1From George Washington to Clement Biddle, 18 May 1789 (Washington Papers)
Mrs Washington proposing to leave Mount Vernon as this day, will, I expect, be in Philadelphia on Thursday; and as she proposes to lodge at Mr Morris’s I would be obliged to you for having the enclosed letter for her lodged there against her arrival as she may find it necessary to write to me by Fridays Post. I am Dr Sir Yr most obedt Servt ALS , PWacD . Letter not found. Mrs. Washington...
2Tobias Lear to Clement Biddle, 14 September 1789 (Washington Papers)
I have now before me your several favors of the 15th, 19th and 29th of August, and 2d of September. The Prayer-Books came safe to hand, and were much approved of by Mrs Washington. As there is, at present, no opportunity from this place to So. Carolina by water, I have taken the liberty to commit the enclosed letter to your care, requesting that you will be so good as to have it put on board...
3Tobias Lear to Clement Biddle, 16 September 1789 (Washington Papers)
The President has sent to Virginia a German who is to be a Gardener for him there. As he cannot speak the English Language and is unacquainted with the Country—I have paid his passage in the Stage to Philadelphia; and have written to Mr Inskeep—proprieter of the Stage there, to forward him from thence to Alexandria, and have informed him that the Amount of his Passage to the latter place would...
4Tobias Lear to Clement Biddle, 28 September 1789 (Washington Papers)
Your much esteemed favors of the 16th & 25th instts are before me. The President’s acct contained in the former is right. Mrs Washington will thank you to get for her and send on here, 15 Yards of Padusoy of the enclosed Pattern. The President wishes to procure a considerable quantity of Clover seed; I will, therefore, thank you to inform me at what price a quantity can be had with you—and the...
5Tobias Lear to Clement Biddle, 2 October 1789 (Washington Papers)
Your favor of the 30th ultimo came to hand last evening accompanied with the Padusoy for Mrs Washington, the bill of which was enclosed. The President will thank you to get from Mr Bartram a list of the plants & shrubs which he has for sale, with the price affixed to each, and also a note to each of the time proper for transplanting them, as he is desireous of having some sent to Mount Vernon...
6Tobias Lear to Clement Biddle, 17 November 1789 (Washington Papers)
I have to acknowledge the receipt of your favour of the 5th ultimo, in which you mention your having given the memo. contained in my letter of the 2d of October to a nephew of Mr Bartram who would deliver it to his uncle; but I have not since received any information relative to the plants & shrubs, my absence from New York with the President has undoubtedly been the cause of it. The President...
7William Jackson to Clement Biddle, 7 December 1789 (Washington Papers)
The letter for Mr Holker, which encloses one for the Person, applying to be Steward of the Household, is, by the Presidents desire, committed to your care for conveyance. Be so good as to give it an early transmission. I shall take the liberty to write to you on my own account within a few days. The President and Mrs Washington are in perfect good health. I am, very respectfully, Dear Sir,...
8Tobias Lear to Clement Biddle, 21 December 1789 (Washington Papers)
I have to acknowledge your three favors of the 22d & 30th of Novr and 10th of Decr—all of which have been duly laid before the President, who now directs me to request that you will be so good as to inform me in your next, at what price per bushel 350 bushels of Buckwht could be delivered at Alexandria if sent in bags, includg the cost of the Buckwheat—the bags—commission on purchasing—freight...
9Tobias Lear to Clement Biddle, 14 February 1790 (Washington Papers)
I have been duly favoured with your letters of the 9th and 10th inst. —the latter enclosing the President’s acct as it then stood with you. In reply to your wish to know the President’s birth day, it will be sufficient to observe that it is on the 11th of February Old Style; but the Almanack-makers have generally set it down opposite to the 11th day of the present Style. How far this may go...
10Tobias Lear to Clement Biddle, 5 March 1790 (Washington Papers)
I have been favored with your letters of the 16th & 23d ultimo. We are furnished with a Carpet for the room which I had described to you; but are therefore no less obliged to you for the trouble you have had in making inquiries respecting it. The President will thank you to make an addition of two hundred bushels to the quantity of Buckwheat you have procured for him. It is probable that it...
11William Jackson to Clement Biddle, 2 May 1790 (Washington Papers)
On Sunday, 9 May 1790, GW recorded in his diary that he was “Indisposed with a bad cold, and at home all day writing letters on private business.” His condition worsened overnight, and the next day he was confined to bed, apparently suffering from a bad case of influenza that developed into pneumonia. GW described the illness as “a severe attack of the peripneumony kind.” James Madison, who...
12Tobias Lear to Clement Biddle, 3 June 1790 (Washington Papers)
New York, 3 June 1790. “The Cook arrived and entered upon his duty on the 1st of may; he gives us good dinners, and the Steward says he conducts himself well. We are much obliged by your agency in obtaining him.” ALS , PHi : Washington-Biddle Correspondence; copy, in Lear’s writing, ViMtvL ; LB , DLC:GW . For the search for a cook for the presidential household, see Tobias Lear to Daniel...
13Tobias Lear to Clement Biddle, 11 July 1790 (Washington Papers)
I have to acknowledge your favors of the 24th of June and the 4th & 8th of the present month; the former enclosing the Account of coach hire &c. paid by you—and the latter covering Mr Hare’s bill & rect for Porter sent to Mount Vernon. The President will thank you to inform me if plated waiters, suitable for carrying tea round to company, can be had with you—their sizes & cost—There are some...
14From George Washington to Clement Biddle, 20 July 1790 (Washington Papers)
The first request of this letter is that you would burn it as soon as you have read it and keep the contents to yourself; at least for the present. Some months ago farms lately in the tenure of Mr Abel James were advertised for sale by you and Mr Henry Drinker —These farms I have seen; but not, it is to be acknowledged with the eyes of a Purchaser—The ⟨one⟩ near Frankfort you inform the public...
15Tobias Lear to Clement Biddle, 22 July 1790 (Washington Papers)
New York, 22 July 1790. Encloses a draft on the Bank of North America for $200 to be credited to GW’s account. ALS , PHi : Washington-Biddle Correspondence; ADfS , ViMtvL ; LB , DLC:GW . Biddle acknowledged receipt of the bank check on 26 July 1790 ( PHi : Clement Biddle Letter Book).
16Tobias Lear to Clement Biddle, 17 August 1790 (Washington Papers)
I acknowledge the rect of your favor of the 11th Inst.—and will thank you to get & deliver to Mr Lewis, the Presidents Nephew who will have the pleasure to deliver this, a German & English Dictionary for the Presidents German Gardner —and charge the same to the President’s Acct. The President went on Saturday to R. Island —he will return in about 8 days & I think will leave this for Virginia...
17From George Washington to Clement Biddle, 9 September 1790 [letter not found] (Washington Papers)
Letter not found: to Clement Biddle, 9 Sept. 1790. On Tuesday, 14 Sept. 1790, Biddle mentioned in a letter to Tobias Lear that he “had a few Lines from the President at Baltimore dated on Thursday.” GW’s letter to Biddle probably covered his 9 Sept. 1790 letter to David & Francis Clark (see Tobias Lear to GW, 26 Sept. 1790, n.7 ).
18Tobias Lear to Clement Biddle, 3 October 1790 (Washington Papers)
I have been duly favored with your letter of the 27th Ultimo and this morning Captain Albertson handed me your favor of the 23d. One hundred and sixty dollars is the lowest Captain Alberson will take for his vessels; and this exclusive of the Cabin, which he says was never comprehended in his conversation with you; and that it is always considered as seperate from the vessel when a vessel is...