1From George Washington to Thomas Johnson and Thomas Sim Lee, 18 May 1785 (Washington Papers)
At a meeting of the Subscribers to the Potowmac Navigation held yesterday agreeable to the Acts of Assembly of both States, a President and Directors were chosen, the former I have accepted of, & you two in conjunction with George Gilpin & John Fitzgerald Esqrs. were appointed Directors which I hope will be agreeable to you[.] As the Season begins to advance I have thought necessary that we...
2From George Washington to Richard Sprigg, 18 May 1785 (Washington Papers)
I received the Grass-seeds which you sent me sometime since, & thank you for them. This Letter will be handed to you by Mr Pine, an Artist of acknowledged eminence; who, whilst it is yet possible is endeavouring to secure faithful representations of some of the interesting events of this War—As he proposes to take Annapolis on his way to Philadelphia I pray you to allow me the liberty of...
3From George Washington to Clement Biddle, 16 May 1785 (Washington Papers)
I stand indebted to you for your several favors of the 7th of March, and 12th & 19th of April. Believe me, Sir, the first was not productive of more surprize than real concern. The acct of your failure was as much regretted, as it was unexpected by me; and I feel for the causes of it—and for your present situation. You are sensible that my Commissions have been more troublesome than profitable...
4From George Washington to Francis Hopkinson, 16 May 1785 (Washington Papers)
In for a penny, in for a pound, is an old adage. I am so hackneyed to the touches of the Painters pencil, that I am now altogether at their beck, and sit like patience on a Monument whilst they are delineating the lines of my face. It is a proof among many others, of what habit & custom can effect. At first I was as impatient at the request, and as restive under the operation, as a Colt is of...
5To George Washington from Tench Tilghman, 14 May 1785 (Washington Papers)
I am desired by Mr Hollyday to transmit the inclosed to you, and to request the favor of an answer thro’ my hands. He has communicated the contents of his letter to me—That the Lady in question is the youngest Daughter of the late Capt. William Anderson of London, is well known to me and to many others; but if more regular proofs, than the bare assertions of Individuals, should be necessary to...
6To George Washington from William Fitzhugh, 13 May 1785 (Washington Papers)
This will be hand ⟨to⟩ You by Mr Bolton. The Person I recommended to Finish your Large Room—He is a masterly Hand, & I believe will Execute your work in an Elegant Manner at least equal to any in America—When I had the Honor to be with you & first Mention’d Mr Bolton, I told you His Foible as well as His Merrit & that I had lately discharg’d Him from my service, into which He Enterd in June...
7To George Washington from John Harvie, 13 May 1785 (Washington Papers)
You will receive with this Letter a copy of the previous Title Law that pass’d in the year 1779 —I also Inclose you a Certificate of the loss of your Original Survey for the 2813 Acres of Land —likewise a copy of the Grant that issued to you and General Lewis for the Burning Spring —I do not Recollect that any application has been made for the Round Bottom by Cresups Heirs or any other person...
8To George Washington from Lafayette, 13 May 1785 (Washington Papers)
My Correspondance With You Will this time Be in two Volumes and Young Mr Adams, John Adams’s Son, Has taken Care of a letter which I Hope He will Safely forward —Your kind favour february the 15th only Came in the last Packet—I Need not telling You, My dear General, How Happy I was to Hear from You, and How Happy You will Make me By an Exact Correspondance and an Attention to Send the Letters...
9To George Washington from John Swan, 13 May 1785 (Washington Papers)
When I was in England my friends Messrs Harrison Ansley & Co. of London gave me Charge of a power Attorney and several authentic papers from, and proving, the Heirs and legatees of Mr Thos Colvill of Fairfax County, who appears to have made a Will and died some time in October 1766, by which will You are appointed one of the Executors. I Shall esteem it a particular favor, If you will take the...
10To George Washington from Jaquelin Ambler, 12 May 1785 (Washington Papers)
Still flattering ourselves with an expectation that some encouragement would be given here to the Scheme for opening and extending the navigation of Potowmack River, we were induced to delay closing the Subscription to the latest day which the Act admitted of: It is matter of real regret to us that our endeavours have proved unsuccessful. My whole attention being necessarily engrossed by the...
11From George Washington to Barbier de La Serre, 12 May 1785 (Washington Papers)
The letter which you did me the honor to write to me the 20th of last month, I found at this place when I returned from Richmond a few days ago; but it had been previously lost in the high way, & came to me open & without a cover: by what means it met with this accident, I am unable to learn—a neighbour of mine picked it up in the condition I have mentioned, & sent it to me. I pray you to be...
12To George Washington from Thomas Marshall, 12 May 1785 (Washington Papers)
Your favor of the 3d Inst. I receiv’d by my Son & will with the greatest pleasure execute the small commission you are pleas’d to honor me with, by collecting & sending you the different seeds agreable to the list you inclos’d me. The Crown imperial —Tulip bearing Lawrel, & Cardinal flower, I am not acquainted with, but shall I dont doubt find them out by enquiry. In consiquence of a...
13To George Washington from Lafayette, 11 May 1785 (Washington Papers)
This is not the only letter You Will Get from me By this packet, But as the opportunity is Safe, I will trust Young M. Adams With Some Matters Which I would not like to Be Ventured in the post offices of France. 102 ⟨Protestants⟩ in 12 ⟨France⟩ are under intolerable 80 ⟨Despotism⟩—altho’ oppen persecution does not now Exist, yet it depends upon the whim of 25 ⟨king⟩; 28 ⟨queen⟩, 29...
14To George Washington from David Humphreys, 10 May 1785 (Washington Papers)
Since I had the honor to receive by the last Packet your favor dated in Feby last I have been unwell with a slight fever, & tho recovered at this moment it has retarded my public business in such a manner, as will prevent me from writing so particularly as I wished to have done by the present opportunity. I am extremely concerned & mortified to find that you have been under the necessity of...
15To George Washington from Christopher Richmond, 10 May 1785 (Washington Papers)
Not having had any communication with the persons appointed by the Act of Assembly of Maryland to receive subscriptions for extending the Navigation of Potowmack, upon the Subject of advertising a Meeting; and being at a Loss how to proceed in the Business, I have taken the Liberty of addressing Your Excellency upon it. It is but a few days since I saw the Act of Assembly for the first...
16To George Washington from W. Symmes, 10 May 1785 (Washington Papers)
I have considered well the terms your Excellency mentioned at your sisters as the best you could allow me, & find on comparing them with my present prospects in another line that I cannot with any justice to myself accept them. My views must be professional, or if I exchange them, ’tis natural to expect some compensation. The salary I receive from Mr Mercer, is perhaps the least advantage I...
17To George Washington from Charles Vancouver, 10 May 1785 [letter not found] (Washington Papers)
Letter not found: from Charles Vancouver, 10 May. GW wrote Vancouver on 30 June : “Your favor of the 10th of last month came safely to hand.”
18To George Washington from William Grayson, 4–8 May 1785 (Washington Papers)
I have recieved your letter of the 25th of Aprill, for which I am much oblig’d to you; I am sorry for the melancholy occasion which has induc’d you to leave Mount Vernon, and for the affliction which the loss of such near relations must involve Mrs Washington in. The Ordinance for disposing of the Western territory has been under consideration ever since I wrote you last & has underwent...
19To George Washington from Jacob Read, 8 May 1785 (Washington Papers)
Mr Charles Philips who does me the Honour to charge himself with the delivery of the present Letter is my most particular friend, permit me to introduce him to your Acquaintance and friendship as such—He is a Gentleman of very ample fortune in the West Indies and is now on his return to Europe after visiting his Estates—a very principal reason for Mr Philips’s making a journey from this State...
20To George Washington from Ruthey Jones, 7 May 1785 (Washington Papers)
Last December twelve months—I had the honour of receiveing your Excellencys’ Letter by major Fishbourn being the first that ever Got safe to my hands. I should have returned an earlier answer to it, had a Conveyance on which I Could have depended offered before the present—I am at a loss to express the Satisfaction I felt when major Fishbourn informed me he had a letter from You—it can be...
21To George Washington from Richard Henry Lee, 7 May 1785 (Washington Papers)
This will be delivered to you by the honorable Mr Sitgreaves a very worthy delegate to Congress from N. Carolina; who has been long detained by his desire to see the Land Ordinance passed, but he is obliged at last to quit us before it is finally so—The reasons he can give you. I had some time ago written a letter for you in answer to your last faver & kept it to go by this Gentleman, whose...
22To George Washington from William Grayson, 5 May 1785 (Washington Papers)
Mr King one of the delegates of Massachusets bay, & a gentleman of great worth has particularly requested me to introduce to you, Mr Prince & Mr Darby, the former a Clergyman of amiable character, the latter the son of a respectable Merchant: They are travelling to Virginia & have a desire of calling at Mount Vernon. I therefore hope you will excuse the liberty I take in presenting them to...
23To George Washington from Henry Knox, 5 May 1785 (Washington Papers)
It has been my intention ever since I have been in this City which is fourteen days to have written to you, but my business has been such as to prevent this gratification. Congress have directed 700 Men to be raised for three years, to be apportioned upon the states of Connecticut New York, New Jersey and Pennsylvania, for the protection of the Western frontiers, to defend the Settlers on the...
24To George Washington from Thomas Bibby, 4 May 1785 (Washington Papers)
The enclosed letter and a parcell which accompanies it was entrusted to my care by Sr Edward Newenham, to be delivered to Your Excellency; I regret much the not having it in my power to present them myself, an honor which the situation of my affairs in this state deprives me of. I have hopes however before my return to Europe, to be enabled to receive in person any Commands Your Excellency may...
25To George Washington from Robert Howe, 4 May 1785 (Washington Papers)
The Bearer Mr Sitgreaves is a Delegate in Congress for the State of North Carolina, the Respect he has for your character induces him strongly to wish that he may know you personally, and being well assur’d that he is worthy of an introduction to you, I take the liberty to recommend him to your Civilities, I am sorry that inevitable Circumstances deprive the publick of the advantages which...
26To George Washington from Richard Henry Lee, 3 May 1785 (Washington Papers)
I have long had a letter prepared for you in answer to your last favor which I have kept for the honorable Mr Sitgreaves to be the bearer of, as he proposed to visit you on his return to North Carolina; and the more especially as his stay has been occasioned by the necessity of seeing the very important ordinance passed for selling the western lands, which I wished you to have in its perfected...
27From George Washington to Thomas Marshall, 3 May 1785 [letter not found] (Washington Papers)
Letter not found: to Thomas Marshall, 3 May. On 12 May Marshall wrote GW : “Your favor of the 3d Inst. I received by my Son.”
28To George Washington from William Fitzhugh, 2 May 1785 (Washington Papers)
My delay to Address you on the the subject of Mr Bolton, & his to wait on you before the 25 ulto as you desir’d—Have proceeded from his being absent on an Excursion to Baltimore when I return’d from Virga—I have seen Him to day, and He promises to wait on you about the 20th of this Month the time I supposed you wou’d be return’d from Richmond—He will then carry a List of Materials which I have...
29To George Washington from Jean-Baptiste de Montesquieu, 2 May 1785 (Washington Papers)
My Son has Order’d me to Send to your Excellency One Hundered & Twenty Bottles of White Wine, made at Bordeaux. he Told me that during his Stay in America, He never had Seen So good a Sort of Nutts, as those in France, I have Sent at all events Some Nutts of a very fine Sort, although the Season for Sowing them is over. There will be possibly Some one that will Spring up & will Produce a Tree,...
30Resolutions of the Dismal Swamp Company, 2 May 1785 (Washington Papers)
That the money, which can at present be raised, be put into the hands of some proper person, and such person be empowered to engage as many German, or other labourers at Baltimore, or any other part of this continent, as the money will procure. That, if this scheme should prove wholly or in part abortive, the managers hire as many negroes as they may think proper, untill they can import from...