7521[Diary entry: 5 August 1785] (Washington Papers)
Friday 5th. Thermometer at 74 in the Morning—76 at Noon and 76 at Night. After Breakfast, and after directing Mr. Rumsey when he had marked the way and set the labourers to Work to meet us at Harpers ferry on the Evening of the Morrow at Harpers Ferry (at the conflux of the Shannondoah with the Potomack) myself and the Directors set out for the same place by way of Frederick Town (Maryland)....
7522[Diary entry: 6 August 1785] (Washington Papers)
Saturday 6th. Thermometer 76 in the Morning—88 at Noon and 82 at Night. Breakfasted in Frederick Town, at Govr. Johnsons, and dined at Harpers ferry. Took a view of the River, from the Banks, as we road up the bottom from Pains falls to the ferry, as well as it could be done on Horse back. Sent a Canoe in a Waggon from the Ferry to Keeptriest Furnace in ordr. to descend the Falls therin...
7523[Diary entry: 7 August 1785] (Washington Papers)
Sunday 7th. Thermometer at 76 in the Morning—74 at Noon and 76 at Night. About Sunrising, the Directors & myself rid up to Keeptrieste, where Canoes were provided, in which we crossed to the Maryland side of the river and examined a Gut, or swash through which it is supposed the Navigation must be conducted. This Swash is shallow at the entrance, but having sufficient fall, may easily (by...
7524[Diary entry: 8 August 1785] (Washington Papers)
Monday 8th. Thermometer at 68 this Morning—70 at Noon and 70 at Night. This being the day appointed for labourers to engage in the work we waited to see the issue until Evening, when Mr. Johnson & his Brother Colo. Johnson took leave of us. Many Gentlemen of the Neighbourhood visited us here today—among whom Mr. Wormeley Senr., my Brother Charles—Colo. Morgan, Captn. Shepherd and Colo....
7525[Diary entry: 9 August 1785] (Washington Papers)
Tuesday 9th. Thermometer at 68 in the Morning—72 at Noon and 74 at Night. Having provided a light & convenient Boat—hired two hands to work her and laid in some Stores, Colonels Fitzgerald & Gilpin, and myself embarked in it, leaving Mr. Rumsey to engage more hds. & to set those he had to work about 6 Oclock P.M. In this Boat we passed through the Spout, and all the other Falls and rapids, and...
7526[Diary entry: 10 August 1785] (Washington Papers)
Wednesday 10th. Thermometer at 72 in the Morning—74 at Noon and 80 at Night. Before Sun rise we embarked and about Nine Oclock arrived at the head of the Seneca Falls and breakfasted with our old Landlord Mr. Goldsborough to which place our horses had proceeded the Over Night from Captn. Smiths. The Nature of the river, from the foot of Pains falls to which a description has already been...
7527[Diary entry: 11 August 1785] (Washington Papers)
Thursday 11th. Thermometer 77 in the Morning—84 at Noon and 84 at Night. The Drought, the effects of which were visible when I left home, had, by this (no rain having fallen in my absence) greatly affected vegetation. The grass was quite burnt & crisp under foot—Gardens parched and the young Trees in my Shrubberies, notwithstanding they had been watered (as it is said) according to my...
7528[Diary entry: 12 August 1785] (Washington Papers)
Friday 12th. Thermometer at 76 in the Morning—82 at Noon and 83 at Night. Very little wind, but some appearances of rain in the West but none fell. Mrs. Fendall and Miss second Daughter of the President of Congress dined here and returned home after it. The second daughter of Richard Henry Lee, president of Congress, was Hannah Lee (1766–c.1801), who was married in 1787 to GW’s nephew, Corbin...
7529[Diary entry: 13 August 1785] (Washington Papers)
Saturday 13th. Thermometer at 80 in the Morng.—84 at Noon and 86 at Night. Rid to my Muddy hole and Neck Plantations, and beheld Corn in a melancholy situation, fired in most places to the Ear with little appearance of yielding if rain should soon come & a certainty of making nothing if it did not. Attempts had been made at both these Plantations to sow Wheat, but stirring the ground in the...
7530[Diary entry: 14 August 1785] (Washington Papers)
Sunday 14th. Thermometer at 79 in the Morning—82 at Noon and at Night. Morning calm & clear. Abt. Noon the wind came out from the Westward and in the afternoon there were appearances of rain No. Wt. & Southward of us with rumbling thunder at a distance but the clouds vanished without shedding any of their Watry particles. Doctr. Craik left this after Breakfast.