细节
WASHINGTON, GEORGE. Autograph letter signed ("G:Washington") to a nephew, William Augustus Washington, Mount Vernon, 29 October 1799. 1¼ pages, 4to, 225 x 185 mm. (8¾ x 7¼ in.), detached from address leaf, trace of old mount along one extreme edge, otherwise in very good condition. [With:] Autograph cover sheet addressed in Washington's hand to "Col. Wm. Augustus Washington Haywood By Mr. Law[renc]e Lewis," 1 page, 4to, 212 x 180 mm. (8½ x 7¼ in.), neatly inlaid and backed, minor spotting.
WASHINGTON RENTS HIS MOUNT VERNON DISTILLERY TO A NEPHEW: "TWO HUNDRED GALLONS...WILL BE READY THIS DAY"
Just six weeks before his death Washington writes on behalf of the nephew to whom he had rented the Mount Vernon mill and distillery: "Your letter of the 8th instant has been duly received and this letter will be handed to you by Mr. Law[renc]e Lewis, to whom I have rented my Mill & Distillery, and who comes into your parts to see if he can procure (on reasonable terms) grain with which to keep them employed. Your advice and aid in enabling him to obtain these, would be serviceable to him, & obliging to me. Mr. Lewis is a cautious man, and I persuade myself will scrupulously fulfill any contracts he may enter into. You will be perfectly safe, I conceive, in declaring this. Two hundred gallons of Whiskey will be ready this day for your call, and the sooner it is taken the better, as the demand for this article (in these parts) is brisk. The Rye may be sent when it suits your convenience, letting me know in the meantime, the quality I may rely on, that my purchase of this grain may be regulated thereby. Mrs. Washington has got tolerably well again, and writes with me in every good wish for you and yours..."
Washington established a distillery on his property in hopes of relieving himself from financial difficulties in his, and Martha Washington's later years. A Scot with distillery experience was hired as manager of the enterprise, but proved difficult and at times cantankerous. Grain (corn, rye and wheat) was purchased locally or bartered from neighbors. In the few years in which it operated, Washington's plant distilled, barrelled and sold a considerable quantity of whiskey, but to Washington's disappointment, the enterprise failed to prove as profitable as expected. He spent 12 December 1799 riding around his Mount Vernon estate in a cold rain, was diagnosed the next day with "inflammatory quinsy" and died the following day, 14 December 1799. After Washington's death Lawrence Lewis, who delivered this letter and rented the distillery, was named the executor of Washington's estate.
WASHINGTON RENTS HIS MOUNT VERNON DISTILLERY TO A NEPHEW: "TWO HUNDRED GALLONS...WILL BE READY THIS DAY"
Just six weeks before his death Washington writes on behalf of the nephew to whom he had rented the Mount Vernon mill and distillery: "Your letter of the 8th instant has been duly received and this letter will be handed to you by Mr. Law[renc]e Lewis, to whom I have rented my Mill & Distillery, and who comes into your parts to see if he can procure (on reasonable terms) grain with which to keep them employed. Your advice and aid in enabling him to obtain these, would be serviceable to him, & obliging to me. Mr. Lewis is a cautious man, and I persuade myself will scrupulously fulfill any contracts he may enter into. You will be perfectly safe, I conceive, in declaring this. Two hundred gallons of Whiskey will be ready this day for your call, and the sooner it is taken the better, as the demand for this article (in these parts) is brisk. The Rye may be sent when it suits your convenience, letting me know in the meantime, the quality I may rely on, that my purchase of this grain may be regulated thereby. Mrs. Washington has got tolerably well again, and writes with me in every good wish for you and yours..."
Washington established a distillery on his property in hopes of relieving himself from financial difficulties in his, and Martha Washington's later years. A Scot with distillery experience was hired as manager of the enterprise, but proved difficult and at times cantankerous. Grain (corn, rye and wheat) was purchased locally or bartered from neighbors. In the few years in which it operated, Washington's plant distilled, barrelled and sold a considerable quantity of whiskey, but to Washington's disappointment, the enterprise failed to prove as profitable as expected. He spent 12 December 1799 riding around his Mount Vernon estate in a cold rain, was diagnosed the next day with "inflammatory quinsy" and died the following day, 14 December 1799. After Washington's death Lawrence Lewis, who delivered this letter and rented the distillery, was named the executor of Washington's estate.