51To George Washington from Bushrod Washington, 19 October 1798 (Washington Papers)
Upon my return to this place I met with a Commission from the President of the United States appointing me one of the Judges of the supreme Court. This appointment I have accepted, and was induced thereto by the strongest motives. I was very unwilling to abandon a profession, to which I was much attached, and to the study of which I had devoted the greatest part of my life. A situation which...
52[Diary entry: 20 April 1798] (Washington Papers)
20. Morning—lowering—wind Southerly & Mer. at 54. Variable weather all day. Mer. 62 at Night, & 64 at highest. Mr. Peter went away after breakfast and Mr. Townshend Dade & Mr. Nichs. Fitzhugh came to Din. Nicholas Fitzhugh’s sister Susannah Fitzhugh Dade (1757–1808) was married to Col. Townshend Dade of King George County.
53Samuel Stanhope Smith to GW, 18 May 1797 [letter not found] (Washington Papers)
Letter not found: Samuel Stanhope Smith to GW, 18 May 1797. On 24 May GW wrote Smith : “Your favour of the 18th instt was received by the last Post.”
54[Diary entry: 9 October 1797] (Washington Papers)
9. Wind brisk from the No. Wt. & turning cold—Mer. 64. Mr. Lear & Mr. Peter went awy.
55From George Washington to James McHenry, 4 February 1799 (Washington Papers)
Presly Thornton, who is appointed a Captain in one of the Virginia Regiments, and in the list of Officers handed to you, is placed the first Captain in Colo. Bentley’s Regiment, and designated of Northumberland, informs me there has been a mistake in your office with respect to him; as a Relation of his, bearing the same names, & living in Caroline County, is understood by you to be the person...
56[Diary entry: 10 May 1798] (Washington Papers)
10. Morning—clear & calm—Mer. at 52. Lowering all the afternoon with the Wind Southerly, but no Rain fell.
57To George Washington from Timothy Pickering, 20 October 1798 (Washington Papers)
Recollecting your anxiety that General Pinckney might [not] feel satisfied with the military arrangements of General officers proposed by you, I seize the first moment to relieve you from it. This morning Mr McHenry has received from Genl Hamilton a letter dated yesterday, in which is the following passage: After mentioning the arrival of General Pinckney, Genl Hamilton says— “You will learn...
58[Diary entry: 13 October 1797] (Washington Papers)
13. I returned home to dinner. Captn. Huie dined here & went away afterwards. Mer. at 5⟨ ⟩. Wind Southerly. Captain Huie may be Capt. James Huie of the Dumfries firm of Smith, Huie, Alexander & Co. ( Fitzpatrick, Diaries John C. Fitzpatrick, ed. The Diaries of George Washington, 1748–1799 . 4 vols. Boston and New York, 1925. , 4:261, n.3).
59From George Washington to Jonathan Trumbull, Jr., 6 February 1799 (Washington Papers)
By the Ship Nancy from London, just arrived at Alexandria, I have received four copies of the Prints of the Deaths of Montgomery & Warren (the number of setts I presume I subscribed for)—sent me by your Brother. It is my wish to make him a remittance agreeably to the terms of the Subscription; but having taken no copy of it, and not being able to recollect what is to pay, must be my apology...
60[Diary entry: 6 March 1797] (Washington Papers)
6. The wind Shifted to the No. Wt. and turned Cold M: 24.
61[Diary entry: 3 November 1797] (Washington Papers)
3. Calm, Clear & pleasant—Mer. at .
62From George Washington to Patrick O’Flynn, 15 April 1798 (Washington Papers)
About the middle of August, the term of my present Miller will expire, and it is not probable the agreement will be renewed; first, because he wants to have his wages raised, next, because the work of the Mill will not afford it; & lastly, because though a good Miller, he is far from being an industrious man. The wages, & allowances I now give, and am willing to continue, are $166⅔ pr Ann:...
63To George Washington from John Trumbull, 18 September 1798 (Washington Papers)
By the Ship Nancy, Captain Davidson bound to Alexandria, I have sent a small Box, addressed to you, and containing the Four Pair of Prints for which you did me the honour to subscribe so long since, and two Volumes which I was requested by my friend Mr West to forward to you with his best Respects: the prints are the finest impressions and, for security are rolled, and enclosed in a Tin Case....
64To George Washington from Peyton Short, 22 July 1798 (Washington Papers)
I had the honor of receiving your Letter of the 16th inst. directed to the care of Genl Spotswood, on last Evening. Be assured, Sir, I will pay the strictest attention not only to the execution of the power to be vested in me by Genl Spotswood, but to the object also of your request respecting your two tracts of Land on Rough Creek. I will communicate with Colo. Marshall, who is a near...
65[Diary entry: 10 March 1797] (Washington Papers)
10. Dined & lodged at Elkton. Tolerably pleasant all day. “At Elkton . . . Hollingsworth’s is a quiet orderly Tavern, with good beds, and well in other respects” ( GW to Elizabeth Willing Powel, 26 Mar. 1797 , ViMtvL ). “We encountered no adventures of any kind, & saw nothing uncommon, except the light Horse of Delaware, & Maryland, who insisted upon attending us through their states” (Eleanor...
66From George Washington to Bushrod Washington, 22 April 1798 (Washington Papers)
Enclosed are Deeds from me to General Lee, and from him to me. They were copied from his original deed to me, without my previous examination of it, supposing (I understood it was drawn by Mr Charles Lee) that it was correct in all its parts. When we were about to execute the New one⟨s⟩ I found that his title to the old one was not recited—whether this is essential to the conveyance I know...
67To George Washington from Bushrod Washington, 21 September 1798 (Washington Papers)
I have lately recieved a letter from Mr Thomas Turner of King George, in which he expresses an ardent desire to enter into the service of his Country in the military line, and requests that I would mention him to you. This I do with much pleasure, because a long and intimate acquaintance with him assures me that there are few candidates who can possess more worth than he does. Warmly and I...
68[Diary entry: 28 August 1797] (Washington Papers)
28. Clear—Mercury at 80. Wind Southerly.
69From George Washington to William Temple Broome, 24 July 1798 (Washington Papers)
Your letter of the 18th Instt has been received, and I thank you for the tender of your Services in my family if I should take the field; but as the Gentlemen about me, in that event, must be composed of experienced characters, candour requires that I should inform you my purposes would not be answered by receiving those who are not so. I am Sir Your very Hble Servt ALS (letterpress copy),...
70Farm Reports, 23–29 April 1797 (Washington Papers)
1797 April 23d Morning 57 Thunder & Rain 59 W. Rain 57 W. cloudy 24 57 N.E. cloudy & rain 58 N.E. cloudy & showers 56 S. cloudy 25 57 S. & Rain 60 W. & clear 58 S. clear 26 60 W. clear 62 W. clear 60 W. clear 27 62 S.E. clear 64 E. clear
71[Diary entry: 18 September 1797] (Washington Papers)
18. Raining in the forenoon and afternoon—Mer. at 69. Wind Southerly.
72To George Washington from Charles Cotesworth Pinckney, 20 May 1799 [letter not found] (Washington Papers)
Letter not found: from Charles Cotesworth Pinckney, 20 May 1799. On 5 June GW wrote Pinckney : “Your favor of the 20th Ulto from Mulberry Grove, came duly to hand.”
73To George Washington from Alexander Spotswood, 13 August 1797 (Washington Papers)
Since my return home I have seen charles Davis, The man that I had in view, to procure for you, as a Butler, and house keeper—he Tells me his Wages is raised from £50 to £90—so that my expectations is baffled as to him—I shall go to Town to morrow—and shall make application to another young man in the Same line of charles Davis; he is a neat decent young man—of Reputable parents—and I beleive...
74To George Washington from James Welch, 29 November 1797 (Washington Papers)
I will lease Your Land on the Great Kanawa (viz.) 23,000 Acres in the Manner following (to Wit) I will give You Annually $9583.34 C. The lease to Commence in the Year 1800 And I will pay you in the following Manner[:] in the Year 1801 $19,166.68. the next payment to be made 1807 [$] 47,916.70. In the Year 1810 [$]28,750.[0]2. And after that time I will pay Annually [$]9583.34 for 30 Years &...
75From George Washington to Paul Revere et al., 24 April 1797 (Washington Papers)
I am sorry that the enclosed answer to the Affectionate Address of the Grand lodge of Ancient, Free and accepted Masons, of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts—transmitted under your Signatures—should appear so much out of season; but from the lapse of time between the date & reception of the Address (from what cause I know not) it was not to be avoided, and is offered as an apology for the...
76[Diary entry: 29 January 1799] (Washington Papers)
29. Mer. at 23 in the Morning wch. was lowering with the wind what there was of it at No. Wt.
77[Diary entry: 22 September 1797] (Washington Papers)
22. Cloudy all day, with the Wind at No. Et. Mer. 67.
78To George Washington from Henry Lee, Jr., 22 May 1799 (Washington Papers)
I have waited here two weeks cheifly to try to finish my engagement with you—But all my endeavors are vain—I shall never recede from my exertions till I do accomplish the end, for no event of my life has given me more anguish. I would if you consider yr sale injurious rather relinquish the contract & give up the payments made, than to be the instrument of damage to you—The loss of money I am...
79From George Washington to William Pearce, 14 August 1797 (Washington Papers)
Your letter of the 24th of July has been received, and I thank you for your ready compliance with my request; but recollecting how I was served last year, I must remind you that the season will not allow me to wait long for your decisive answer—especially too, as persons are now applying in this quarter. I must repeat in this, what I said, or meant to say in my last—that is—that I do not wish...
80To George Washington from Ferdinando Fairfax, 2 March 1798 (Washington Papers)
Want of leisure has prevented my making full inquiry, as to the number of Mares that may be engaged to a Jack standing at Shan[no]n hill; but as far as I have enquired, I am not encouraged to calculate on as many as wou’d allow me to engage any considerable sum to you on a certainty. Perhaps fifty may be had at 15 Dols. a price which is considered by the Farmers to be too high, but less than...