George Washington Papers

From George Washington to Thomas Newton, Jr., 26 May 1786

To Thomas Newton, Jr.

Mount Vernon 26 May 1786.

Dr Sir,

Inclosed you have Peter Kerwins receipt for fifty barrels of super fine flour, which I beg you to sell to the best advantage, and remit what may be due to me, after deducting what I am owing to you.1

Twenty four of these fifty barrels are inspected; the others, tho’ of equal quality, are not. The reason is, the bearer calling unexpectedly, & being in a hurry, would not allow time to get the Inspectors from Alexandria; I was obliged therefore to send them without, or miss the conveyance—the former I preferred, as I have been some time on the enquiry for a Vessel. The quality of the uninspected, my miller assures me, is at least equal to the inspected, being quite fresh. With esteem & regard I am &c.

G: Washington

LB, DLC:GW.

1GW notes in his diary for this date that he sent the flour to Newton “by the sloop Tryal Peter Kirwin [Kerwin]” (Diaries description begins Donald Jackson and Dorothy Twohig, eds. The Diaries of George Washington. 6 vols. Charlottesville, Va., 1976–79. description ends , 4:336). The final entry in GW’s account with Newton, and the only one after this date, is the receipt on 4 May 1787 of “a Bill upon Mr Colin McIver of Alexanda for [£]70.0.0” (Ledger B description begins General Ledger B, 1772–1793. Library of Congress, George Washington Papers, Series 5, Financial Papers. description ends , 85). See also GW to Newton, 19 Aug. 1786, 11 Feb. 1787.

Index Entries