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TRANSCRIPT GLC 2437.53.060
George Washington. Letter signed: Mount Vernon, to Henry Knox,
1785 February 28. 4 p. + doc. & address leaf.
Mount Vernon 28th. Feby 1785
My dear Sir;
Your favor of the 31st. Ulto. came to my hands by the last
Post. – enclosed are letters under flying Seals to Count
de Rochambeau & the Marqs. De Chartellux (late Chevr.)
introductory of Mr. Swan. – Also certificates for Lieutts.
Seaver and Henley. - if these will answer the purposes designed,
I shall think nothing of the trouble, but be happy in having
given them. –
Upon summing up the cost of my projected building in Alexandria,
I found my finances not equal to the undertaking; & have
thereupon suspended, if not altogether declined it. –
Notwithstanding, if any Vessel should be coming hither from
that part of your state where the Limestone abounds &
where it is to be obtained at a low price, & would bring
it at a low freight, - unburn’d:- or if in this State
it could be brought hither from Boston as Ballast, or at a
low freight, I should be glad to get some; in either of these
ways. – I use a great deal of lime every year, made
of the Oyster shells, which, before they are burnt, cost me
25 a 30/ pr. hundred Bushels; but it is of mean quality, which
makes me desirous of trying Stone lime. –
The Assemblies of Virginia and Maryland passed laws before
their adjournment, for improving and extending the Navigation
of this River as far as it shall be found practicable, a copy
of which (for they are exactly the same in both States) I
send you – they also gave a sum of money for the purpose
of opening, & keeping in repair, a good road of communication
between the Eastern & Western Waters – And this
State passed a similar Act respecting James River, & the
Communication with Green Brier (a branch of the Great Kanhawa)
[2] which opens equally advantageously to another part of
the Western territory; - [inserted: shares in either or] both
of which, in my opinion, presents to monied men the most certain,
& lucrative Speculation [inserted: of any] wch. I can
have any idea. –
The State of Virginia accompanied these proceedings with
another Act, which particularly respected myself; & tho’
generous in the extreme, is rendered more valuable by the
flattering, yet delicate expression of its recitals. It directs
their Treasurer to subscribe for my use and benefit, One hundred
shares (50 in each Navigation); which it declares vested in
me & my heirs for ever. – But I can truly aver to
you, my dear Sir, that this Act has given me more pain than
pleasure – It never was my inclination – nor is
it now my intention, to accept any thing pecuniary from the
public: but how to decline this gift without appearing to
slight the favors (which the [inserted: assembly] ascribe
to a sense of gratitude) of my Country, and exhibiting an
act of [inserted: seeming] disrespect to the Legislature on
the one hand – or incurring the imputation of pride,
or an ostentatious display of disinterestedness on the other,
is my embarrassment. but I must endeavor to hit upon some
expedient before the next Session (for I had not the smallest
intimation of the matter before the rising of the last) to
avoid any of these charges, and yet follow the bent of my
wishes; which are to be as independent as the Air –
I have no body to provide for, & I have enough to support
me through life in plain, & easy style in which I mean
to spend the remainder of my days. –
I thank you for the particular [inserted: acct.] which you
have given me of the different Rivers to which the British
have given the names of St Croix [3] - I shall be much mistaken
if they do not in other matters, as well as this, give us
a good deal of trouble before we are done with them. –
and yet, it does not appear to me, that we have wisdom, or
national policy enough to avert the evils which are impending
– How should we, when contracted ideas, local pursuits,
and absurd jealousy are continually leading us from those
great & fundamental principles which are characteristic
of wise & powerful Nations; & without which, we are
no more than a rope of Sand, and shall as easily be broken.
In the course of your literary disputes at Boston (on the
one side to drink Tea in Company, & to be social &
gay – on the [other] to impose restraints which at no
time ever were agreeable, & in these days of more liberty
& endulgence, never will be submitted to) I perceive,
& was most interested by something which was said respecting
the composition for a public walk; which also appeared to
be one of the exceptionable things. – Now, as I am engaged
in works of this kind, I would thank you, if there is any
art in the preparation, to communicate it to me.- whether
designed for Carriages, or walking. – My Gardens have
gravel walks (as you possibly may recollect) in the usual
Style, but if a better composition has been discovered for
these, I should gladly adopt it. – the matter however
which I wish principally to be informed in, is, whether your
walks are designed for Carriages, and if so, how they are
prepared, to resist the impression of the Wheels. –
I am making a serpentine road to my door, & have doubts
(which it may be in your power to remove) whether any thing
short of solid pavement will answer.
Having received a letter from Majr. Keith (dated at New York)
and not knowing where to direct my answer, I take the liberty
of putting it [inserted: & the Papers wch. it enclod]
under cover to you, as he was of the Massachusetts [4] State,
& I presume only came to New York on business. –
He is one, among numberless others, who want me to do inconsistent
things. – namely to annul, or rather do away, the effect
of his Court Martial. – The other letter for a Mr. Palmer,
be so good as to put into a channel of delivery.
Mrs. Washington joins me in affectionate regards for Mrs.
Knox, and the rest of the Family, & I am
My dear Sir, With great truth and sincerity – Yrs. Go:
Washington
[docket] From his Excellency General Washington 28 Feby 1785
–
[address] Genl Knox
Notes: Published in Fitzpatrick, John C. The Writings of George
Washington. v. 28, pp. 91-4. GLC 2437.52.155 is a duplicate
of this document.
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