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out a finished Scholar, and finally that this is no otherwise to be accomplished than by close application and a continuation at College.

To overcome an indolent temper, amusements, at present innocent but unprofitable, and to excite him to exert the talents which he possesses, constitute the difficulty at present. By and by perhaps, bad example, or the advice of dissipated young men, may increase it considerably. He has, I know, a friendship and regard for you, and I am persuaded your opinion on these topics would have a happy effect. With esteem etc.

*To THE SECRETARY OF WAR

[N. Y. P.L.]

Mount Vernon, August 14, 1797.

Dear Sir: It is a little out of time, to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 9th ulto; but "better late than never,” and one object in doing it, is to pray you to thank Mr. Bordley in my name, for the work he had the goodness to send me, through the channel of your conveyance.

I presume the affair of Mr. Blount will lye dormant until the Committee of Congress make Report at the ensuing Session. It will be to be regretted, much, if this business is not probed to the bottom. That Government may not sleep or be forgotten in the meantime, I perceive Mr. Monroe has opened a Battery; but if his subsequent fire does no more injury than the first, his Artillery will recoil upon himself."

'Pickering had written (August 9): "Mr. Monroe has anticipated me in furnishg. you, by his publication in the news-papers, the correspondence between us on the subject of his demanding the reasons of his recall. After such a solemn demand, so zealously maintained, and after such professions of candour, I did not imagine he would have had the folly to avow, as in his last letter, that he in fact wanted no information on this point: proving, what I supposed was his real object at first, that he made the demand in order to be denied. I kept a table ready for him in my office during a week, while I expected him to review his correspondence with the department: but he has never called, altho' he stated this as necessary for his information in his intended vindication." Pickering's letter is in the Washington Papers.

1797]

WINE COOLERS

9

It had escaped me, until reminded by a re-perusal of some of your first letters, that my Table ornaments and Coolers were in your possession. Not for the value of the thing, but as a token of my friendship and as a remembrancer of it, I ask you, Colonel Pickering, and Mr Wolcott to accept, each one of the two bottle Coolers; I think there are three of them. the other articles I pray you to have carefully packed (the Porcelain in fine Saw dust) and sent to Colo. Biddle, who will be directed what to do with them, and will pay the cost of packing.

What is the character of Porcupine's Gazette? I had thought when I left Philadelphia, of ordering it to be sent to me; then again, I thought it best not to do it; and altho' I should like to see both his and Bache's, the latter may, under all circumstances, be the best decision, I mean not subscribing to either of them.

for your

kind

Mrs. Washington and Miss Custis thanks you for remembrance of them; and unite with me in best regards for Mrs McHenry, yourself and family. With much truth I am etc.

P. S. I shall rely on, you to present the Coolers in my name to the Gentlemen above mentd. Since writing the letter which encloses this scrap, I have determined to let the Table ornaments and large Coolers go into the hands of Colo. Clement Biddle unpacked, to see if he can dispose of them; and I pray you to cause them to be delivered in that manner accordingly. [N.Y.P.L.]

*To CLEMENT BIDDLE

Mount Vernon, August 14, 1797.

Dear Sir: Not having any thing to communicate of sufficient moment to give you the trouble of receiving a letter from me, I have delayed until now, to acknowledge the receipt of your favors of the 10th. and 25th. Ulto.

When I left Philadelphia, Mr. Lear and Mr. Dandridge who remained, were directed to dispose of my Household furniture (such parts I mean as were not packed for a removal to this place) but from some misapprehension the Ornaments of my dining Table, and some Plated bottle Coolers, were not disposed of as were expected; but left in the care of Mr. McHenry (Secretary of War) subject to future orders, when they came

away.

I have now to request that you will receive these from him, and if you can, to dispose of them (one of the Coolers excepted, concerning which I will write to you some time hence) on the best terms you can. it is not probable that any one, unless the Presidt. or any of the foreign Ministers should be so disposed, would take the whole of course to retail them, would be the most likely means of getting them off.

The articles you will receive, if I mistake not, will consist of two four bottle Coolers. A Platteau in nine pieces. three large groupes with glasses over them, two vases, and twelve small single figures, of Porcelain.

The Invoice of the Platteau I am unable, at present, to come at; but that of the figures is enclosed, as is the ones which contains the Cost of the Coolers, which were never used; there being four, originally, and two were found sufficient to answer my purposes.

I do not expect, notwithstanding they are new, that the one offered for Sale will fetch the cost, and the other things I am certain will fall much below it, as they have not only been used, but the Porcelain in some of its nicest parts, is injured. Although I have not been able to find the cost of the Platteau I have a memorandum which informs me that they stand me in 486 Livres in Paris exclusive of all the subsequent charges of transportation from thence to Havre, freight Insurance duty

&ca &ca.

1797]

AN OVERSEER

11

I send the Invoices for the satisfaction of yourself, and any who may be inclined to purchase; when this purpose is answered they may be returned to me.

Will you be so good as to ask Mr. Dobson' if there are no more Volumes of the American Edition of the Encyclopædia out: the 16th is the last I have received, and inform him at the sametime, that it is my wish that my second Sett (for I subscribed for two setts to encourage his undertaking the work) was neatly bound and sent to me, having given away the sett in Boards. With esteem etc.

TO WILLIAM PEARCE

[N.Y.P.L.]

Mount Vernon, August 14, 1797. Sir: Your letter of the 24th of July has been received, and I thank you for your ready compliance with my request; but recollecting how I was served last year, I must remind you, that the season will not allow me to wait long for your decisive answer, especially too, as persons are now applying in this quarter.

I must repeat in this, what I said, or meant to say in my last, that is, that I do not wish you to enter into any engagement that will be binding on me; but to make enquiry for such an Overseer as you know would suit me; know precisely the lowest terms on which he could be obtained for Union Farm; and give me as speedy notice thereof as is in your power. Mr. Anderson seems to think that one man may Overlook both Union and Dogue-run Farms for the wages of Sixty pounds, but whether this would be more eligable than two at about £70 or £75 between them is questionably, as there are few Negroes

'Thomas Dobson, a Philadelphia printer. He published the British Encyclopedia in 20 volumes.

who will work unless there be a constant eye on them, or who will not slight it if there is not this eye.

The fallow fields at Union and Dogue-run farms looked well at Harvest; and I believe will yield well, but the Hessian fly had made an attack upon the latter which had injured it in some degree. Next year I expect this attack will be much more formidable, which is one reason why I propose to encrease my seeding with Rye, considerably this Fall. I perceived no difference between the French plowed part and the parts adjoining from hence the inference is that it was attended with no advantage; in the last Crop at least.

We have been as wet latterly as we were dry before; which, to me, has produced both good and evil. My Corn is much amended by it, but my Hay ruined; and I have had Wheat injured in the Stack. I am glad to hear that your Crop has, and promises to be, tolerable good. But am sorry that your own, and daughter Nancy's indispositions continue.

A small bag of Rye-grass seeds came here without any letter. We guessed from whence it came, but was not certain until some time after, when your letter announced it. For sending it I thank you, and if several bushels of the Seed could be purchased and sent to me, I would with pleasure pay the cost to your order.

Mrs. Washington and the rest of the family are as usual, and I am R

8

*To REVEREND NEWBURGH BURROUGHS

Mount Vernon, August 20, 1797.

Sir: I have received your letter of the 22d May last, from Belfast; and wish it was in my power to give you a more satis

"From the printed text in M. D. Conway's George Washington and Mount Vernon, Long Island Historical Society Memoirs (vol. 4).

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