If nothing from the date of your last has been heard from Shreve or the Representative of Mr Ritchie to some effect, nor from Mr Ross, you would oblige me by forwarding the enclosed letter to the last named gentleman. It would distress me to be obliged to put the Judgment Bonds of the above named persons in suit but necessity will drive me to it if I cannot obtain payment and shortly without. I thank you for the tender of the services of the Institution over which you preside. I am etc."* To JAMES ROSS Mount Vernon, June 26, 1799. Dear Sir: Early in January last in answer to a letter of Col: Shreve in the old style of unprovideness and craving further indulgence I wrote him and transmitted the letter open under cover to you that I would stay proceedings on his Judgment Bond until the 1st of April last and no longer and that I should without fail expect to have the next Instalment paid at the appointed time (the 1st of the present month) since which I have heard not a tittle from him Waiting until this month had come in I wrote the President of the Bank of Pennsylvania to know if Shreve or the Executor of Col Ritchie had made any deposits there on my a/c and if not if any intimations had been given of such intention and am answered No except that $250 had been placed there to your credit, supposed to be for my use. No man can with more reluctance than myself seek justice in a Court of Law, nor no one with more unwillingness distress others; but my situation with respect to pecuniary matters is really such as to require these payments, being obliged to obtain money from the Banks and discount substitutes therefor which From a recent copy in the Toner Transcripts in the Library of Congress. 1799] A TOBACCO SALE 253 by the difference of interest would in time entirely sink the Instalments I am to receive from Shreve and the heirs of Ritchie. I am really sorry and ashamed to give you so much trouble in my concerns but between being pressed myself and an unwillingness to proceed to extremities with others, I feel the want of some person who can give me such information as I can rely on and who possibly may stimulate exertions which may supersede the necessity of the latter before the measure is adopted. which it must be if a well grounded assurance cannot be given of my receiving my dues in time. At your leisure I would beg to hear from you and with great and sincere esteem etc.o5 *To FRANCIS DEAKINS Mount Vernon, June 26, 1799. Dear Sir: Below, is a receipt for the Cash arising from the Sale of the Tobo. recd from Mrs. Beall on a/c of Rent, and for $26 bale paid you by Mr. Veatch. What you have done with that Gentleman is perfectly agreeable to, Dr Sir etc. Mount Vernon 26th. June 1799 Then received from Colo Frans. Deakins Twenty six dollars, bale. of cash paid him by Mr. H Veatch on my a/c for Rent; and One hundred and one dollars and 89 Cents for sales of Tobo. recd. from Mrs. Priscilla Beall on same a/c as below. From a recent copy in the Toner Transcripts in the Library of Congress. On June 29 Washington recorded the following memoranda: "Not being able to make Mr. Rawlins's Survey of some of the Fields at Dogue-Run close, I went out with my Compass this day and surveyed the following fields in the following manr. viz: Began at the centre of the North gate of the Barn yard etc." This memoranda (4 pp. 8°) is in the Washington Papers. *To THE SECRETARY OF WAR (Private) Mount Vernon, June 30, 1799. Dear Sir: Your favours of the 24th and 25th. instant have been received. For the Stars, enclosed in the latter, I thank you. The amount of cost, Six dollars, is herein remitted. I preferred sending a Columbia Bank note for a dollar, to one of Silver (in a letter), as it can readily be exchanged for the latter, and the other Banks issue no notes under five dollars. For the Box" which accompanied the letter of the 24th." I feel much obliged. I have not had time yet to examine, and compare the figures with the Instructions; but prima facia, there is something curious and I dare say useful in the design. I shall send up to Alexandria on Wednesday, but shall feel no disappointmt. if my Uniform is not there. With very grt. esteem etc. TO THE SECRETARY OF WAR Mount Vernon, June 30, 1799. Sir: Enclosed are letters from several persons, as mentioned at foot, applying for appointments in the actual Army. I have no personal knowledge of the Characters of the Applicants, nor do I know whether there are any vacancies to which they can be appointed, however deserving they may be. 96 With due consideration etc. This box is noted in the inventory of the contents of Mount Vernon, made soon after Washington's death, as being in the "Iron Chest," and is appraised at $2. "McHenry had written (June 24): "I send you by this mail, a small box containing military figures for the practice of tactics, being one of a few sets I ordered from London. Perhaps they may occasionally serve as a substitute for the chess board." McHenry's letter is in the Washington Papers. 1799] ENGRAVINGS 255 Charles Thompson, recommended by B. Washington Esqr. for a Lieut in the Cavalry, or an appoints. in the Infantry. Charles Julian, recommended by Generals Posey and Spotswood for an appointmt in the Artillery. *William H. Powell, applies for a Captaincy in the Cavalry. Ruben Thornton. Heretofore appointd. an Ensign in Infantry, which he declined, applying for an appoint in the Cavalry. John Campbell," recommended by his father Arthur Campbell *Note Since Mr Powell's application came to hand I have been informed that he drinks hard. If so, he is unfit for any appointment." *To EDWARD SAVAGE Mount Vernon, June 30, 1799. Sir: Your letter of the 17th instant and the Print (which is exceedingly handsome, and well set) have come safe; and receives, as it highly deserves, the thanks of Mrs. Washington; to whom you have had the kindness, and politeness to present it. I thank you also for the prints of the Chase, and action between the Constellation and the L'Insurgent; exhibiting a specimen of the art of Engraving by means of Aquafortis. The invention is curious, and if the sample of it which you have sent is the first essay, it will, no doubt, prove a valuable discovery; as, like all other discoveries it will undergo improvements. Mrs. Washington is thankful for your kind remembrance of her, and joins in every good wish for you and yours, with Sir, Your etc. PS. Whenever you have fixed upon your Landscapes, for Engraving by means of Aquafortis, and have executed them, be so good as to inform me thereof. Campbell declined the commission of lieutenant in the Eighth Infantry. "The draft is in the writing of Tobias Lear. |