadelphia and later, during the early 1780s, in Fredericksburg, Virginia. In 1794 he served as director of the medical department during the expedition to suppress the Whiskey Rebellion.