e«u>»ia 



54 



^{)C iiinucv's iUontljli) llixntor. 



In Hiiolhcr letter to Arlliii!- Yoiiiig iii 1787 

 WitshinKton tiiiis dcsciibcri tlie f»}s!oiii oi' liinii- 

 j))g in Virginia. " Tlic cnlli\ jaioii of lolwoco lius 

 l)Cfii almost the sole olyecl wiili men ol' I.-uuKmI 

 property, and conseiiiiciitly n regular roinse ol 

 iTDps has iievfi- beei) in view. The general cus- 

 tom lias been first to raise a ero]) of Indian corn 

 (maize) which, acconliiig to the mode of cultiva- 

 lion, is a jiood preparr.iion tor wheat; then a 

 crop of wiieaf, after wliieh the pronnd is re.»- 

 pited (except from weetls and every trash thai 

 can contribute to its foubic^.*) for about ei^liteen 

 months; and so on, aharnately, wiihont any 

 dressing till tlie land is e.xliausud ; when it is 

 turned out without being sowed with grass-seeds. 

 <ir any method taken to restore il ; and another 

 piece is ruined in the same maimer. No more 

 cuttle are raised, than can be supported by low- 

 land meadows, swamps, &e., and the tops and 

 blades of Indian corn; as very few persons lia\e 

 iittended to sowing grasses, ami comierling cat- 

 tle with their crops. The Indian corn is the chief 

 support of tlie laborers and horses. Our lands, 

 as I mentioned in my first letter to von, were 

 originally very good ; but tiso and abuse have 

 made them quite otherwise.'' 



In u previous letter to Mr. Young, written in 

 1780, Washington sai<l — "The system of agri- 

 culture if il deserves the epithel nt' s;ii>lem, which 

 i.s ill use in this pari of the United States, is as 

 unproductive to the practitioners as it is ruinous 

 to ihe landholders. Yet it is pertinaciously ad- 

 hered to. To forsake it ; topursue a course of 

 husbandry, which is altogeilier did'eretir. and new 

 10 the gazing Funltitu'h', cier averse to iio\elty 

 in matters ot this .sort, and nuich attached to the 

 customs of their forefathers, rcrpiires resohilion. 

 nnd, without a good practical gni<le may he dan- 

 gerous ; because of the many volumes which 

 have been written on tliis sidyeet, few h.ivc been 

 founded on experimental Unowledgif — they are 

 verbose, conlra<liclory and bouiklering. Your 

 .?;!Ha/s (a copy ol whicli had been sent by .Mi. 

 Young to Gen. \V.) therefore shall ho tliis guide. 

 The plan on which they are published gives them 

 u reputation which inspires conliilence ; ,iiul tor 

 the favor of sending them to me, 1 |)ray yon to 

 accept my very best acknowledgments.'' 



Again he says in the same letter: •• Agricnllure 

 has ever Ween among the most favored of niy a- 

 inusements, though I have never possesseil much 

 skill in the art; and nine years' total inattemion 

 to it has added notliing to a knou ledge which is 

 best understood from pruciice ; bnl, with the 

 means you have been so obliging as to finiiish 

 me, I shall return to it. though nuher late in Ihe 

 day, with more alacrity ihan ever." 



As we have said, \Vashington's plans for ll;e 

 iinprovement of his farms must have been seri- 

 ously interrupted by his eight years of public 

 life ; besides his farnfmg extended over too much 

 territory tmd the force he occupied in llie cuUi- 

 vntion was of loo feeble and irresolute cliaracier, 

 especially in his absence, successfully to deviate 

 from tho beaten track. Accordingly we find 

 some six or eight years later that -\Vushington 

 was anxious to lease out the four extensive farms 

 beyond his own immediate neighborhood. Tliis 

 however he never accomplished; and to the i\ny 

 of his death the farms v.ere carried on under his 

 own personal direction. 



The whole range of his Mount Wirnoii lands, 

 from eight to ten thiiusaud acre.-:, eiiihraced the 

 distance of many miles; and, when at home, it 

 was his daily practice to ride over one or more 

 of his farms. He w.is aware of the fact, that he 

 attempted too much cultivation, fiir in n letter to 

 Mr. Young as late as J7i»7, he says— " Your stric- 

 tures on the agriculinro of this country are but 

 too just. Itisiudeeil wretched: but ti kniHng- if 

 not the pninary cause of its beiiifi: so is, that, instead 

 of {inproving- a little ground well, ice atltmpt much 

 and do il ill, \ half, a third, or even a fourth of 

 what we mangle, well wrought and properlv 

 ilressed, would produce more than the whole, 

 under our .system of maiiagemeut : \et such is 

 the force of habit, that we cannot dc|i:u I from il. 

 The conseipieuce of whicli is, that wc ruin the 

 lands that are already cleared, and either cut 

 down more wood, if we have it, or emigrate to 

 the Western country." ilc contimied his porson- 

 til supervision of his farms as the latest acts of 

 his life. Mr. Sparks publishes extracts from his 

 Jiary for tho Inst seven days' of his ;ning .-ibioad. 

 Tl.fc fiiiiowilig nw(l< Dtc. i:?, 17!iit, Vlr.^S. ,«.ivs 



"arc probably the last words he cer wrote, as he 

 was attacked that night with the disorder of which 

 he died." 

 •' I3th. Morning snowing, and about three inches 

 deep. VViiul at uorllieast, and merniry at ;!0. 

 Coiuinued snowing till one o'clock, and ubont 

 four it became perfectly clear. Wind in the 

 same place, hut not hard. iMercury "38 at night." 

 Kxposuri! to this snow and wet of the morning 

 while ranging over his i'arms oi horse back 

 broii:zlit oil an nitack of obstriicteil sore throat 

 and croup which ended his valuable lil'e in less 

 than thirly-six horns. Before n physician could 

 be called I'.orn .\li>vandria. the crisis of the dis- 

 order liM.d [lasscd ; one of ifie family, not a phy- 

 sician, attempted iu vain etri'duullyto bleed him. 

 rroin the time of his dealh the Waslun;;ton 

 farms have continued to deteriorate, so th.it at 

 the present lime, if we are correctly intormed, 

 none ol' the fields exhibit their former fertility. 

 [f we are misUiken in that [loint, we hope that 

 sonie of our subscribers wiio arc belter acr|uaiiit- 

 cd wilh the present condition of that extensive 

 tract, \» ill correct us. 



Washington in one of his letters describes as 

 " within full view ol' Mount Vernon, separated 

 I therefrom by Wiiler only, one of the most beaii- 

 I tifiil .scats on the river. " Il is c.illed Belvoir, and 

 i belonged to George William Fairfa.x, who were 

 j he living would i.ow (I71)lj) be liaroii Oimeron, 

 I as his younger Ic'other ill this country ((Jeorge 

 1 Willium dying without issue) at present is, though 

 j he does not take upon himself the title. This 

 I seat was the residence of ihe .-iliove named gen- 

 tleman belbre he went to I^ighmd, and was";ic- 

 commodaled with very ^ood buildings, which 

 v.ere burnt soon after iie left them. There are 

 near two thousand acres of land belonging to the 

 tract surrounded in a measure by water." This 

 description is extracted fiom a letter in answer 

 to inquiries niaile by Sir John Sinclair, :iuoiher 

 eminent patron of ugrieullure in England, who 

 at one lime contemplaled residing in ihis conn- 

 try. 



The change th;it has sono over the Washing- 

 ton and I'aii liix estates is hut too sure proof of 

 the disastrous culiivalion that has iieariv [u-os- 

 trateil l!ie farmii.gand plaining interests of « hole 

 regions of country in parts ol" Virginia and Ma- 

 ryland. The principle of renovation has how- 

 ever bijen very successfully inlrodnced in several 

 pl;u-cs near Washinglon ; some enterprising citi- 

 zens are doing it with the aiil of the labor of .slaves. 

 Indiislrious Germans have in some instances 

 come in to do the work themselves. But tin- 

 more important change is taking place in the 

 couiiiy of Fairfax in the very vicinity of the 

 Wnsliiiigion estate-. Into that county within the 

 last lour or five years about one hundred families 

 have removed from the North, principally frcm 

 Ihe river conniies of \i'-.v York and from the 

 western parts ol' Connecticut. These lands have 

 been purchased at from five to twenty dollars to 

 the acre. White labor has been made to lake 

 the place in many instances of slaves ; free blacks 

 in other cases have been hire<I. The fiirmers 

 find that they have a mncli longer season in wliich 

 they can [irepare their grounds; ihcy fimi ahiin- 

 daiice of materials for manures in the oyster beds 

 :ind mud ol' the rivers and creeks — ahnndance 

 of limestone to aid in the (ertility of ihc soil. 

 They resort to deep ploiigiiin;:, and to the clover 

 ciillivation to im|)rove their lands. The climate 

 and soil arc congenial to the ppodnclion of «hc;il, 

 of Indian corn, of , all ihe useliil vegetables and 

 of the various fruits. The high positions ofi' the 

 rivers and creeks are nearly as healthy as any 

 pan of New England. They are near to mar- 

 kets for the sale of all ilieir surplus products ; 

 and they only want the excilleiit i\ew England 

 roads and Xew England neighborhooils to lie- 

 come a happy, as they cannot fiiil soon to be a 

 wealthy, rcsjieclable and healthy eommmiity. 



How honorable imisi il be to "the character of 

 the country to soe the men of the IVorlh recon- 

 vening Ihe land ol" Washinglon into bcauiifiil 

 gitrdens and lawns vicing wild the beauty of 

 Mount Vernon v, bile its iilnstrions owner lived, 

 and open fiir its generous hospitalities and its 

 happy fumily sociiibility ! 



The following is an invoice of goods, alluded 

 to innnother article, ns having been ordered by 

 George WashiiiKlon to t«; forwarded bv his mei- 

 LtliMiito from I.ondon:-- 



Invoice of sundries to he aeni hi) Robert Curij and 

 Compnmj for thr use of Georse Jrashiitglon, 

 .Srpt, 'iO, 17r>9. 



A light summer suit made of Diirny by tho 

 n casiirc : 4 piece.io;' best India Nankeen ; 2 best 

 plain Beaver Hats, at 2|j. : 1 piece of Iri.-h Lin- 

 en at Js.: 1 piece black satin Kibbnn ; 1 sword 

 belt red morocco or buff, no buckles or rings; 

 4 lbs. ivory black: 2 best two bk-nlod knives; ti 

 pairs good horse scissors ; I ream good post pa- 

 per, cut ; i ream good do 4 lo. do; a salmon col- 

 ored tabby of the enclosed pallern, wiili s:iliii 

 dowers, to be made in a sack and coat; 1 cap; 

 handkerchief, tnckcr, and rnirles, to be made ot 

 Brussels lace, or point, proper to wear with the 

 above negliL'cc, to cost £30; 1 piece bag Hol- 

 land lit (is; '■ line flowered lawn aprons; 2doubl,'? 

 handkerchiefs; 1 pair woman's white silk hose; 

 t) pairs (III. fine Collon do.; 4 pairs thread do; 

 I pair black, ami 1 pair u hite satin shoes, of the 

 smallest 5s.; 4 [lair Cahunanco do.; 1 fashionable 

 hat or bonnet; Ij [>eirs women's best kid cloves; 

 8 pairs do. mils; A dozen knots, and bre;isl knots; 

 ] dozen round silk laces: 1 black mask; 1 dozen 

 most fiishionable cambric pocket handkerchiefs; 

 '2 pairs ne.it small scissors; 1 lb. sewing silk sha- 

 ded; .} lb. do, cloth colored, do.: 4 pieces bind- 

 ing tape; U M. miniken pins; (i .M. short whites; 

 ti M. corking plus; I M. hair ditto; lbs. per- 

 fiimed powder; 3 lbs. best scotch snntT; o lbs. 

 best vinlelle sirasbiirg: 8 lbs. smrcli; 2 llis pow- 

 dered blue; 2 oz. L'ovenliy ihread, one of which 

 to be very fine; I piece narrow white satin rib- 

 bon, pearl edge; 1 case of pii.'kles, lo consist nt' 

 anchovies, capers, olives, salad oil. and one boi- 

 tle India manaoes; ] large (^heshire cheese; 4 

 lbs. green tea: 10 groce best corks; S.'i lbs. best 

 jar raisins; ','.'j lbs. almonds in Ihe shell: 1 hogs- 

 head best porter; JO loaves double and 10 single 

 refined siiiiar; d strong halters, hempen reins; li 

 best snatile bridles; .'} best girihs; 2.') lbs. crown 

 snap; 12 lbs. best mustard; 2 doz. packs jilaying 

 cards; 2 sacks best English oats; I dozen paint- 

 ers brushes; I bushel of tares; 12 best h:ird pad- 

 locks: \i diiz. bell glasses for garden; 2 innru 

 (diair bottoms, such as were written for in a form- 

 er invoice; 1 more window curtain and cornice; 

 100 lbs. white biscnil; '.i gals, of Khemish in hot- 

 I ties; 2 lanterns; 8 busts according to tho enclos- 

 j ed direction ami measure; 2.1 yds. broadcloth of 

 i the enclosed color; to cost about 7s. Gd.; 1.5 yards 

 I coarse thick double, same color: (i yards scarlet 

 broadcloth at 8s. 0</.; HO yaids red sliElloon ; ';0 

 I doz. v\hite washed coat huitons: 12 doz. waist- 

 coat ditto; twist, thread, silk, &:<•., sufficient to 

 I make u;- ihe aliovecloih; 40 yards coarse Jeans 

 or fiistian, for summer frocks for negro servants; 

 I piece Irish linen at Is-'id.; 1 pii'cc Dowlas .-ii 

 lOrf.; 1-1 doz. pairs strong coarse thread lio.se fit 

 for negro servants; (i caslr.r hals ;it about 6s.: i 

 ))ostilioii c.'ips; 1 doz. [lairs coarse shoe and knee 

 buckles; 4.50 ells Osnabergs; 4 pieces brown 

 rolls; 3.>0 yards Kendall colion;l 00 yards Dutch 

 blankets; 2 pieces fearnoiighl; 8 dozen pair hose, 

 sorted; 4 dozen monmouth caps: 20 lbs. brown 

 thread; 15 lbs. shoemaker's ditto; 20 sacks of 

 salt; 2 casks 8(/. nails; 2 do. 10<i; 10 M. 20(/. do.; 

 20 M. 8d do. 20 M. 4d. do.; fi strides; 200 lbs. 

 German steel: 2 dozen best sickles; (J best White's 

 handsaws; G best broad axes; G house adzes; 2 

 dozen box gimhlets; G pairs steel compasses; 

 1 doz. an;;crs sorted, from two inches to half nil 

 inch: 1 Cowper's taper bit; I do. crow; 1 do, 

 Dowling bii; 1 do. wimble do.; 1 do. vice; 1 do. 

 pair large comiiasses; I do. jointer; 1 do, adze; 

 1 do. round shave: 1 do. howell; 1 w heelright's 

 buzz; I do. large gouge; 1 do. centre bit; 2 doz. 

 pairs hinges; 2,5 11)S. glue; 2 cross cut saws; 12 

 inch chisels; 1 jointer; 2 long planes; 2 jack do.; 

 4 smoothing do.; 10 pairs hollows and rounds; 

 (i ogees; 3 pairs of grooving planes; 1 snipe's 

 bill; 4 Quarter rounds; 4 sash planes; .3 Bead do. 

 Covelos; 1 plow and irons; 1 moving ]iliilester; 

 1 screw rabbit plane; I square do; 3 raising do.; 

 1 spring brace and bit.s, complele; 1 Turkey oil 

 stone; 1 panel saw; 1 tenant i\j.: I compass do.; 

 1 sash do.: 1 doz. firmers; 1 doz. gtuiges; (3 mor- 

 tising chisels; 1 adze; 1 drawing knife; 2 pairs 

 compasses; 2 rules: 2 chalk lines: 1 small lialch- 

 etc; 2 punches; 2 saw sets: 2 doz. gimlels; 3 

 doz. plane irons. t> rasps, iwo of a sort; 2 doz. 

 handsaw files; 2 doz. of tenant do.: (! bottles Tur- 

 lington's Balsam; 8 oz. spirit of lavender: i lb. ip- 

 ecacnana powdered; .Jib. jalap powdered; 12 oz. 

 Venice tipacle; 4 oz. b*-?! i hnb.irb; 12 oz. Diac- 



