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William Pringle papers, Special Collections Research Center, William & Mary Libraries.
Letters, 1783-1800, written by William Pringle to his brother John Pringle, a tailor in Georgetown [District of Columbia]. William Pringle carried a seed business in America with his brother acting as agent. Other subjects discussed in letters include the new city of Washington; the war between France and England; politics and the economy in America and England; and the sending of William Pringle's son to America to apprentice as a tailor.
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Scope and Contents Comments on his brother's move to Georgetown; exchange of seeds; informs he may acquire tulip tree seeds from a Mr. Cox at Bladenburg, Md.; includes note from Ann Pringle to her uncle, John Pringle.
Scope and Contents Has recieved four letters from his brother in the last eight years; family news; mentions Wilson "our minister in London."
Scope and Contents Family news; urges his brother to marry a woman who is both a "professor and "possessor"of religion.
Scope and Contents Sends seed and catalogues; seeds his brother sent failed to produce; thanks him for recommending his seed business to gentlemen in America.
Sent a box of garden seeds and other items; son John wants to be a "taylor" but can't afford the expenses of an apprenticeship.
Scope and Contents Accepts his brother's invitation to take son John as an apprentice; exchange of seeds; suggests not sending tree seeds since he can purhase them in London; family news.
Scope and Contents Regrets that his son is unhappy in America but thinks he will enjoy the new country more in the spring; news from Sydenham; wants to know about the trees, etc., in America.
Family News; hopes he is enjoying America more; too expensive to send any more seeds to America because of custom duties; talk in England of war because of the impressment of sailors.
Scope and Contents Hopes his son is doing well; family news; gave Capt. William Bond credit for seeds in August of 1787 which he still hasn't paid. Includes a note from his son William to his brother John Pringle in Georgetown.
Pleased to hear his son is better reconciled to America; hopes his brother will be gratified in his wish to have the new city built near him; peace between England and Spain; new buildings around London.
Scope and Contents Comments on the laws in America, Indians, and the new city; hopes his son continues to do well.
Scope and Contents Decided not to accept John Thirlkeld and his brother's invitation to come to America; has sent large order of trees and seeds to Boston; comments on U.S. Congress; England at war with France.
Scope and Contents Has received some large orders from American customs; hopes the new city will be blessed with good inhabitants, good laws, and good trade. ALS.
Scope and Contents Has many correspondents and customs in Boston to whom he sends seeds; Thanks his brother for his good care of his son John.
Scope and Contents Plague in Philadelphia; deaths in England; fire in London; comments on the quantity of fruit this season. Includes a letter to his son John giving advice.
Scope and Contents Son John's illness; business is bad in England; inquire as to what kind of seeds he should send; "Morse's History of America is the best that has been published yet."
Scope and Contents Difficult times in England for the poor; local news France has taken Holland; Prince of Orange has come to London; has seen plan for the city of Washington; thinks America will shortly be a "noble country."
Scope and Contents Notes problems with Indians in America; "Everything in England is very dear" -- Pays his men 12s per week, "Allow[s] them Beer & find[s] them tools"; will send all the seeds his brother requests.
Local news; reports that Christopher Gore of Boston has arrived having been appointed by Congress to help settle dispute about trade between England and America; expects him to come to Lydenham as he is a "customer of mine for seeds and trees"; wants orders for seeds from his brother from "the gentlemen that are improving their estates." 2 pp
Scope and Contents Has sent garden seeds; reports of missionaries sent from England to the South Sea Islands.
Scope and Contents Has received orders for seeds and trees from Boston and other parts of America; had heard of the death of George Washington; family news.