1797]

A SUIT FOR DEBT

23

*To THE SECRETARY OF STATE

Mount Vernon, August 31, 1797. Dear Sir: The last Mail brought me your favour of the 24th instant, covering a letter from General Kosciuszko. And presuming that the Attorney General is on his way to Virginia, I hope to receive soon, the Packets you committed to his charge. Not knowing where Genl Kosciuszko may be I pray your care of the enclosed to him as it is probable his movements will be known to you.

It is with extreme regret I hear of the Yellow fever being in Philadelphia and that so many families will be incommoded by a removal from it. Will it not render the meeting of Congress at that place uncertain? I sincerely hope that you may all escape, by steering clear of the malady.

P. S. Hearing that Mr. Monroe's production is in the Press, I wd. thank you for a copy so soon as it issues from thence.

*To ISRAEL SHREVE

Mount Vernon, September 1, 1797.

Sir: Your letter of the 30th. of July has been received but not untill within the last three days. Your judgment Bond was, long before, sent to Mr. Ross to bring suit on. What he has done in the matter I know not.

To sue, cannot be more unpleasant and disagreeable to you, than it is to me; but as the want of money, and a punctual payment of it, were the only motives to sell my lands in the Counties of Fayette and Washington, so a disappointment in these must defeat the objects which I had in view, and has been the cause of the prosecution to which I have resorted.

You could not be unacquainted with the nature of your contract for the land in Fayette county, nor with the tenor of your judgment Bond, given to fulfil it: of course, you must have known the amount of the Sums as they became due and that they were to be paid at the Bank of Pennsylvania on a certain day, by Instalments; why then would you trust to others to do your business; and by sending a little money by this, and a little by that man who knew not what to do with it when they got to Philadelphia, hazard the disappointments which followed? especially as that mode of payment was purposely guarded against in the contract, as one from whence I could derive no substantial benefit; whereas regular payment in the manner Colo. Richie has made them would have given me (although the land sold low) all the advantages I expected to derive from the Sale of those lands.

Not knowing what Mr. Ross has done in the premises, I know not what further to say in reply to your letter. If the arrearages are paid up, with interest to the time they became due; and the instalments regularly discharged afterwards, agreeably to the conditions of your Bond, it is all I require and all I can wish; for far is it from my desire to embarrass, or injure your character by a Law Suit: but if punctuality is not observed on your part a Suit (for the reasons I have already assigned) will be the inevitable consequence. And I do now, in explicit terms declare that it will be of no avail to say that such an one is to pay so much another so much, and so on. I shall have nothing to do with any of them; because I shall expect each years Instalment will, by the time it becomes due be deposited in the Bank of Pennsylvania, and made liable to my draught. This is a very simple mode, and what I shall rigidly exact. I have no Agent in Philadelphia to whom I would give the trouble of receiving money, nor do I want partial sums lodged there. The amount of the Instalmts. must be known to you, and the times

1797]

A NEPHEW'S MARRIAGE

25

of their becoming due. My appropriations will correspond therewith. Nothing short of the whole sums will answer my purposes. I am etc.

[N.Y.P.L.]

*To JAMES HARRISON 15

Mount Vernon, September 2, 1797. Sir: Your letter of the 25th Ulto. came to hand by the last Post.

The ground Rent of the lot I have offered to Lease, in Alexandria, is three dollars a foot, for what it measures on each Street. This I must obtain as an annual Rent or the lot will not be disposed of in that way. I am etc.

[N.Y.P.L.]

*To LAWRENCE AUGUSTINE WASHINGTON16

Mount Vernon, September 3, 1797.

Dear Lawrence: Your letter of the 23d of the last, was received on the first day of the present month.

In the interesting event which you have announced, I sincerely wish you and the lady who is to be the partner of your future fortunes, all imaginable happiness. To attain which, depends very much upon the parties themselves: and from the character you have drawn of Miss Wood, and from what I have heard of it from others, I think your prospects are fair and pleasing.

If any substantial good could result from my becoming a guest at your Wedding, I would make exertions to be there; but as wedding Assemblies are better calculated for those who are coming in to, than to those who are going out of life, you must accept the good wishes of your Aunt and myself in place

15 Of New York City.

18 Son of Samuel Washington.

of personal attendance, for I think it not likely that either of us will ever be more than 25 miles from Mount Vernon again, while we are inhabitants of this Terrestrial Globe.

We offer our respects to the family with whom you are going to connect yourself, and in a particular manner I desire to be presented to the old lady, Grandmother of Miss Wood; for whom I have, and always had, a very high esteem and regard; present us also to your brother and his family. I remain, etc.

*To JOHN O'DONNELL

Mount Vernon, September 4, 1797.

Sir: I am going to take a liberty with you, for which I rely more on your goodness, than on any excuse I can make, for pardon.

A person of the name of Anthony Heusler, a German (in the vicinity of Baltimore) has offered himself to me as a Gardener. He professes to understand that business in all its branches, and well in each, representing himself moreover as a person of some property, and very sober. He adds that, his wife (about his own age) is a very decent woman, and capable of the duties of a Housekeeper.

Such characters would be useful to me at this time; but I told Mr. Heusler that I could not employ strangers, in either of those capacities, without ample testimonials of their qualifications; and with respect to himself that they must go to these points. 1. skill in the line of his profession. 2 Honesty. 3 Soberiety. 4 moral character generally. 5 orderly deportment, and 6. Industry; for although I usually employed two or three negroes under my hired Gardener, it was not for the purpose of exempting the latter from Manual labour.

For information respecting these matters, he has refered me to you; who he says has a knowledge of him from his having

1797]

AN ENCYCLOPAEDIA

27

lived on some estate of yours. On this ground then it is, I am induced to ask the favour of you to give me the character of Mr. Heusler. It is not easy to conceive what his wife, to whom, according to his own account he has been married upwards of 20 years, can, from the station she has filled, without having previously acquired it, be well qualified for keeping such a house as mine but if she is neat in her person, sensible active, honest and spirited; and possesses any knowledge in cookery, she might be very useful to Mrs. Washington, notwithstanding. I must again pray your excuse for the trouble this application must give and request that I may, as soon as is convenient, hear from you on this subject." I am etc.

*To CLEMENT BIDDLE

[N. Y.P.L.]

Mount Vernon, September 6, 1797.

Dear Sir: Your favor of the 30th Ult was received by the last Post.

As the Encyclopaedia might be useful, to have by me (though wanting the last Volume or two) I would if the binding business goes on as usual, request Mr. Dobson to have all that are published, neatly bound and sent to me, except the last Vole. which may be retained as a sample to bind the remainder by. I do not recollect, but suppose the receipts will show, whether he has been paid for both sets I subscribed for, or only one; be this as it may, he shall be satisfied on the delivery.

I feel very sensibly for the alarm of the Citizens of Philadelphia, and for the calamity brought on that place by the Yellow fever; and devoutly wish the speedy disappearance of it. With great esteem etc.

"A copy of O'Donnell's answer (September 9), in the writing of William B. Sprague, is in the Washington Papers. Washington spells the name "O'Donald."