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*To THE SECRETARY OF STATE

Mount Vernon, February 15, 1799. Dear Sir: Your favour of the [8th instt.] conveys very pleasing information [and I] feel obliged by the communicati[on.] Although you did not [give your] letter the stamp of privacy, I [did not think] myself at liberty to mention [the purport] of it to some good Federal char[acters who] were dining with me at the [time I receiv-]ed it; and who would have tho[ught it] the best Desert I could have offere[d.]”

Hence forward, I will consi[der] your letters to me, in three distinct points of view; and I mention it now, that I may commit no error hereafter.

First, such communications as you may conceive proper to make to me, alone, and mark confidential, shall go no farther; those marked private, I may, occasionally impart their contents to well disposed characters; and those without [either will leave] me unrestrained. W[ith greatest] esteem etc."

*To WILLIAM THORNTON

Mount Vernon, February 15, 1799.

Dear Sir: I have received your letter of the 12th. instant, with Mr Blagdens estimate of the Glass required for my Houses in the Federal City, and shall take measures for providing it in time.

"Pickering's letter of February 8 informed of the good prospects of commercial treaties with Russia, with the Ottoman Porte and Great Britain. He stated that Pitt had made a proposition to Rufus King "which implies an opinion, that in certain articles (sugar & coffee in particular) Great Britain and the U. States may regulate the commerce of Europe... the idea presented by Mr. Pitt, whether it shall ever become a reality or not, demonstrates our commercial and even our political importance." This letter is in the Washington Papers.

* The press copy is badly mutilated. The words in brackets are supplied, at a venure, and also from Ford's Writings, where an extract is printed as a footnote.

1799]

NEED OF MONEY

133

Presuming that Mr. Blagden is apprised of there being a Check on the Bank of Alexandria, subject to his call, the neglect is his, if he does not do it. He shall not want the means necessary to push on my buildings on the one hand, and on the other, I hope his demands will not be greater than those wants.

I have not, as yet, had recourse to either Bank for a loan, but have no doubt of this being the case soon; when I shall not forget what you have said respecting the proper mode to obtain it.

For your good wishes I thank you, and with Compliments remain, etc.

*To JAMES WELCH

Mount Vernon, February 15, 1799. Sir: The first of January is past, and February half gone, without my receiving any Money from you; seeing you; or even hearing any thing from you, on this Subject.

I am in real want of it, and depended upon your repeated assurances of punctual payment at the time the first Rent became due. I hope I shall not have occasion to remind you this matter again. I am etc.

*To JAMES ANDERSON

Mount Vernon, February 17, 1799.

of

Mr. Anderson: I am not certain that I perfectly understood (when I was speaking to you on the subject the other day) what parts of the Banks in Union Farm Meadow, were sowed with Clover; and therefore make the enquiry now; first, because I am strongly impressed with an idea that that part which is in Wheat, on the North side of the Branch from the Barn lane downwards (especially as far as the rough plowed ground)

would bring tolerable good Clover. and secondly, because no better time, or finer opportunity can possibly offer than the present Snow, for sowing it, if you have Seed ready, or can get that which is good in Alexandria.

I do not, by any means, expect that alone, it would yield a profitable Crop of Clover; but I am persuaded, mixed with Timothy, it would more than compensate for the cost of the Seed; and therefore, I am willing to encounter the expence; provided it can be sowed immediately, before the Snow dissolves, or is blown off the ground which is to receive it by the Winds.

If you have seed of your own ready, it would be very desirable to sow it tomorrow. If not, and good Seed is to be bought in Alexandria I would send up for it in order that it might be sown as soon afterwards as possible.

As the ground is already sown with Timothy, on both banks of the large Meadow, and intended to lye to grass after the grain comes off; the worst that can happen if Clover does not succeed, is the loss of the Seed. I am etc.

PS. I do not mean by sowing these Banks, to omit sowing any other grounds which were allotted for Clover. The Seeds of which if not to be had of a good quality can always (at this Season) be imported from Philaa."

*To CLEMENT BIDDLE

Mount Vernon, February 18, 1799.

Dear Sir: Your letter and a/c current, with the Bills enclosed, have been duly received; and under cover of this letter I send you One hundred Dollars to be placed to my Credit.

99

From a photostat of the original through the kindness of Judge E. A. Armstrong, of Princeton, N. J.

1799]

A MARRIAGE LICENSE

135

Ellwood has not yet called upon me, nor is he arrived at Alexandria that I have heard of.

I thank you for the information respecting the price of Flour; and shall be obliged by your mentioning of it occasionally; especially if the event you alluded to should cause a rise, or depression according to the issue. I am etc.

PS. Remember the Lucerne and White Clover Seeds, written for in my last letter.

*To GEORGE DENEALE1

[H.S.P.]

Mount Vernon, February 19, 1799.

Sir: You will please to grant a license for the Marriage of Eleanor Parke Custis with Lawrence Lewis, and this shall be your Authority for so doing from Sir Yr. etc.

*To THE SECRETARY OF WAR

(Private)

Mount Vernon, February 25, 1799.

Dear Sir: In a letter lately received from you, you have given me reason to believe that it would not be disagreeable to Mr. Harper2 (in case the exigencies of this Country should call me to the Field) to compose part of my Military Sute, as an Aid de Camp. To have a person therein, of his abilities, would

'Clerk of Fairfax County, Va.

'Washington's "Diary" for February 22 records: "Morning raining. Mer at 30. Wind a little more to the Northward. Afterwards very strong from the No. Wt. and turning clear and cold. The Revd. Mr. Davis and Mr. Geo. Calvert came to dinner and Miss Custis was married abt. Candle light to Mr. Lawe. Lewis."

On February 23 Washington wrote: "General and Mrs. Washington present their Compliments to Mr. Andw. Ramsay, Mrs. Ramsay and Mr. Willm. Ramsay and request the favour of their Company to dine on Tuesday next, with the couple Newly Married" A photograph of this letter is in the Washington Papers.

Robert Goodloe Harper, a Representative from South Carolina.

be as pleasing as it might be advantages [sic]; but you have been early apprised of my determination to remain perfectly disengaged to any of my established Aids, until the period shall have arrived when a choice must be made; in the selection of which, a variety of considerations (unnecessary to enumerate to you) must combine in fixing it.

It is not only possible, but highly probable also, that in such a Crisis as wou'd require my attendance in the Field, his services in the Legislature might be of infinite more importance than he could render in the Military line; and it is a maxim with me, that in times of imminent danger to a Country, every true Patriot should occupy the Post in which he can render them the most effectually. Having expressed these sentiments, the matter must rest here.

I have, it is true, given young Carroll of Carrollton, expectation of becoming a Volunteer Aid of mine, if I should be called to the Field. But this will give him neither Rank, nor Pay, in the line of the Army. The latter he stood in no need of, and the former as he could not contemplate a Military life as a profession, would have been of little importance to him.

I thank you for the Eagles, and wish they had been accompanied with the Stars. When the cost of both are known, I will remit, or direct the amount to be paid to you in Philadelphia. With very great esteem etc.

*To MAJOR GENERAL ALEXANDER HAMILTON

(Private)

Mount Vernon, February 25, 1799.

My dear Sir: Your private letter of the 16th. instant came duly to hand, and safe. And I wish you at all times, and upon

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