1797] MRS. SAVAGE'S AFFAIRS 13 factory statement of the decd. Mrs. Savage's affairs in this country than I am about to detail. True it is I was one of that unfortunate lady's trustees, and as true, that while I was in a situation to render her any services I performed them (jointly with the other trustee) as far, and as fast as the tedious delays of our Courts would suffer justice to be administered. But from the year 1774 until the beginning of the year 1784, it was not in my power to attend to hers, or any private concerns of my own, being absent from this State (Virginia) eight years of the time; during the whole of which, and for sometime after, I believe there was a suspension of all law and all justice, except such as proceeded from a sense of honour, the last of which was no trait in the character of Doctr. Savage, husband of the Lady, for of all ingrates he was the most ingrateful. While alive, and the Courts were open, he had recourse to all the chicaneres of Law, and all the subterfuge of Lawyers to avoid paying her annuity; and since his death, his Estate, if any, for there are various opinions concerning it, and much contention arising therefrom, would render it uncandid were I not to add, especially as the heirs of his Security (also dead) have pleaded the want of Assetts that it is my opinion, strengthned by the Report of the Revd. Mr. Fairfax, the other Trustee (who I believe has done all that circumstances would permit) that little is to be expected from the prosecution of this business. The Suit is still going on, but without sufficient means to support it from hence, and the circumstances already mentioned, it has too much the appearance of throwing away good money after bad, to proceed. So far as I have an individual interest in the matter, the hope of a return of the money which I advanced Mrs. Savage in her distress, when it was not in the power of her Trustees to force payment of the Annuity, and other expenditures in common with Mr. Fairfax, has vanished long since. Having but lately returned home from a second eight years absence, which with many interruptions for public purposes between while, has prevented my taking active share in this business for upwards of twenty years, I have given it as my opinion to Mr. Fairfax, that it would be best to offer a per centage, or a good fee to the Lawyers prosecuting the Suit for the Claimants under Mrs. Savages Will, for all they can recover on this account; and to receive nothing unless they do, by way of Stimula to their exertions: What effect this will have, or whether any, remains to be decided. I am etc. *To JOHN SEARSON [N. Y.P.L.] Mount Vernon, August 20, 1797. Sir: Your letter of the 2d. instt. came duly to hand, and I wish with all my heart you could meet with such employment as your talents are suited to; but if you cannot obtain this in Philadelphia where your character is best known, it is not likely you would succeed better where you are less acquainted, and in places less populous. There is none within my view, in this quarter, in any of the lines to which you allude; and if you look for any thing in a public way you are already in the best situation to make the application with a prospect of Success, as the President will, unquestionably, require the best testimonials that can be obtained of your fitness for Office and these can only be had from those to whom you were known. If you are pleased to send one of your Poems to me Colo. Biddle will receive, pay, and forward it, to Sir, Yr. etc. [N.Y.P.L.] 1797] AN OPEN STOVE 15 *TO ALEXANDER HAMILTON Mount Vernon, August 21, 1797. My dear Sir: Not for any intrinsic value the thing possesses, but as a token of my sincere regard and friendship for you, and as a remembrancer of me; I pray you to accept a Wine cooler for four bottles, which Colo. Biddle is directed to forward from Philadelphia (when with other articles it was left) together with this letter, to your address. It is one of four, which I imported in the early part of my late Administration of the Government; two only of which were ever used. I pray you to present my best wishes, in which Mrs. Washington joins me, to Mrs. Hamilton and the family; and that you would be persuaded, that with every sentiment of the highest regard, I remain your sincere friend etc." To CLEMENT BIDDLE Mount Vernon, August 21, 1797. Dear Sir: Since writing to you on the 14th Inst. I have received letter of the 12th with the cost of the Picture frames and Glasses; to receive which soon would be convenient and agreeable to me. your The large Plated wine cooler reserved from sale in my last, I pray you to have carefully packed up and sent with the letter enclosed by a safe conveyance to Colo. Hamilton of New York. I am in want of an open stove for a room that has no fire place in it. this stove is intended to stand crosswise an angle in a Garret room and must have a conductor from the upper part thereof into the flue of the adjoining Chimney. An Iron "From the Hamilton Papers in the Library of Congress. hearth and a fender to suit the same of a cheap kind must accompany it. Enclosed I have endeavoured to describe in a parallel sketch my idea of the kind and size I want; but if this should be imperfectly understood I wou'd then ask you to look into what was my private study (over the bathing room) in the house I occupied in Philadelphia. I do not however see any occasion for the second turn wch that Pipe takes; and which probably is the cause of its smoking; an evil to be avoided if possible. The sooner I could receive this Stove the more convenient it would be; as the room into which it is to be placed is now in hand. I presumed when the Congress exempted me from postage of letters it was intended that I should be placed on the ground I formerly stood; that is, that letters to and from me should pass free: if it is not so understood and you are charged postage for the letters I address to you it is my desire that this postage should be paid at my cost as it was not my intention for the trifling and troublesome business you transact for me to saddle you therewith. With Esteem etc.10 *To HENRY DORSEY GOUGH Mount Vernon, August 23, 1797. Sir: I feel, sensibly, your kind and polite attention to me, in the presentation of a bull calf of your improved breed. A very fine one indeed it is, and merits my particular thanks, which I pray you to accept. My Stock of all sorts has been much neglected during my eight years residence from home, and will take more time than in the usual course of Nature will be allowed me, to improve 10 From the "Letter Book" copy in the Washington Papers. 1797] SALE OF FURNITURE 17 them much; but with the means you have been so good as to furnish me, and other aids, I shall, by proper attention, put my black cattle into a way of improvement. of I am sorry to hear of the disease and consequent degeneracy your Sheep. Before I left home in the spring of 1789 I had improved that species of my stock so much as to get 51⁄4 lbs of Wool as the average of the fleeces of my whole stock; and at the last shearing they did not yield me 21⁄2 lbs. By procuring (if I am able) good Rams and giving the necessary attention, I hope to get them up again; for they are with me, as you have declared them to be with you, that part of my stock in which I most delight. With esteem and regard I have the honor etc. [N.Y.P.L.] To CLEMENT BIDDLE Mount Vernon, August 23, 1797. Dear Sir: I am extremely sorry to find by yr. letter of the 17th instant and the Philadelphia Gazettes of that date, that the yellow fever has again made its appearance, and devoutly wish that it may soon be removed from your City. Your motive for delaying the sale of my Table furniture is not only good as it respects the yellow fever but if you think any advantage would result from the measure it might be delayed until the assembling of Congress in Philadelphia some of the members might incline to become purchasers if the articles are retailed. Be so good as to ask Mr. Simmons what he has done with my old Coach and make the most you can of it. I will wait the publication of all the Vols. of the Encyclopedia before the Sett intended for my use is bound, but could wish to know when this may be expected, as I no longer possess the sett which are in boards. With esteem etc.1 11 "From the "Letter Book" copy in the Washington Papers. |