From George Washington to James Craik, 27 April 1795
To James Craik
Fedl City 27th April 17951
I would thank you, my Dear Doctor, for your candid opinion of the writer of the enclosed letter. I mean as to his credit, & capability of fulfilling the terms which he therein accedes to, for my land on D: Run.2
He talks largely of making money; but that does not contribute much if any thing to establish him as a man of property, or credit in my estimn—whilst it may be apprehended if he is [not]3 a man of principle he might strip the land of the timber & wood, (being near the Iron works of Wilson & Potts at the Great falls)4 and then, should he prove insolvent and unable to pay the sum of £2000 within the term limited, leave me to re-enter upon the naked premises as the only resource; as he does not propose to erect any buildings thereon.
Be so good as to let me hear from you by the first Post after this gets to your hands, & you are able either from your own knowledge, or the information of others to speak with a degree of precision to the point in question—return his letter to me—Any opinion you may give will go no further—I am always & sincerely Yours
G.W.
ADfS, PPRF.
1. James Craik’s response of 29 April referred to GW’s “favour of yesterday.” Whether the ALS was indeed dated 28 April or Craik erred has not been determined.
2. GW almost certainly enclosed the letter from John Gill of this date.
3. GW made several attempts at revising and at one point crossed out the word “not,” which he almost certainly intended to retain at this point in the text.
4. Two Alexandria, Va., merchants, William Wilson and John Potts, Jr. (1760–1809), operated an ironworks on the Potomac River just above Elk Run.