To George Washington from John Beckley, 11 February 1785
From John Beckley
Richmond 11th feby 1785
Sir,
Your favor of the 5th Instant, covering the Ingrossed Potowmac Bill, came to hand this day.
At the desire of Mr Ambler, I have now the honor to enclose you, Six Copies of the Publication, which, as Managers at this place, we have deemed necessary on the same Business; we have also forwarded 100 Copies to the Managers at Alexandria and Winchester, respectively; others are distributed in the Southern Country, Petersburg Norfolk &C.1—We are apprehensive that the interference of another object, the opening and extending the Navigation of James River, may occasion little success to the present scheme in this Quarter; Our endeavors, however, will not be spared, and I trust, Sir, that under your auspicious patronage, and, the more succesful endeavors of the Managers, at the other places, complete success will attend a measure productive of consequences, so deeply interesting to the future prosperity of Virginia. With the highest regard and esteem, I have the honor to be, Sir, Your most obedient, humble servant,
John Beckley.
ALS, DLC:GW.
1. In a broadside dated 22 Jan. 1785, Jaquelin Ambler (1742–1798), treasurer of the state of Virginia, and John Beckley, as the two managers in Richmond for the Potowmack Company, announce that “a subscription book will be opened at the treasury office in the city of Richmond, on Tuesday the 8th of next month, and remain open until the 10th day of May” to receive subscriptions to the new company. The broadside describes the terms for subscription, or investment, lists the tolls that were to be charged, and includes the text of the report of the commissioners at Annapolis of 28 Dec. 1784, see Enclosure I in George Washington and Horatio Gates to the Virginia Legislature, 28 Dec. 1784. A copy of the broadside is in DLC:GW.