Letter, Capel and Osgood Hanbury to George Washington, October 1, 1759

A letter detailing tobacco transactions in England. This is the first such letter extant after Martha's marriage to George Washington, and is significantly addressed to him rather than her.

Capel and Osgood Hanbury

Fields, Joseph E. 'Worthy Partner': The Papers of Martha Washington. Westport, Conn.: Greenwood Press, 1994.

Greenwood Press

1759-10-01

Joseph E. Fields, editor

eng

Published version of manuscript document

Fields, Joseph E. 'Worthy Partner': The Papers of Martha Washington. Westport, Conn.: Greenwood Press, 1994.

Custis Papers, Virginia Historical Society

Esteemed Friend.                                         London Ocr 1:1759

We are favored with Thine of June 12th, informing Us of Thy Marriage with our friend Martha Custis, upon which circumstances we heartily congratulate you both, & wish you a great d(ea)l of happyness, - We observe Thy directions in regard to our addressing our Letters in relation to Coll. Custis's Estate, which we shall do accordingly-

We are sorry the Sales of the 28 Hhds Tobacco P the King of Prussia was not satisfactory, assure Thee that considering the Quality, we thought we sold Them very well, and was told by the Buyer that they were not near so good as those sent (mutilated) indeed it was with no small difficulty, that we ob(muti1ated)e price we did; please to observe that many of them were light, which Hhds paying the same charges as heavier, reduces the produce consideraby, & we are sorry to say the Quality of those P the Anna were far from what we could wish, owing to their being put up in too high case, and that Crop of Tobacco in General as but ordinary - inclosed comes Acct. Sales for Them wch (mutilated) these are too light, indeed much lighter than we could wish'd, No. 2 was exceeding bad, & it gave us a good deal of trouble to get the price it sold for, the Buyers informs us that they were put up in too high a case, which we mention again for Thy government - It will give Us great pleasure to receive Thy Consignments P the Fleet & we (mutilated) our endeavours shall not be wanting (mutilated) entrusted to Our care, This now forwards Acct Current (mutilated) hope will be found right, if otherwise please to note it, & the Error shall be carefully examin'd into, - Thee cannot well imagine what trouble we have had in the settlement of the Salvage of the Anna, she being retook by Three privateers, each of which had its manag(muti1ated) but we look upon it, that considering the time she was in Possession of the French, we (adjusted it as) well as could be, and indeed had the concern been all our own, we could not have done better - the chief News at present, or what is mostly talked of, is the intended invasion from the French, to be sure they have assembled a large Body of Troops together, to embark on board Transports, but when they really think of attempting it, is very uncertain, N(o) doubt but any probability of Their landing on our (mutilated) will put us here in great confusion, all the necess(ary means) for preventing it hath been & are taken, which they must certainly be acquainted with it, &which we hope weill make them laid the plan aside - Concludes with regard

                                                  Thy Assured Friends
                                                  Cape1 & Osgood Hanbury

To Geo: Washington, Esqr.

Autograph Letter Signed