he writes.  He tells Mr. Lear that he had left his coach and harness with the coachmaker, Mr. Clarke, in Philadelphia, for repairs, and requests him to see that they are well done and at the time appointed.  The residue of the letter relates to the bringing on of his servants from New York.  It begins “Dear Sir,” and after saying that Mrs. Washington joins with him in best wishes to Mrs. Lear, concludes, “I am sincerely and affectionately yours, Geo. Washington.”  The letter fills the four pages of a sheet of letter paper in his compact but bold and legible hand, with a few interlineations made very distinctly.

The next letter is dated Mount Vernon, September 20, 1790.  After saying a few words about Mr. Morris’s house, he reverts to the subject of bringing his servants from New York to Philadelphia, naming several of them, but doubting the expediency of bringing all by sea, especially the upper servants.  The steward and his wife are mentioned as perhaps best not to be brought at all; he has no wish to part with them:  first, because he does not like to be changing; and secondly, because he did not know how to supply their places, but was much mistaken if the expenses of the second table, where the steward presided, had not greatly exceeded the proper mark; he suspected there was nothing brought to his own table of liquors, fruit, or other things, that had not been used as profusely at the steward’s; that if his suspicions were unfounded he should be sorry for having entertained them; and if not, it was at least questionable whether any successor of ****** might not do the same thing, in which case there might be a change without a benefit.  He leaves it with Mr. Lear whether to retain him or not, provided he thought him honest, of which he would be better able to judge on comparing his accounts with those of his former steward, which he (the General) had not done.  He concludes, “with sincere regard and affection, I am yours, Geo. Washington.”

[At this epoch, the seat of government had just been removed from New York to Philadelphia, making it necessary for General Washington to establish himself in the latter city, which leads him into the details given and to follow.]

The third letter is from Mount Vernon, September 27, 1790.  It begins by saying that since his last, the date of which is not recollected, as he kept no copies of these letters, two had been received from Mr. Lear, of which he gives the dates.  He approves of his mode of removing the furniture, and asks, “How have you disposed of the Pagoda?  It is a delicate piece of stuff, and will require to be handled tenderly.”