Enys, John, and Elizabeth Cometti, ed. The American Journals of Lt. John Enys. Blue Mountain Lake, N.Y.: Adirondack Museum, 1976.

“[February 12, 1788]…As to his [George Washington’s] Lady she appears to me to be a Plain good Woman very much resembling the Character of Lady Bountyfull, is very cheerfull and seems most happy when contributing towards the happiness of others….” (251-252)

journal

Papers of Joshua Coit, Library of Congress.

Library of Congress

letters

Murray, Judith Sargent. Bonnie Hurd Smith, ed.From Gloucester to Philadelphia in 1790: Observations, Anecdotes, and Thoughts from the 18th-Century Letters of Judith Sargent Murray. Cambridge, Mass.: Judith Sargent Murray Society and Curious Traveller Press, 1998.

From Judith Sargent Murray to her parents, New Rochelle, New York, 8/14/1790: “…While Mr Murray [the author’s husband] visited at the President’s Mrs Washington dispatched a Messenger from her apartments, importing that she should be pleased with a visit from Mrs Murray, that if she—Mrs Murray—preferred enjoyment to ceremony, she need not wait for a Levee day—for Mrs Washington would certainly be at home, whenever it should suit Mrs Murray’s convenience, and the President too, deigned to enquire, if my journey had bestowed upon me the blessings of health—all this, you will believe, was highly flattering--…About Six O-clock we took a coach for the presence…Colonel Humphry’s, offering his hand, ushered us into the drawing room, a number of Ladies were with Mrs Washington, and her matronlike appearance, and Lady like condescension, soon dissipated every painful idea of distance—taking my hand she seated me by her side, and addressing herself particularly to me, as the only stranger present, she engaged me in the most familiar, and agreeable Chat—she interrogated me respecting my journey, asked if my acquaintance in New York was extensive, and in what part of the City I abode—She informed me she had the pleasure of being acquainted with my brother, and she spoke of his late marriage, and the death of his Companion, as events which had interested her feelings…Mrs Washington’s face is an index of a good heart, and those Virtues which I am told she eminently possesseth, are impressed upon every feature—need I add, that her countenance is irresistibly prepossessing…In the course of the two hours passed at the President’s various topics of conversation were introduced—Mrs Washington, as I said was condescendingly attentive to me, as a stranger I was constantly by her side, and addressing me in a low voice, she spoke of her family—she hath been a happy mother, one son, and one daughter, by a former marriage, they now, however, both sleep in the narrow house—One grand Son, and three granddaughters survive—I know, said Mrs Washington, that my daughter in law would soon enter into new engagements, and I urged her to yield her two youngest children to my care—this she obligingly did, and consequently a grandson, and granddaughter, reside constantly at the President’s—Mrs Washington hath educated a Niece [Fanny Bassett], now united in marriage, to a favourite Nephew [George Augustine Washington] of the General and the young couple reside upon, and have the care of that fine Estate, of which we have heard so much, at Mount Vernon—To which elegant seat, the President and his Lady, will during the recess of Congress, rapidly bend their steps—The family, thus circumstanced, it is hardly to be regretted, that the General hath no son, to whom to transmit his honours, and his Virtue, for he cannot but be immortal—his Lady is universally beloved, and the sons of Columbia are their children…Mrs Washington in her aside conversation, spoke of the General’s later alarming illness, and while she expressed her happiness in his present restoration, a tear of apprehension for futurity was in her eye—I embraced this opportunity, of expressing the emotions of my bosom and while I adverted to the common interest, which every American held in a life so precious, I allowed the superiority of her tender, and sacred claims…Thursday, very unexpectedly opened another scene—I was sitting in my little apartment, alone, and buried in thought—strange that I possessed not the smallest presentiment, of the distinction which awaited me—but so it was…Mrs Washington, and Mrs Lear were immediately ushered in[.] If any thing could exceed my surprise, it was the charming freedom with which Mrs Washington took her seat—The unmeaning fopperies of ceremony seem to make no part of this Lady’s Character, inborn benevolence, beams upon her countenance, points her address, and dictates the most pleasing expressions to her lips—one whole hour she condescendingly devoted to me, and so much friendship did her salutations connect, so interesting and animated was our conversation, that a bystander would not have entertained an idea of the distance between us, would hardly have supposed, that we met but for the second time, thus benignly good, and thus adorned with social virtues is our Lady Presidentess, and I confess that in a way perfectly correspondent with my feelings, I have been most highly gratified….” (246, 248-250, 254)

Perkins, Bradford. "A Diplomat's Wife in Philadelphia: Letters of Henrietta Liston, 1796-1800." The William & Mary Quarterly, 11 4 (October, 1954): 592-632.

From Mrs. Henrietta Liston to her uncle, Phila. Feb. 1797: “In my last I mentioned that Mr. Adams had carried his Ellection [sic] for President, it was only by three Votes. Washington is preparing for retirement with a very cheerful Countenance—Mrs. Washingtons [sic] heart seems a little melted, as she never expects to see Philadelphia again; she prest [sic] me to come to Mount-vernon this Summer but I made my excuses, as our wishes bend to the North….” (608)

From Mrs. Henrietta Liston to her uncle, Phila., 7/12/1797: “…to-morrow Congress rises (I am glad of it,) on the following day we dine, by invitation, with the President [John Adams], who, as his Wife is not in very good health is glad to run from the heat of Philadelphia, I believe I told you how pleased I am with Mrs. Adams, she has spirit enough to laugh at [journalist Benjamin F.] Baches [sic] abuse of her Husband, which poor Mrs. Washington could not, I hope to acquire that sort of spirit in time, but the thing is new to me yet-" (613)

china

The Martha Washington Collection, Mount Vernon.

Editors of The Ladies' Magazine to Martha Washington, May 18, 1793. Papers of Martha Washington, Mount Vernon.

Mount Vernon

My Dear Madam                             New York December the 26th 1789

Your very friendly letter of the 27th of last month has afforded me much more satisfaction than all the formal compliments and emty ceremonies of mear etiquette could possably have done. - I am not apt to forget the feelings that have been inspired by my former society with good acquaintances, nor to be insensible to thair expressions of gratitude to the President of the United States; for you know me well enough to do me the justice to beleive that I am only fond of what comes from the heart. - Under a conviction that the demonstrations of respect and affection which have been made to the President originate from that source I cannot deny that I have taken some interest and pleasure in them. - The difficulties which presented themselves to view upon his first entering upon the Presidency, seem thus to be in some measure surmounted: it is owing to this kindness of our numerous friends in all quarters that my new and unwished for situation is not indeed a burden to me. When I was much younger I should, probably, have enjoyed the inoscent gayeties of life as much as most my age; -but I had long since placed all the prospects of my future worldly happyness in the still enjoyments of the fireside at Mount Vernon -

I little thought when the war was finished, that any circumstances could possible have happened which would call the General into public life again. I had anticipated, that from this moment we should have been left to grow old in solitude and tranquility togather: that was, my Dear madam, the first and dearest wish of my heart; - but in that I have been disapointed; I will not, however, contemplate with too much regret disapointments that were enevitable, though the generals feelings and my own were perfectly in unison with respect to our predilictions for privet life, yet I cannot blame him for having acted according to his ideas of duty in obaying the voice of his country. The consciousness of having attempted to do all the good in his power, and the pleasure of finding his fellow citizens so well satisfied with the disintrestedness of his conduct, will, doubtless, be some compensation for the great sacrifices which I know he has made; indeed in his journeys from Mount Vernon - to this place; in his late Tour through the eastern states, by every public and by every privet information which has come to him, I am persuaded that he has experienced nothing to make him repent his having acted from what he concieved to be alone a sense of indespensable duty: on the contrary, all his sensibility has been awakened in receiving such repeated and unaquivocal proofs of sincear regards from all his country men. with respect to myself, I sometimes think the arrangement is not quite as it ought to have been, that I, who had much rather be at home should occupy a place with which a great many younger and gayer women would be prodigiously pleased. - As my grand children and domestic connections made a great portion of the felicity which I looked for in this world. - 1 shall hardly be able to find any substitute that would indemnify me for the Loss of a part of such endearing society. I do not say this because I feel dissatisfied with my present station - no, God forbid: - for everybody and everything conspire to make me as contented as possable in it; yet I have too much of the vanity of human affairs to expect felicity from the splendid scenes of public life. - I am still determined to be cheerful and to be happy in whatever situation I may be, for I have also learnt from experianence that the greater part of our happiness or misary depends upon our dispositions, and not upon our circumstances; we carry the seeds of the one, or the other about with us, in our minds, wherever we go.

I have two of my grand children with me who enjoy advantages in point of education, and who, I trust by the goodness of providence, will continue to be a great blessing to me, my other two grand children are with thair mother in virginia. -

The Presidents health is quite reestablished by his late journey - mine is much better than it used to be - I am sorry to hear that General Warren has been ill: hope before this time that he may be entirely recovered - we should rejoice to see you both, I wish the best of Heavens blessings, and am my dear madam with esteem and

regard your friend and Hble
Sert
M Washington

Mrs Warren

Autograph Letter Signed

My dear Fanny                                       New York October the 23d 1789

I have by Mrs Sims sent you a watch it is one of the cargoe that I have so long mentioned to you, that was expected, I hope is such a one as will please you - it is of the newest fashon, if that has any influence on your tast - The chain is of Mr Lears choosing and such as Mrs Adams the vice Presidents Lady and those in the polite circle wares. It will last as long as the fashon - and by that time you can get another of a fashonable kind - I send to dear Maria a piece of Chino to make her a frock - the piece of muslin I hope is long enough for an apron for you, and in exchange for it, 1 beg you will give me the worked muslin apron you have like my gown that I made just before I left home of worked muslin as I wish to make a petticoat of the two aprons - for my gown - Mrs Sims will give you a better account of the fashons than I can - I live a very dull life hear and know nothing that passes in the town - I never goe to the publick place - indeed I think I am more like a state prisoner than anything else, there is certain bounds set for me which I must not depart from - and as I can not doe as I like I am obstinate and stay at home a great deal -

The President set out this day week on a tour to the eastward Mr Lear and Major Jackson attended him - my dear children has had very bad colds but thank god they are getting better My love and good wishes attend you and all with you - remember me to Mr & Mrs L Wn how is the poor child - kiss Maria I send her two little handkerchiefs to wipe her nose

Adieu
I am my dear Fanny yours
most affectionately
M Washington

Mrs F Washington
Mount Vernon
Favored by
Mrs. Sims

Autograph Letter Signed