Mount Vernon Letters for the years 1755 thru 1794

Mount Vernon, VA - 2 April 1755

I find myself much embarrassed with my affairs, having no person in whom I can confide, to entrust the management of them with.

Mount Vernon, VA - 20 April 1755

It is true I have been importuned to make this campaign by General Braddock, as a member of his family, he conceiving, I suppose, that the small knowledge I have had an opportunity of acquiring of the country, Indians, &c., is worthy of his notice

Mount Vernon, VA - 23 April 1755

I shall this day set out for Will's Creek, where I expect to meet the General, and to stay, I fear, too long, as the march must be regulated by the slow movements of the train ; which, I am sorry to say, will be tedious

Mount Vernon, VA - 2 August 1755

I must own, I was not a little surprised to find, that Governor Innes was the means of alarming the country with a report so extraordinary, without having better confirmation of the truth, than the story of an affrighted wagoner!

Mount Vernon, VA - 2 August 1755

so little am I dispirited at what has happened, I am always ready, and always willing, to render my country any services that I am capable of, but never upon the terms I have done

Mount Vernon, VA - 14 August 1755

If it is in my power to avoid going to the Ohio again, I shall ; but if the command is pressed upon me, by the general voice of the country, and offered upon such terms as cannot be objected against, it would reflect dishonor upon me to refuse it

Mount Vernon, VA - 14 August 1755

The chief cause, next to indisposition, that prevented me from going down to this Assembly, was a determination not to offer my services ; and that determination proceeded from the following reasons.

Mount Vernon, VA - 23 September 1756

Under your kind indulgence I came to this place a few days ago, expecting to meet the executors of my deceased brother, in order to make a final settlement of his affairs.

Mount Vernon, VA - 20 February 1758

I set out for Williamsburg the day after the date of my letter, but found I was unable to proceed, my fever and pain increasing upon me to a high degree

Mount Vernon, VA - 4 March 1758

Pray, does not his plan sufficiently indicate the man? Can there be a better index to his abilities, than his scheme for reducing the enemy on the Ohio, and his expeditious march of a thousand men to Detroit?

Mount Vernon, VA - 20 September 1759

I am now, I believe, fixed at this seat with an agreeable partner for life, and I hope to find more happiness in retirement, than I ever experienced amidst the wide and bustling world.

Mount Vernon, VA - 10 August 1760

The French are so well drubbed, and seem so much humbled in America, that I apprehend our generals will find it no difficult matter to reduce Canada to our obedience this summer.

Mount Vernon, VA - 20 November 1760

For, Sir, with not more pleasure than truth, I can declare to you and the world, that while I had the honor of commanding the regiment, your conduct, both as an officer and a gentleman, was unexceptionable

Mount Vernon, VA - 14 July 1761

The entire conquest of Canada, and of the French in most parts of North America, being a story too stale to relate in these days, we are often at a loss for something with which to fill our letters.

Mount Vernon, VA - 20 October 1761

I have in appearance been very near my last breath. My indisposition increased upon me, and I fell into a very low and dangerous state. I once thought the grim king would certainly master my utmost efforts

Mount Vernon, VA - 13 August 1763

Another tempest has arisen upon our frontiers, and the alarm spread wider than ever. In short, the inhabitants are so apprehensive of danger, that no families remain above the Conococheague road, and many are gone below it.

Mount Vernon, VA - 13 February 1764

We have been curiously entertained, of late, with the description of an engine lately constructed, I believe, in Switzerland, and which has undergone some improvements in England, for taking up trees by the roots.

Mount Vernon, VA - 20 September 1765

George Washington letter to Francis Dandridge...If you will permit me after six years silence--the time I have been married to your Niece--to pay my respects to you in this Epistolary way...

Mount Vernon, VA - 20 September 1765

George Washington letter to Robert Cary & Co...As to the Stamp Act taken in a single and distinct view; one, & the first bad consequence attending of it I take to be this--our Courts of Judicature will be shut up...

Mount Vernon, VA - 21 July 1766

George Washington letter to Robert Cary & Co...The Repeal of the Stamp Act, to whatsoever causes owing, ought much to be rejoiced at...

Mount Vernon, VA - 25 July 1767

George Washington letter to Capel and Osgood Hanbury...Unseasonable as it may be, to take any notice of the repeal of the Stamp Act at this time, yet, I cannot help observing that a contrary measure woud have Introduced very unhappy Consequences...

Mount Vernon, VA - 21 September 1767

I then desired the favor of you ... to look me out a tract of about fifteen hundred, two thousand, or more acres somewhere in your neighbourhood

Mount Vernon, VA - 29 January 1769

I should be glad, if you have no other objection to it than the expense, if you would send him to that college, as soon as convenient, and depend on me for twentyfive pounds a year for his support

Mount Vernon, VA - 5 April 1769

George Washington letter to George Mason...At a time when our lordly Masters in Great Britain will be satisfied with nothing less than the deprivation of American freedom, it seems highly necessary that something shou'd be done...

Mount Vernon, VA - 15 April 1770

By the extracts, which your Excellency did me the honor to enclose, I perceive, that the petitioners propose to begin opposite to the mouth of the Scioto River

Mount Vernon, VA - 15 June 1771

The very obliging offer your Lordship was pleased to make, the day I left Williamsburg, in behalf of the officers and soldiers, who, under the faith of government, lay claim to two hundred thousand acres of land

Mount Vernon, VA - 9 July 1771

In my last I informed you, that the friends (I do not by this confine myself to the relations only) of Mr. Custis were divided in opinion, as to the propriety of his travelling

Mount Vernon, VA - 3 April 1773

My son-in-law and ward, Mr. Custis, has, as I have been informed, paid his addresses to your second daughter, and, having made some progress in her affections, has solicited her in marriage.

Mount Vernon, VA - 13 April 1773

I beg the favor of your Lordship to inform me, therefore, as nearly as you can, of the precise time you will do me the honor of calling here, that I may get ready accordingly, and give notice of it to Mr. Crawford

Mount Vernon, VA - 25 September 1773

I have heard, .... that his Lordship will grant patents for lands lying below the Scioto, to the officers and soldiers, who claim under the proclamation of October, 1763.

Mount Vernon, VA - 13 December 1773

The favorable account, which you were pleased to transmit to me, of Mr. Custis's conduct at college, gave me very great satisfaction. I hoped to have felt an increase of it by his continuance at that place

Mount Vernon, VA - 0 February 1774

Interested as well as political motives render it necessary for me to seat the lands, which I have patented on the Ohio, in the cheapest, most expeditious, and effectual manner.

Mount Vernon, VA - 22 February 1774

Mr. Young, hearing me express a desire of importing Palatines to settle on my lands on the Ohio, tells me, that, in discoursing of this matter in your company, you suggested an expedient, which might probably be attended with success

Mount Vernon, VA - 4 July 1774

George Washington letter to Bryan Fairfax...Does it not appear, as clear as the sun in its meridian brightness, that there is a regular, systematic plan formed to fix the right and practice of taxation upon us?

Mount Vernon, VA - 20 July 1774

George Washington letter to Bryan Fairfax... I see nothing on the one hand, to induce a belief that the Parliament would embrace a favourable oppertunity of Repealing Acts...

Mount Vernon, VA - 24 August 1774

George Washington letter to Bryan Fairfax... For my own part, I shall not undertake to say where the Line between Great Britain and the Colonies should be drawn, but I am clearly of opinion that one ought to be drawn...

Mount Vernon, VA - 13 January 1775

two things are essentially necessary in the man to whom this charge is committed, a capacity of judging with propriety of measures proper to be taken in the government of a youth, and leisure sufficient to attend to the execution of these measures.

Mount Vernon, VA - 27 September 1785

It gave me great pleasure to hear of your appointment as secretary of the United States for the department of foreign affairs ; a happier choice in my opinion could not have been made

Mount Vernon, VA - 3 September 1788

With peculiar pleasure I now congratulate you on the success of your labours to obtain an unconditional ratification of the proposed constitution in the Convention of your State

Mount Vernon, VA - 25 June 1794

The sole object of the enclosed letter was to evince to you, that, notwithstanding your recall, you held the same place in my estimation that you did before it happened.