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I remark the pains you take to show the impropriety of paying the duty of the estate's tobacco. When money is wanting, it cannot be expected; but, when a sum lies in your hands, it should certainly be applied that way, as far as it will go. I likewise observe the difficulties you have met with in settling for the interest of the bank stock; but I hope that is now over, unless any part or the whole should require transferring (when a division of the estate is made), and then timely notice will be given; but, till this happens, it may be received and placed to the estate's credit in the usual manner.

From this time it will be requisite, that you should raise three accounts; one for me, another for the estate, and a third for Miss Patty Custis; or, if you think it more eligible (and I believe it will be), make me debtor on my own account for John Parke Custis, and for Miss Martha Parke Custis, as each will have their part of the estate assigned them this fall, and the whole will remain under my management, whose particular care it shall be to distinguish always, either by letter or invoice, for whom tobaccos are shipped, and for whose use goods are imported, in order to prevent any mistakes arising. The estate's credit now in your hands may be applied towards answering the whole drafts, that have been and shall be made this year; and it must appear very plain from my former letters, as well as from what is here said, how necessary it is to send regular accounts current, that, by comparing them with the books here, satisfactory settlements may, from time to time, be made to our General Court.

The tobacco per the Fair American will make its appearance, I apprehend, in a very irregular manner. Captain Talman first engaged it to be sent by the Cary, then by the Randolph; and, being disappointed in both, I had to seek for a conveyance myself, and by mere good luck got it on board Captain Thompson, but not till I had first been at the trouble and expense of carting it across from York to James River for his craft to take it in. The vessel being upon the point of sailing at that time, a gentleman at Norfolk, where she lay, promised to receive the bills of lading, and send them by different opportunities under cover to you; but, losing my memorandum, he wrote to me a month afterwards for fresh directions, which I suppose did not reach him till some time after the vessel had sailed. I shall endeavour to put what tobacco I can on board the Cary, as I understand she is to wait for the new crop. It will be needless, I am persuaded, to bespeak your best care in the sales of it; as you must be sensible the present high

price of tobaccco gives us room to expect extraordinary returns for this year's produce so early shipped.

I am possessed of several plantations on this river (Potomac) and the fine lands of Shenandoah, and should be glad if you would ingenuously tell me what prices I might expect you to render for tobaccos made thereon, of the same seed of that of the estate's, and managed in every respect in the same manner as the best tobaccos on James and York Rivers are. I ask this question purely for my own private information, and my shipping of these crops will be governed in a great measure by the answer you may give. Therefore you will excuse me, I hope, if I again desire the favor of you to take some pains to inform yourselves exactly; because, should the prices differ from those of the estate, I might possibly think myself deceived, and be disgusted of course.

Please to send the goods contained in the enclosed invoices, and charge them as there directed. I flatter myself, that particular care will be taken in choosing them, the want of which gives some tradesmen an opportunity of imposing upon us most vilely. The coarse goods for the estate's use are ordered from Liverpool this year; all but the plaid hose, and these I beg you will cause to be sent from Glasgow in the usual manner and number, directed to the care of Mr. Joseph Valentine, or person managing the estate's business at York River. 1 am, Gentlemen, &c.

INVOICE OF SUNDRIES TO BE SENT BY ROBERT CARY AND COMPANY FOR THE USE OF GEORGE WASHINGTON."

*

A light Summer Suit made of | A salmon-colored Tabby of the Duroy by the measure.

4 pieces best India Nankeen.
2 best plain Beaver Hats, at 21s.
1 piece of Irish Linen at 4s.
1 piece black Satin Ribbon.

1 Sword Belt, red morocco or
buff; no buckles or rings.

4 lbs. Ivory Black.

2 best two-bladed Knives.
2 pairs good Horse Scissors.
ream good Post Paper, cut.
ream good do. 4to. do.

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enclosed pattern, with satin flowers, to be made in a sack and coat.

1 Cap, Handkerchief, Tucker,
and Ruffles, to be made of
Brussels lace, or point, proper
to wear with the above neg-
ligee, to cost £20.

1 piece Bag Holland at 6s.
2 fine flowered Lawn Aprons.

2 double Handkerchiefs.

1 pair woman's white Silk Hose. 6 pairs do. fine Cotton do.

* Although these invoices have very little intrinsic importance, yet I have thought it not amiss to insert them, as illustrative of Washington's habits in affairs of business. For other explanatory particulars, see Vol. II. p. 329.

VOL. XII.

V

4 pairs Thread do.

1 pair black, and 1 pair white Satin Shoes, of the smallest 5s. 4 pair Calamanco do.

1 fashionable Hat, or Bonnet. 6 pairs women's best Kid Gloves. 8 pairs ditto Mits.

dozen Knots, and Breast Knots. 1 dozen round silk laces. 1 black Mask.

1 dozen most fashionable Cambric Pocket Handkerchiefs. 2 pairs neat small Scissors. 1 lb. Sewing Silk shaded.

lb. ditto., cloth colored, ditto.

4 pieces binding Tape. 6 m. Miniken Pins.

6 m. short whites.

6 m. Corking Pins.

1 m. Hair ditto.

6 lbs. Perfumed Powder.

3 lbs. best Scotch Snuff.

3 lbs. best violette Strasburg. 8 lbs. Starch.

2 lbs. powdered Blue.

2 oz. Coventry Thread, one of which to be very fine.

1 piece narrow white Satin Ribbon, pearl edge.

1 case of Pickles, to consist of Anchovies, Capers, Olives, Salad Oil, and 1 bottle India Mangoes.

1 large Cheshire Cheese. 4 lbs. Green Tea.

10 groce best Corks.

25 lbs. best Jar Raisins.

25 lbs. Almonds in the shell. 1 hogshead best Porter.

10 loaves double and 10 single refined Sugar.

6 strong Halters, hempen reins. 3 best Snaffle Bridles.

3 best Girths.

25 lbs. Crown Soap. 12 lbs. best Mustard.

2 dozen packs Playing Cards. 2 sacks of best English Oats. 1 dozen Painter's Brushes. 1 bushel of Tares.

12 best hard Padlocks. 11⁄2 dozen Bell Glasses for garden. 2 more Chair Bottoms, such as

were written for in a former invoice.

1 more Window Curtain and Cornice.

100 lbs. white Biscuit.

3 gallons of Rhenish in bottles. 2 Lanterns.

8 Busts, according to the enclosed direction and measure.

25 yards Broadcloth of the enclosed color, to cost about 7s. 6d.

15 yards coarse thick double, same color.

6 yards Scarlet Broadcloth, at 8s. 6d.

30 yards Red Shalloon.

20 dozen white-washed Coat Buttons.

12 dozen Waistcoat ditto. Twist, Thread, Silk, &c. suffi

cient to make up the above cloth.

40 yards of coarse Jeans or Fustian, for summer frocks for negro servants.

1 piece Irish Linen at 1s. 3d. 1 piece Dowlas at 10d,

1 dozen pairs strong coarse Thread Hose fit for negro ser

vants.

6 Castor Hats, at about 5s. 2 Postilion Caps.

1 dozen pairs coarse Shoe and Knee Buckles.

450 ells Osnabergs.
4 pieces Brown Rolls.
350 yards Kendall Cotton.
100 yards Dutch Blankets.
2 pieces Fearnought.

8 dozen pair Plaid Hose sorted.
4 dozen Monmouth Caps.
20 lbs. Brown Thread.

15 lbs. best Shoemaker's ditto. 20 sacks of Salt,

2 casks 8d. nails; 2 do. 10d. do. | 2 pairs Compasses; 2 Rules.

10 m. 20d. do.; 20 m. 8d. do.

20 m. 4d. do.

6 Spades.

200 lbs. German Steel.

2 dozen best Sickles.

6 best White's Handsaws.

6 best Broad Axes.

6 House Adzes.

2 dozen Box Gimblets.

6 pairs Steel Compasses.

2 Chalk Lines.

1 small Hatchet.

2 Punches; 2 Saw Sets. 2 dozen Gimlets.

3 dozen Plane Irons.

6 Rasps, two of a sort.

2 dozen Handsaw Files.

2 do. of Tenant do.

6 bottles Turlington's Balsam.

1 dozen Augers sorted, from two 8 oz. Spirit of Lavender.

inches to half an inch.

1 Cowper's Taper Bit.

1 ditto Crow.

1 do. Dowling Bit.

1 do. Wimble do. 1 do. Vice.

1 do. pair large Compasses. 1 do. Jointer; 1 do. Adze.

1 do. Round Shave.

1 do. Howell.

1 Wheelwright's Buzz. 1 do. large Gouge.

1 do. Centre Bit.

2 dozen pairs HL Hinges.

25 lbs. Glue.

2 Crosscut Saws.

12 Inch Chisels.

1 Jointer.

2 long Planes; 2 Jack do.

4 Smoothing do.

10 pairs Hollows and Rounds. 6 Ogees.

3 pairs of Grooving Planes. 1 Snipe's Bill.

4 Quarter Rounds.

4 Sash Planes; 3 Bead ditto.

6 Ovelos; 1 Plow and irons.

1 moving Philester.

1 Screw Rabbit Plane.

1 Square do.; 3 raising do. 1 Spring Brace and Bits complete. 1 Turkey Oil-Stone.

1 Panel Saw; 1 Tenant do.

1 Compass do.; 1 Sash do.

1 dozen Firmers.

1 dozen Gouges.

6 Mortising Chisels.

1 Adze; 1 Drawing-knife.

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2 lbs. Diapente.

5 lbs. Black Soap.

4 lbs. Cummin Seeds.

4 lbs. Fenugreek.

2 lbs. Juice of Liquorice. 4 lbs. long Pepper.

Directions for the Busts.

4. One of Alexander the Great; another of Julius Cæsar; another of Charles XII. of Swe

den; and a fourth of the King of Prussia.

N. B. These are not to exceed fifteen inches in height, nor ten in width.

2 other Busts, of Prince Eugene and the Duke of Marlborough, somewhat smaller.

2 Wild Beasts, not to exceed twelve inches in height, nor eighteen in length.

Sundry small ornaments for chimney-piece.

INVOICE OF SUNDRIES TO BE SHIPPED BY ROBERT CARY AND COMPANY, FOR THE USE OF MASTER JOHN AND MISS PATTY CUSTIS, EACH TO BE CHARGED TO THEIR OWN ACCOUNTS, BUT BOTH CONSIGNED TO GEORGE WASHINGTON, POTOMAC RIVER.

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