Beschreibung:

Title: Thee Autograph Letters, signed by William Washington two of them to President George Washington, one to Maj. George A. Washington, all docketed by George Washington Author: Washington, William Place: Charleston & Sandy Hill Publisher: Date: 1792-1794 Description: Three letters: Charleston, Oct. 15th, 1792. From William Washington to George A. Washington. 4 pp. on 2 sheets of plain paper, 12¾x7¾. Docketed by George Washington in the margin of the first page “From Col. Wm. Washington, to Maj. Gen. George A. Washington, 15th Oct. 1792.” * Sandy Hill, April 20th, 1793. From William Washington to George Washington. 3 pp. on 4-page lettersheet, 9¼x7¾. Docketed by George Washington on p.4 “From Col. Wm. Washington, 29th Apr. 1792.” * Sandy Hill, Jan. 6th, 1794. From William Washington to George Washington. 4 pp. on 4-page lettersheet 9¾x7¾. Docketed by George Washington in margin of p.4 “From Col. Willm. Washington, 6th Jan. 1794”. Fascinating and historically significant series of letters from William Washington second cousin (it is believed) of George Washington, each docketed in the hand of George Washington, with the “Washington” he writes four times being the same as the “Washington” of his signature. The letters all concern the pedigreed jackass “Royal Gift” (so-called because it was a gift of the king of Spain) that was sent to George Washington to sire a brood of mules, which were fascinating to the president for their strength, heartiness, and longevity. The jack arrived in 1785, and was immediately set to work “covering” various mares and jenneys, to the financial advantage of the general. With the maturation of Royal Gift’s son, Compound, out of a Maltese jenney, Royal Gift was sent on a southern tour, to sire mules for the gentry. The letters concern that episode. George A. Washington, to whom the first letter was sent, was George Washington’s nephew, and served as overseer of Mount Vernon during Washington’s first term as president. The letters reflect the president’s strong interest in husbandry, and are relevant beyond the fact that he has docketed each of them. The first letter reads in part, “I have postponed writing until now that I might give you an account of the profits arising from the covering of Royal Gift… The length of the journey had such an effect upon the limbs of Royal Gift …it was with the greatest difficulty that he could get up after lying down & indeed for some time his life was despaired of. However he had so far recovered by the middle of May that he was put to covering, but it was thought prudent as he was weak & low in flesh, not to receive more than forty odd Mares & Jinnies. He stood at a Mr. Fraser’s on Ashley River & has covered twenty eight Jinnies at six Guineas each & thirteen Mares at five Guineas…” William Washington writes some more about the economics of the stud service, and remarks “I have often regretted that I made application to the President to send Royal Gift to this Country as his adherence to his promise prevented his disbursing him upon advantageous terms & the profits of covering have not been near so great as was expected…” George A. Washington, to whom this letter was sent, was at this time absent from Mount Vernon, due to ill health, and the letter was answered by the President himself, which letter, dated Jan. 30, 1793, is printed in Writings of Washington, p. 319-320. The other two letters, written directly to President Washington, continue the saga of Royal Gift. April 20, 1793, “…Royal Gift has not & am apprehensive that it will be a considerable time before he will be entirely recovered from the effects of his journey to this country. He has been affected with a stiffness in his joins & a period of lameness…To his not being in good order may also be attributed a large proportion of the Mares & She asses which were sent to him last season not being in foal although he apparently performed very well the services required of him…” Jan. 6, 1