ALS signed “Go. Washington,” one page, 7.5 x 11.75, Mt. Vernon, September 9, 1785. Addressed to “Col. Gilpin” on the back, and docketed (presumably by Gilpin) “From His Excelly. G Washington, Septr. 9th. 1785.” Washington writes in full: “Dear Sir, I received a letter yesterday from Governors Johnson and Lee which I wish to lay before you and Colo. Fitzgerald.–I shall set off in a few minutes for Alexandria, where I should be glad to meet you as soon as it is convenient as it is my present intention to return home by Dinner…I am, Dr Sir, Yr. Obedt. Hmble Sevrt, Go. Washington.” Attractively double suede matted and framed with a color portrait of Washington, to an overall size of 25.5 x 21.5. Several small holes only trivially affecting the text, staining to the lower (blank) panel from the wax seal, and scattered light foxing, otherwise fine condition, with a large, dark signature. Johnson was the first governor of Maryland from 1777 to 1779, and Lee occupied the same office from 1780-82 and 1790-94. At the time he wrote this letter, Washington was experimenting with novel ways to increase the fertility of his farms. Certain that "the bed of the Potomac before my door, contains an inexhaustable fund of manure . . . if I could adopt an easy, simple, and expeditious method of raising, and taking it to the Land," he considered using a special dredge developed by Arthur Donaldson, the "Hippopotamus," to bring it to the surface and in the fall of 1785 borrowed a scow belonging to George Gilpin to raise Potomac mud. COA John Reznikoff/PSA/DNA and R&R COA.
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