I thank you, Sir, for the good wishes you express for my health, which I most sincerely reciprocate, and beg you to be assured that I am etc.11 14 *To BRIGADIER GENERAL WILLIAM WASHINGTON Mount Vernon, September 27, 1798. Dear Sir: Late this afternoon Major Simons 15 presented me with your letter of the 22d. of July, and anxious to proceed on his journey, proposes to continue it in the morning early, this allows me but little time to say any thing, when I wished to have said a great deal to you. I have never yet heard whether you have accepted, or declined, your late appointment. The crisis is important, and if the French persevere in their inequitous and nefarious plans; the friends of the Government and Constitution of this Country however desirous they may be of retirement, will be obliged to come forward, and it is better to do it in the first instance, under advantages, than in the hour of necessity, when there is no alternative. This consideration, accompanying my wishes, induce me to hope that I shall see you as a Coadjutor in the Field. It is to me, a matter of sore regret that the Recruiting service has not commenced, and more astonishing yet, that the Regimental Officers for the Augmented Corps are not appointed. It has been said (but on what authority I am unable to inform you) that the twelve Regiments, under the Act for augmenting the force of the United States, will be proportioned among them; whereof Virginia, the two Carolinas, Georgia, Tennessee and Kentucky, will be called upon for four; and perhaps The draft is in an unidentified hand. The portions in brackets are in the writing of Washington. 15 William Simons, of South Carolina. He was commissioned a captain in the Fifth Infantry in 1799, but declined. 1798] CAVALRY OFFICERS 469 the additional Troops of Cavalry. If this plan should be adopted, I presume each of these states will be called upon for a certain part. I do not mean that the Authority of the State will be required to furnish them, but that, so many Men will be recruited in each, and furnish Officers in proportion thereto. To you, I need not remark how all important it is, to get well known and well tried Officers in the several grades; or if that cannot be accomplished, to obtain Gentlemen (not from favor or affection, but from real fitness of character to come forward. On a presumption that the aforementioned plan may be adopted, and that no further, or unnecessary delay may take place, let me entreat you, to give me the names of such Gentlemen as you think would fill, with honor and dignity, the several grades of Regimental Officers, in South Carolina, and as far as you are acquainted with them, of North Carolina and Georgia also. annexing the Rank to the name; and in the order (of each grade) you conceive they are entitled to preference, that is to say, supposing four Captains only should be the proportion of South Carolina, and you give eight, number them one, two and so on. the same of the field Officers and Subalterns. And let me hear from you as soon as possible, by Post. I write, as you will readily perceive, in much haste; but if I am understood, it is sufficient. I pray you to present me in respectful terms to Mrs. Washington, and be assured of the friendship and Affectionate regard of Dear Sir etc. *To WILLIAM RUSSELL 16 Mount Vernon, September 28, 1798. Sir: Your favour of the 8th instt. is received, and I thank you for your obliging attention to the articles promised me, when I had the pleasure of seeing you at this place. I will direct twenty of my best ewes to be reserved for the Ram you have kindly promised me; which, with the Chaff machine, I shall look for when an opportunity will allow you to send them. The cause which has prevented their shipment, is very afflicting to humanity, and must be sorely felt by the City of New York, and other places under the same calamitous circum stances. I have sent to the care of Mr. Thomas Porter of Alexandria, fifteen bushels of fine forward wheat, in five flour barrels, agreeably to your desire. Having none of my own growth that was pure and unmixed, I purchased this quantity from a neighbour of mine who raises no other kind, and am assured it is genuine. I feel very much obliged, Sir, by your present of the Ram, and further kind intentions; for the trouble you have taken to procure the Chaff machine for me; and not less for your kind wishes, which I reciprocate with great cordiality being Sir Your etc. *To THE COMMISSIONERS OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA Mount Vernon, September 28, 1798. Gentlemen: Your favour of yesterday's date is received. and enclosed are checks on the Bank of Alexandria for $428.40 amount of payment for the lot had of Mr. D. Carroll;" which you will please to deliver when the Conveyance is received; and $178.57 being the third of $535.70 to be paid for lot No. 16 in square 634 purchased from you. I feel very much obliged by the trouble you have taken in this business; and you will add considerably to the obligation, "Daniel Carroll, of "Duddington." 1798] CORN CONTRACT 471 by examining Mr. Blagdins 18 estimate accurately, to prevent any imposition upon me: your knowledge of prices, and perfect acquaintance in matters of this kind, will enable you to form a correct judgment of the componant parts, as well as the aggregate amount of the proposed buildings, whereas my unacquaintedness in the present price of materials, Workmen's wages, &ca. &ca. might subject me (if the Undertaker was so disposed) to great imposition. I am willing to pay the full value, according to the Plan, and will sign any agreement you shall approve; relying infinitely more on your judgment in this business, than on any skill I have in it. There is a matter I often intended to mention to the Commissioners of the City, but have always forgot to do it, when I was at their Board. Eventually it may be interesting to me, and I shall therefore do it now, as it has again occurred. When I purchased lots No. 5. 12. 13. and 14, in square 667 19 (at public sale), it was declared at the time, and I have the Surveyors sketch (without any signature however) shewing it, that they were (that is No. 12. 13. and 14) water lots. There is a street between them and the Eastern branch; and if any, not more than a slipe of the bank between the Street and the water. On the strength of this declaration I purchased, and paid pretty smartly for the lots; but in the evidence (received from the former Commissioners) of this purchase, nothing therein contained gives assurance of this fact, and hereafter it may become a disputable point, very much to my injury. I have troubled you with this statement, accompanied with the Surveyors sketch (to be returned) that you may be enabled to point out the measures necessary to be taken, for my surety, in this case. Indeed, it appears to me that my title to all the lots George Blagdin (Blagden). He was the builder of the two houses Washington erected on North Capitol Street. 19 Square 667 is bounded by Water, V, W, and First Streets SW. I have purchased from the Public is incomplete; having no more than certificates thereof; when, on my part the conditions have been fully complied with. With very great esteem etc. *To REVEREND ZECHARIAH LEWIS 20 [H. S. P.] Mount Vernon, September 28, 1798. Sir: The best apology I can make, for suffering your letter of the 11th. of July" to remain so long unacknowledged, is to offer a plain and simple detail of facts. Soon after it came to hand, I requested a Gentleman of my acquaintance in Alexandria, to obtain for me, the route and distance from that place to the Natural Bridge. This, though promised, from causes unnecessary to enumerate, was not accomplished before I was siezed with a fever, which reduced me low, and left me in such a debilitated state, as to render writing both irksome and improper. After this, I had to apply through another channel for the information you required and Inclosed is the result. I thank you for sending me Doctr. Dwights 22 Sermons to whom I pray you to present the complimts. of Yr. etc. *To MAJOR GENERAL HENRY LEE Mount Vernon, September 29, 1798. Dear Sir: Your letter of yesterday's date from George Town is received. You know perfectly well what my inducements were to part with the property you purchased of me, but rather than have any difficulty, or unpleasant disputes respecting the payments, 20 Tutor at Yale College. "Not now found in the Washington Papers. 22 President Timothy Dwight, of Yale College. |