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...