TO JOHN BLAIR, PRESIDENT OF THE COUNCIL. 1 - George Washington, The Writings of George Washington, vol. II (1758-1775) [1889]
Edition used:
The Writings of George Washington, collected and edited by Worthington Chauncey Ford (New York and London: G. P. Putnam’s Sons, 1889). Vol. II (1758-1775).
About Liberty Fund:
Liberty Fund, Inc. is a private, educational foundation established to encourage the study of the ideal of a society of free and responsible individuals.
Copyright information:
The text is in the public domain.
Fair use statement:
This material is put online to further the educational goals of Liberty Fund, Inc. Unless otherwise stated in the Copyright Information section above, this material may be used freely for educational and academic purposes. It may not be used in any way for profit.
- The Writings of George Washington.
- 1758.
- To John Blair, President of the Council. 1
- To Colonel Stanwix.
- To Brigadier-general Stanwix.
- To Major Francis Halket.
- To the President of the Council.
- To Sir John St. Clair.
- To the President of the Council.
- To the President of the Council.
- To Major Francis Halket.
- To the President of the Council.
- To General Forbes.
- To Governor Fauquier.
- To Colonel Henry Bouquet, Commanding At Raystown.
- To Colonel Bouquet.
- To Colonel Bouquet.
- To Colonel Bouquet.
- To Colonel Bouquet.
- To Colonel Bouquet.
- To Mrs. Martha Custis.
- To Colonel Bouquet.
- To Colonel Bouquet.
- To [gabriel Jones]?
- To Colonel James Wood.
- To Colonel Bouquet. 2
- To Colonel Bouquet.
- To Major Francis Halket, Brigade Major.
- To Governor Fauquier.
- To Colonel Bouquet.
- To Colonel Bouquet.
- To Colonel Bouquet.
- To Colonel Bouquet.
- To John Robinson.
- To Governor Fauquier.
- To Mrs. George William Fairfax.
- To Governor Fauquier.
- To Mrs. George Wm. Fairfax.
- To Governor Fauquier.
- To General Forbes.
- To Governor Fauquier.
- To General Forbes.
- To General Forbes.
- To General Forbes.
- To Governor Fauquier.
- To Governor Fauquier.
- To General Forbes.
- 1759.
- To Robert Cary and Company, Merchants, London.
- To Richard Washington.
- To Robert Cary and Company.
- Invoice of Sundries to Be Sent By Robert Cary and Company For the Use of George Washington.
- Invoice of Sundries to Be Shipped By Robert Cary and Company, For the Use of Master John and Miss Patty Custis, Each to Be Charged to Their Own Accounts, But Both Consigned to George Washington, Potomac River.
- To Robert Cary and Company.
- 1760.
- Journal, 1 1760.
- To Richard Washington.
- To Robert Cary & Co., London.
- To Captain Robert Mackenzie, At Venango.
- 1761.
- To Richard Washington.
- To Reverend Charles Green. 1
- To Richard Washington.
- 1762.
- [to George William Fairfax]?
- 1763.
- To Chs. Lawrence, Tailor In London.
- To Robert Stewart.
- To Robert Stewart.
- Notes On the Dismal Swamp. 1
- 1764.
- To Robert Cary & Co.
- 1765.
- Messrs. Carlyle & Adam.
- To Col. Burwell Bassett.
- To Francis Dandridge, London.
- 1766.
- To Captain Joh. Thompson.
- 1767.
- To Captain John Posey.
- To William Crawford. 1
- To Colonel Armstrong.
- To Captain John Posey.
- 1768.
- Diary For 1768. 1
- To Rev. Jonathan Boucher. 1
- To Robert Cary & Co.
- 1769.
- To William Ramsay. 1
- To George Mason. 1
- To Colonel Bassett.
- To Colonel John Armstrong.
- 1770.
- To Lord Botetourt, Governor of Virginia. 1
- To Dr. Boucher.
- To Dr. Boucher.
- The Session of the Burgesses In 1770. 1
- To Geo. Wm. Fairfax.
- To Dr. Boucher.
- Journal of a Tour to the Ohio River. 2
- To Dr. Boucher.
- To Dr. Boucher.
- 1771.
- To Dr. Boucher. 1
- To — Colston.
- To Dr. Boucher.
- To Robert Cary & Co.
- The Annapolis Races of 1771.
- To George Mercer, London. 1
- To Robert Stobo.
- 1772.
- To Dr. Boucher.
- To Dr. Boucher.
- To Lord Dunmore, Lieutenant Governor of Virginia. 1
- To Matthew Campbell. 1
- To Lord Dunmore and Council.
- 1773.
- To Colonel Bassett.
- To Captain John Dalton.
- To Rev. Dr. Thruston.
- To James Wood. 1
- To James Wood.
- To Benedict Calvert.
- To Lord Dunmore, Governor of Virginia.
- To Colonel Bassett.
- Journey to New York, 1773. 1
- To Colonel Bassett.
- Advertisement of the Ohio Lands. 1
- To Willliam Crawford.
- To Michael Cresap.
- To Colonel Armstrong.
- To Lord Dunmore.
- 1774.
- To William Black.
- To Colonel Bassett.
- To Henry Riddell.
- To Thomas Lewis, Esq.
- Session of the House of Burgesses, 1774. 1
- To Bryan Fairfax.
- To Bryan Fairfax.
- Virginia Convention. 1
- To Richard Henry Lee.
- To Bryan Fairfax.
- The Continental Congress of 1774.
- To Captain Robert Mackenzie. 1
- To James Mercer.
- 1775.
- Instructions For Mr. James Cleveland.
- Supplementary Instructions. 1
- To John West.
- To John Connolly.
- To Jno. Washington.
- Instructions For William Stevens.
- To John Augustine Washington.
- To Lord Dunmore.
- To Montague.
- To Mercer. [ Extract. ]
- Advertisement. 2
- To George William Fairfax, England.
- Acceptance of Appointment.
- Commission As Commander-in-chief. *
- To Mrs. Martha Washington.
- To John Parke Custis.
- To Colonel Bassett.
- To the Captains of Several Independent Companies In Virginia.
- To John Augustine Washington.
- To the Continental Congress.
- To the Continental Congress.
- To Major-general Philip Schuyler.
- Answer to an Address of the New York Provincial Congress. 1
TO JOHN BLAIR, PRESIDENT OF THE COUNCIL.
Fredericksburg, the 31st Jany., 1758.
Honble. Sir,
I wrote to your Honor yesterday. Since which your favor of the 25th is come to hand, I am greatly distressed to know what conduct to observe with regard to the Indians that are coming to our assistance. I would notwithstanding the ill state of health I am in, go directly to Winchester, cou’d I flatter myself that the Service wou’d reap any real advantage from it; but as I am not entrusted with the management of Indian Affairs, farther than directing their war-route’s (and even here, they are governed by caprice and whim rather than by real design), I am of opinion, I should only share in Mr. Gist’s embarrassments, without rendering him, the desired assistance. Because, if he informs me rightly, he is in no wise prepared for the reception of such a party, either with arms, or proper goods, and how he can be timely supplied with either, I know not. But this I am certain of; that were I on the spot, all their disappointments would be attributed to me, as they look upon the commanding officer to be culpable in all those cases.
Never was any thing more unlucky, perhaps, than these Indians coming at this time, having very little to apprehend, and the season being too rigorous to admit of incursions into the Enemy’s country. If they were sent out to war, it is more than probable that they would return to their nation as soon as they came in; by which means we should need their assistance in the Spring, when they would be of infinite service in offensive or defensive measures; and to feed and clothe them thro’ the winter, if they could be prevailed with to stay, would be attended with great expence.
Upon the whole, it appears to be a very ill judged step, the sending them in at this time and an affair of so much importance, that I do not care to meddle in it, without particular instructions from your Honor.
I have dispatched a special messenger to Mr. Gist, apprizing him of this matter, and shall wait at this place for your Orders, as to my own conduct. I am, &c.
John Blair was born in Williamsburg in 1689, and died there November 5, 1771. He was long a member of the House of Burgesses, member of the council, its president in 1757-’58 and acting governor of Virginia in 1768.
Printed in Sparks, Writings of Washington, ii., 271.
“I set out for Williamsburg the day after the date of my letter, but found I was unable to proceed, my fever and pain increasing upon me to a high degree; and the physicians assured me, that I might endanger my life by prosecuting the journey.
In consequence of that advice I returned to this place again, and informed your Honor of the reason of my detention by the post, whom I met on the road, and who, I have since understood, never lodged my letter in the postoffice at Fredericksburg, which is the cause of my now writing to the same purport. When I shall be sufficiently able to attempt the journey again, I cannot say; but I shall make no delay after I am in a condition to perform it.”—To President Blair, 20 February, 1758.
Titles (by Subject) 
