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WASHINGTON, George (1732-1799). Autograph letter signed ("Go: Washington") to François Jean de Beauvoir, Marquis de Chastellux (1734-1788), Mount Vernon. 5 September 1785. 4 pages, 4to, very fine.
Washington the civilian writes on world peace and utopian ideals: “we should consider ourselves as the children of a common parent, and be disposed to acts of brotherly kindness towards one another” He also reports on the formation of the Potomac Company: “improving & extending the in land Navigations of the of the Rivers Potomack & James, and communicating them with the Western Waters…”
An exceptional letter, written during the brief stint at his home in Mount Vernon, holding no political or military post. He has received two letters from Chastellux: “...If I had as good a [k]nack, my dear Marquis, as you have, at saying handsome things, I would endeavor to pay you in kind for the flattering expressions of your letters – having an ample field to work in — but as I am a clumsy workman in the manufactory of compliments, I must first profess my unworthiness of those which you have bestowed on me...”
He is greatly encouraged to learn of recent European political affairs, and voices optimism for the new nation’s trade and commerce: “It gives me great pleasure to find by my letters from France, that the dark clouds which hung over your hemisphere, are vanishing before the all-cheating Sunshine of Peace.— My first wish is to see the blessings of it diffused through all Countries, and among all ranks in every Country.— and that we should consider ourselves as the children of a common parent, and be disposed to acts of brotherly kindness towards one another.— In that case, all restrictions of Trade would vanish; we should take your Wines, your fruits and surplusage of such Articles as our necessities or convenience might require.—and in return give you our Fish, our Oil, Our Tobacco, our Naval stores .—and in like manner we should exchange produce with other Countries, to the reciprocal advantages of each— the Globe is large, why need we wrangle for a small spot of it?—If one Country cannot contain us, another should open its Arms to us.— But these halcyon days (if they ever did exist) are now no more.— A wise Providence, I presume, has decreed it otherwise, and we shall be obliged to go on in the old way, disputing, and now & then fighting, until ‘the great Globe itself, dissolves[.]'”
He describes his quiet domestic life: “I rarely go from home, but my friends in, and out of Congress sometimes inform me what is on the Carpet; to hand it to you afterwards, would be circuitous & idle; as I am persuaded you have correspondents at New York who give it to you at first hand, & can relate it with more clearness & precision.—” News is especially promising for the Potomac company, in which Washington is a stock-holder: “I have lately been active in instituting a plan, which, if success attends it...may be productive of great political, as well as commercial advantages to the States on the Atlantic; especially the middle ones— it is the improving & extending the in land Navigations of the of the Rivers Potomack & James, and communicating them with the Western Waters by the shortest & easiest Portages, & good roads.— Acts have passed the Assemblies of Virginia & Maryland, authorising private Adventurers to undertake the work – Companies in consequence are incorporated – and that on this River [the Potomac] is begun – But when we come to the difficult parts it we shall require an Engineer of skill & practical knowledge in this branch of business, and from that country where these kind of improvements have been conducted with the greatest success...”
Washington was an early proponent of making the upper Potomac navigable, and was active in the organization of the Potomac Company in 1785 and was named its first president. Unfortunately Washington died before the completion of this ambitious engineering project, which was finished in 1802.
Letter book copy published in Papers, Presidential Series, 3:228-229
Washington the civilian writes on world peace and utopian ideals: “we should consider ourselves as the children of a common parent, and be disposed to acts of brotherly kindness towards one another” He also reports on the formation of the Potomac Company: “improving & extending the in land Navigations of the of the Rivers Potomack & James, and communicating them with the Western Waters…”
An exceptional letter, written during the brief stint at his home in Mount Vernon, holding no political or military post. He has received two letters from Chastellux: “...If I had as good a [k]nack, my dear Marquis, as you have, at saying handsome things, I would endeavor to pay you in kind for the flattering expressions of your letters – having an ample field to work in — but as I am a clumsy workman in the manufactory of compliments, I must first profess my unworthiness of those which you have bestowed on me...”
He is greatly encouraged to learn of recent European political affairs, and voices optimism for the new nation’s trade and commerce: “It gives me great pleasure to find by my letters from France, that the dark clouds which hung over your hemisphere, are vanishing before the all-cheating Sunshine of Peace.— My first wish is to see the blessings of it diffused through all Countries, and among all ranks in every Country.— and that we should consider ourselves as the children of a common parent, and be disposed to acts of brotherly kindness towards one another.— In that case, all restrictions of Trade would vanish; we should take your Wines, your fruits and surplusage of such Articles as our necessities or convenience might require.—and in return give you our Fish, our Oil, Our Tobacco, our Naval stores .—and in like manner we should exchange produce with other Countries, to the reciprocal advantages of each— the Globe is large, why need we wrangle for a small spot of it?—If one Country cannot contain us, another should open its Arms to us.— But these halcyon days (if they ever did exist) are now no more.— A wise Providence, I presume, has decreed it otherwise, and we shall be obliged to go on in the old way, disputing, and now & then fighting, until ‘the great Globe itself, dissolves[.]'”
He describes his quiet domestic life: “I rarely go from home, but my friends in, and out of Congress sometimes inform me what is on the Carpet; to hand it to you afterwards, would be circuitous & idle; as I am persuaded you have correspondents at New York who give it to you at first hand, & can relate it with more clearness & precision.—” News is especially promising for the Potomac company, in which Washington is a stock-holder: “I have lately been active in instituting a plan, which, if success attends it...may be productive of great political, as well as commercial advantages to the States on the Atlantic; especially the middle ones— it is the improving & extending the in land Navigations of the of the Rivers Potomack & James, and communicating them with the Western Waters by the shortest & easiest Portages, & good roads.— Acts have passed the Assemblies of Virginia & Maryland, authorising private Adventurers to undertake the work – Companies in consequence are incorporated – and that on this River [the Potomac] is begun – But when we come to the difficult parts it we shall require an Engineer of skill & practical knowledge in this branch of business, and from that country where these kind of improvements have been conducted with the greatest success...”
Washington was an early proponent of making the upper Potomac navigable, and was active in the organization of the Potomac Company in 1785 and was named its first president. Unfortunately Washington died before the completion of this ambitious engineering project, which was finished in 1802.
Letter book copy published in Papers, Presidential Series, 3:228-229