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WASHINGTON, George, President. Autograph letter signed ("Go. Washington") to Rev. M. Morton, possibly a draft, with several emendations and deletions, Mount Vernon, 2 February 1775. 2 pages, small oblong, trimmed at edges, neatly inlaid..
WASHINGTON SEEKS PAYMENT FROM A NEIGHBOR'S TENANT
On behalf of his friend and neighbor Colonel George William Fairfax, who had gone to England in 1773, Washington writes a cautionary letter to one of the Colonel's tenants: "...You will please to recollect that it was not for one, but Seven years you took the place. That by so doing, you deprived another of it who bid within five shillings of you..." And, although "I could be no neighbor to a person who bore the Character you (justly, or unjustly...) did, but there is no reason why Col. Fairfax (a third Person) is to have the same Card to play over again next year in pursuit of another tenant. If you pay his Rents duely, & fulfil the sev[era]l Covenants of the Lease, you will be a good Tenant to him. As his attorney, I require no more of you but for your own sake, I sincerely wish that every evil report of you may be done away & that you may have it in your power, fully, to evince your Innocence under every false accusation which either has or can be brought against you."
Washington acted as steward for Fairfax (1725-1787), who retained considerable property in Virginia. Only four months after this letter, Washington was called upon to lead the Continental army in its struggle against Britain.
WASHINGTON SEEKS PAYMENT FROM A NEIGHBOR'S TENANT
On behalf of his friend and neighbor Colonel George William Fairfax, who had gone to England in 1773, Washington writes a cautionary letter to one of the Colonel's tenants: "...You will please to recollect that it was not for one, but Seven years you took the place. That by so doing, you deprived another of it who bid within five shillings of you..." And, although "I could be no neighbor to a person who bore the Character you (justly, or unjustly...) did, but there is no reason why Col. Fairfax (a third Person) is to have the same Card to play over again next year in pursuit of another tenant. If you pay his Rents duely, & fulfil the sev[era]l Covenants of the Lease, you will be a good Tenant to him. As his attorney, I require no more of you but for your own sake, I sincerely wish that every evil report of you may be done away & that you may have it in your power, fully, to evince your Innocence under every false accusation which either has or can be brought against you."
Washington acted as steward for Fairfax (1725-1787), who retained considerable property in Virginia. Only four months after this letter, Washington was called upon to lead the Continental army in its struggle against Britain.
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It is possible that the lower edge of the document has been trimmed with loss of a line or more of text.