MAY 19th
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“It is, and ever has been a rule with me, never to suffer a man to look for a just debt without receiving payment.”
To Alexander Smith
Philadelphia, 14 November 1796
Sir,
Your letter of the 9th. has been duly received. When I authorised Mr. Pearce to sell my flour, I limitted him to the longest credit the circumstances of my own concerns would enable me to give, consistently with my own wants, and the arrangements I had contemplated. To extend the credit ninety days longer, would not only derange my own plans, but, as the same causes will always produce the same effects, at the end of ninety days, a further indulgence might be required.
It is from the produce of this flour that Mr. Pearce himself; all the Overseers; and a variety of other incidental expences, are to be paid. It is, and ever has been a rule with me, never to suffer a man to look for a just debt without receiving payment; and before I left home (repeating it since) in very strong terms, I have directed Mr. Pearce to settle with every one, and pay to the last farthing I owe; that there may be no after claims when he is gone, either upon his successor or myself. I mention these facts, and circumstances, to shew you how extremely inconvenient it will be for me, to comply with your request.
The Washington’s Grist Mill (reconstruction). LOC
Nevertheless, being unwilling to distress any one, if it be possible to avoid it, I shall direct Mr. Pearce in the letter I am about to write to him, to day, to ascertain the aggregate sum required, to pay the demands upon him, on my account; and if you will give him the most unequivocal surety of paying it on, or before the 24th. of December (that he may have time between that and the first of January to clear himself out;) and will give unquestionably security also that the residue shall be paid on or before the first day of March, both sums carrying interest from the day they become due and are paid; that he may fix the matter with you agreeably thereto. I cannot forbear adding, however that the receipt of the whole sum, on the day it becomes due, would be infinitely more pleasing to me; but if this cannot be, you are to expect no favor from me in case of second disappointment. I am—Sir Your Very Hble Servant
G:o Washington
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