1798] THE SHENANDOAH ARSENAL 253 I am sorry to find by the Gazettes that you have had but indifferent health since your arrival at Philadelphia. When you return, but when will that be? I hope you will not forget that this place is very little out of your direct route, and that halting days are essential in long marches. Mrs. Washington &ca. unite with me in best respects to Mrs. Pinckney and yourself, and I am etc. *To THE SECRETARY OF WAR Mount Vernon, May 6, 1798. Dear Sir: Amongst the variety of matters which have come before Congress for the purpose of preparation, in the dernier resort; in short as a salutary measure at all times, and under all circumstances; Arsenals and Cannon Founderies, have occupied its attention. This leads me to ask what steps have been taken relative to the site for one at the Mouth of the Shanondoah? I will pledge myself that there is not a spot in the United States wch. combines more, or greater requisites for these, than that does; considered either as a place of immense strength against, and inaccessible by an enemy; although open to inland navigation in all directions, as well crosswise as to the Shipping Port at the Federal City, and water transportation to the Western Country; for its centrality among Furnices and Forges. for its inexhaustible supply of Water, having the whole River of Shanondoah as a resourse, and for the populous and plentiful country in which it lyes. I do not suppose that a place of this importance, and which has already cost the United States several thousand dollars (to be possessed of the ground) has passed unnoticed; but not having heard it mentioned in the progress of the discussions, or that any thing has been done on the premises since the purchase of it under the former Act, has induced this enquiry; which you will answer, or not, as it suits your convenience, not doubting but that you have matters of more importance to attend to than the solution of my question. The Demo's seem to be lifting up their heads again, according to Mr. Bache. They were a little crest fallen; or one might say, thunder stricken, on the publication of the Dispatches from our Envoys; but the contents of them are now resolved into harmless chit-chat and trifles, less than was, or ought to have been expected from the misconduct of the Administration; that it is better to submit to such chastisement than to hazard greater evils by futile resentment. So much for a little consultation among them. I am etc. TO WILLIAM PEARCE Mount Vernon, May 6, 1798. Mr. Pearce: A few days ago the enclosed a/c was sent in, and others of a similar nature have also been presented. To guard against these after claps was the reason why I urged you with so much earnestness to leave no accounts unpaid, of your own contracting. Why The balance, if just, was left unpaid, when you had money to go to, at pleasure, or why it was referred to Mr. Lear to pay, I am unable to say. Some accounts which have been presented, I have caused to be proved; but in the case of Messrs Fosters & May, they have been informed that the account should be transmitted to you for explanation. I request therefore you would let me know whether the Balance claimed by them is really due. In short, be kind enough to give me such information concerning it as you are possessed of, that the matter may be settled with those Gentlemen; and with it, return their Account. 1798] CRADLING SCYTHES 255 In cradling my Wheat the coming Harvest I wish to catch it in the hand, in the manner practised on the Eastern Shore and other places; but as none of my People have been in the habit of cutting in this way, they might need an Instructor. Would it be in your power to engage a person who understands this business perfectly, and fixing the Cradles, to be here by the 25th June; to be paid by the day while here, and for coming and returning and his reasonable travelling expences? At any rate I pray you to let me know, and as soon as you conveniently can, if I might depend upon it. Inform me at the same time, if you please, whether the Cradles and Scythes differ in any respect from those which you know I use and if they do, to inform me in what the difference consists, that I may be preparing against Harvest. The Scythe, I presume must be the same, but the fixing of it to the sneed may differ; and the Cradle may vary from the usual Kind, by having more, or less fingers, more or less coming, &ca. All of which can readily be readily described in a letter, by a person well acquainted with the two sorts, so as to enable me with the assistance of Mr. Stuart, who you know is, from his own account, acquainted with all things to go on in this mode even if you shd not be able to procure me a very skilful hand (for none other I would have sent). I remain Your friend.5 54 *To CHARLES L. PINCKNEY HORRY Mount Vernon, May 6, 1798. Sir: A Post or two ago favoured me with a note from you dated the 23d. Ulto, accompanying your answr. to Paine's letter, addressed to me. From the printed text in M. D. Conway's George Washington and Mount Vernon. Long Island Historical Society Memoirs (vol. 4). For the favourable sentiments you have been pleased to express for me in both, I feel grateful; and pray you to accept this acknowledgment of the sense I entertain of them. Until the Gazettes announced your arrival in Philadelphia I was unacquainted with your route from Baltimore. Should your return to Charleston be by land, I shall be happy in seeing you at this place; about nine miles from Alexandria and but little out of the Post Road. I am etc. *To THOMAS LAW Mount Vernon, May 7, 1798. Dear Sir: After you left this on friday last, Mr. Lewis put into my hands your letter without a date. It is unnecessary I hope, to assure you that your generous offers of a lot near the Seat of Congress, and of five thousand dollars on loan to commence a building in the City, were received with grateful sensibility, and thanks; at the sametime, let me entreat you not to consider as a slight, my declining to accept the advantages of either. Already, I have more lots in the City than I shall be able to improve; and I have no disposition to speculate in them. To prevent jealousy, while the concerns of the Government were under my guidance, and suspicion that I had a greater predeliction to one part of the City than to another, I purchased four lots at each end of it; valuable in my estimation for different purposes; those on the Eastern branch on account of Commerce, which I always did, and still do think, will center there; the other as a site for a private Gentleman to live at. It has always been my intention to build on the latter, whensoever the means were within my reach; hitherto they have not; and as it has been a maxim with me from early life, never to undertake anything without perceiving a door to the accom 1798] ERECTION OF BUILDINGS 257 plishment, in a reasonable time and with my own resources, the measure has been delayed, rather unexpectedly. My Estate (though it might sell, on credit, for a tolerable sum) has been, and probably will continue to be, far from a productive one: and it has so happened, that the proceeds of Landed and other Sales from it, hitherto, have been appropriated in a great measure to the expences my late situation obliged me, in a manner, to encounter; and I might add, in another way also which was neither expected or desired, but became necessary from causes which it would be useless to mention. The buildings which I have erected and yet find occasion to erect on my Mount Vernon Estate (and which may, by some, be considered as no indication of the want of money) have required very little advance of that article, being done almost wholly within myself: far otherwise would be the case with undertakings of a similar kind in the City, where workmen's wages and every material (although they may have fallen from what they have been) would come very high. We shall always have pleasure in visiting Mrs. Law and you, in New Jersey Avenue; and if Mrs. Washington keeps well, we will, after Nelly Custis returns give you a Sample of it. We unite in Affectionate regards for you both, and for the Child, and I am etc.55 *To FOSTER & MAY Mount Vernon, May 7, 1798. Gentlemen: Your letter of the 30th Ulto. with the A/c annexed, have been received, and I shall confess, with surprise. It is a very unusual thing for me to be presented with old accounts, and in the present instance it is extraordinary, because Mr. Pearce had the command of my money which he himself 55 From District of Columbia Letters and Papers in the Library of Congress. |