391To George Washington from Daniel Marshal, 30 June 1799 (Washington Papers)
wishing to prove my Respectfulness to you, I Send you the inclosed Writings. I would be glad, if you had not read yet all them and most happy, if you would not send them back. I got them double. I came, with my Boy Seven Years of Age, from Magdeburgh to the United States of America, in the last Year, intending to purchase and cultivate a small Farm; but Circumstances have engaged me in Trade...
392To George Washington from Thomas Parker, 24 October 1799 (Washington Papers)
In Concequence of the arrangements that I had previously made I arrived here on the 22nd Instant & proceeded Immediately to Cuting Timber for Huting the Troops. on making an estimate of the Timber & Boards or plank that will be necessary for Covering the three Regiments, I find It utterly Impracticable to procure a Sufficiency, as the Rivers are Too low to Transport it by water from the upper...
393From George Washington to Samuel Washington, 22 September 1799 (Washington Papers)
Your letter, announcing the death of my Brother, came to hand last night. One from Colo. Ball, informing me of that event, arrived the evening before. I very sincerely condole with your mother and the family on this occasion. But as death, in this case, was regular in its approaches; and evident, long before it happened; she, and all of you, must have been prepared for the stroke. Of course,...
394From George Washington to William Augustine Washington, 29 October 1799 (Washington Papers)
Your letter of the 8th instant has been duly received, and this letter will be handed to you by Mr Lawe Lewis, to whom I have rented my Mill & Distillery, and who comes into your parts to see if he can procure (on reasonable terms) grain with which to keep them employed. Your advice and aid in enabling him to obtain these would be serviceable to him, & obliging to me. Mr Lewis is a cautious...
395From George Washington to William Augustine Washington, 10 June 1799 (Washington Papers)
Your letter of the 1st instant, and the Corn also in good order, has been received; the a/c of which Mr Anderson, my Manager, will render you; with a certificate from respectable Merchants in Alexa. of the Cash prices of that article at the times of delivery. It never was, nor is it my intention, to delay payment a moment longer than might suit your own convenience; of course you may draw upon...
396From George Washington to William Augustine Washington, 22 September 1799 (Washington Papers)
Your letter of the 15th instt from New Post, has been received. I am sorry to be disappointed of the visit you promised us; and regret the cause of it. In the Spring, and at all times, when your health will permit, and it suits your convenience, we shall be happy in seeing you & Mrs Washington under our Roof. Are there any Crops of Wheat for Sale in your Neighbourhood? I want to keep my Mill...
397From George Washington to William Augustine Washington, 20 May 1799 (Washington Papers)
Your letter of the 2d instant by Captn Bowcock came safe, as the Corn did, in good order; and I should have written to you by his return but the Vessel went from the Landing at which she delivered the Corn unknown to me. But not without the Whiskey and Fish; as I had, previously, directed these to be shipped. The first I hope you will find good, if no pranks are played with it; Mr Anderson (my...
398From George Washington to William Augustine Washington, 24 May 1799 (Washington Papers)
The enclosed was written (as you will perceive by the Superscription) to go by General Lee; who, four days ago appointed to be here on his return to Westmoreland, but is not yet arrived. In the meantime; your second letter by Captn Bowcock (dated the 20th instant) has been received. When the enclosed was written I thot the Whiskey had been sent; but Captn Bowcock postponed taking it on board...
399From George Washington to William Augustine Washington, 7 October 1799 (Washington Papers)
Strange as it may seem, it is nevertheless true, that your letter of the 30th of August never got to my hands until the 4th instant. But it is not unusual for letters by private hands, to be thus delayed; and often to miscarry. By the Post they are certain of getting to hand, & in time. You will not be surprised after receiving this information, that your request in favour of Mr James Digges...
400From George Washington to Isaac Weatherinton, 20 October 1799 (Washington Papers)
Your letter ⟨of the 20th⟩ of August is but just come to hand. I thank you for the information contain⟨ed in it⟩ of the Tresspasses which are committed on the small piece of land which I have adjoining to yours, & Squire McCrakin’s. It would, in future ⟨be⟩ friendly and obliging in you, or him (as my Land adjoins your tracts) to endeavour to prevent such invasion of private property; or if this...
401From George Washington to Mason Locke Weems, 29 August 1799 (Washington Papers)
I have been duly favored with your letter of the 20th instant—accompanying “The Philanthropist.” For your politeness in sending the latter, I pray you to receive my best thanks. Much indeed is it to be wished that the sentiments contained in the Pamphlet, and the doctrine it endeavours to inculcate, were more prevalent. Happy would it be for this country at least, if they were so. But while...
402From George Washington to Mason Locke Weems, 3 July 1799 (Washington Papers)
For your kind compliment—“The Immortal Mentor,” I beg you to accept my best thanks. I have perused it with singular satisfaction; and I hesitate not to say that it is, in my opinion at least, an invaluable compilation. I cannot but hope that a book whose contents do such credit to its title, will meet with a very generous patronage. Should the Patronage equal my wishes, you will have no reason...
403From George Washington to James Welch, 26 May 1799 (Washington Papers)
I was not disappointed in the contents of your letter of the 16th instant, because I had formed no hope from the proposed application at Fredericksburgh. Inconvenient, and indeed distressing as it is to me to lay out of the money you were obligated to pay me the first of the present year, and to receive which was the only inducement that led to the Bargain which exists between us for my Lands...
404From George Washington to Roger West, 19 September 1799 (Washington Papers)
Sometime ago the Servant who waits upon me, named Christopher (calling himself Christopher Sheels) asked my permission to marry a Mulatto girl belonging to you. As he had behaved as well as servants usually do, I told him I had no objection to the union, provided your consent (which was necessary) could be obtained. This I presume happened⟨,⟩ because I understand they are married. I was in...
405From George Washington to Roger West, 23 April 1799 (Washington Papers)
I will answer the queries contained in your letter of this date, to the best of my recollection. In the morning visit you did me the honor to make, sometime last Autumn, at which you delivered me a letter from Colo. Hooe, intimating your desire to engage in the Military Service of our Country, I understood, from the conversation that passed on that occasion, that your object was to enter into...
406From George Washington to Alexander White, 8 December 1799 (Washington Papers)
Your favour of yesterday I received this morning. Altho’ the Legislature of Maryland has taken up the business of the Potomack Company upon different ground, than on that which was adopted at the last General meeting of the Stockholders, and less advantageous for them if they could have carried their mode into effect; yet, as my primary wish, is to see the work completed, I rejoice that the...
407From George Washington to William White, 30 May 1799 (Washington Papers)
The Sermon on the duty of Civil obedience as required in Scripture, which you had the goodness to send me, came safe a Post or two ago; and for which I pray you to accept my grateful acknowledgments. The hurry in which it found me engaged, in a matter that pressed, has not allowed me time to give it a perusal yet: but I anticipate the pleasure & edification I shall find when it is in my power...
408From George Washington to Ralph Wormeley, Jr., 18 November 1799 (Washington Papers)
Your favour of the 3d Instant came duly to hand. Whence the Report of my visiting Norfolk could have arisen, I know not. From any intention of mine it did not, for nothing was ever more foreign from them. I have never been farther from home since I left the Chair of Government, than the Federal City except when I was called to Philadelphia by the Secretary of War—and that distance, I am...
409I, 15 December 1799 (Washington Papers)
The following circumstantial account of the last illness and death of General Washington was noted by T. Lear, on Sunday following his death, which happened on Saturday Eveng Decr 14th 1799 between the hours of ten and eleven. On Thursday Decr 12th the General rode out to his farms about ten o’clock, and did not return home till past 3 oclk. Soon after he went out, the weather became very bad,...
410Editorial Note (Washington Papers)
[9 July 1799] George Washington prepared his will alone, without, as he attested, any “professional character” being “consulted” or having “any Agency in the draught.” He dated the will, the work of many “leisure hours,” the “ninth day of July” in 1799, probably the date that he finished making the final copy. And he put his name at the bottom of all but one of its twenty-nine pages. Six...
411Enclosure: Schedule of Property, 9 July 1799 (Washington Papers)
Schedule of property comprehended in the foregoing Will, which is directed to be Sold, and some of it, conditionally is Sold; with discriptive, and explanatory notes relative thereto. In Virginia acres price dollars Loudoun County Difficult run 300 [$]6,666 (a) (a) This tract for the size of it is valuable, more for its situation than the quality of its soil, though that is good for Farming;...
412II, 14 December 1799 (Washington Papers)
This day being marked by an event which will be memorable in the History of America, and perhaps of the world, I shall give a particular statement of it, to which I was an eye witness. The last illness and Death of General Washington On thursday Decr 12th—the General rode out to his farms about ten o’clock, and did not return home ’till past three. Soon after he went out the weather became...
413George Washington’s Last Will and Testament, 9 July 1799 (Washington Papers)
In the name of God amen I George Washington of Mount Vernon—a citizen of the United States, and lately Pr⟨es⟩ident of the same, do make, ordai⟨n⟩ and declare this Instrument; w⟨hic⟩h is written with my own hand ⟨an⟩d every page thereof subscribed ⟨wit⟩h my name, to be my last Will & ⟨Tes⟩tament, revoking all others. ⟨I⟩mprimus. All my ⟨deb⟩ts, of which there are but few, and none of magnitude,...
414Washington’s Slave List, June 1799 (Washington Papers)
The list of Mount Vernon slaves which GW drew up, probably some time in June 1799, included those slaves owned by him outright, those who were controlled by him as part of Martha Washington’s dowry, and a number who were rented by him in 1786 by contract with Mrs. Penelope French at the time he acquired her life rights to land that she owned on Dogue Run. The slaves Washington owned in his own...