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TRANSCRIPT GLC 1402
George Washington. Autograph letter signed: Philadelphia,
to Tobias Lear, 1794 Dec. 21. 7 p.
Philadelphia Decr. 21st. 1794.
Rec’d 24
My dear Sir,
Your letter of the 17th. instt. was received yesterday, and
I am glad to find that an act of the Virginia Assembly has
been obtained, for prolonging the term for the completion
of the inland navigation of the Potomac. The like I hope has
been, or will be obtained, this Session, in the Assembly of
Maryland.
A good opportunity presenting itself on Thursday last, I
embraced it, to enquire [sic] of Mr. Morris, if the Director
of that company might entertain any hope of deriving aid,
from Mr. Weston[’s] opinion, respecting the Lock seats
at the Great fall of that river; his answer wa[s] “Mr.
Weston, from some peculiar circumstances attending their own
concerns had been prevented from visiting that spot, as was
intended; but that he was now expected to be in this City
in a few days (as I understood) when he wd. propose, &
urge his going thither.”
[2] The plan of Mr. Claiborn’s Engineer, as far as
I understand it, is to avoid locks altogether. The vessels
are received into a basket or cradle, and let down by means
of a laver & pullies; and raised again by weights at the
hinder extremity of the laver, which works on an axis at the
head of a substantial post fixed about the centre of the laver.
On this principle, but differently constructed, Mr. Greenleaf
a few months ago shewed me a model, the efficacy of which
he seemed to entertain the most exalted opinion. My doubts
of the utility of both arise, first, from the insufficiency
of any machinery of this sort to bear the weight of the cradle
when charged with water, & a loaded boat therein; and
its aptness to get out of order by means thereof; secondly
I do not find that they are in general use; and thirdly because,
if I recollect rightly, Mr. Weston has told me (but of this
I am not certain) that no method of raising & lowering
boats, had been found equal to that of Locks. Still, as I
observed in [3] my last, I should be for hearing the opinions,
& explanations of any, and every Scientific, & practical
character that could be easily got at, on this subject: &
therefore, would hear Claiborn’s Engineer, as well as
Mr. Weston; especially as he professes to be particularly
well skilled in the application of steam, in propelling boats
(in an easy & cheap manner) against the stream; &
in conducting of water to cities, or for any other purpose
whatsoever.
The Bill you allude to has not passed, nor do I know what
shape it will take if it does; & therefore can say nothing
more on the subject, at this time, than that there will be
no precipitancy in engaging either the agent, or the means
of carrying the law into effect, if the measure which I have
recommended should be adopted; with the importance of it I
am strongly impressed; consequently, if anything should be
required of the President towards carrying it into execution,
I shall feel it, in a particular manner, my duty to [4] set
it a going under the most favorable auspices.
I now have, & for some considerable time have had, twenty
five Hogsheads of Tobo. in the warehouses in Alexandria; w[hi]ch,
at sometimes I have forgot, and at other times have been indisposed
to take the prices which were given for Potomac Tobacco on
the Virginia side. Originally, this Tobacco was of the best
sort, put up dry, & the quality of it reported to be exceedingly
good. If the latter is the case still, it will in some respects,
& for some purposes, have the advantage of new Tobacco;
but what to do with it I know not. In Alexandria it might
not bring me 18/. Pr Ct. When in George Town (I mean in the
warehouses at these places) it might bring a guinea. I have
thought; but whether it be practicable to accomplish it with
out difficulty, [strikeout], I am unable to decide, that if
the Tobacco could be removed from the warehouses in which
it now is, to those in George Town, & be reinspected at
the latter, that I might be a considerable gainer by it. But
admitting that this [5] can be done without encountering impediments
which might involve inconven[i]ences; or that would excite
notice, or remarks [inserted: neither of which I should incline
to subject myself to] it would be previously necessary to
know whether the Tobacco would pass at the latter place; for
if it should be brought there & [inserted: be] condemned,
I should lose the whole, & sustain an expence besides,
whereas in its present situation it will, I presume, command
the price current in Alexandria. If the suggestion here mentioned,
can be accomplished (without involving the consequences expressed
above) the best expedient that occurs to me to effect it,
is, under the idea of its being purchased by, or rather offered
for sale to, a Maryland Merchant, to have it re-examined where
it is, in presence of the George Town Inspectors, who should
be paid for their attendance, & who should declare to
the supposed purchaser, whether they would pass it, were it
brought to the Warehouse in George Town. If in the affirmative
& there is no other impediment to the measure, the whole
business might be ea[6]sily accomplished by the removal reinspection,
and issuing [inserted: of] new notes; either in my name, or
in that of the supposed purchaser. The last of which, for
several reasons, I think would have the best appearance. Whether
this project can be carried into execution, or not, is, to
me, uncertain; but to avoid delay, and in order to enable
you to do it, if it shall be thought eligable, I send you
the notes for this purpose, and to know what the Tobacco would
sell for where it is, if it be not eligable to remove it.
They may be kept, or returned, according to circumstances.
In the Warehouses at George Town I have, or ought to have
by this time, 9000 lbs of Crop Tobo. as you will perceive
by the enclosed letter to me, from Colo. Deakins, the price
of [inserted: this also.]
I return Doctr. Currie’s letter with thanks for the
perusal of it. The picture drawn in it of the state of things
in his own Country, and the details which he gives of [inserted:
those of] the belligerent powers, are gloomy for them, i[n]deed.
All here are well, & all join in best regards for you;
with
Dear Sir – Your Affectionate
Go: Washington
P.S.
I have sought in vain for the Tobacco notes mentioned in the
body of this letter. Presuming I must have sent them to Mr.
Pearce, but of the doing it I have no recollection. I have
directed him by this Post if he has them to forward them to
you.
G W
Mr. Lear.
Notes: Published with variations in Fitzpatrick, Writings
of Washington, 34: 66-69. Receiver’s name has been moved
from the bottom of the first page to the end.
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