To George Washington from Robert Brooke, 9 January 1796
From Robert Brooke
Richmond January 9th 1796
Sir
Agreeably to your request I submitted to the consideration of the General Assembly of Virginia your letter respecting the appropriation of the shares in the Potowmack and James river Companies which had been by them subjected to your disposal;1 and I have now the honor to enclose you their resolutions thereupon2 and have the honor to be, with the most perfect respect, your obedt Servant
Rt Brooke
LS, DLC:GW; LB, Vi: Executive Letter Book, 1794–1800.
1. See GW to Brooke, 16 March 1795.
2. The enclosed resolutions of 1 Dec. 1795 read: “Whereas the migration of American Youth to foreign Countries for the completion of their Education exposes them to the danger of imbibing political prejudices disadvantageous to their own Republican forms of Government, and ought therefore to be rendered unnecessary and avoided:
“Resolved that the plan contemplated of erecting an University at the Federal City, where the Youth of the several States may be assembled, and their course of Education finished, deserves the countenance and Support of each State.
“And whereas when the General Assembly presented sundry shares in the James River and Potowmack Companies to George Washington as a small token of their Gratitude for the great, eminent and unrivalled Services he had rendered to this Commonwealth, to the United states and to the World at large, in support of the principles of Liberty and equal Government, it was their wish and desire that he should appropriate them as he might think best. And whereas the present General Assembly retain the Same high Sense of his virtues, wisdom and patriotism:
“Resolved therefore that the appropriation by the said George Washington of the aforesaid Shares in the potowmack Company to the University intended to be erected in the Federal City, is made in a manner most worthy of public regard and of the approbation of this Commonwealth.
“Resolved also, that he be requested to appropriate the aforesaid Shares in the James River Company to a Seminary at such place in the upper Country as he may deem most convenient to a majority of the Inhabitants thereof” (DLC:GW).