George Washington Papers, Series 2, Letterbooks 1754-1799 To LUND WASHINGTON February 28, 1778. …If you should happen to draw a prize in the militia , I must provide a man, either there or here, in your room; as nothing but your having the charge of my business, and the entire confidence I repose in you, could make me tolerable easy from home for such a length of time as I have been, and am likely to be. This therefore leads me to say, that I hope no motive, however powerful, will induce you to leave my business, whilst I, in a manner, am banished from home; because I should be unhappy to see it in common hands. For this reason, altho' from accidents and misfortunes not to be averted by human foresight, I make little or nothing from my Estate, I am still willing to increase your wages, and make it worth your while to continue with me. To go on in the improvement of my Estate in the manner heretofore described to you, fulfilling my plans, and keeping my property together, are the principal objects I have in view during these troubles; and firmly believing that they will be accomplished under your management, as far as circumstances and acts of providence will allow, I feel quite easy under disappointments; which I should not do, if my business was in common hands, 38 liable to suspicions. I am, etc. 38. Extract in “Washington's Letter Book, No. 5.” Lund answered (March 18): “By your letter I should suppose you were apprehensive I intended to leave you. I hope for the future you will entertain a better opinion of me than to beleive that while you are encountering every danger and difficulty, at the hazard of your life and repose, giving up all domestic happiness, to serve the public and me among them, that I would attempt to take advantage of you by screwing up my wages or leaving your estate to the care of a stranger.” Lund Washington's letter is from the Toner Transcripts in the Library of Congress. *To MARQUIS DE LAFAYETTE White plains, August 10, 1778. My dear Marqs.: Your favor of the 6th. Instr. which came to my hands yesterday, afforded a fresh proof of the noble principles on which you act, and has a just claim to my sincere and hearty thanks. George Washington Papers, Series 2, Letterbooks 1754-1799 http://www.loc.gov/resource/mgw2.011 The common cause, of which you have been a Zealous supporter, would I know, be benefitted by Genl. Greene's presence at Rhode Island, as he is a native of that State, has an interest with the People, and a thorough knowledge of the Country; and therefore I accepted his proffered Services; but was a little uneasy lest you should conceive that, it was intended to lessen your Command. Merely as Qr. Master Genl., Genl. Greene did not incline to act in a detached part of the Army; nor was it to be expected; It became necessary therefore to give him a Command, and consequently, to divide the Continental Troops. Your chearful acquiescence to the Measure, after being appointed to the Command of the Brigades that Marched from this Army, obviated every difficulty, and gave me singular pleasure. I am very happy to find that the Standards of France and America are likely to be united under your Commd. at Rhode Island. I am persuaded that the supporters of each will be emulous to acquire honor, and promote your glory upon this occasion. The Courier to Count D'Estaing is waiting, I have only time therefore to assure you, that with the most perfect esteem, and exalted regard, I have the honor etc. To LUND WASHINGTON Middle Brook, February 24[–26], 1779. Dear Lund: I wrote to you by the last post, but in so hasty a manner as not to be so full and clear as the importance of the subject might require. In truth, I find myself at a loss to do it to my own satisfaction [even?] in this hour of more leisure and thought, because it is a matter of much importance and requires a good deal of judgment and foresight to time things in such a way as to answer the purposes I have in view. The advantages resulting from the sale of my negroes, I have very little doubt of; because, as I observed in my last, if we should ultimately prove unsuccessful (of which I am under no apprehension unless it falls on us as a punishment for our want of public, and indeed private virtue) it would be a matter of very little consequence to me, whether my property is in Negroes, or loan office Certificates, as I shall neither ask for, nor expect any favor from his most gracious Majesty, nor any person acting under his authority; the only points therefore for me to consider, are, first, whether it would be most to my interest, in case of a fortunate determination of the present contest, George Washington Papers, Series 2, Letterbooks 1754-1799 http://www.loc.gov/resource/mgw2.011 to have negroes, and the Crops they will make; or the sum they will now fetch and the interest of the money. And, secondly, the critical moment to make this sale. With respect to the first point (if a negro man will sell at, or near one thousand pounds, and woman and children in proportion) I have not the smallest doubt on which side the balance, placed in the scale of interest, will preponderate: My scruples arise from a reluctance in offering these people at public vendue, and on account of the uncertainty of timeing the sale well. In the first case, if these poor wretches are to be held in a state of slavery, I do not see that a change of masters will render it more irksome, provided husband and wife, and Parents and children are not separated from each other, which is not my intentions to do. And with respect to the second, the judgment founded in a knowledge of circumstances, is the only criterion for determining when the tide of depreciation is at an end; for like the flux and reflux of the water, it will no sooner have got to its full ebb or flow, but an immediate turn takes place, and every thing runs in a contrary direction. To hit this critical moment then, is the point; and a point of so much nicety, that the longer I reflect upon the subject, the more embarrassed I am in my opinion; for if a sale takes place while the money is in a depreciating state, that is, before it has arrived at the lowest ebb of depreciation; I shall lose the difference, and if it is delayed, 'till some great and important event shall give a decisive turn in favor of our affairs, it may be too late. Notwithstanding, upon a full consideration of the whole matter; if you have done nothing in consequence of my last letter, I wou'd have you wait 'till you hear further from me on this subject. I will, in the meanwhile, revolve the matter in my mind more fully, and may possibly be better able to draw some more precise conclusions than at present, while you may be employed in endeavouting to ascertain the highest prices Negroes sell at, in different parts of the Country, where, and in what manner it would be best to sell them, when such a measure is adopted, (which I think will very likely happen in the course of a few months.) Inclosed is my Bond for conveyance of the Land purchased of the Ashfords &c. It is as well drawn as I can do it, and I believe it to be effectual. February 26, 1779. Your Letter of the 17th. inst: is just come to hand, your apprehensions on account of my health are groundless; the irregularity of the Post, and stoppage of your letters, or miscarriages of them, were the principal causes of my long silence. My last letter to you was full on the subject of corn; I shall not touch upon it therefore in this. I then desired, and again repeat my wish, that you would sell every thing about the house and plantations, that is not essentially necessary. Mr. Custis wrote to me George Washington Papers, Series 2, Letterbooks 1754-1799 http://www.loc.gov/resource/mgw2.011 for an Anchor, to be sold or lent, the former I prefer, as I wish to get quit of all those kind of things; the money arising from all which, the sale of Flour &c, I would have put in the continental loan office. I am glad to hear 52 your success in Lambs is so great. Mrs. Washington joins in remembrance to yourself and Milly, 53 with Dr. Lund, Your affecte. Servant. 53 To LIEUTENANT WILLIAM COLFAX October 2, 1779. Sir: What Major Gibbs's plan is, and what his present line of conduct tends to, I shall not take upon me to decide; nor shall I at this moment enquire into them. I mean to act coolly and deliberately myself, and will therefore give him an opportunity of recollecting himself. He has been guilty of a piece of disrespect; to give it no worse term; such an one, as I much question if there is another officer in the line of the army would have practiced: and because I wou'd not suffer my orders to be trampled upon; a supercilious, and self-important conduct on his part is the consequence.