George Washington Papers, Series 2, Letterbooks 1754-1799 *To WILLIAM TILGHMAN Philadelphia, March 31, 1794. Dear Sir: Your favor of the 23d. instt. came duly to hand. The laws, in the cases of both Mr. George and Mr. Chalmers, must regulate my conduct. To do all that these will permit, is enough for my justification, more I shall not covet. If, however, as I conceive the fact assuredly is, the latter Gentleman has actually received, and did not pay a hundred pounds which was put into his hands as part of a Bond due to the estate of ColvilI (and was then bearing interest) it would seem but justice that he should allow interest for that sum when applied to his own use; but if there is a principle arising from analogy or reciprocity opposed thereto I must be content with what Mr. Chalmers will pay, and this I am disposed to in order that my Administration of the estate of Colo. Colvill may be finally closed. With respect to Mr. George, I had rather his acct. should be settled and a new bond taken for the whole balance payable at a given time (when he will be punctual, and by which the money can be drawn from Mr. Chalmers) than to receive part this spring and the residue in the Fall; because the demands upon Colvills estate (except the residuary legacy) have all been discharged; and because the money that is due had better remain at interest than lye dead in my hands or subject me perhaps to the payment of it. If the law of Maryland has stopped interest during a certain period of the War, the estate of course must (as I have observed before) lose it. The case however, was otherwise in Virginia for there I have lately recovered a pretty heavy debt with interest from the date of the bond which was taken before the war. With very great esteem I am etc. To JAMES McHENRY (Private) George Washington Papers, Series 2, Letterbooks 1754-1799 http://www.loc.gov/resource/mgw2.019 Philadelphia, April 8, 1794. 38 Dear Sir: Your private Letters of the 31st of March and 3d instant, have been duly received. Altho' it is a rare, if not an entire new thing with me, to answer letters applying for appointments; yet from motives of esteem and regard, and our former connexion in public life, I shall acknowledge the receipt of yours on this head; altho' I can say nothing more 38. McHenry's letter applied for an appointment as a commissioner to effect the release of Lafayette. This letter is in the Washington Papers. on the subject, than to explain the motives, which have imposed silence upon me on these occasions. They are: 1st. because letters of this sort are so numerous, that to give them civil answers would employ too much of my time. 2d. because civil answers might be construed to mean more than was intended; and 3d. because coeval with my inauguration, I resolved firmly, that no man shou'd ever charge me justly with deception. Abundant reason I have had to rejoice at this determination; for I have experienced the necessity in a variety of instances, of hardening my heart against indulgences of my warmest inclination and friendship; and from a combination of causes, as well as more fitness of character, to depart from first impressions and first intentions with regard to nominations; which has proved most unequivocally, the propriety of the maxim I had adopted, of never committing myself, until the moment the appointment is to be made; when from the best information I can obtain, and a full view of circumstances, my judgment is formed. With respect to your second letter of the 3d. of April, I have only to add, and this in confidence, that every thing which friendship requires and which I could do without committing my public character, or involving this Country in embarrassment, is, and has been for some time in train, tho' the result is as yet unknown. I am very sorry to hear of your bad state of health, but hope the 39 approaching pleasant season will restore you. With very great esteem I am &c. *To GEORGE MINOR George Washington Papers, Series 2, Letterbooks 1754-1799 http://www.loc.gov/resource/mgw2.019 Philadelphia, April 13, 1794. Sir: From a letter which I have lately received from Doctr. Stuart, I learn that depredations continue to be made upon my land on four mile run, in the County of Fairfax; and that you were so obliging as to inform him, that you would use your endeavours to rescue 39. From the “Letter Book” copy in the Washington Papers. it from further injury if I should request it. The offer is kind, and I thank you for having had the goodness to make it; and do hereby vest you with power to watch-over, and punish in any manner the laws will authorise, any, and every person whatsoever who shall be found trespassing thereon. The growth on the land, I always considered as the most valuable part of the property; stripped of this, as there appears to be a strong disposition to do by lawless people, and the value of it is reduced in the ratio of the Trespasses. Sometime since, perhaps two or three years, I desired my Nephew Mr. Bushrod Washington to bring suits against those who had been detected in taking off Wood, Hoop poles &ca., but what, or whether anything resulted from it, is unknown to me at this moment. Nothing short of vigorous measures, I am now persuaded, will stop the injustice I am sustaining, and these I am resolved to pursue. any reasonable expence therefore which may be incurred in carrying this resolution into effect, and for your trouble, will be cheerfully paid by Sir etc. PS. I have directed Mr. Win. Pearce my Manager to converse with you on this business when he shall see you in Alexandria. *To DAVID STUART Philadelphia, April 13, 1794. Dear sir: I have been favored with your letter of the 4th. instt., and thank you for the information respecting the depredations on my land, lying on four miles run. Mr. Bushrod Washington a year or two ago, was desired to commence a suit or suits against some of the Trespassers; but whether he did, or not, or what the result was, I do not recollect ever to have heard. The growth of the land, is more valuable than the land itself; to protect it therefore, is important. George Washington Papers, Series 2, Letterbooks 1754-1799 http://www.loc.gov/resource/mgw2.019 Not knowing the christian name of Mr. Minor, or whether there may not be more than one of that name I am at a loss how to direct to him; and indeed for a safe mode of conveying a letter to him; and therefore take the liberty of putting the enclosed under cover to you, with a request (after putting a wafer in it) that you would be so good as to have it safely conveyed to the right person. The accounts which I receive from Mount Vernon, respecting my Wheat, are very unfavorable. They could not, indeed, be otherwise, after the effect, occasioned by the drought in the fall had become apparent, which was the case before I left home in the latter part of October. The appointment of a Martial, for the District of Georgia, had taken place before your letter came to my hands: but if the case had been otherwise, Mr. McCrea, however well known in Virginia, was too new a settler, and too little known in Georgia to have become an exceptable man for that office when half the State (in a manner) was in hot pursuit of it. and many of the ancient inhabitants and respectable characters were pressing forward by themselves, and friends, on this occasion. 54 My best wishes attend Mrs. Stuart and the rest of the family, and with very great esteem etc. *To JOHN JAY (Secret and confidential) Philadelphia, April 29, 1794. My dear Sir: Receive I pray you the suggestion I am going to impart with the friendship and caution the delicacy of it requires. You are already informed, that I am under the necessity of recalling Mr. Gouvr. Morris from France; and you can readily conceive the difficulty which occurs in finding a successor that would be agreeable to that Nation, and who, at the sametime, would meet the approbation of the friends of that Country in this. These considerations, have induced 54. From a photograph of the original kindly furnished by Alwin J. Scheuer, of New York City. me to ask you, if it could be made to comport with your inclination after you shall have finished yr. business as Envoy and not before to become the Resident Minister Plenipotentiary at London, George Washington Papers, Series 2, Letterbooks 1754-1799 http://www.loc.gov/resource/mgw2.019 that Mr. Pinckney, by that means, might be sent to Paris? I mean no more than simply to ask the question, not intending (although the measure would remove the above difficulty) to press it in the smallest degree. 79 If you answer in the affirmative be so good as to return the enclosed letter to me, and 80 corrispondt. arrangemts. shall be made. If in the negative, I pray you to forward it through the Penny Post, or otherwise accordg. to circumstances to the Gentleman to whom it is directed without delay; and in either case to let the transaction be confined entirely to ourselves.