From George Washington to Alexander Smith, 14 November 1796
To Alexander Smith
Philadelphia 14th Novr 1796.
Sir,
Your letter of the 9th has been duly received. When I authorised Mr Pearce to sell my flour, I limitted him to the largest credit the circumstances of my own concerns would enable me to give, consistently with my own wants, & the arrangements I had contemplated.1 To extend the credit ninety days longer, would not only derange my own plans—but, as the same causes will always produce the same effects, at the end of ninety days, a further indulgence might be required.
It is from the produce of this flour that Mr Pearce himself, all the Overseers, and a variety of other incidental expences, are to be paid. It is, and ever has been a rule with me, never to suffer a man to look for a just debt without receiving payment; and before I left home2 (repeating it since) in very strong terms, I have directed Mr Pearce to settle with every one, and pay to the last farthing I owe, that there may be no after-claims when he is gone, either upon his successor or myself.3 I mention these facts, and circumstances, to show you how extremely inconvenient it will be for me, to comply with your request.
Nevertheless, being unwilling to distress anyone, if it be possible to avoid it, I shall direct Mr Pearce in the letter I am about to write to him, to day, to ascertain the aggregate sum required, to pay the demands upon him, on my account; and if you will give him the most unequivocal surety of paying it on, or before the 24th of December (that he may have time between that and the first of January to clear himself out,) and will give unquestionably security ⟨also⟩ that the residue shall be paid on or before the first day of March. both sums carrying interest from the day they become due until paid that he may fix the matter with you agreeably thereto. I cannot forbear adding, however, that the receipt of the whole sum, on the day it becomes due, would be infinitely more pleasing to me; but if this cannot be, you are to expect no favor from me in case of a second disappointment.4 I am—Sir Your Very Hble Servant
Go: Washington
ALS (letterpress copy), NN: Washington Papers.
1. See GW to William Pearce, 10, 17, and 24 April, and 1 May.
2. GW left Mount Vernon for Philadelphia on 25 Oct. (see GW to Pearce, 26 Oct., and n.1 to that document).
4. GW wrote Pearce about this matter on this date, and the two men later corresponded about securing payment on Smith’s note, which was deposited in the Bank of Alexandria. Pearce endorsed two individual notes for $1,600 and $4,839, respectively, with the first due on 24 Dec. (see Pearce to GW, 17 Nov., and GW to Pearce, 20 Nov.; see also GW to Pearce, 11 Dec; and Tobias Lear to GW, 17 Jan. 1797, and n.8).
In an undated folio page of Smith’s account with Mount Vernon, Pearce recorded Smith owing just over $30 “Intrest on 6439 Dollars from the 24 of Novr” to 24 Dec., and a little over $50 interest on $4,839 “Till the first of March.” On the credit side of the account, Pearce recorded the following under 24 Dec.: “By Cash drew from the Bank for his First note which become due on that day 1600 Dollars.” Pearce also acknowledged the second note for $4,839, due on 1 March 1797, and added: “By Cash or at Least a note to that amount which peter wise Receiv’d for that much money.” At the end of the account, Pearce closed with the following statement: “By your note of hand To the President payable the first day of march for” $80.33 “Intrest on your 2 Notes” (, p. 108).