To George Washington from Thomas Walker, 29 August 1784
From Thomas Walker
Castle Hill [Va.] August the 29th 1784
Dear Sir
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,1 Mr Jameson has for several years had the cheif mannagment which induce’d me to expect that he could give a more satisfactory account than was in my power, what money the Company had is in the Loan office of Course chiefly lost. I intend to advertise a meeting in Richmd on the 16 of October, if this should come to yr hands in time I am satisfyed your doing it would have much greater effect. I shall inclose my advertisement to Mr Robert Bane Merchant in Richmond with orders not to publish it till the last of next Month & if you send one to publish yrs & destroy mine.2
I perfectly agree with you in the Sale of our partnership Lands,3 Betsy is very well & most cordially joins in best wishes for your & Familys Healt and happiness with Dr Sr your most obliged Servt
Thomas Walker
ALS, ViMtvL.
1. See Walker to GW, 24 Jan. 1784, nn.1 and 3. For Hugh Williamson’s letter, see GW to Williamson, 31 Mar. 1784. In David Jameson’s draft of a letter to Thomas Walker, dated 15 July 1784, he writes: “A few days ago I recd your favour of the 19h June wch is the only Letter I have recd from you since last November” (NcD: Dismal Swamp Land Company Papers).
2. After speaking of Dismal Swamp Company affairs and expressing his regret that the meeting called for November 1783 did not materialize, Jameson writes in the draft of his letter to Walker of 15 July 1784: “Could the great & good Genl Washington be prevailed on to appoint a time & place for Meeting the Members would suppose he intended to be there in person & I believe woud attend.” Walker’s notice, dated 20 Sept., appeared on 2 Oct. in the Virginia Gazette, or, the American Advertiser (Richmond), calling for the “Members of the Dismal Swamp Company, of Virginia,” to meet at Galt’s tavern in Richmond on 16 Oct., “on business of great importance.” Some of the members came to Richmond, but GW did not, and no formal meeting was held. See David Jameson to Thomas Walker, 25 Oct. 1784, to William Nelson, Jr., 4 Jan. 1785 (NcD: Dismal Swamp Land Company Papers), and GW to John de Neufville, 8 Sept. 1785. See also GW to Thomas Walker, 10 April 1785, n.1.