in the Infantry. His appearance is much in his favour and as he proposes to wait on you in person I shall only add that

I am etc.

*To THE MR. CHICHESTERS

Mount Vernon, April 25, 1799.

Gentlemen: I shall be obliged to you, or either of you, who may be in the practice of hunting, or driving Deer on my land, for desisting from that practice.

My Lands have been Posted, according to Law, many years; and never has, nor while I possess them, will be revoked. Besides this, in order to have the notification better understood by those who bordered on me, I had (as you will perceive by the enclosed copy thereof) a number of hand bills struck and put up at my Mill and other places, to prevent the plea of want of information, that such trespasses were disagreeable to me. I have been at much expence, and was at a good deal of trouble, to procure Deer, both of the Country and English kind; and have never yet killed one for my own table, altho' they come into my yard and Gardens, while they are hunted and destroyed by others; and often driven, wounded and maimed into the river by me [sic], and have been found drifted on the shores.

I had them once in a Paddock, but during my absence the fencing was neglected, and getting out, they have run at large ever since. The old ones are now partly wild, and partly tame; their descendant are more wild, but associate with them; and seldom go beyond the limits of my own woodland. But admitting they exceed these, the English deer, more especially, are very distinguishable by the darkness of their colour, and their horns; and I should have hoped, that upon the principle of doing as one would be done by, they would not have been injured by my Neighbours.

1799]

FOUR MILE RUN SURVEY

195

You must be sensible, that at the stand where I receive the most injury, you can have no right to hunt; for between Mr. Chichester's fence (which is close to my line) and the tenement of the Widow Gray, there is no woodland but what belongs to Mr. Fairfax or myself; and unless that Gentleman has changed his sentiments very materially of late, he, equally with myself, is averse to having his Lands of Belvoir driven for Deer.

I should not have supposed then, had there not been strong evidence to the contrary, that any Gentleman would poach upon the grounds, and on the rights of another, contrary to Law, and to repeated admonition.

After this notice, as it respects my own Land, and request that you will desist from further injury to my Game, I persuade myself that I shall not, in future, have cause to complain; nor be under the disagreeable necessity of resorting to other means for the preservation of it. I am etc.

*To LUDWELL LEE

Mount Vernon, April 26, 1799.

Dear Sir: Your occupation on Wednesday last, put it out of my power to speak to you with out giving interruption to more important business than I am now about to communicate.

Having good information that some land which I hold on four mile run was much depredated on, I went up some short time ago to run round the Lines, and found the fact to be as reported; but not being able to ascertain all the Corners, and those holding the adjacent Lands not being present, I forbore to re-mark any of the lines; but being desirous of doing this, and meeting with all the parties at the Election, Monday next

48

A facsimile of Washington's survey of this Four Mile Run tract is published in The George Washington Atlas, pl. 21 (Washington: 1932), edited by Lawrence Martin.

is fixed upon for this purpose; who have engaged to meet me at the beginning Corner of Adams's Patent (under which I hold) by nine o'clock on that morning; where, and when, being informed that you have Land adjoining mine, I should be glad to meet you. As you may not know where this Corner is, I shall pass a little house at the junction of the Leesburgh Road (a widows) half an hour before nine on my way. With great esteem etc.

*To CLEMENT BIDDLE

Mount Vernon, April 28, 1799.

Dear Sir: Since my last I have receiv'd the Seeds which you sent me by Captn. Hand; after several fruitless enquiries after them.

There was a Manufactury of machines for raking meadows, and Harvest fields after they are cut at Kensington while I resided in Philadelphia. These are worked by a horse, and were, in my opinion a useful impliment on a Farm for expeditiously gleaning the fields of the scattered grain or Hay. I would (if now to be had) thank you for sending me one by the first Vessel bound to Alexandria.

What would well cured Shad and Herrings sell for by the Barrel in the Philadelphia Market? I have put up some this Season, and if the price would encourage it, would send you a few barrels of each to sell on Commission. Be so good as to inform me what price Wheat and Flour bear in your market.

I am etc.

*To THOMAS PETER

Mount Vernon, May 5, 1799.

Dear Sir: I have had the enclosed Tobacco note by me some

time. Too long perhaps for the best market.

1799]

A DECLINATION

197

If Mr. Peter (your father) whom I presume is a good judge of these matters, should be of opinion that it had better be sold now than wait longer, for a rise in the price of that article, I pray you to sell it for what it will fetch. I give you this trouble because the Tobacco is in the Warehouse at George Town.

Be so good as to let me know by the return of Washington Custis, if there has been any a/c received of the Sales of my Tobacco in London. and inform me at the sametime what the Stock in the Bank of Columbia divided the last half year, that I may know what to draw for. Best wishes attend you all, and I am etc.

Sir: This letter will be presented to you by John Tayloc Esqr., whom the President of the United States was pleased to nominate and Appoint to a Majority in the Regiment of Light Dragoons.

Mr. Tayloe waits upon you to explain his motives for declining that honor, at present; the propriety of which, I persuade myself you will not only acquiesce in, but applaud; as the result of laudable and Patriotic principles.

This Gentleman is a Senator in the Legislature of this State. The Politics of which you are not to be informed of. A part however of which is, to suffer no person to remain in either house thereof, nor to enjoy any Officer under Its government, who holds any Commission, or Appointment of whatsoever

From the original in the possession of Walter G. Peter, of Washington, D. C.

nature or kind, under that of the General Government. The consequence then of his accepting the Military Appointment would be, the vacating of his Senatorial Office; and as he informs me, the probable introduction of an opposition Member in his place.

Mr. Tayloe's patriotism leads him to serve his Country in any capacity wherein he can be most useful; either in the Civil or Military line; and having been pleased to ask my advice on this occasion, I have frankly given it as my opinion, that under his statement, and in the present aspect of our public affairs, I thought his services in the first, that is, in the Senate, were more immediately necessary and important than they would be in the latter; because they are now actively employed in the one case, and may lye dormant in the other, unless hostilities on Land should be the result of French politics.

To this opinion he has yielded, or seems inclined to yield; with a hope however (as there may be an impropriety in keep ing the vacancy open) that if the exigency of the times should render it expedient to raise more Cavalry, the service to which he is most attached, that his motives for declining his present appointment may not be forgotten. but aid his pretensions to, and solicitude to obtain a new one. Having requested me to relate these circumstances, it was but just I should do so; and to add, that with great respect, I am etc.

*To CALEB GIBBS

Mount Vernon, May 5, 1799. Dear Sir: By yesterday's Mail I received your letter of the 21st. Ulto.

It is with others (if they are disposed to do it) and not for me, to account for the disappointment of your Military expectation. Your name was in the arrangement handed to the