place. Mrs. W. and Miss C: unite in every good and friendly wish for you and them, with Dr. Sr. Yr. etc. *To THE SECRETARY OF WAR Mount Vernon, August 20, 1798. Dear Sir: I was very glad to find by your letter of the 13th. instant" that you had got well enough to resume your seat in the Office. On this circumstance I sincerely congratulate you. You must know as much of Mr. Hoops as I do, and have it more in your power to obtain correct information of his character and fitness for the place that is suggested; but from respect to Mr. Morris, and in justice to Mr. Hoops, I could not withhold the testimonial that is adduced in the enclosed letter from the former. The devise (though not affixed) wch. you have conceived for the Colours ordered by Mrs. Washington is appropriate, and wd. answer I think very well. Mr. Laws Box arrived safe." I am always etc. McHenry had stated "The devices for the colours directed for Mrs. Washington have not yet been furnished the painter. I have thought of a medallion of the President borne towards the stars by our Eagle with some characteristic emblems, but I have determined upon nothing." McHenry's letter is in the Washington Papers. On Oct. 14, 1798, Martha Washington sent the following letter to Col. Charles Simms "or Officer Commg the Silver Greys." It was drafted for her by Washington, which draft is in the Washington Papers and is as follows: "Conformably to my promise, I requested the favour of the Secretary of War (supposing it was more in his line than any other to cause them to be executed properly) to have the colours which I intended myself the honor of presenting to the Company under your Command, to be made and sent to me without delay. "About a fortnight ago they arrived, but in an unfinished State, havg. neither fringe nor Tassels. Of this Mr McHenry was informed, and requested to supply the deficency. His answer is just received, that the person who made them, has fallen a victim to the malignant fever which prevails in Phila.; unhappily to the interruption of all kind of business, but, that he would, as soon as it was practicable remedy the defect. He was asked too, if some mistake had not been made in sending Cavalry, for Infantry Colours; and in that case to forward as much suitable Silk as would accomodate them to the latter purpose, to which no reply has been made. "Hearing that there is to be a grand parade on Wednesday, I send them up as they are, in order, that they may be completed, at my expence, in Alexandria, if there be materials or workmen to do it; of which you will be pleased to inform me, that Mr. McHenry may be advised accordingly.” 1798] AN AIDE-DE-CAMP 419 *To JOHN GASSAWAY" Mount Vernon, August 20, 1798. Sir: Your favour of the 20th. Instant, with other letters, were brought to this place at a time when I was not in a situation to acknowledge the receipt of them. A fever with which I was seized on the 18th. could not be checked before the 24th. at Night; and has left me a good deal debilitated. I mention this circumstance as an apology for your not hearing from me at an earlier period. As I shall have no occasion for a Military family until I take the field; and then, in the formation of it, shall have a variety of combinations to make, I mean to be perfectly free until that period shall have arrived, or is nearly approaching (except a particular case, or so, may occur) that I may be under no embarrassment. I thank you for making a tender of your Services to me as an Aid de Camp and am etc. P. S. Our Affairs have come to a crisis which I little thought could have happened in my day. This, and the evils with which we are threatned, will, I hope and trust, animate the spirits, and bring forward the Services of all the old and meritorious Officers of the Revolution Army, in defence of the Independence and Government of our Country. *To BUSHROD WASHINGTON Mount Vernon, August 27, 1798. My dear Bushrod: At the time your letter of the 20th. instant (with others) was brought to this place, I was not in a situation 15 Of Annapolis, Md. to acknowledge the receipt of it; and no Post has happened since, by which I could do it. That of tomorrow, of which I shall avail myself, will be the first which offers. On the 18th at night, I was seized with a fever, of which I took little notice until the 21st; when I was obliged to call for the aid of Medicine; and with difficulty a remission thereof was so far effected, as to dose me all night on thursday, with Bark: wch, having stoped it, and weakness only remaining, will soon wear off; as my appetite is returning. I learnt with much pleasure from the P. S. to your letter, of General Marshall's intentions to make me a visit. I wish it of all things. and it is from the ardent desire I have to see him, that I have not delayed a moment to express it; lest, if he should have intended it on his way to Frederick, and hear of my Indisposition, he might change his route. I can add with sincerity and truth, that if you can make it comport with your business, I should be exceedingly happy to see you along with him." The Crisis is important. The temper of the People of this State in many (at least in some) places, are so violent and outrageous, that I wish to converse with Genl Marshall and yourself on the Elections which must soon come. The fictitious letter of John Langhorne may be had at any time. I do not send it now, beause if you come up it will do then; and we will let Genl Marshall into the whole business and advise with him thereon. for good or evil must flow from Mr. N-ch-s' attempt, according to his establishment of facts: Present my best wishes to Genl Marshall; My love (in which your Aunt unites) to Nancy; and believe me to be always Your Most Affect. 76 John Marshall and Bushrod Washington visited Mount Vernon on September 3. They attended a public dinner, given by the citizens of Alexandria to John Marshall, September 5, and left Mount Vernon before breakfast, September 6. 1798] CUSTIS'S EDUCATION 421 *To JOHN MCDOWELL Mount Vernon, September 2, 1798. Sir: Your favour of the 13th Ulto. with the accounts, came duly to hand; and I thank you for the trouble you have had in paying and taking receipts therefor. The small balance of £1: 3:51⁄2 may, if you please, be given to Mr. Custis. It was my intention to have written fully to you by the return of this young Gentleman to College, but the debilitated state into which I have been thrown by a fever, with which I was seized on the 18th and could procure no remission of until the 25th past, renders writing equally irksome and improper. Were the case otherwise, I should, I confess, be at a loss to point out any precise course of study for Mr. Custis. My views with respect to him, have already been made known to you, and therefore it is not necessary to repeat them on this occasion; but it is not merely what the best course is, for him to pursue, that requires a consideration; but such an one as he can be induced to pursue; and will contribute to his improvement, and the object in view. In directing the first, to these objects a Gentleman of your literature, discernment and knowledge of the world, would be at no loss, without any suggestions of mine, if there was as good a disposition to receive, as there are talents to acquire knowlege; but as there seems to be in this youth an unconquerable indolence of temper; and a dereliction in fact to all study, it must rest with you to lead him, in the best manner, and by the easiest modes you can devise, to the study of such useful acquirements as may be serviceable to himself, and eventually, beneficial to his Country, hereafter. French, from having become in a manner the universal language, I wished him to be master of; but I do not find, from enquiry, that he has made much progress in the study yet. Some of the practical branches of mathematics, particularly Surveying, he ought, possessing a good deal of landed property, to be well acquainted with, as he may have frequent occasions for the exercise of that Art. I have already exceeded the limits I had prescribed to myself when I began this letter; but I will trespass yet a little more, while I earnestly entreat that you will examine him, as often as you can make it convenient, yourself; and admonish him seriously of his omissions and defects; and prevent as much as it can be done without too rigid a restraint, a devotion of his time to visitations of the families in Annapolis; which, when carried to excess, or beyond a certain point, can not fail to unhinge his mind from study, and turn his thoughts to very different objects. Above all, let me request, if you should perceive any appearance of his attaching himself, by visits or otherwise, to any young lady of that place, that you would admonish him against the measure on account of his youth, and incapability of appreciating all the requisites for a connection, which in the common course of things, can terminate with the death of one of the parties only; and, if it is done without effect, to advise me thereof. If in his reading he was to make common place notes, as is usual; copy them fair, and shew them to you, two good purposes would be answered by it: 1. you would see with what judgment they were done; and: 2. it might be a mean to improve his handwriting, which requires nothing but care and attention to render it good. At present, all of his writing that I have seen, is a hurried scribble, as if to get to the end speedily, was the sole object of writing. With very great esteem etc. P. S. Knowledge of Book keeping is essential to all who are under the necessity of keeping A/cts." "From a photostat of the original through the kindness of Judge E. A. Armstrong, of Princeton, N. J. |