That 111⁄2d. a lb. is such a price as a Planter (in a tolerable good year) may afford to make Tobacco for, I shall not deny; but it does not follow as a consequence that I shoud be satisfied therewith in behalf of myself and ward when a Succession of Short Crops have given a Universal start to Tobo. and when I know (if the Veracity of some Gentlemen with whom I conversed at Williamsburg when I was down there last is to be credited) that other Crops made in York and James City Counties not Six Miles from Mr. Custis's Plantation and mine, have sold at 12d. and 121⁄2 per lb; and the common transfer Tobo. a large proportion of which we pay towards the support of a Minister in York County, when prizd and Shipd to London fetchd 12. round what reason can be Assignd then for my being pleasd with 11. and 111⁄2 (averaging about £12 a Hhd) when the commonest Arronoko Tobo. fetchd this in every Port in Great Britain I know not; as it is by no means presumable, that the Tobacco which Mr. Valentine now makes, and Stems a fourth or a third of, in order to make it good, shoud be of Inferior quality to the general run of purchasd Tobaco.; or worse than that, which he himself has applied to the payment of the Minister's Salery; to do which, and to answer all other Publick Claims it is well known that the most indifferent of our (Inspected) Tobo. is always appropriated. Upon the whole, the repeated disappointment which I meat with has reduced me to a delemma which I am not very well reconcild to. To decline a Corrispondance either altogether or in part which has subsisted for so many years is by no means my Inclination; and to persevere in a Consignment which seems to tend to the prejudice of myself and Ward, not only in the Sales of our Tobacco, but the purchase of Goods, is hardly to be expected.

DAMAGED GOODS

493

That my Goods are for the most part exceedingly dear bought and the directions which are given for the choice of particular Articles not always attended to, I have no Scruples in declaring. The first is no otherwise to be proovd than by a comparison of the prices and quality. The Second is to be evincd by numberless Instances; two of which I shall give as the most recent and Important. Having occasion for Window Glass for a House I was building I sent for my quantity 9 by 11; and got it in 8 by 10; this was a considerable disappointment, and no small disadvantage to me; but not equal to the one that followd upon the Heels of it: I mean the Chariot, which I begd might be made of well seasond Materials, and by a Masterly Workman; instead of which, it was made of Wood so exceedingly Green that the Pannels slipd out of the mouldings before it was two months in use. Split from one end to the other; and became so open at the joints, tho every possible care was taken of it, that I expect very little further Service from it with all the repairs I can bestow.

Besides this, we frequently have slight Goods and sometimes old and unsaleable Articles put of upon us, and at such advancd Prices, that one woud be Inclind to think the Tradesmen did not expect to be paid in haste for them; for it is a fact incontestably true, that Linnen's, and other Articles that have their prices proportioned to their respective qualities, are to be bought in the Factors Stores here almost as Cheap as we Import them, after the Merchant has laid on a sufficient advance for his profit. Disagreeable it is to me to mention these things to you, but when it is considered that my own dealings are confind wholely, and my wards principally to your House, it is not to be wondered at that I shoud be dissatisfied with in bought Goods, or a more indifft. price for Tobo. than is given to my Neighbours.

I am very glad that by meeting with Colo. Stewart you have got quit of the troublesome Doctr. McLean; the nett sum of £302 I shoud have been very well content to have receivd, as I lent this Money to that Gentlemen to be returnd or not, as it suited his convenience; never expecting, or desiring a farthing of Interest for the use of it.

You will perceive in looking over the several Invoices that some of the Goods there required, are upon condition that the Act of Parliament Imposing a Duty upon Tea, Paper &ca. for the purpose of raising a Revenue in America is totally repeald; and I beg the favour of you to be governd strictly thereby, as it will not be in my power to receive any Articles contrary to our Non-Importation Agreement, to which I have Subscribd, and shall religeously adhere to, if it was, as I coud wish it to be ten times as strict. I am etc.

*To LORD BOTETOURT

Mount Vernon, September 9, 1770. My Lord: The very obliging offer your Lordship was pleasd to make me in behalf of the Officers and Soldiers, who (under faith of Government) lay claim to the 200,000 Acres of Land on the Waters of Ohio promisd them by Proclamn. in 1754 I postpond availing myself of because it was evident to me from the knowledge I have of the back Country and the rapidity with which it is settling that any considerable delay in the prosecution of our Plan woud amount to an absolute defeat of the Grant inasmuch as Emigrants are daily Sealing the choice Spots of Land and waiting for the oppertunity (when the Office is opend) of solliciting a legal Title under the advantages of Possession and Improvement; two powerful Plea's in an Infant Country. I therefore hoped My Lord, as the Officers and Soldiers who suffered in the cause of their Country still do hope,

LAND GRANTS

495

that notwithstanding your Lordship was of opinion that you coud not at that time vest them with an absolute Grant of the Land, that you woud nevertheless permit them to take such steps at their own expence and rick as others did for the security of their qty of Land agreeable to the Proclamation under which they claim; especiatly as the claim of the soldiery may be considerd to all intents and purposes as a Compact between the Govemt and them; that the whole voice of the Country is in favour of it; and that little doubts remd. of these Lands falling within the limits of Virginia when the Boundary coud be establishd

This My Lord was the light in which I view the matter; in this point of view it also appeard to the Officers who lately met agreeable to my Summon's; but now, a report prevails that a large Tract of Country on the Ohio Including all the Land which this Governt. Voted £2,500 Ster for the purchase and Survey of, is actually granted to a Company of Gentlemen in England and is to be formd into a seperate Governmt. immediately. If this report be true, there is no doubt but that your Lordship has recd. the most Authentick Accts. of it, as it so essensially concerns the Interests and expectations of this Country; dare I therefore My Lord presume to ask if your Lordship has recd any Advice of it? and, if so, whether there is any reserve in favour of all or any of the Orders of Council here? that I may from thence form some Judgment of the Predicament we stand in and Govern myself accordingly. Such a piece of Information by Post to Alexa. might do essential Service to the Officers and many poor Soldiers who have confided in me to transact this affair for them, and woud be acknowledgd as a very singular honr. conferd on

Yr. Lordships Most Obed. and Most Hble Servt.

Copy of a Letter To The Govr.22

"From a photograph of the original draft in the William Andrews Clark Memorial Library.

*To REVEREND JONATHAN BOUCHER

Alexandria, August 18, 1772.

Dear Sir: Harvest, Company, and one thing or another, equally unforeseen and unavoidable, has hitherto prevented Mrs. Washington and myself from paying our respects to Mrs. Boucher and you; but if nothing happens more than we at present know of, you may expect to see us the first Week in September, perhaps the middle of it. This I have mention'd, that, in case you should have any call out abt. that time you may [feel] free enough to signify it, as any other time will be equally convenient and agreeable to Dr. Sir Yr. etc.23

ADVERTISEMENT

To be Sold, Rented, or Exchanged, for back lands in any of the northern counties in this colony,

A Tract of six hundred acres, including about two hundred of cleared land, lying on the north side of Rappahannock river, opposite to the lower end of Fredericksburg. On this tract (a little above the road) is one of the most agreeable situations for a house that is to be found on the whole river, having a clear and distinct view of almost every house in the said Town, and every vessel that passes to and from it. Long credit, if preferred, will be given, the purchaser paying interest from the sale, and an indisputable title will be made [sic]. For further particulars enquire of Col. Lewis in Fredericksburg, or the subscriber in Fairfax. GEORGE WASHINGTON.24

"The text is from a facsimile in Lettres Autographes composant la collection de Madame G. Whitney Hoff (Paris: 1934). The word in brackets was, probably, inserted by Washington in pencil and does not show in the facsimile, but there is a caret at this point in the original.

*From a mutilated copy of the Williamsburg Gazette of October, 1772.