421To George Washington from Hugh Williamson, 19 February 1785 (Washington Papers)
Application has been made to Congress lately by James McMechen who is connected with James Rumsey of Virga in the newly invented Machinery for pressing Boats through the Water. Mr McMechen has laid before the Committee, to whom his Memorial was refer’d, a Certificate that you was pleas’d to give him respecting the Invention. We observe your Opinion that “He has discovered the Art of working...
422To George Washington from Otho Holland Williams, 20 April 1785 (Washington Papers)
I have not had the honor of a line, or message from you since I forwarded, to Mount Vernon, the Parchments which Major Turner sent to me from Philadelphia, and I was uncertain of your intentions respecting the Diplomas ’till about ten days ago, a gentleman Mr Hamilton, ⟨(⟩of this town) desired me to look at two blanks to which your name was subscribed—they were Diplomas, and upon enquiry I...
423To George Washington from Otho Holland Williams, 24 January 1785 (Washington Papers)
Major Turner of Philadelphia to whom, and Captn Claypole, was committed the buisiness of having the Diploma of the Society of the Cincinnati engraved on Copperplate, has sent me a bundle containing eighty three Diplomas on Parchment, with a list of fourteen members who have advanced to him one dollar each for the expence. Major Turner has importuned me exceedingly to pay him the money he has...
424To George Washington from John Witherspoon, 14 April 1785 (Washington Papers)
Your Favour of the 8th of March reached me towards the End of that Month At that Time I was entirely ignorant where Mr Bowie was but in general supposed him to be at a great Distance in the Back Countries. However when deliberating how to get a Letter conveyed to him I receivd a few Days ago a Letter from himself dated at Chambers Town Feby 28 and though there is nothing in the Letter from...
425To George Washington from John Woddrop, 16 September 1784 (Washington Papers)
I having done myself the honour for to write to your Excellency on the 27th of July the last year, and to transmit along therewith a list of the different Manufacturies in the linen branch of bussiness in Scotland, and as I did do so with a vow to be of some use to the States of America, and also to serve the Mississippi Company, of which Company my brother Robert Woddrop, late factor &...
426To George Washington from Joseph Wright, 1 September 1784 (Washington Papers)
J. Wrights respectful Compliments await Genrl Washington, and hopes he will not recollect how Long a Time has elapsed since this was to have been sent; as it was owing to its requiring some Alterations and there was no Bronze (the Stuff with which it is Covered) in America at that Time, He Begs Leave to assure Mrs Washington, that he has not forgot his Promise respecting the Large Bust, but...
427Editorial Note (Washington Papers)
With the aid of Sir James Jay, Lady Huntingdon in 1784 developed a proposal to send out from Britain at her expense pious men and women to settle on the American frontier. There, by example and by their efforts, they would convert the Indians to Christianity and at the same time improve the conditions in which the Indians lived. Even before she developed this plan, Lady Huntingdon had sought...
428Editorial Note (Washington Papers)
In the years immediately preceding the American Revolution, GW devoted considerable time and effort to the acquisition of large tracts of land in western Virginia and in the Ohio Valley. By 1775 he laid claim to over 37,000 acres in the West, acquired under the proclamations of 1754 and 1763 for his military services during the French and Indian War or through purchases from other veterans. In...