Washington, George, first President

Autograph letter signed ("G: Washington"), 1 page plus integral address leaf (9 x 7 1/2 in.; 228 x 190 mm), Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, 27 June 1795, to John Cannon, in Washington City; formerly folded, some small fold tears and a seal tear on address leaf, three words slightly smudged by damp. Black half-morocco cream cloth slipcase, two engraved portraits of GW, and a clipped signature with that of Edmund Randolph laid in.

Writings of George Washington, ed. Fitzpatrick, 34: 220; see J. Achenbach, The Grand Idea: George Washington's Potomac and the Race to the West (2004), pp. 145-150

formerly folded, some small fold tears and a seal tear on address leaf, three words slightly smudged by damp
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.

Washington's western lands and the problems thereof.

Washington bought land in Augusta County, Virginia (now Washington County, Pennsylvania) in 1775. After the war (1784), he came to visit the land and brought suit to eject squatters who lived on the property. The suit was problematic as Washington's warrant to the land postdated the arrival of the squatters (due to a clerical error) but Washington tried to gather any earlier surveys that could be found. These were unfortunately destroyed by the British, along with many other public documents, in 1781. But Washington won the case, and engaged John Cannon (d. 1799), a justice of the peace, to clear the land of the squatters. He managed to rent it to new tenants and ultimately sold the land in 1796, issuing a loan which was never repaid, so that the land returned to his heirs in the next century.

In the present letter, Washington is settling accounts with his overseer, probably with a future sale in mind: "Please to deliver to Mr. Ross ... the Surveys of all my lands with which you have been furnished. And let me entreat you to make, without further delay, a final settlement of the accounts between us; — pay what is in your hands; — and deposit the statement of all that is due to me from the tenants, with the papers respecting the several tenements, with Mr. Morgan; that he may, thereby, be enabled to go on with my business."