Our Collection

At the Institute’s core is the Gilder Lehrman Collection, one of the great archives in American history. More than 70,000 items cover five hundred years of American history, from Columbus’s 1493 letter describing the New World to soldiers’ letters from World War II and Vietnam. Explore primary sources, visit exhibitions in person or online, or bring your class on a field trip.

Back to Collection Search

Washington, George (1732-1799) to Burwell Bassett re: poor crops, election to House of Burgesses, Stamp Act

High-resolution images are available to schools and libraries via subscription to American History, 1493-1943. Check to see if your school or library already has a subscription. Or click here for more information. You may also order a pdf of the image from us here.

Gilder Lehrman Collection #: GLC04441 Author/Creator: Washington, George (1732-1799) Place Written: Mount Vernon Type: Autograph letter signed Date: 2 August 1765 Pagination: 1 p. 23.3 x 18.8 cm

Summary of Content: Writes about the dry weather's effects on crops, his loss of wheat to rust, etc. Washington also notes receipt of the Governor's proclamation proroguing the assembly

Background Information: Notes: Published with variations in Fitzpatrick, Writings of Washington, 2: 424. Signer of the U.S. Constitution.

Full Transcript:
Mount Vernon 2nd of Augt 1765
Dear Sir
By raft sent round by Captn. Boyes we had the pleasure to hear you were all well, but suffering with the drought ...as we are. We have never had the Ground wet in this neighbourhood [sic] since the heavy rains which fell about the first of May; in June early we had a Shower that refreshed the Corn, & gave a little start to Hemp; but the dry weather which followed, & hath since continued, renders our prospects truly melancholy; however not 10 Miles from hence, in the Forest, they are perfectly seasonable, & have promising Crops of Corn & Tobacco which is a favourable circumstance for us, as our wants of Bread may be supplied, from thence. To render my misfortunes more compleat [sic], I lost most of my Wheat by the Rust, so that I undergo the loss of a compleat [sic] Crop here, & am informed that my expectations from below are not much better.
I have not yet heard how you succeeded in Electioneering, but there was little room to doubt of yours; I changed the Scene from Frederick to this County, & had an easy & creditable . & was preparing to attend, when the Proclamation foroguing the Assembly came to hand (on the 28th ult.). convinced [sic] at the sametime that the Governor had no Inclitions to meet an Assembly at this Juncture. The bearer aits, I have only time therefore to add my Compli to Mrs. Basset & Family, & to assure you that with eat sincerity I am
Dr Sir Y[our] Most Obedt &Affecte
Go: Washington
See More

People: Washington, George, 1732-1799

Historical Era: American Revolution, 1763-1783

Subjects: PresidentExtreme WeatherAgriculture and Animal HusbandryMount VernonElectionGovernment and CivicsStamp ActTaxes or TaxationFinanceRebellion

Sub Era: Road to Revolution

Order a Copy Citation Guidelines for Online Resources

Copyright Notice: The copyright law of the United States (title 17, United States Code) governs the making of photocopies or other reproductions of copyrighted material. Under certain conditions specified in the law, libraries and archives are authorized to furnish a photocopy or other reproduction. One of these specific conditions is that the photocopy or reproduction is not to be “used for any purpose other than private study, scholarship, or research.” If a user makes a request for, or later uses, a photocopy or reproduction for purposes in excess of “fair use,” that user may be liable for copyright infringement. This institution reserves the right to refuse to accept a copying order if, in its judgment, fulfillment of the order would involve violation of copyright law.