Letter, from John Dandridge, September 6, 1791

John Dandridge

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

Greenwood Press

09/06/1791

Joseph E. Fields, editor

Published version of manuscript document

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

Mount Vernon Ladies' Association

My Dr. Aunt                                                        Pamocra Septr. 6, 91

I was very sorry to hear of Washington illness sometime ago, by a letter from Bart, as well (for your account as on my) - I hope he is well by this time & that you are enjoying the pleasure of his recovery -

I expected to have heard (illegible) Bart (illegible) in the presidents' Family, from you before this & I now request you to afford me your information on that subject - Bart is very well pleased with his situation I find by his letters, & I hope he will endeavor to please every body he acts for - I trust you will exercise your authority as a relation as well as your advisor to inforce on him a proper sense of his Duty, & to guard him from being led astray by the temptation to idleness & extravagance which surround him -

I now find I shall not be able to raise out of my fathers estate enough to pay all in Debt - The property I had to sell has depreciated in value below any suspicisions, & I have not collected anything due to him in his life, as he kept but four regular accounts & vouchers & those few were burnt in his house - worth £550- paid as security to one (Quarter?) I have also lost as the president perhaps expected that my Mother would be able to pay for the negroes he had lent her hitherto, I have thought it necessary to undeceive him, & I have accordingly write to on the subject - the loan of so many negroes is too much for her to expect, & as she must be reduced to it sometime or other, she had better begin to accomodate herself to the want of them at once - I really thought that I should have been able to buy some of them for her, or I should not have written to you as I did in 1788 - I fear the president may suspect that I meant to deceive him by exciting expectations of payment, which I knew were not well founded: however I assure you, I have till lately been mistaken in my opinion of my Fathers Estate, & I take this early opportunity of informing you & him of it - I would give every farthing I have to my Mother & work myself for the support of her & her little children sooner than I would practise such a Deceit knowingly on any one much less on a benefactor -

We are well except my mother who has still a hectic disorder - The Family join in sending their Love & duty to you the Children Th(?)

I am My Dear aunt yrs.
dutifully & affcty
J Dandridge

Let me hear from you
shortly

Draft