51From George Washington to Reuben Harvey, 25 August 1784 (Washington Papers)
Captain Stickney has presented me with your favor of the 25th of May—together with the mess-beef & ox tongues, for which you will please to accept my best thanks. I do not raise Tobacco on my Estate nor am I possessed of a pound at this time; otherwise I would with pleasure consign a few Hogsheads to your address, under full persuasion, that no person would do me more justice in the sale of...
52From George Washington to James Mercer, 25 August 1784 (Washington Papers)
My Sister handed me your favor of the 18th. 1 thank you for the advice respecting the mode of conveying a title for the Lands I purchased at your Brother’s Sale, & will pursue it; but necessity will oblige me to postpone the matter until I return from my Western jaunt; as, from Company & other circumstances, no leizure is left me to rummage for Papers before. My letter to your Brother John...
53From George Washington to William Smith, 25 August 1784 (Washington Papers)
Your letter of the 10th from Vienna, was more than ten days on its passage to me. It found me with company, & busily preparing for a journey which I am about to commence in a few days to the westward. I did not fail however to mention the purport of your wishes to Mr Arell who was the bearer of your packet to me. He offering his services to dispose of your lottery tickets—I do not know where...
54From George Washington to Thomas Walker, 25 August 1784 (Washington Papers)
In April last I wrote you a letter, of which the enclosed is a copy—having received no reply to it, nor seen any meeting of the company summoned in the papers, I am lead to suspect it never got to hand—for this reason, and because I think a meeting of the company indispensably necessary, I have transmitted a copy. I am upon the eve of a journey as far as the Kanhawa, from whence I may not be...
55To George Washington from Unzaga y Amézaga, 26 August 1784 (Washington Papers)
Immediately after General Stewart’s arrival here, he handed me your Excellency’s esteem’d favor of the 5th Feby this Year recommending me this gallant Officer, who remain’d here untill he finish’d settling his outstanding accts with the Inhabitants, wch without doubt were many, from the free Commerce carried on during the late War wth the Inhabitants of this Island. I have procur’d General...
56To George Washington from Nathanael Greene, 29 August 1784 (Washington Papers)
My ill health and the distressing situation of my private affairs for some time past has claimed too much of my Attention to afford me either time or inclination to attend to any thing else. At the time of the meeting of the Cincinnati in Philadelphia I had a dangerous and disagree[able] pain in my breast. It had hung about me then upwards of two months; but by the use of balsam of firr soon...
57From George Washington to David Griffith, 29 August 1784 (Washington Papers)
Colo. Fitzhugh informs me that the Academy at George town is upon a good establishment—that the Gentn at the head of it is very capable, and clever in conducting of it—that the school is in high estimation, & that the terms are £25 for board, & £6.10 for teaching, Maryland Curry. Under these circumstances, let me pray you to inform Mr Nourse that I think it a desirable place to fix my Nephews...
58To George Washington from Thomas Walker, 29 August 1784 (Washington Papers)
On the receipt of your favour dated April the 10th I wrote to Mr David Jameson inclosing a copy of the part [of] your letter relative to the swamp Company also copeys of the Honble Doctor Williamsons letter & the other proposal respecting the Canal, the originals & copy of Mr Jamasons answer are inclosed, Mr Jameson has for several years had the cheif mannagment which induce’d me to expect...
59To George Washington from William Gordon, 30 August 1784 (Washington Papers)
Your obliging letter of the 10th instt was recd the last thursday. With the greatest pleasure I read of the health & welfare of Self & family. I was glad, that the Boston Paper came regularly; & that you may be perfectly satisfied with its continuance, inform You that it costs me nothing being admitted to the benefit of clergy—that the very covers which save my using my own paper when I write...
60From George Washington to Jean Le Mayeur, 30 August 1784 (Washington Papers)
Your letter of the 14th accompanying the horse for little Washington came safe. It is not in my power to describe his delight, which is the best proof of his thanks to you—he finds beauty in every part, & tho’ shy at first, he begins now to ride with a degree of boldness which will soon do honor to his horsemanship. Mrs Washington & all the family join me in best wishes for you. Mrs Lund...
61From George Washington to Stephen Sayre, 1 September 1784 (Washington Papers)
The round of company in which I have constantly been, & other circumstances since I had the honor to receive your favor of the 20th ulto, induced me (indeed obliged me) to postpone from day to day, my answer, until the period has now arrived when I can do no more than give it a bare acknowledgment, being in the very act of setting out for the Western Country. I could not depart however without...
62To 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...
63From George Washington to Daniel Morgan, 4 September 1784 (Washington Papers)
Colo. Kennedy has owed me £28 these many years. Enquiring yesterday where he lived—& into his circumstances—I was told that he had lately sold land or houses in Winchester, to you; & that it might be in your power to obtain the balance which appears upon the enclosed accot due to me. If this should be the case, you would very much oblige me, as the money has been long due & I have always found...
64From George Washington to Edward Snickers, 4 September 1784 (Washington Papers)
Several persons have been with me this day to rent the Land I bought at the sale of Colo. George Mercer’s Estate; but I find it is essential that some one, or more of them, should engage for the whole rent; or, that I should delay renting it until the Land can be divided to the best advantage—so as that each Lot may have water, & a proportionate quantity of good Land. for these reasons I mean...
65Certificate for James Rumsey, 7 September 1784 (Washington Papers)
I have seen the model of Mr Rumsey’s Boats constructed to work against stream; have examined the power upon which it acts; have been an eye witness to an actual experiment in running water of some rapidity; & do give it as my opinion (altho’ I had little faith before) that he has discovered the art of propelling Boats, by mechanism & small manual assistance, against rapid currents: that the...
66To George Washington from John Rumney, Jr., 8 September 1784 (Washington Papers)
Having only arrivd a few Days ago, I have not opportunity of communicating to your Excellency as I could wish, the Particulars of the Enquiries you were pleas’d to honor me with. You may rely, Sir, on my Diligence in executing your Commission & giving you the earliest Advice. I have wrote to Newcastle abt a Bricklayer, that Place furnishing Mechanicks in that Branch preferable to any other in...
67To George Washington from Rochambeau, 9 September 1784 (Washington Papers)
I have the honour of Sending to you the new promotion Which has been done lately for the order of Cincinnatus according to the resolutions of the last meeting of the general Society. I also inclose in it the copy of a letter from M. le Mal de segur bearing the permission of his majesty for these new aggregated. you will See by it, at the Same time, that his majesty Stops all kind of farther...
68To George Washington from Kersaint, 12 September 1784 (Washington Papers)
It is with every imaginable Regret that I renounce representing in person to your Excellency, the Lettre which I have the honor of addressing to you —Charged by the King to visit these States at the head of a Squadron, I considered as the highest Satisfaction connected with this mission, that of finding myself within the reach of presenting to your Excellency the homage of the Military Marine...
69To George Washington from La Luzerne, 12 September 1784 (Washington Papers)
I flatter myself that the distance in which I live now from you has not lessened the esteem and Confidence with which you have been constantly pleased to honor me. I should think myself very fortunate if the future incidents of my Life could afford me an opportunity to receive new proofs of your Kindness and of your Friendship. The first moments I passed with my Countrymen were employed in...
70To George Washington from Battaile Muse, 12 September 1784 (Washington Papers)
I have been Informed that you have a Considerable Sum of money due in Berkeley Frederick and Fauquier Counties from your Tenants—altho a Very disagreeable Office—I beg leave to solicit your Favour in Leting me have the Collection It being Convenient with Colo. Fairfax’s Collection As I attend the Courts and Sheriffs through which channel I expect some of the business will Pass[.] I am Oblig’d...
71To 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 &...
72To George Washington from Benjamin Harrison, 17 September 1784 [letter not found] (Washington Papers)
Letter not found: from Benjamin Harrison, 17 Sept. 1784. On 10 Oct. GW wrote Harrison : “I had the pleasure to receive your favor of the 17th ulto.”
73From George Washington to Thomas Freeman, 23 September 1784 (Washington Papers)
The situation of my affairs on the Western Waters in the State of Pennsylvania & Virginia, requireing a Superintendant; & you having been pleased to accept the appointment, I must beg leave to point out to you the performance of such duties as are particularly necessary. These will be to settle Tenants upon my Land; collect the rents which will arise therefrom—the Debts which will proceed from...
74To George Washington from David Humphreys, 30 September 1784 (Washington Papers)
I was obliged to close my last Letter of the 18th of Augst so abruptly that I had not even time to tell you how much satisfaction it would afford me, should I be able by my communications to contribute in any degree to your amusement or information, as you were pleased to intimate—permit me now to assure you, that the delightful employment of thus conversing with my dearest General, under the...
75To George Washington from Daniel Morgan, 30 September 1784 (Washington Papers)
I was Honored with your letter Enclosing an accompt against David Keneday. He had drawn every Shilling from me Long since, and I fear the debt is in a bad way. However I have kept the accompt & order, and If I can get by any barter or turn over so much in my hands I will secure it for you, and shall at the same time be happy to have it in my power to serve you and shall in future think myself...
76From George Washington to John Preston, 1 October 1784 [letter not found] (Washington Papers)
Letter not found: to John Preston, 1 Oct. 1784. On 6 Nov. Preston wrote GW : “In consequence of receiving your Excellency’s favour dated Rockingham Octr 1st 84. . . .”
77To George Washington from James Craik, 2 October 1784 (Washington Papers)
I have thought it might be more satisfactory to leave you the different Accounts I received respecting the Communication between the waters of the Yoheogany & the North Branch of Potowmack, that you might from a view of the whole Collect an opinion for yourself —it appears to me that the land Carriage from the Forks of Yoheogany to Cumberland which from a variety of Accounts will not be more...
78To George Washington from Edward Newenham, 2 October 1784 [letter not found] (Washington Papers)
Letter not found: from Edward Newenham, 2 Oct. 1784. On 20 Mar. 1785 GW wrote to Newenham : “I regret very much that your letters of the 2d & 13th of October should have been detained.”
79To George Washington from Sarah Bomford, 8 October 1784 [letter not found] (Washington Papers)
Letter not found: from Sarah Bomford, 8 Oct. 1784. On 15 Mar. 1785 GW wrote to her : “I have had the honor to receive your favor, & duplicate, of the 8th of Octor.”
80To George Washington from Lafayette, 8 October 1784 (Washington Papers)
Every where I Have Met with delays—but so Agreable were they in their Nature that I Cannot Complain of them—it is not Quite the Case with the Indian treaty—Altho’ the Hope to Be Useful Has kept me there longer than I Had Expected—my presence at the oppening of it Had Been desired—Many Circumstances kept it off—at last it Began, and My influence with the indians was found Greater than I myself...
81To George Washington from George Augustine Washington, 9 October 1784 [letter not found] (Washington Papers)
Letter not found: from George Augustine Washington, 9 Oct. 1784. On 25 Nov. GW wrote to William Washington : “From a letter dated the 9th of last month from my Nephew Geo: Augte Washington. ...”
82From George Washington to Benjamin Harrison, 10 October 1784 (Washington Papers)
GW’s letter to Governor Harrison marks his return to public life as the leader of a movement to form a public company for improving the navigation of the upper Potomac and linking it with the waters of the Ohio. He first became deeply involved in schemes for opening up the Potomac in the early 1770s (see particularly the source note and its references in Thomas Johnson to GW, 18 June 1770 )....
83To George Washington from Edward Newenham, 13 October 1784 [letter not found] (Washington Papers)
Letter not found: from Edward Newenham, 13 Oct. 1784. On 20 Mar. 1785 GW wrote to Newenham : “I regret very much that your letters of the 2d and 13th of October should have been detained.”
84To George Washington from Robert Anderson, 15 October 1784 [letter not found] (Washington Papers)
Letter not found: from Robert Anderson, 15 Oct. 1784. On 3 Nov. GW wrote to Anderson : “Your letter of the 15th of Octor is at hand.”
85To George Washington from Stephen Sayre, 15 October 1784 (Washington Papers)
When I did myself the honor of laying before your Excellency such thoughts as then occur’d to my imagination on the importantance of opening this River, it was not my Intention to have given you the trouble of a Reply; but I am not ashamed to acknowledge myself happy in the honorable Correspondence. It is my wish, that every Idea, leading to accomplish the great Object may be made public, and...
86To George Washington from Pusignan, 16 October 1784 (Washington Papers)
Anxious to partake of the military honors, with the Officers of your Country, where I served under Count Rochambeau, during the stay of the French Army in America; I addressed myself to Doctor Franklin, persuaded you had commissioned him to admit into the Order of Cincinnatus, those who were entitled to it. He told me I must apply to you, the President of the Order—I should not Sir, have...
87To George Washington from William Gordon, 18 October 1784 [letter not found] (Washington Papers)
Letter not found: from William Gordon, 18 Oct. 1784. On 3 Nov. GW wrote to Gordon : “The last post brought me your favor of the 18th ulto.”
88To George Washington from Benjamin Lincoln, 18 October 1784 [letter not found] (Washington Papers)
Letter not found: from Benjamin Lincoln, 18 Oct. 1784. On 5 Feb. 1785 GW wrote to Lincoln : “Not until these few days have I been favored with your letter of the 18th of Octr.”
89To George Washington from James Rumsey, 19 October 1784 (Washington Papers)
I have been geting of Mr Herbert a few Coarse Clothes for my workman, and A Few materials towards Building, and has Taken the Liberty to Draw on you in his favour, for forty pounds Curencey payable at twenty Days Sight. I thought It my Duty to give you notice of it—The honor you Did me at Bath by giveing me So ample a Certificate I Shall Eve[r] most greatfully acknowledge It Convicts almost...
90From George Washington to Sidney Lee, 20 October 1784 (Washington Papers)
The letter you did me the honor to write to me on the 23d of May last, came to my hands in the moment of my departure for our Western territory. Knowing that I should be in the walks of Mr White, and intending if I did not see him, to write to him on the subject of your letter, I thought it best to decline giving you any trouble until one of those events should have happened. Fortunately I saw...
91To George Washington from George Plater, 20 October 1784 (Washington Papers)
Since I had the Honor of visiting you I have been revolving in my Head the Subject of our Conversation respecting the opening the Potowmack, Advancing the Trade of the back & new settled Countries [in] this these middle States & the more I consider it, the more I am impressed with the Utility & Advantages resulting therefrom —So much so, that I am determined to press the Measure in our...
92To George Washington from Lafayette, 22 October 1784 (Washington Papers)
On My Arrival at Boston I Have Been So kindly Received that No Words Can Express My lively, Affectionate Gratitude—to those Enjoyements I Have added the Heartfelt pleasure to Contemplate the Effect, a Sudden Appearance of your picture, Had Upon a people whose love to You is as Great at least as in Any part of the World —Circumstanced as I am Here, I Could not with Any propriety set out So Soon...
93To George Washington from Jacob Read, 22 October 1784 (Washington Papers)
Having met with the Little Tract a Copy of which I do myself the honour to inclose to you in this City and Conceiving it possesses Some Merit I Seize the occasion it affords me of addressing a few Lines to you and of making inquiries of Your health & that of your most amiable Lady. I hope Your late Tour Westward has been Attended with every pleasure & advantage you promised Yourself and as I...
94From George Washington to George Plater, 25 October 1784 (Washington Papers)
Your letter of the 20th did not reach me until yesterday afternoon. I am now set down to acknowledge it, and shall be happy if from any information I can give, you should derive satisfaction, or the public benefit. To describe the usefulness of water transportation, would be a mere waste of time, every man who has considered the difference of expence between it, & land transportation, and the...
95From George Washington to George Rindfleisch, 25 October 1784 (Washington Papers)
Herewith is a copy of the Plat you desired. Permit me to remind you that this tract, & my other Lands in the neighbourhood of it, have been offered to be leased, and may soon, in part, be engaged. The sooner therefore you determine whether to take it or not, the better chance there will be of having it wholly for your own use, or the benefit of your friends, which, no doubt would be more...
96To George Washington from Walter Stewart, 26 October 1784 (Washington Papers)
Not meeting with an Opportunity of forwarding Your Excellency a Letter has been the only Cause of my not writing since my return from the Havannah. I have in the most sincere manner to thank Your Excellency for the kind Introduction You gave me to the Governor, it was paid every Attention to I could Possibly wish, and was the Cause in a great measure of my getting the business on which I went...
97To George Washington from Melancton Smith, 27 October 1784 (Washington Papers)
I have the honor of inclosing you a Copy of an Invoice of plate &c, shipped from London by order of Daniel Parker Esqr. Mr Parker before he left Philadelphia authorized me to receive them, and forward them to you. They arrived here the Latter part of Summer, since which no oppurtunity has offered to Ship them to you. A Friend of mine now Ships a number of Goods to go to Alexandria by way of...
98From George Washington to Stephen Bloomer Balch, 30 October 1784 (Washington Papers)
If you will now, or at any other time, furnish me with an account of the expences which have been incurred for schooling, boarding & clothing of my Nephews, I will transmit you the money. Such of the latter as are proper for them, I hope will be obtained on the best terms, as the cost of them shall be regularly paid. I think it would be very proper to have them taught the French language &...
99To George Washington from Benjamin Vaughan, 31 October 1784 [letter not found] (Washington Papers)
Letter not found: from Benjamin Vaughan, 31 Oct. 1784. On 5 Feb. 1785 GW wrote to Vaughan : “I pray you to accept my acknowledgement of your polite letter of 31st of October.”
100From George Washington to Robert Anderson, 3 November 1784 (Washington Papers)
Your letter of the 15th of Octor is at hand, & is the first I have ever received from you. Persons as well acquainted with Husbandry, in its various branches, as you profess yourself to be, & have credentials of, must no doubt be an acquisition to any Country, & meet with encouragement in this. I should be glad to employ a Man who has a perfect knowledge of Agriculture—skilled in the rotation...