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

A.L.S. 1 page and A.N.S. 1 page. Autograph letter signed, a receipt for the sum of $234.39 being the pay for forage and subsistence for Sept.-Oct., 1799. Also in folder, note of receipt signed by Lear, "Received of Caleb Swan PM Genl. The sum of two hundred and thirty four 39/100 dollars, being my pay..."

A.L.S. 2 pages. Mount Vernon. Cordial letter of acknowledgment for two pipes of Madeira wine which had just arrived. Expresses Mrs. Washington's appreciation for a gift of two boxes of citron.

A.L.S. 1 page. Mount Vernon. Lear writes this follow up letter because no answers were received to earlier letters ordering 2 pipes of wine -- does Pintard have any in this country? -- if so, send some immediately as the General's wine supply is depleted and Washington only wants wine of superior quality. Autograph letter signed, draft, docketed by Lear, enclosed in letter to Elias Boudinot, laminated, watarmark (1794). Not in Writings. [See draft of letter to Elias Boudinot, same date, on reverse of this letter].

A.L. 2 pages. Mount Vernon. Lear writes to Pintard that Mr. Alder from Madeira has sent 2 pipes of wine to General Washington, to be picked up in Philadelphia -- payment by draft has been made -- nevertheless, Washington will accept 1 pipe of Pintard's offered wine from his private store in this country, provided it is still of the best quality after being imported six years ago. Autograph letter, draft, docketed by Lear, watermarked. Name does not appear on original manuscript.

A.L.S. 4 pages. Mount Vernon. Announces death of George Washington--description of G.W.'s last days and hours and his death--" ... he could scarcely speak and breathed with difficulty, his complaint being an inflamatory sore throat, usually called the Quincy."--Drs. Craik, Dick and Brown sent for--" ... between ten and eleven o'clock at night, he resigned his breath into the hand that gave it."--" ... not a groan or a complaint escaped him.-with the most perfect resignation, and in full possession of his reason to the last moment he gave up his life."--"He was fully sensible of his approaching dissolution for some time before we could persuade ourselves but that there was a hope left and he frequently told the Physicians that their efforts would be in vain ... As often as he could speak he would mention to me something which he wished to have done. And his last words, about a quarter of an hour before he died, were to me thus - 'My dear Friend I am just about to change this Scene, my breath can continue but a few moments, You will have me decently interred, and do not let my body be put into the Tomb in less than two days after my death.' He there feld his own pulse ceased ..."--Mrs. W's fortitude--" ... she yields not to that grief, which would be softened by tears."--saw his children about 6 weeks ago--"I beg that no part of it [the letter] therefore may be published; for I presume that everything which relates to this afflicting event will be eagarly sought after by the public." Autograph letter signed, laminated watermark. Mary Stilson Lear was the mother of Tobias Lear.

A.L.S. 1 page. Mount Vernon. Impending death of George Washington--"I think he cannot survive through the night"--come and bring Mrs. Law if possible--Dr. Craik, Dr. Dick, and Dr. Brown are here.

Some time ago a mulatto girl, body servant to Mrs. Washington, ran away--she was found in Portsmouth, N.H.--asks Bassett that since he is going to Portsmouth, would he take steps to send her back--a Frenchman enticed her away but has left her--if she causes no further trouble, she won't be punished--Washington doesn't wish him to do anything "unpleasant, or troublesome" to bring her back.

Washington writes to inform Alder that the wine sent by him from Madeira after the order sent through Pintard arrived in good condition will be paid for directly. (Written in Lear's hand, but speaks of him in the third person.)

Washington takes the liberty of transmitting a letter from Colonel Pickering to the Commissioners of the Federal City for their consideration.

Washington writes that he had received by Gen. William Washington the model of the improved gun carriage--he approves of new carriage and thinks that it will be much easier to introduce "valuable improvements" of this kind at the beginning of military exercises than after people become accustomed to the old.