To George Washington from Henry Lee, Jr., 12 March 1785

From Henry Lee, Jr.

Stratford [Va.] 12h March 1785

My dear Genl

Apprehending the escape of the season before your vessel may arrive, I have got the favor of Mr Hall to permit his servant to call at Mount-Vernon.

He has twelve horse chesnut, twelve box-cuttings & twelve dwarf box-cuttings—you may have any supply of either box, you please to order—I can supply you also with cypress & holly which can be ready at the shortest notice—Perhaps we may have some fruit trees you may want—In any thing please to command me, as I feel singularly happy in adminestering to the wishes of a character I so much love and respect.1

Mrs Lee joins in compliments to your lady. I am dear Genl unalterably your friend & servt

Henry Lee Junr

ALS, DLC:GW. Lee wrote on the cover: “Sickness stopped the messenger. Mr Read is taking up the trees &c.”

1. GW records in his diary on 13 April having received from “Colo. Henry Lee of Westmoreland” (Light-Horse Harry Lee of Stratford Hall) these plants and cuttings, which he had planted (Diaries description begins Donald Jackson and Dorothy Twohig, eds. The Diaries of George Washington. 6 vols. Charlottesville, Va., 1976–79. description ends , 4:118). Mr. Hall has not been identified.

Index Entries

You Are Looking At

Source Project: Washington Papers
Title: To George Washington from Henry Lee, Jr., 12 March 1785
Author: Lee, Henry Jr.
Recipient: Washington, George
Date: 12 March 1785

Reference

Cite as: “To George Washington from Henry Lee, Jr., 12 March 1785,” Founders Online, National Archives, https://founders.archives.gov/documents/Washington/04-02-02-0291. [Original source: The Papers of George Washington, Confederation Series, vol. 2, 18 July 1784 – 18 May 1785, ed. W. W. Abbot. Charlottesville: University Press of Virginia, 1992, p. 431.]

More between these correspondents