June 6th
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“Dined with only Mrs. Washington, which I believe is the first instance of it since my retirement from public life.”
“He had some testimonials respecting his character, but being intoxicated, and in other respects appearing in an unfavorable light, I informed him that he would not answer my purposes.”
THE DIARIES OF GEORGE WASHINGTON
1785
JUNE
The Washington Family
National Portrait Gallery
Wednesday, 29th. Messrs. Philips and Edwards and Mr. Booth and Mr. Hawkins left this after Breakfast. Colo. Bassett and his two Sons; Fanny Bassett, and Nelly and Washington Custis, followed soon after for Abingdon.
Mr. George Lee and Doctr. Craik came here to breakfast and after Dinner returned.
Discovered the Cayan pepper which was sowed on the 13th to be coming up.
Thursday, 30th. My Brother Charles left this after break-fast, and G. Auge. Washington went up to Abingdon.
Rid to my Hay field at the Meadow, from thence to my Dogue Run, and Muddy hole Plantations, and dined with only Mrs. Washington, which I believe is the first instance of it since my retirement from public life.*
SEPTEMBER
Wednesday, 7th. Fanny Bassett returned before Dinner, and Doctr. Craik came to it and went away afterwards to visit John Alton, and his children at Mr. Chichesters from thence.
About Noon brought two Negro men from the River Plantation to assist in spading up the ground in front of the court yard, and Cornelius being sick Tom Davis went to assist them.
Bought 28,430 good Cyprus shingles.
At Night, a Man of the name of Purdie, came to offer himself to me as a Housekeeper, or Household Steward. He had some testimonials respecting his character, but being intoxicated, and in other respects appearing in an unfavorable light, I informed him that he would not answer my purposes, but that he might stay all night.**
Horse Race, 1845
National Gallery of Art
OCTOBER
Sunday, 8th. Mr. Rumney, Mr. Powell, and Mr. Patterson an English Gentn. dined here and returned in the Afternoon.
Monday, 9th. Rid to all the Plantations and to the Ditchers in my Mill swamp. Finished securing Fodder at the River Quarter, and would nearly do so at Dogue run. At the Ferry, gathering the Fodder of the Drilled Corn by the Meadow. Pulling pease in the Neck with the small hands. Allowed all my People to go to the races in Alexandria on one of three days as best comported with their respective businesses, leaving careful persons on the Plantations.
Tuesday, 10th. In company with Major Washington (who with his wife returned yesterday evening from Fredericksburgh) and Mr. Lear went up to Alexandria to see the Jockey club purse run for (which was won by Mr. Snickers). Dined by invitation with the Members of it and returned home in the evening.
* Washington had arrived home from Annapolis on 24 December 1784 after resigning his commission as Command in Chief and had not eaten alone with his wife for over six months.
** Written on a live-stock inventory in Washington’s diary for 1785 is listed Nelson and Blueskin, the horses he road during much of the War for Independence. He kept the horses at “the Mansion House pasture as honorable pensioners. The old war-horse [Nelson] would run, neighing, to the fence, proud to be caressed by the great master’s hands.” — Fitzpatrick, DGW & MVLA9
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