Collections : [The George Washington Presidential Library at Mount Vernon]

Drenching rains, fields flooded, mill race broke again, roads almost impassable--Tayler little to be confided in, has kept horse since the Major is away--mill has plenty of wheat--will try to straighten fence from Manley Bridge to the Mill--snows gone, wheat not damaged, but freezing would cause covering of ice--fences and gates can't go in such wet ground--too wet to paint buildings--mixing paints--will let Green have corn--asks whether to continue work on Major Washington's building--Burwell Bassett says Mrs. Fanny Washington will not go to housekeeping--two ships just passed, will probably take flour from Alexandria--Charles' toe may have to be taken off--has called for Dr. Craik--Caroline made a shift for Sarah Flatfoot--2 sheets cut from Oznaburgh linen for there is no change of them while washing.

Possibly may object to his paying £7 to overseers, but this worked out with Col. Fairfax since four overseers to settle in woods and raise only corn--land nearly worn out, explains his system of crop rotation.

Paid account to Porter & Ingraham, after satisfying himself they were valid--will no more let mares or jennets be taken away from Mt. Vernon before being paid for breeding with Jacks--rest of mares from Mr. Zantzinger have come--encloses his letters [see letters of March 9 & 14, P. Zantzinger to G.A.W.]--is making inquiries for person to take Fairfax's place as overseer--son of James DeNeil is no good in job at Dr. Stuart's--Mr. Gevins is good, but wants his own plantation when Fitzhugh lets him go--has had application from Anthony Whiting, an Englishman, who seems to know the whole business but wants 40 Guineas--gave Gen. Cadwallader as reference--has given Mr. Bloxham his notice and he wants to leave immediately--Davy doesn't want to go to Dogue Run as overseer--pleads his recent jaundiced condition as reason--Will not as good as Davy, but considers him for Muddy Hole--gives number of hogsheads of tobacco prized--Gardener [Ehler] laments no cabbage seed came with other seeds and buckwheat from Biddle--he's fond of flowers but promises to attend to more practical things--"The posts which stood against the Barn, at the Mansion house I had put within shortly after you left Home."--too wet to complete fencing at Deep Run--when Bishop Green went away, secured the house--they are living at place of Col. McCarty's where Mrs. Barnes formerly lived--dampness delays and hampers sowing--a severe sickness among horses and mules--fluctuating wheat prices--sold all on hand, gives prices taken.

Safe arrival of Will--expected him home at Mt. Vernon sooner--his great anxiety to do right in Washington's affairs--considering moving Anthony Whiting to place occupied by Fairfax when he goes--estimate of Whiting's capabilities and character--Garner [Wm. Gardener, overseer of the River Plantation?] is leaving too, wants higher wages--Mr. Gwin in Alexandria has recommended a young boy of respectable family to take Garner's place--he has had no experience--no family--George A. Washington disagrees with Washington's theory of having all married men--cheaper to have single one--work terms of new overseer--wheat and buckwheat--corn seed sent from New York good--corn crop--"... a piece of wood of the kind and dimensions you denoted shall be prepared ..."--very little ice left--Peter and Godfrey busy with small odd jobs--mares in pasture are mischievous and troublesome--terrible rain storm and winds delay work--corn broken down--weather warm until yesterday--very cool--red corn George Washington sent destroyed by insects, dying in the hill--pumpkin seed from Col. Platt's prizes he thinks will flourish.

Relays problems with recruiting for the army, currency depreciation and counterfeiting, land purchases in northern Virginia, and the management of Mount Vernon.

John writes how the new plantation needs constant attention, but would be "very advantageous to your Estate in the Neck, and will add much to the Prospect from the House."

Report on farming, etc. wheat very poor, gave a very small amount of flour--ground has been either very wet or frozen since Washington's departure, thus holding up the plowing--mention of a good slave whom Mr. Adam will not sell for £50.

Lund writes about crops and planting. Washington in Williamsburg at Burgess meeting, then onto Dismal Swamp. Martha includes a postscript at the end of the letter. One of only two extant examples of correspondence from Martha Washington to George Washington, Martha penned this six line postscript with news and greetings on the second page of a letter from Lund Washington to George on March 30, 1767.

Deals with mill and farm affairs--"Our mill is once more in a bad way"--wall of water pit falling down."--" ... give yourself no uneasiness or anxiety about the mill, you may depend I will use every precaution to prevent further damages."--sale of flour--wheat fields look promising--all are well.

Will transplant cherry trees, but thinks they will die--also plant vinyards and clean Hell Hole--much farm work to be done--shortage of help--illness--plasterer still here and Mrs. Washington has decided to have stucco in her room plain--wash house shingled and weather boarded but chimneys not up--report on timothy and other crops--has written every week--payment for sale of Col. Mercer's estate and letter in re. sale to Col. Tayloe--negro quarters need mending--difficulty of getting silver money--will try to collect rents--bull gored a wagon horse--Mrs. Barnes at Mt. Vernon--doesn't believe war ships will come up river this year--shortage of salt in area--his greetings to Mrs. Washington if she gets to camp before his letter--local militia officers.