| Title: |
George Washington to Thomas Jefferson, September 26, 1785
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| Source: |
Thomas Jefferson Papers, Library of Congress
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| Overview: |
While anticipating the arrival of Houdon, who is to begin the sculpture commissioned by the State of Virginia, George Washington informs Thomas Jefferson that subscriptions for inland expeditions up the Potomac and James Rivers have all been sold to American investors. Washington also informs Jefferson of the Virginia Assembly's developing plans for the western part of the state, particularly in relation to North Carolina and Kentucky.
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Mount Vernon, 26th Sept. 1785.
I have had the honor to
receive your favors of the 10th. and 17th. of July
which were committed to the care of Mr.
Houdon; but I have not yet had the pleasure
to see that Gentleman. His Instruments
and materials (Doctr Franklin informs
me) not being arrived at Havre when
they Sailed he was obliged to leave
them; and is now employed in providing
others at Philadelphia, with which he
will proceed to this place as soon as
they are ready. -- I shall take great
pleasure in shewing Mr. Houdon every
civility, and attention in my power during
his stay in this Country, as I feel my
self under personal obligations to you
and Doctr. Franklin (as the State of Virginia
have done me the honor to direct a Statue to be erected to my Memory) for havg.
entrusted the execution of it to so eminent
an Artist, and so worthy a character.--
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I have the pleasure to inform
you, that the subscriptions to the inland
Navigations of the Rivers Potomack Maps:
and James Maps:
require no aid from Foreigners.-- the product
of the first when the Books were exhibited
at the General Meeting in May last, amounted
to 40,300. Sterling, and is since nearly compleated to the full Sum required by Law.--
That of the latter, at the General Meeting
in August, were superabundant.-- The
work of the former began the first of
August, and is progressing very well,
the latter I am persuaded will do more than keep
pace with it, as the difficulties are much less.
I have the further pleasure to
inform you (and I should have done it long
since, had I not supposed that your information would have been more full & perfect from
some of your friends in the Assembly) that a
resolution authorizing the Executive to
appoint Commissioners to explore & Report
the best communication between the Waters
of Elizabeth River Maps:
and those of Albermarle Maps:
passed last Session.
That the Commrs. have proceeded to the Survey
and have reported in favor of that which
will pass through Drummonds pond to the
Pasquetank; but what will be the result
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I am unable to inform you, as I find by
some of the principal characters of No.
Carolina (Members of Congress) who have
called here, that jealousies prevail, and
a powerful opposition will be given to any
Water Communication between the two
States, lest Virginia should derive the
benefits arising from their Exports &ca.
I am very happy to find that your sentiments respecting the interest the Assembly was pleased to give me in the two navigations of the Potomack and James Rivers Maps: , coincide so well with my own.-- I never, for a moment, entertained an idea of accepting; the difficulty which laboured in my mind was how to refuse without giving offence.-- Ultimately I have it in contemplation to apply the profits arising from the Tolls to some public use.-- In this, if I knew how, I would meet the wishes of the Assembly; but if I am not able to get at these, my own inclination leads me to apply them to the establishment of two charity Schools, one on each River, for the Education and support of poor Children; especially the descendants of those who have fallen in defence of their Country.
I can say nothing decisely respecting the Western Settlement of the State. The Inhabitants of Kentucke have held several Conventions, and have resolved to apply for a Seperation.-- But what may be the final issue of it, is not for me, at this time, to inform you. Opinions, as far as they have come to my knowledge, are diverse. I have uniformly given it as mine, to meet them upon their own ground, draw the best line, and best terms we can of seperation and part good friends--. After the next Session of our Assembly more may be discovered, and communicated, and if you should not receive it through a better channel, I will have the honor to inform you.
I am sorry I cannot give you
full information respecting Captn. Bushnals projects for the destruction of Shipping.-- No interesting experiment having been made, and my memory being treacherous, I may, in some measure,
be mistaken in what I am about to relate.
Bushnal is a man of great
Mechanical powers, fertile of invention,
and master in execution. He came
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to me in 1776 recommended by Governor
Trumbull (now dead) and other respectable characters who were proselites to
his plan. Although I wanted faith myself, I furnished him with money, and
other aids to carry it into execution.
He laboured for sometime ineffectually, and though the advocates for
his scheme continued sanguine he never did succeed.
One accident or another was always
intervening.-- I then thought, and still
think, that it was an effort of genius;
but that a combination of too many
things were requisite, to expect much
success from the enterprise against an
enemy, who are always upon guard.
That he had a Machine which was
so contrived as to carry a man under water
at any depth he chose, and for a considerable time and distance, with an apparatus charged with Powder which
he could fasten to a Ships bottom or side
and give fire to in any given time (Sufft.
for him to retire) by means whereof
a ship could be blown up, or sunk, are
facts which I believe admit of little doubt
but then, where it was to operate
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against an enemy, it is no easy matter
to get a person hardy enough to encounter the variety of dangers to which he
must be exposed. 1 from the novelty
2 from the difficulty of conducting the
machine, and governing it under water
on Acct. of the Currents &ca. 3 the consequent uncertainty of hitting the object
of destination, without rising frequently
above water for fresh observation, wch.
when near the Vessel, would expose the
Adventurer to a discovery, and almost to
certain death.-- To these causes I
always ascribed the non-performance
of his plan, as he wanted nothing that
I could furnish, to secure the success
of it. This to the best of my recollection is a true state of the case.-- But
Humphreys, if I mistake not, being
one of the proselites, will be able to give
you a more perfect Acct. of it than I have done.
Banner image: From the Collection of The New-York Historical Society. Accession number 1867.306.
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