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/ WASHINGTON TO ARTHUR YOUNG, FROM/ MOUNT VERNON, DECEMBER 4. 1788. 



The following letter reiterates Washington's attitude toward agriculture. 



A. The more I am acquainted with agricultural affairs, the better 



I am pleased with them; insomuch, that I can no where find so great 

 satisfaction as in those innocent and useful pursuits. In indulging 

 these feelings, I am led to reflect how much more delightful to an 

 undebauched mind is the task of making improvements on the earth, than 

 all the vain glory which can be acquired from ravaging it, by the most 

 uninterrupted career of conquests. The design of this observation, is 

 only to show how much, as a member of human society, I feel myself 

 obliged, by your labours to render respectable and advantageous, an 

 employment which is more congenial to the natural dispositions of 



mankind than any other, / . . . - Letters on Agric u lture from His Excellency 

 GeorRe Washington . . . edited by Franklin Knight, p. 24-27 (Washington, D. C. , 1847) . 



/. 



WASHINGTON TO ARTHUR YOUNG, FROM/ PHILADELPHIA, DECEMBER 12, 1793 



This letter gives a detailed and careful description of 

 Mount Vernon. The map on page 19, sketched by 

 Washington to accompany this letter. 



f /i.f 1 * « ♦ * 



All my landed property, east of the Appalachian mountains, i§ jji oj 

 under rent, except the estate called Mount Vernon. This, hitherto, 

 I have kept in my own hands: but from my present situation, from my 

 advanced time of life, from a wish to live free from care, and as 

 much at my ease as possible, during the remainder of it, and from other 

 causes, which are not necessary to detail, I have, latterly, enter- 

 tained serious thoughts of letting this estate also, reserving the 

 mansion-house farm for my own residence, occupation, and amusement in 

 agriculture; provided I can obtain what, in my own judgment, and in 



