sylvania. You will, in due time, have official information of it. I am, Dr. Sir, with great esteem, Your most Obed'. Serv'. Clem'. Biddle Esq". Tobias Lear to Col. Biddle. Dear Sir, New York, October 2a. 1789. Your favor of the 30th. Ultimo came to hand last evening accompanied with the Padusoy for Mrs Washington, the bill of which was enclosed. The President will thank you to get from Mr. Bartram a list of the plants & shrubs which he has for sale, with the price affixed to each, and also a note to each of the time proper for transplanting them, as he is desireous of having some sent to Mount Vernon this fall if it is proper. It is customary for those persons who publish lists of their plants &c. to insert many which they have had, but which have been all disposed of-the President will therefore wish to have a list only of what he actually has in his Garden. Clement Biddle Esquire Dear Sir I am, Dear Sir, with very great esteem, Your most Obedt. St. Tobias Lear. George A. Washington to Col. Biddle. Mount Vernon Nov. 10th 1789 Your two last favors I have to acknowledge and to ask your pardon for having thus long passed them over, but permit me now to assure you that I am very sensible of the obligations I am under for your obliging disposition towards me, and the tender you have been pleased to make of your future services-- The Barley & Chocolate came safe-I expect in consequence of a very short crop of Buckwheat I shall have to purchase for the President's use about 400 Bushels, and have wrote to a Gentleman 50 or 60 Miles above Alexandria where the culture of this grain is much attended to requesting he would advise me of the lowest price which that quantity may be had for delivered in Alexandria. I must also beg the favor of you to give me information on this subject least I should not find it eligable to provide it from that quarter. You will also oblige me by communicating the price Current of Common & Superfine flour I beg leave to tender my respects to Mrs. Biddle and beleive me to be with much esteem I have to acknowledge the receipt of your favour of the 5th. ultimo, in which you mention your having given the mem°. contained in my letter of the 2a. of october to a nephew of Mr. Bartram who would deliver it to his uncle; but I have not since received any information relative to the plants & shrubs,-my absence from New York with the President has undoubtedly been the cause of it. The President will thank you to pay the Honble. Rob'. Morris 32 Livres-12-2 being a balance due to Gouv'. Morris Esq'. for something which he purchased for the President in France:-and also to know from him (R. M.) the amount of some floor-matts and op. of blk sattin brot. from India the summer before last in one of Mr. Morris's ships, and pay the same. You will be so good as to inform me in your next the price of Buckwheat, and if any quantity could be had on short notice in Philadelphia if it should be wanted.The Clover seed which I mentioned in a former letter has been procured here @ 10°. per lb. with very great esteem I am, Dear Sir, Your most Obedient Servant Clement Biddle Esquire. Dear Sir, Tobias Lear to Col. Biddle. New York, December 21st. 1789. I have to acknowledge your three favors of the 22a. & 30th. of Nov. and 10th. of Dec". all of which have been duly laid before the President, who now directs me to request that you will be so good as to inform me in your next, at what price per bushel 350 bushels of Buckwht. could be delivered at Alexandria if sent in bags, include. the cost of the Buckwheat-the bags-commission on purchasing-freight and every incidental charge-and what would be the cost per bush'. if sent in Barrels including every expense as above He wishes this particular calculation to determine whether he shall procure it from Philadelphia or from the back Counties in Virginia--and requests this information to be given, if it can be obtained, in the course of this week, that he may, in his letter of next week to Major Washington, direct him to procure it from the back country or wait its arrival from Philadelphia. From your last letter it is not probable the Buckwheat could be got in time to send (if it should be ordered) before the Rivers close, therefore, the calculation, I suppose, must be made with an idea of its being forwarded as early in the Spring as possible. Mrs. Washington will be much obliged to you to get from Mr. Reinagle, who taught Miss Custis music last summer, such music as he thinks proper for her to progress with through the winter-and pay him for the same, which you will be good enough to forward to New York. Present my best Resp. to Mrs. Biddle and tell her I will present her compliments to Mr. Lear on the first day of my marriage whenever that may be and I thank you, my dear Sir, for your kind congratulations which shall be reserved for the proper occasion. I am, with very sincere esteem Dr. Sir, Y'. most Obedt. Sert. Clement Biddle Esquire (To be continued.) LETTER OF MAJOR GEN. NATHANAEL GREENE TO DR. JOHN MORGAN, 1779. CONTRIBUTED BY J. TREVETT PIKE. [The following is a copy of an interesting letter of Gen. Greene in reply to one of Dr. Morgan, who had requested a certificate respecting his "conduct as Director General, and also of the state of the General Hospitals in the campaigns of 1775 and 76." The original is in the collection of Mr. J. Trevett Pike, of New York City.] "Sir: Philadelphia, I have received your several letters requesting a certificate respecting your conduct as Director Gen❜l. and also of the State of the General Hospitals in the campaigns of 1775 & 76. This address was not a little surprising and unexpected as you in your publication in 77 seem to hold me up in the light of an accuser. However as you have thought proper to make the application I shall not refuse a compliance. The Hospitals that were in the neighborhood of Boston, I was very little acquainted with. I was remote from them and on an advanced Post, within cannon shot of the Enemy, which prevented my visiting them very often. I think I never was at them more than once or twice and therefore cannot pretend to judge of the care and attention that were paid to the sick or of the economy of the Hospitals, established in them. But as there were but few complaints against the Hospital Department, while the Army lay before Boston, I imagine there was no want of care or economy. It is true there was some murmuring among the soldiers about going into the General Hospitals and there was some clamor |