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Martha Washington writes from Philadelphia to her niece Fanny Bassett at Mount Vernon. Mrs. Washington recounts the recent illness and death of Mrs. Tobias Lear, wife of Washington's personal Secretary, and close friend, and how the event had saddened the presidential household. She is pleased that Fanny has had her room white washed and expresses her desire to have Frank white wash the Kitchen and his room in the seller (cellar) as well as him continually keeping things in order for Mrs. Washington's return some time next month. Other topics include prized gold thread, an unpaid bill to Mr. Lewis for silk, a report by Austin that the Bacon was all spoiled in the smoke house, tranporting lockets by way of a gentleman going to Alexandria, shoes being sent to Mr. Porter for Fanny and cutting and sewing clothes for the enslaved workers.

In this letter George Washington has decided to engage superintendant of carpenters for another year--could not find anyone to relace-comments on man who looks after the house people, ditchers, etc.--after winter, Pearce can decide to remain at Mt. Vernon or live elsewhere--construction of house for Mr. Crow--Negro children forbidden to enter the yards and gardens (excluding the children of cook and her husband the Mulatto Frank).

Fencing the ground at the Mansion house for corn--rotations for Dogue-run, Muddy hole and River farms--putting oats and clover in the ground where buck wheat grew this year--leaving two or three clumps of trees when clearing the wood at No. 5 at Dogue-run--for the purpose of shade and ornament--importance of reviewing old letters--carpenters preparing frames, shingles, etc., for putting in more dormant windows in the back of the stables at Mansion house--Washington hopes that with favorable weather the fall plowing is in great forwardness--house Frank and Lucy being idle when not at their specific tasks--cucumber tree--Mrs. Washington sending a present to the gardener's wife--death of Austin--Mrs. Stiles sending his Mare and all his things to Mt. Vernon--shrubs sustaning injury from the deer--preserving the pork--old Butler--honey locust seed--Doll at the ferry--price of flour in Philadelphia still at ten dollars a barrel.

Washington writes that he received no letter from Pearce which leads him to conclude that something more than common has happened--on board of Capt. Ellwood are oil, paint and oznabrigs--directions for distributing and cutting oznabrigs--dependence of the gardener's wife and Allison's wife-planting shrubs--Mr. Anderson--Washington expresses his wishes to have an icehouse prepared when ice forms--hopes Frank has taken care of the tarriers [terriers]--female in heat.

Lack of rain--Mr. Alexander Smith--Mr. Lear--the ground, where ivy and wild honey suckle are to be planted, is not to be plowed beforehand--Frank, Hercules, and Cyrus--Allison--Washington is displeased with his conduct--would like the new road completed before spring--Mr. Neal continues indisposed and the carpenters do nothing--Sall, Mima and Dick are regularly returned sick--Mr. Anderson expects to arrive by the 27th--clover grass seeds.