Wednesday 24th. Mercury at 76 in the Morning—75 at Noon and 74 at Night.
Weather clear and but little wind and that variable.
Doctr. Craik went away after Breakfast.
Sowed some more of the Guinea Grass seed today in the manner of yesterday.
Measured round the ground which I intend to inclose for a Paddock, and find it to be abt. 1600 yards.
Receiv’d Seven hounds sent me from France by the Marqs. de la Fayette, by way of New York viz. 3 dogs and four Bitches.
My Boat went to Alexandria and brought home 100 Bushels of Salt, a hogshead of common rum, and a Cask of Nails 20d.
GW had requested Lafayette to send him some French hounds. Lafayette wrote GW that “French Hounds are not now very easily got because the King Makes use of english dogs, as Being more swift than those of Normandy. I However Have got seven from a Normand Gentleman Called Monsieur le Comte doilliamson. The Handsomest Bitch Among them was a favourite with his lady who Makes a present of Her to You” (13 May 1785, PEL). The dogs were accompanied from France to New York by young John Quincy Adams and were shipped from New York to Mount Vernon in Capt. S. Packard’s sloop Dove (Lafayette to GW, 16 April 1785, PEL; William Grayson to GW, 5 Sept. 1785, DLC:GW; Va. Journal, 1 Sept. 1785).