October 16th
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“He wishes not to exclude himself from the sight or conversation of his fellow citizens; but their eagerness to shew their affection frequently imposes a heavy tax on him.”
From Tobias Lear
New York, 26 August 1790
Dear Sir,
I have now before me your favor of the 24th. inst. inclosing the bill and receipt for a dictionary. The waiter you will be so good as to take on the Presidents Acct. and keep it with you till we remove to Philadelphia.
The President will probable be in Philadelphia about the 3d. of Septr. and as he intends to tarry there 2 or 3 days he has directed me to request that you will engage lodgings for him, during that time, at Mrs. Houses, if she can accommodate all of his family who will attend him. They are as follow, The President and Mrs. Washington, Mrs. Washington’s two little grand Children, Mr. Nelson and Major Jackson, two maids, 4 White Servants and 4 black do. If Mrs. House can accommodate this number, the Horses of which there are 16 will be sent to Mr. Hiltzimers Stables of which you will be so good as to give him Notice. Should Mrs. House not be able to accommodate this number of persons The President then wishes you to engage lodgings for all at the City Tavern, and in that case, the Horses will be kept at the same place and notice need not be given to Mr. Hiltzimer. The President would prefer Lodgings at Mrs. Houses if they can be obtained.
Tobias Lear
Letters and Recollections
I will now, Sir, agreeably to your request inform you of the arrangement, as to time, which the President has made for his Journey. He is detained in New York to complete some business in the Treasury and War departments which the Heads of these departments inform him will be finished by Saturday; in which case he will leave this place on Monday noon, reach Elizabeth Town that Night, Brunswick on Tuesday night, Trenton on Wednesday Night, Breakfast at Bristol on Thursday and proceed from thence to Philadelphia. This I know is his present intention and if the business which detains him, is completed on Saturday, and no unforseen circumstances occur to retard his progress, it will be carried into effect. He will travel slow in the beginning of his Journey as he has a Number of horses some of which are young and all in that State, as to exercise, which requires moderation at first setting out.
I give you this information in compliance with your request; but at the same time I must repeat what I observed in a former letter, that as little ceremony and parade may be made as possible; for the President wishes to command his own time, which these things always forbid in a greater or less degree, and they are to him fatiguing and oftentimes painful. He wishes not to exclude himself from the sight or conversation of his fellow citizens; but their eagerness to shew their affection frequently imposes a heavy tax on him.*
I shall not accompany the President, but remain in New York until arrangements are made, for the President directs me to observe, that two lodging Rooms will accommodate himself, Mrs. Washington, the children and two maids; and one Room will serve the two Gentlemen. The servants she knows how she can best accommodate. You will be good enough to give the President timely information of the House in which he is to lodge that he may drive directly there on his arrival. I am, &c.
Tobias Lear
* Washington wrote James McHenry on 12 August 1792: “I shall confess to you candidly, I have no relish for formal and ceremonious engagements and only give into them when they cannot be avoided; among other reasons, because it oftentimes, if not always, proves inconvenient to some of the party bestowing, if it is not to the party receivg. the compliment of a public dinner; being, a tax which I am as unwilling to impose, as many are to pay if false delicasy would allow them to express their real sentiments. If it should so happen that I conveniently, spend a day in Baltimore as I return it would give me pleasure to dine with yourself and a few other friends that I can, in a social way; and on this footing let the matter rest, as no previous notice of my coming is necessary in this case.”
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