Union Farm ought to have been entered in this place; but by mistake, was carrd. to the other side. From a photostat of the original through the kindness of Judge E. A. Armstrong, of Princeton, N. J. 1799] WINDOW GLASS 269 *To BENJAMIN LINCOLN Mount Vernon, July 1, 1799. My Dear Sir: Your favours of the 11th. of May and 4th. Ulto. have come [illegible] hand. The last the day before yesterday only. The cost of the Glass therein enclosed shall be immediately paid to Messrs. Solomon Cotton & Co. Merchts. in Baltimore, and for your Agency in this business I pray you to accept my thanks. The mistake will, I trust, soon be rectified as the wrong box of glass was returned to Baltimore (according to desire) and the proper one expected from thence. With the highest esteem etc. *To SOLOMON COTTON & COMPANY [N.Y.P.L.] Mount Vernon, July 1, 1799. Gentlemen: From my correspondant in Boston, I have (within these two days) received the bill of cost of Glass shipped from thence for my use; viz, $250. [sic] and am advised that the amount is to be paid to your house.3 Be so good therefore as to advise me whether you have any Agent in Alexandria to whom I shall pay the money? or whether you would prefer having it remitted in a letter, in Bank notes? as there is no person in Baltimore to whom I give the trouble of doing business for Gentlemen Your etc. [N. Y.P.L.] 'On July 10 Washington wrote briefly to Solomon Cotton & Co., sending them the half parts of bank notes for $250. "The other half parts, I shall retain until I am advised of the safe arrival of these, of which you will please to inform." This letter is in the Huntington Library. On July 17 Washington wrote again to Cotton & Co. respecting these bank notes. A press copy of this letter is in the New York Public Library. On July 21 Washington wrote to Cotton & Co., sending the last halves of the $250 notes. A press copy of this letter is in the New York Public Library. *To WILLIAM THORNTON Mount Vernon, July 2, 1799. Dear Sir: Your favour of the 25th has been received; but you have mistaken the case entirely with respect to the Asses who were sent to my Jacks; charging you nothing for the services of the latter, was not designed to lay you under obligation, but a feeble effort to repay the kindnesses you have heaped upon me. Colo. Gilpin has forwarded the wrong box of glass to Baltimore, and soon will, I hope receive the proper one in return. Enclosed is a check on the Bank of Alexandria for one thousand dollars agreeably to the demand of Mr. Blagden, for the purpose of defraying the expences incurred on my buildings in the Fedl. City. With very great esteem etc. P. S. In the letter accompanying the Glass from Boston, the Makers say "The Glass must be set convex out." *To JANE DONALDSON FAIRFAX* [N.Y.P.L.] Mount Vernon, July 4, 1799. General Washington presents his Compliments to Mrs. Fairfax, and has received a letter from Mr. Fairfax, dated the 28th. of April last, in which he says that he was better at that time, than he had been for months before; he could not refrain from giving Mrs. F'x the pleasing account of it (in case Mr. Fairfax's letters to herself should not have got to hand) especially too, as in another part of his letter he says, he hopes he shall be able to set off on his return to this Country in a few weeks." *Mrs. Bryan Fairfax. 'From a photostat of the original kindly furnished by George A. Ball, of Muncie, Ind. 1799] A GENERAL'S PROMOTION 271 *To THE SECRETARY OF WAR (Private) Mount Vernon, July 7, 1799. My dear Sir: I have duly received your private letter of the 29th. Ulto. with its enclosures, and return your letters to and from General Hamilton. In my letter to Genl. Hamilton, which has been before you, you find I have fully expressed my opinion on the expediency, regarding circumstances, of promoting General Wilkinson to the Rank of Major General; and I am always willing to give publicity to any sentiment which I have expressed in this way, if circumstances should require or render it proper. But as the appointment of other Officers of high rank has been made, not only without my recommendation, but even without my knowledge, I cannot see the necessity (much less after the intimations which appear in your letter to General Hamilton respecting this Gentleman) of my writing an official letter on this subject. Permit me, moreover to say, that it would seem as if, when doubts or difficulties present themselves, I am called upon to sanction the measure, and thereby take a responsibility upon myself; and in other cases, to which no blame may be attached, my opinions and inclinations are not consulted. In giving my ideas in this manner I do not mean, my dear Sir, to express any disgust because I have not been consulted on every military appointment; but to show that there ought, in my opinion, to be consistency and uniformity observed in these matters. I am very sorry that Colo Howard and General Lloyd have declined making a selection of persons for officering the eventual |