7581[Diary entry: 3 October 1785] (Washington Papers)
Monday 3d. Thermometer at 70 in the Morning—68 at Noon and 66 at Night. Wind at So. West, weather variable until Noon when it became more cloudy & dripping. Towards evening it began to Rain and the Night was wet. The two reverend Gentlemen who dined and lodged here, went away after breakfast.
7582[Diary entry: 4 October 1785] (Washington Papers)
Tuesday 4th. Thermometer at 63 in the Morning—62 at Noon and 66 at Night. Wind at So. West, veering more Westerly. Morning wet, and till Noon dripping; Clear afterwards, and wind fresh.
7583[Diary entry: 5 October 1785] (Washington Papers)
Wednesday 5. Thermometer at 60 in the Morng. at Noon and 68 at Night. Brisk wind from the Southward all day. Weather clear. Stripped the Shingles of the South side of the Pediment of the West front of the House, in expectation of Mr. Sanders’s coming to direct the Shingling of it, but he never appeared. Colo. Ramsay introducing a Mr. McComb, & a Mr. Lowry; dined here, & went away afterwards....
7584[Diary entry: 6 October 1785] (Washington Papers)
Thursday 6th. Thermometer at 65 in the Morning—65 at Noon and 66 at Night. Flying clouds and a Rainbow in the Morning with but little wind; drippings of rain, more or less all day. Mr. Burwell Bassett, and Mr. Shaw set out after Breakfast for Dumfries. The appearances of the day, and the impracticability of giving, on acct. of the clammyness of the Earth, an even face to any more of my lawn,...
7585[Diary entry: 7 October 1785] (Washington Papers)
Friday 7th. Thermometer at 62 in the Morning—64 at Noon and at Night. Wind Southwardly all day and weather clear, warm, & pleasant. Sat to day, as I had done yesterday, for Mr. Houdon to form my Bust. Mrs. Jenifer, wife of Doctr. Walter Jenifer, dined here, and returned afterwards; and Doctr. Craik came here in the afternoon, and stayed all Night. Mr. Shaw and Mr. Bassett returned from...
7586[Diary entry: 8 October 1785] (Washington Papers)
Saturday 8th. Thermometer at 63 in the Morning—66 at Noon and 68 at Night. But little wind—weather clear, and exceedingly pleasant. Sowed the ground which was plowed yesterday, and which might amount to about a quarter of an Acre, with near half a Bushel of the Orchard Grass Seeds; which was neither very clean nor I fear not very good. Also sowed with English Grass Seeds, as much more of the...
7587[Diary entry: 9 October 1785] (Washington Papers)
Sunday 9th. Thermometer at 64 in the Morng. 70 at Noon and 70 at Night. Morning and Evening lowering. Midday tolerably clear, warm & pleasant. Accompanied by Mr. Houdon and the two Mr. Bassetts, attended the Funeral of Mrs. Manley at the Plantation of Mr. Willm. Triplett, and returned to Dinner. Sarah Harrison Manley (d. 1785), a sister of George Harrison of Fairfax, had been married first to...
7588[Diary entry: 10 October 1785] (Washington Papers)
Monday 10th. Thermometer at 68 in the Morng. 70 at Noon and 74 at Night. Thunder about day. Morning threatning but clear & pleasant afterwards. A Mr. Jno. Lowe, on his way to Bishop Seabury for Ordination, called & dined here. Could not give him more than a general certificate, founded on information, respecting his character; having no acquaintance with him, nor any desire to open a...
7589[Diary entry: 11 October 1785] (Washington Papers)
Tuesday 11th. Thermometer at 68 in the Morning—70 at Noon and 71 at Night. A Very heavy fog until near 10 Oclock, with very little wind, from the Eastward. From thence till five P. M. it was tolerably clear; when it clouded again, & looked like rain. Sowed more English grass Seed on All the ground that had been levelled, & Smoothed on the Lawn. Began the foundation of the House at the...
7590[Diary entry: 12 October 1785] (Washington Papers)
Wednesday 12th. Thermometer at 66 in the Morning—64 at Noon and 62 at Night. The Rain which fell last Night had made the ground so Wet that I could neither level or in any manner work it. I was obliged therefore to employ the labourers thereon in other Jobs. Mr. Livingston (son of Peter Van brugh Livingston of New York) came to Dinner, & stayed all Night. And in the Evening Mr. Madison...