I cannot conclude this letter without remarking, that Building such a house as I am told you have (under such circumstances as you were) was an extremely imprudent act; whether done with the money you borrowed from me, or obtained by other means. Knowing that you had made yourself liable for your fathers Debts, the discharge of them ought to have been your first consideration; or, at any rate, if to build was indispensable, a small house, or house upon such a plan as might have become part of a whole, when compleated, ought to have contented you. What has happened however cannot now be undone, and the object of these remarks is to advise caution.

It would be convenient to me, to draw your Orders at as long a day as you can obtain; but I will pay at sight, rather than you shd. suffer. If orders upon me will not be received, or received with reluctance, you must either come down yourself, or send some one on whom you can confide, for the money. At any rate write me, without delay, that I may know what to expect, and be prepared. I am sorry to know that your father has been so much indisposed; My best wishes and love are offered to all the family, and I am etc.

*To THE SECRETARY OF WAR

(Private)

[H.L.]

Mount Vernon, April 7, 1799.

My dear Sir: When your letters of the 30th and 31st. Ulto. were brought here, I was on a Survey of some land I hold in the vicinity of Alexandria; 35 on which, as I was informed, and as

"The Four Mile Run tract. On April 15 Washington wrote out a memorandum of the bounds of this tract as surveyed, a photostat of the original of which, through the courtesy of the Mount Vernon Ladies' Association of the Union, is in the Washington Papers.

1799]

RECRUITING DELAY

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the fact proved, considerable trespass had been committed. To complete this business I was employed near three days; and now, company will allow me to do but little more than to acknowedge the receipt of those letters.

Two things, however, I shall not forbear mentioning at this time. The first is, that while I was at Phila. and since, when I heard your conduct arraigned for not having the Augmented Force organized sooner, and for the consequent delay in Recruiting; I did then, and on all other proper occasions, declare that circumstances over which you had no controul, were the causes thereof; and that no blame ought to be attached to you. The other matter is, that if the issuing of Commissions to those who have accepted their Appointments, is to be suspended until you hear from all those who have not acknowledged the receipt of your Circular letter, or some missive (if the Circular is not competent thereto) is not given by which the accepting Officers may know what they have to rely on, be entitled to pay, and be authorized (when they shall be so Instructed) to enter on the Recruiting Service, that it may be months, nay a year, before this will happen.

Those who live in Post Towns. near Post Offices, or who are in the habit of enquiring at these places for letters, would have been enabled to answer your Address to them in time; but a number of others may be uninformed of your letter to them at this hour; especially as many of them may have been sent to wrong Offices, and will only be heard of by the Advertisement of them.

Let me ask then, if there would be any ineligibility in inserting in the Gazettes of the respective States, the names and grades of those belonging thereto, who have returned no answer; requesting a yea, or nay, without further delay; assigning the reason for such a mode of application.

A notification of this kind would reach them through the medium of some friend, even if they did not see the Gazettes themselves; and accomplish in a short time what may be tedious without. I will add no more at present than that I am always etc.36

*To WILLIAM BOOKER

Mount Vernon, April 7, 1799.

Sir: Your letter of the 31st Ulto. has been duly received. The first of June will answer my purposes very well, for you to be here; and I shall expect you at that time, or by the 10th. accordingly.

It will not, I presume, require much time to erect the Mill, and if done before the Water of my Grist Mill fails, it is all I require. In the meanwhile the Scantling shall be prepared agreeably to your directions. with esteem I am etc.

*To JAMES WELCH

Mount Vernon, April 7, 1799.

Sir: I have received your letters of the 10th. of March from Rockingham County, and although I have no expectation of deriving any payment from your Kentucky Expedition, yet, I will (inconvenient as it is to me) wait a while longer to know the result of it: desiring you to be persuaded, in the meantime, that you have not got a person now, that will be trifled with in your dealings.

It would be uncandid, Mr. Welch, not to inform you, that I have heard too much of your character lately, not to expect tale after tale, and relation after relation, of your numerous disappointments, by way of excuses for the non-compliance of your

From the McHenry Photostats in the Library of Congress.

1799]

A DEBTOR'S DELAY

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agreement with me: but this I can assure you will not answer your purposes.

It is not difficult for a person who has no ground on which to expect a thousand cents, to talk with facility and ease of his expectation of receiving ten times as many dollars; the relation of disappointments in which, according to his account, he conceives is quite sufficient to ward off the payment of his own solemn Contracts, and to satisfy his Creditors.

87

I am not unacquainted, Sir, with your repeated declarations of your having purchased my Lands on the Great Kanawa, and endeavouring by that means, and such like impositions, and misrepresentations, to obtain extensive credit where you were not known. Letters, to enquire into the truth of these things, have been written to me on the Subject. Be cautious therefore how you provoke explanations that must, inevitably, end in your disgrace and entire loss of character. A character is valuable to all men, and not less so to a Speculator.

I will, before I conclude, assure you in the most unequivocal terms of two things.

First, that I am in extreme want of the money which you gave me a solemn promise I should receive the first of January last; and secondly, that however you may have succeeded in imposing upon, and deceiving others, you shall not practice the like game with me, with impunity.

To contract new Debts, is not the way to pay old ones. Nor is it a proof that you have any disposition to do it, when you are proposing to buy lands &ca. &ca. on credit (or partial advances) which can answer no other purpose that that of speculation; or (if you have them) of withholding the means which ought to be applied in the discharge of engagements, and debts, proceeding therefrom, which you are bound by every tie to do. "This word is written by Washington in large letters.

Consider this letter well; and then write without tion to Sir, Your etc.

TO THE SECRETARY OF WAR

any decep

Mount Vernon, April 7, 1799.

38

Sir: Enclosed are two letters of application for Appointments in the Army of the United States. One from Genl. Morgan covering a letter from Capt. A. C. Randolph applying for an office in the Cavalry instead of the Infantry where you will find him among the newly appointed Captains. I have little or no personal knowledge of Capt Randolph; but from the manner in which Genl. Morgan speaks of him, and the opportunities he must have had of forming an opinion of him and his qualifications from observation, I have no doubt but his recommendation will have great weight.

The other letter is from Mr. Theoderic Lee, a brother to Majr Gen. Henry Lee. With this gentleman I have had no opportunity of forming any personal knowledge. He lives in Berkley County in this State and has been married about 4 or 5 years. His brother the Atty Genl. of the U. S. or some other persons of his acquaintance may be able to give you any information respecting Mr Lee if it shd. be desired. I have the honor etc. 39

*To WILLIAM B. HARRISON

Mount Vernon, April 10, 1799.

Sir: Your letter of the 28th of last month has been duly received, and is entitled to my thanks for the details it contains; and for the assurance you have given me if a preference in

38

'Capt. Archibald Cary Randolph, of the Seventh Infantry. He was honorably discharged in June, 1800.

"The draft is in the writing of Tobias Lear.