Washington, George

Autograph letter signed ("Go: Washington"), 2 pages (12 5/8 x 8 in.; 322 x 203) on a sheet of laid paper (watermarked gr in a circle), Mount Vernon, 17 October 1773, to the Reverend Jonathan Boucher; long separations at several folds, very small losses touching a few letters at four intersecting folds, some small, light stains, mounting remnants on verso.

Autograph letter signed ("Go: Washington"), 2 pages (12 5/8 x 8 in.; 322 x 203) on a sheet of laid paper (watermarked gr in a circle), Mount Vernon, 17 October 1773, to the Reverend Jonathan Boucher; long separations at several folds, very small losses touching a few letters at four intersecting folds, some small, light stains, mounting remnants on verso.
In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective qualified opinion.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING CONDITION OF A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD "AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF SALE PRINTED IN THE CATALOGUE.

Seeking wealth in western lands: a lengthy unrecorded autograph letter by Washington. For almost two decades the master of Mount Vernon led the efforts of veterans of the Virginia Regiment to redeem the grants of western lands promised them as a bounty for service in the French and Indian War. Washington supplemented the large grant that he had received as Colonel by purchasing the grants of several of his fellows, so that when the process of surveying and patenting got fairly underway in 1771, he held the rights to more than 20,000 acres in the Ohio territory.

In this previously unknown letter, Washington writes of his plans for developing these lands to Jonathan Boucher, an Anglican clergyman who had served as a tutor to Washington's stepson, John Parke Custis. On his way to Annapolis in April 1773, Washington stayed the night with Boucher, where he was evidently reacquainted with the Reverend Thomas Barton (Diaries, ed. Jackson, 3:172). Barton had first met Washington in 1758 when he was serving as a Church of England chaplain for troops assigned to General Forbes's expedition against Fort Dusquene. Like Washington, he had a keen interest in land speculation and western development.

"Your favour of the 11th did not come to my hands till this afternoon, and though I have scarce a moment that I can call my own, having the House full of Company, some on business, & some on Visits, being the eve of my departure for Williamsburg; I cannot omit offering my thanks to Mr. Barton & you, for the obliging information respecting the Tenanting of my Lands on the Ohio.—I wish it was in my power to be as full, and satisfactory on this head, as the nature of the subject requires; but for want of time, I must at the foot of one of my printed advertisements, briefly explain the substance of the Leases I propose to give; wishing however, as the Rent may appear high, to some, for Lands so far remote, that I had leizure to offer my sentiments on this matter; & give the motives which have induced me to think that these Lands, from their Situation (considered as part of the New Colony) & superior quality, are better worth the Rent I have there fixed, than the poor Land in this part of the Country (because contiguous to Trade) is the one half of what it generally fetches."

The printed advertisement that Washington refers to was in broadside form, dated 15 July 1773, and outlined the terms on which he wished to lease his lands. Tracts could be taken rent free for four years and then held at £4 per annum per one hundred acres, provided the tenant had made a number of improvements, including clearing and fencing land for meadow as well as for cultivation, planting fruit trees, and erecting a suitable house and barn (Papers, Colonial 9:278–80; locating two copies of the advertisement annotated by Washington, at the Lilly Library and the Rosenbach).

Washington's proposals failed to elicit any interest. On 30 September, Richard Thompson wrote frankly to Washington from Philadelphia, "I really find myself much discouraged by the Terms you propose to rent or lease out Lands on, that are situated on the Waters of the Ohio; and must confess that I think it impracticable for any one to comply with them, and to me they appear to be entirely inadmissable" (Papers, Colonial 9:337). Because of reactions like Thompson's, Washington felt it necessary to elaborate further on the special advantages of his tracts to Boucher: 

"For it is to be again noted that, these Lands of mine, if the New Colony is established on the Ohio, of which there appears to be little doubt, will be in the heart of it, & consequently (the nature of the Country also considered) convenient to the Seat of Government, & Center of Trade; it being found by some late discoveries, to say nothing of the easy communication with Potomack, that the Kanhawa, & thence up Green Briar, which runs through the middle of it that is the country is navigable for small Craft within a few Miles of Jacksons River, the principal Branch of James River; which advantages, added to the scarcity of good Land—the heavy terms on which it is said the Lands in this Government will be granted (and which we may suppose must be pretty rapidly exacted, in order to support the Civil List)—and the number of Emigrants which resort to that Country, will contribute not a little to enhance the value of my Land; and make it more desirable to settle upon, as it may be enjoyed in Peace & quietness (a thing not customary there, where nothing but squabling & confusion prevails about the Land, owing to the multiplicity of Claimants) especially as the possessors will have four (in fact five) years before they have occasion to advance a shilling on of the Land."

Following this torturously constructed sentence, Washington requested Boucher "to communicate to Doctr. Barton, with my respectful Compliments; Inclosing at the same time, the Advertisement herewith sent." Perhaps despairing of accurately paraphrasing the sense of Washington's prose, Boucher evidently simply forwarded his letter to Barton. 

The letter concludes with a summary of Washington's upcoming travel plans, including his hope that he will be able to meet with Myles Cooper, president of King's College, where Jacky Custis was shortly to enroll. "It will give me real concern if I miss seeing Doctr. Cooper, in case of his coming no further than Maryland.—My journey to Williamsburg has been postponed several days, on this Acct., & cannot be put off any longer; but I have hopes from what Custis says, of seeing there—My Trip to Annapolis was attended with haste (making the ride in a day going & coming) otherwise I should have done myself the pleasure of calling upon you—My best wishes attend Mrs. & Miss Boucher, in which Mrs. Washington joins. ..."

Washington was content to wait as long as necessary to find tenants willing to accept his conditions, but many potential boarders continued to regard his "Rent ... high ... for Lands so far remote." In fact, most of Washington's western lands were never leased and remained, undeveloped, in his estate at the time of his death.