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

A.L.S. 2 pages. Poughkeepsie, N.Y. Says he has been requested by Harpers magazine to write an article on Mount Vernon since it has become a place of interest to the American people. Would he welcome a visit by Lossing to Mount Vernon?

A.L.S. Senate Chamber, Washington. Letter of introduction for friends.

A.L.S. 2 pages. Dusseldorf on the Rhine. Sends a bottle of cologne as an expression of thanks for receiving "a stranger" as a guest at Mount Vernon.

A.L.S. Mount Vernon. To John Augustine Washington III? Discusses the harvest. Says she is being viewed as one of the curiousities of the place by the visitors.

A.L.S. 2 pages. Mount Vernon. Mr. W-n's health fluctuating* ... will be traveling again this summer, pleased that she is nicely situated with brother's family ... invitation to Mount Vernon if W-ns in residence next winter ... Autograph letter signed, integral cover. *John A., Sr. died on June 26, 1832.

A.L.S. 2 pages. Mount Vernon. Encloses stock gilli seed ... will send Polianthus seeds and roots ... planning to board in Alexandria until late Mar ... sons at Howard School ... wants Maria to attend [Benjamin] Hallowell's school ... accepts offer of White fig and passion fruit ... will make every effort to keep up with MV without involving the children's estates ... Autograph letter signed, integral cover.

A.L.S. 3 pages. Mount Vernon to Georgetown. Death of Aunt Blackburn detained her at Blakeley--engaged in having the remains of "our rever'd Uncle and Aunt [Bushrod and Anne Blackburn W-n] my beloved Husband [John A.] and dear Sister Mary Herbert inter'd in the Vault."--shocked at bad condition of some of coffins in vault--Cousin Lorenzo Lewis "had his ... Father laid in a grave immediately within the door-Crosswise"--details of grave she planned--West Ford prepared a coffin for G.C.W.'s nearest relatives--also had one made for Mr. Herbert and children but not room for them--only for one more and she wishes to be buried at feet of husband, uncle, aunt and sister--does not desire favors from government--"we are unwilling to sell our inheritance ... yet as the Nation already shares it with us, sense of justice points out necessity of an appropriation ... to enable us to keep up the improvements and meet the expences we are daily subjected to by the publick."--"endless intrusions and sacrifice of every thing like private right and domestic privacy ... arises frequently from a sincere ... desire of honouring the memory of Genl. Washington; 'Tis a feeling calculated to inspire and strenghthen virtuous and patriotic principles, and cement more firmly the ties that bind us together as a Nation. We have done, and shall continue to do all we can to keep the place from intire decay - it is yearly becoming more expensive and difficulty to do so; the buildings all ought to be thoroughly repaired, or they must in a few years go down - when that occurs-if unable to do better, I trust the family will erect a "Log Cabin," and still let the place descend to the name and family of Washington ..."--son [John] Augustine in Jefferson--her daughter and niece Mrs. Thos. Washington. Autograph letter signed, integral cover, black seal (blurred), docketed by G.C.W., postmarked "Alexandria May [?]."

A.L.S. 2 pages. The portion of G.W.'s library remaining at Mt. V. is small, and they will not sell it--if necessary later, they prefer National Library--"In respect to the purchase of this place, dear cousin, by the U.S. Government. We still regard it as uncertain."--if G.C.W. and family accompany Eleanor to Bath, stop and see her at Blakeley [Jefferson Cty.] she goes there soon. Autograph letter signed, integral cover, black seal smeared (W).

A.L.S. 4 pages. Washington. Requests Humphreys to look into the "situation, price and payments of Flore's farm" ... would like to purchase a small farm for daughter, Maria ... brother Bush'd [bro-in-law probably] in Ohio disposing of a tract of her land ... her sister and others in Fredericksburg for corner stone laying of monument to Mary Ball W-n ... Barrows, the, donor, taking care of them ... Name on original manuscript appears as "Jane C." Autograph letter signed, (1 1/2 of text), integral cover; the docket identifies the writer.

Autograph letter initialed. Janes writes that she is sending down "four large shoulder of Bacon" to Mount Vernon, along with two enslaved men, Willoughby and Gabriel, who she hopes will be "faithful and useful." She writes, "have them comfortably fixed my dear son treat them kindly, and I trust they will both prove valuable servants. Gabriel will require a strict tho kind discipline. Sarah or Milly must wast and mend for them." Jane also writes that she has had a letter from West Ford asking for the money she owes him. She instructs John Augustine to pay her pew fee and then pay Ford.