Gilder Lehrman Collection Documents > Presidential Years > Letters from George Washington > Letter to Edmund Randolph, September, 8, 1789 Letter to Edmund Randolph, September, 8, 1789 TRANSCRIPT GLC 7161 George Washington. Leter signed: New York, to Edmund Randolph, 1789 September 8. 2 p. + doc. New York Septr 8th. 1789. Dear Sir Your favor of the 2d. Ulto came duly to hand. – A tedious and painful disorder which deprived me [inserted: for many Wks] of the use of my pen, and which, consequently, required the greater exertion of it when I was able to set up, is the best apology I can make for not having acknowledged the receipt of the above letter sooner – The list of [struck: ticket holders] associates who purchased 100 Tickets in the Lottery of the deceased Colo. Byrd is all the Memr. I have of that transaction – To the best of my recollection Mr. Thomson Major (deceased) was one of the[inserted: se] associates and was either authorised, or assumed (I do not know which) the management of the business – [strike-out] [inserted: He] did it so effectually [struck: (as I have been told) as to dispose of the prizes without accounting for the produce of them] [inserted: it seems as to monopolize the whole interest.] – Some of the[inserted: se] prises it [struck: is] [inserted: has been] said, are valuable – but whether [inserted: there is] any cleue by which [struck: the business] [inserted: Mr. Masons conduct in this business] can be developed I am unable to say. – Your Uncle (The Honble. Peyton Randolph) was one of the ten associates – [strike-out] [inserted: But if neither] Mr Fitzhugh nor any [inserted, struck: other] of the others who are living can give such information as would avail [inserted: in an enquiry] we must, I presume, set down with the loss of the money & prizes. [2] With respect to Mr Powell’s application I can only repeat [inserted: to you] what I say [inserted: to all others] upon [struck: all] similar occasions – [struck: and] that is – [struck: to] leave myself entirely free until the Office is established and the moment [inserted: shall] arrive when the nomination is to be made – then, under [inserted: my best information and] a full view of all circumstances I shall endeavor to the best of my judgment to combine justice to individuals with the public good making the latter my primary object. – My best [struck: respects] wishes attend M Randolph and your family and with sentimts. of sincere regard and friendship I am – Dr. Sir Yr. Most Obedt. & Affecto Servt. GW – [docket] Edmund Randolph Esq 8th. Sep 1789 Notes: Published in Fitzpatrick, John C. The Writings of George Washington. v. 4: 5-6. Copyright© 2002 The Claremont Institute. All rights reserved.