credited for all his work, for fowls, &c., up to the 13th of Sept, that he was indebted to me £13. 15. 11. besides some expences for slays [?] over and above the money he gave Osborne to buy them with — I mention this matter, because, it is more than probable he will not be the first to do it himself: but under your supposed unacquaintedness with the fact, will be applying for money as fast, and to the amount of his weaving, without ever casting an eye back, or thinking of paying off old scores with it. I never was more surprised than to find only 1457 lbs. of wool from the shearing of 568 sheep (2 pound pr. Fleece only). From the beginning of the year 1784 when I returned from the army, until shearing time of 1788, I improved the breed of my sheep so much by buying and selecting the best formed and most promising Rams, and putting them to my best ewes, by keeping them always well culled and clean, and by other attentions, that they averaged me as will appear by Mr. Lear's acct. (my present secretary and who then lived with me,) rather more than under five pounds of washed wool each. - And in the year 1789, being requested by Mr. Arthur Young to send him a fleece of my Wool, I requested my nephew to see that Mr. Bloxham took one from a sheep of average appearance at shearing time, and send it to New York where I then was, to be forwarded to that Gentleman. - This was accordingly done, and weighed 54. — How astonished must I be then at the miserable change that has taken place since; and but for the caution I gave you to guard against the roguery of my negros, who formerly have been detected in similar practices, I should have concluded at once that between the time of taking the wool from the sheep and the delivery of it into your hands, a very large toll indeed had been taken from each fleece; for I do not suppose (for fear of detection) that whole fleeces would be taken; the number from each Farm being known I hope, and expect they will be got up again to their former standard, as I know it to be practicable with care and attention to do it; particularly with respect to the Rams. — It is painful to receive no report unaccompanied with the death of some of these animals; - and I believe no man is more unlucky in the deaths or in the accidents to Horses than I am; for I am continually losing them by one means or another. Col: Fitzgerald has been obliging enough to tell me, that if, at any time, you should need information in any matter that he can aid you, he will give it with great pleasure. As he is a well informed man and an old acquaintance of mine, I wish you to avail yourself of his offer. — With respect to my Tobacco, he is of opinion, that if it is of the quality I am taught to believe it to be, was put up dry, and looked well when last examined, that I had better remove it to the Inspection at George town, at which, if it would pass, I might expect 40 p! c! more than where it is — I have answered that I would desire you to call on him the first time you go to Alexandria with such information on these several points as you may know yourself and can obtain from those who inspected it in the first instance, and have examined it since. These facts ought to be well ascertained before any attempt be made to remove the Tobacco for the Inspectors at George town are very strict, and no Tobacco that is not of a good quality, well handled, and put up dry, will pass. -I ought therefore to be pretty certain that mine will stand these tests; otherwise I should get out of the frying pan into the fire. By the reports (if I mistake not) the Roan, or which may perhaps distinguish her more clearly the mad mare, has had a mule colt this Spring; but I do not know whether it is by the Young Jack or the Knight of Malta, nor is it very material if the color suits. This with the Spring mules from the two Coach mares, must promise three very fine ones; if a fourth of proper color from a good and well looking mare, either of this or the last Spring, can be selected, it is my wish that every possible care be taken of them and their dams to keep the first in the highest order. Has the lame chariot mare (left at home two years ago, and now I believe at River Farm) a Colt? from her one would be valuable. There is another valuable mare wch I have drove, and I believe at the Mansion H: that must furnish a good colt if she has any. I request also that those wh? were selected last year may meet with proper care and attention, as I am exceedingly anxious to get a set to drive, but fear I never shall, for it appears to me, as if they were converted to the Plow as soon as they arrive at the age of three, and I left to have recourse to a younger set, and so on; which practice, if continued must cut me out for ever. I wish you well and am your friend, XXX TO ANTHONY WHITING. PHILADELPHIA, 9 June, 1793. MR WHITING, In due course of Post I have received your letter of the 31st. of May and 5th instant; and was equally surprised and concerned to find by the last, that your health was in the declining and precarious state you describe it to be, because you had not given the least intimation thereof in any other letter, since my departure from Mount Vernon.1- I can 1 Whiting died soon after. --- or more only repeat now, what I have often done before, that it is by no means my desire that you should expose yourself in the discharge of my business; or use greater exertions than your strength will bear; exercise than is good for your health; or, in a word, to attempt any thing that the Doctr. shall not think proper for you : for having a full view of the state of my Plantations in your mind, and knowing the design for each, you can from the weekly reports (which may be made to you oftener by the overseers, if necessary) give such directions as would naturally result from them, — which is the best expedient both for yourself and me, that occurs to me at this moment — being unable since the receipt of your letter to think of a single person whose qualifications would fit him for the superintendence of my business. If any such has occurred to you, I would thank you for naming him, hoping, nevertheless, that occasion will not require one; for having a proper character in view may not be amiss whether wanting or not. From my own experience (and the measure was recommended to me by eminent Physicians) wearing flannel next the skin is the best cure for, and preventative of the Rheumatism I ever tried, — and for your other complaint, which you suppose to be in your lungs, a vegitable and milk diet I should suppose would be proper; avoiding as much as possible animal food. Of this however the Doctors must be a better judge; - and if you chuse to have any in these parts consulted and will state, or get your case stated, I will lay it before the person highest in reputation here as a Physician, and send you the result. I shall endeavor to be at Mount Vernon by the first of next month; - but the nature of public business is, and likely to remain such, that I dare not promise at that, or any other time, to be there; — and happen when it will, my stay must be short, as I cannot be long absent from the seat of the Government whilst matters are so delicately situated as they are at present. If you have, or could procure a few oats against I arrive, they would be acceptable to my Horses. I shall bring only 4 or at most five with me; nor shall I be able to stay more than 10 days at farthest. You may tell the Gardner1 that as I am not fond of changing, and as I am sure he would very soon find his error in leaving me - I will allow him £30 pr. ann, that is to say 100 dollars, provided he will engage to stay two years at that rate; — and will allow him the same perquisite of the Garden, when I am from home, he now enjoys; and a horse six times a year to ride to Alexandria, provided he is not kept out of nights. - With respect to his wife, after increasing his own wages so considera 1 John Christian Ehler, who had been secured for Washington in 1790 at Bremen, by Henry Willmans, Danish consul at that place. bly, I must be well informed what services she is to render before I shall agree to make any further allowance to him, in addition for her; for I should think that he himself, or the woman, or any other who is actuated by a just and honest way of thinking, will readily acknowledge that giving her Provisions is an adequate compensation for the trouble of weighing out, and receiving in, the work of the spinners once a week, if all the intermediate time is devoted to her own business. - If she does more than this for me the case differs from my conception of it; and from what I had in view at the time she was first spoken to, for then it was my full expectation that after the 4th of March I should return to a permanent residence at Mount Vernon, and in that case to have made her the Housekeeper; which from the nature of the Office would have occupied her whole time, and of course would have entitled her to a proportionate reward. — But if she has not done, nor is likely to do more than weigh out and receive in work, and receives her provision for this, there is no cause that I am able to discover, for enhancing their wages on that acct. The weather cannot have been more wet with you, than it has been here until Thursday last; since then it has been dry with a hot sun, which will recover the looks of the corn if you can, in addition, extricate it from the Grass and weeds. As you still think that the easterly winds we have had will injure the wheat, let me know how you expect it will be effected by them: Whether by Smut, Rust, white heads, or something else. I see nothing now to injure the grain except by its not filling, by its taking the rust; or lodging. As it was intended that the first sown buckwheat should ripen a sufficiency of seed to sow the ground a second time, I should hope this second operation would recover the ground from the bad condition it has been thrown into by the preceeding Rains, and prepare it finely for wheat; tho' it may occasion the sowing of it later than my inclination would wish it to be. My fears are more alive against damage from drought, if the Easterly Winds cease, than from the rains which they have occasioned. A long Drought after so much wet would be very injurious to the Corn; second cutting of grass; &c; besides baking the ground so hard as to render it impossible, in a manner, to work it properly. If this should happen, let the ground intended for the reception of grass be well broken with Rollers before sowing, that it may be laid level and smooth. - I wish with all my heart the Potatoes at Mansion House were planted, and that the crop may be productive. It is growing full late for this business, and of course hazardous wch I regret the more as I am resolved, henceforward, to plant them between the corn rows at Dogue run farm, if at no other. -I have never yet seen any thing to induce me to believe that the crop of corn is lessened thereby, and sure I am the wheaten crop which follows, is not; - of course the Potatoes is all gain. I would not have you ask the white thorn plants from Mr Thomson Mason as matter of favor; but if you should, at any time, fall in with him, it could give no offence to ask if he would sell those which grow in the open field adjoining numbers 7 and 8 at River farm; — and, if the price is reasonable, to buy them. When I consented to give up the first set of mules that were chosen for my carriage, it was because I was told they did not match well, or promise much, but that others were coming on, from which a very good set could be drawn. It is after these latter I have been enquiring, and wish care to be taken. I do not conceive that the strength of a joist, or sleeper, consists in its width, but in the depth; - however, if Green thinks those designed for the treading floor are too slight the evil is easily remedied by putting on more of them, that is, placing them nearer together. What is the matter with Long James that he is forever on the sick list? Is there any apparent cause for it? - by this I mean, has he fevers, a disentary or anything that will speak for itself?-or, is the complaint - Pains-wch may be real, or feigned; the last of which can at any time, be assumed, and very often is. By Ellwood, who talks of sailing on tuesday, but who will not in all probability leave this before Thursday, if then, you will receive sundry parcels according to the enclosed list, which may be brought from Alexandria when the Boat goes up with flour to Col: Hooe. I sincerely wish you will [be] perfectly restored to health, being your well wisher and friend GO WASHINGTON. On behalf of Mr. FRANKLIN B. DEXTER, a Corresponding Member, Mr. EDES alluded to an early celebration of Washington's birthday at Milton, Massachusetts, on 11 February, 1779.1 1 In a paper read before this Society in February, 1906 (Publications, x. 253-258), Mr. Albert Matthews, after speaking of the celebration at Milton on February 11, 1782, remarked that this was perhaps "a belated date." Mr. Dexter's extract proves that such was the case. On March 3, 1779, Ezra Stiles wrote: "Gen. Washington's Birthday celebrated 11th ult. at Milton" (Literary Diary, ii. 324). |