October 9th

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A sketch of Elizabeth Parke Custis Law, 1805.
Elizabeth Parke Custis
National Gallery of Art

To George Washington
From Elizabeth Parke Custis* 

Hope Park, 7 September 1794

Dear & Honrd Sir.

My Sister’s success in her application to you for your Picture, gives me courage to make the same request, and as I have no other wish nearer my heart than that of possessing your likeness; I hope you will believe me sincere when I assure you, it is my first wish to have it in my power to contemplate, at all times, the features of one, who, I so highly respect as the Father of his Country and look up to with grateful affection as a parent to myself and family.

We are, Dear Sir, at present, in distress, which must be my apology for this short letter. Mamma and Patty** join me in affection to you with ardent wishes for your health and happiness, I am Honrd Sir your grateful Grand Daughter

Eliza P. Custis.

* Washington’s step-grandchild (Martha Washington’s granddaughter—18 years old) 

Sources and Abbreviations

To Elizabeth Parke Custis

German Town, 14 September 1794

My dear Betcy,

Shall I, in answer to your letter of the 7th. when you are as near the Pinnacle of happiness as your sister Patcy* conceives herself to be; or when your candour shines more conspicuously than it does in that letter, that I will then, comply with the request you have made, for my Picture? 

No: I will grant it without either: for if the latter was to be a preliminary, it would be sometime I apprehend before that Picture would be found pendant at your breast; it not being within the bounds of probability that the contemplation of an inanimate thing, whatever might be the reflections arising from the possession of it, can be the only wish of your heart. 

Respect may place it among the desirable objects of it, but there are emotions of a softer kind, to wch. the heart of a girl turned of eighteen, is susceptible, that must have generated much warmer ideas, although the fruition of them may, apparently, be more distant than those of your Sister’s.

Having (by way of a hint) delivered a sentiment to Patty, which may be useful to her (if it be remembered after the change that is contemplated, is consummated) I will suggest another, more applicable to yourself.

A portrait of President George Washington, 1793.

President George Washington, 1793
Yale University Art Gallery

Do not then in your contemplation of the marriage state, look for perfect felicity before you consent to wed. Nor conceive, from the fine tales the Poets and lovers of old have told us, of the transports of mutual love, that heaven has taken its abode on earth: Nor do not deceive yourself in supposing, that the only mean by which these are to be obtained, is to drink deep of the cup, and revel in an ocean of love. Love is a mighty pretty thing; but like all other delicious things, it is cloying; and when the first transports of the passion begins to subside, which it assuredly will do, and yield, oftentimes too late, to more sober reflections, it serves to evince, that love is too dainty a food to live upon alone, and ought not to be considered farther than as a necessary ingredient for that matrimonial happiness which results from a combination of causes; none of which are of greater importance, than that the object on whom it is placed, should possess good sense, good dispositions, and the means of supporting you in the way you have been brought up. Such qualifications cannot fail to attract (after marriage) your esteem and regard, into wch. or into disgust, sooner or later, love naturally resolves itself; and who at the sametime, has a claim to the respect, and esteem of the circle he moves in. Without these, whatever may be your first impressions of the man, they will end in disappointment; for be assured, and experience will convince you, that there is no truth more certain, than that all our enjoyments fall short of our expectations; and to none does it apply with more force, than to the gratification of the passions. You may believe me to be always, and sincerely Your Affectionate.

G:o Washington

* “Martha Parke Custis, who became Mrs. Thomas Peter.” — Fitzpatrick, et al., WGW (daughter of John Parke Custis, named after his sister)

Sources and Abbreviations

The book cover for George Washington: The Interview Powered by A.I. published by Broadwoods Publishing.

GEORGE WASHINGTON:
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