LAND TITLE DISPUTE 567 amount of my purchase at the Sale, viz, Four hundred and fifty one pounds ten shillings What may be further necessary, on the part of Miss Wroughton and Mr. Gravat, none can better determine than Mr. Montagu. If it was in my power to render further assistance, I would, but it absolutely is not. Company, a thousand references of old matters (in the Military line), Letters to answer, and other things, have put it entirely out of my power hitherto to give the smallest attention to the business which more immediately relate, and is interesting to myself; it would be folly in the extreme therefore (even if I did not wish for, and stand in need of relaxation) to attempt to manage that of others. I have been more prolix in this recital, especially in some part of it perhaps, than you may conceive necessary; but it is my wish that the Agency I have had from first to last in the business may be fully understood by Mr. Montagu from your report to him. I am etc.10 *To THORNTON WASHINGTON Mount Vernon, August 25, 1786. Dear Thornton: I wrote so fully to you at the time I inclosed the Papers which respected the Land on which you live, that I did not intend to have said any thing more on the subject of Hites claim; but the other day one of the Tenants on the same land (living near the head spring of Bullskin) informed me that he had been forewarned from sowing Winter grain on his place. It will behove you to make use of all the means I put in your power to oppose their claim. I think they were ample if properly set to view, against every other claim than the original 10 From a photostat of the original kindly loaned by Mrs. J. Clayton Mitchell, of Lloyds, Va., through Dr. Josiah H. Penniman, provost of the University of Pennsylvania. purchase money. If therefore you do not exert yourself in bringing these forward with such other lights as can be thrown upon them, you may not only suffer yourself, but will disappoint me; for relying entirely upon you I have taken no step to oppose the late decision of the General Court, or high Court of chancery in which the matter was determined. I understand that Commissioners are appointed who are to examine the legal objections to the judgment, where there are any. It would be well for you therefore not only to appear before these; but to get some able Lawyer to consider the papers I sent you, state the case with all the advantages it admits, and if allowed, appear in support of it. I have applied, as I wrote you in my last that I should do, to the representative of George Johnston (of whom I bought the Land) for the original Bond of Joist Hite, but it is not to be found among his Papers, and ought in my opinion to be searched after in the Proprietors Office; It being highly probable it was deposited there, as the Deed from thence recites that the Land was purchased from Hite by Thomas of whom Johnston had it. I wish to hear from you, and to know precisely what has been, or is likely to be done in this business, a letter thrown into the line of the Winchester Post will come safe, and is better than private opportunities when the conveyance is not direct to the person. My best wishes attend you and your wife, in which the family here join I am affectionately Yrs. PS. If your Uncle John" is in Berkeley, be governed by his advice in the mode of proceeding which may be best for you to adopt in exhibiting your right before the Commissioners.12 "John Augustine Washington. 12 From a photostat of the original through the courtesy of the Bohemian Club, of San Francisco, Calif., John J. Herzog, librarian. RATIFICATION 569 To TOBIAS LEAR Mount Vernon, June 29, 1788. Dear Sir: Your letter of the 2d. instant came duly to hand, and obliged me by its communications. On friday last, (by the Stage) advice of the decision of the long and warmly (with temper) contested question, in the Convention of this State, was received, 89 ayes, 79 noes, without previous amendments; and in the course of that night Colo. Henley,13 Express from New York on his way to Richmond, arrived in Alexandria with the news of the ratification by the State of New Hampshire. This flood of good news almost at the same moment, gave, as you will readily conceive, abundant cause for rejoicing in a place, the Inhabitants of which are all federal. The cannon roared, and the Town was illuminated yesterday, as magnificent a dinner as Mr. Wise1 could provide (to which this family were invited and went), was displayed before the principal male Inhabitants of the Town; whose Ears were saluted at every quaff with the melody of federal Guns. And on Monday, the business it seems is to recommence and finish, with fiddling and Dancing, for the amusement, and benefit of the Ladies. The final question was taken on the 25th; and some recommendatory, or declaratory rights, it was supposed (by my correspondents in Richmond), would follow the ratification of the Constitution the next, or following day. As these two adoptions make ten affirmatives without a negative, and little or no question is made of North Carolina's treading in the steps of Virginia, it is hardly to be conceived that New York will reject it. Col. David Henley. 14Wise's Tavern, Alexandria, Va. Rhode Island, hitherto, has so far baffled all calculation, that he must be a hardy man, indeed, who will undertake to declare what will be the choice of the majority of that State, lest he should be suspected of having participated of their phrensy. The Accts. from Richmond are, that the minority will acquiesce with a good grace. Mr. Henry" it seems having declared that, though he cannot be reconciled to the Government in its present form, and will give it every constitutional opposition in his power; yet, that he will submit to it peaceably; as every good citizen he thinks ought; and by precept and example will endeavour, within the sphere of his action, to inculcate the like principles into others. You have the best wishes of every one in this family, but of none in a higher degree than those of, Your Affect. friend and etc. Pray offer my complimts. to Mr. Langdon.1 To TOBIAS LEAR Baltimore, September 9, 1790. Dear Sir: Agreeably to the information given in my last, I left Philadelphia on Monday and arrived here yesterday afternoon. To day I rest. To morrow I proceed, and hope to arrive safe at Mount Vernon on Saturday, after taking dinner at Abingdon, on our way. In order that you may not be too fast or too slow in your removal to Philadelphia, it might be well to open a correspondence with Mr. Morris, requesting him to inform you at what time the house will be ready to receive the furniture, because it is proposed as I was informed after writing to you on Sunday 13 Patrick Henry. 16 18 John Langdon. The text of this letter is from a pencil copy in the Henley-Smith Papers in the Library of Congress. PRESIDENTIAL MANSION 571 last, to have the Rooms painted after Mr. Morris should have left it. I would not let the bow windows, or any other addition to the house, or any of the out buildings be any impediment to your removal, for you will have sufficient Room to stow the furniture (intended for the two large Rooms) in some other parts of the house; and for all those who will accompany you; and by being on the spot you will have it more in your power to provide wood, and make such other arrangements as shall be found necessary, than you can do at a distance, besides accomplishing the main point (that is, the removal) before the weather becomes cold and intemperate. In my last I left it with you to decide on the propriety of bringing the Washer women. I do so still. But with respect to Mrs. Lewis and her daughter, I wish it may not be done, especially as it is in contemplation to transplant Hercules or Nathan from the Kitchen at Mount Vernon to that in Philadelphia; and because the dirty figures of Mrs. Lewis and her daughter will not be a pleasant sight in view (as the Kitchen always will be) of the principal entertaining rooms in our new habitation. Upon a second conversation with Mr. Clark, the Coach maker, it was concluded to have the Harness for the Coach quite new and plated; and I should be glad if you would see that they are handsomely executed. He is to make harness for the pole-end as well as for the wheel horses, and promises that every thing shall be completed by the middle of November. Mr. and Mrs. Morris have insisted upon leaving the two large looking Glasses which are in their best Rooms, because they have no place (they say) proper to remove them to, and because they are unwilling to hazzard the taking of them down. You will therefore let them have, in place of them, the choice of mine. The large ones which I purchased from the French Minister they do not incline to take; but will be glad of |