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Subject Area: Political Theory
Subject Area: War and Peace
Topic: The American Revolution and Constitution

JOURNEY TO NEW YORK, 1773. 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).

Part of: The Writings of George Washington, 14 vols.

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.


JOURNEY TO NEW YORK, 1773.1

May 10. I set out on my journey to New York, lodged at Mr Calvert’s.

11. Breakfasted at Mr. Igns. Digges. Dined at the Coffee House in Annapolis, and lodged at the Governor’s.

12. Dined, supped, and lodged at the Governor’s.

13. After breakfast, and about 8 o’clock, set out for Rockhall, where we arrived in two hours and 25 minutes. Dined on board the Annapolis, at Chestertown, and supped and lodged at Mr. Ringgold’s.

14. Stop’d at Georgetown on Sassafras, and dined and lodged at Mr. Dl. Heath’s.

15. Dined at Newcastle and lodged at Wilmington.

16. Breakfasted at Chester and dined at Govr. Penn’s in Philadelphia.

17. Dined again at Govr. Penn’s and spent the evening at the Jockey Club.

18. Dined with several gentlement at our own lodgings, and went to the Assembly in the evening.

19. Dined at the Governor’s, and spent the evening at Mr. Allan’s.

20. Dined with Mr. Cadwallader, and went to the Ball.

21. Dined with Mr. Meredeth, and spent the evening at Mr. Mease’s.

22. Dined at Mr. Morris’s, and spent the evening at the Club.

23. Set out for New York with Lord Sterling, Majr. Bayard, and Mr. Custis, after breakfasting with Govr. Penn. Dined with Govr. Franklin at Burlington, and lodged at Trenton.

24. Breakfasted at Princeton; dined at Bound Brook, and reached Lord Sterling’s at Baskin’s Ridge in the afternoon.

25. Dined and lodged at Lord Sterling’s, drank tea at Mr. Kimble’s.

26. Dined at Elizabeth Town, and reached New York in the evening, which I spent at Hull’s Tavern. Lodged at a Mr Farmer’s.

27. Dined at the entertainment given by the citizens of New York to Gen’l Gage.

28. Dined with Mr. James Delancey, and went to the play and Hull’s Tavern in the evening.

29. Dined with Majr. Bayard and spent the evening with the Old Club at Hull’s.

30. Dined with Gen’l Gage, and spent the evening in my own room, writing.1

31. Set out on my return home. Dined with Captn. Kennedy near New Ark, and lodged at Amboy.

June 1. Breakfasted at Brunswick on the banks of the Princeton; dined at Princeton and lodged at Bristol.

2. Got to Philadelphia by nine o’clock to my old lodging. Dined at my lodgings and spent ye evening there.

3. Rid to the Meadows along the River before breakfast. About 11 o’clock left Phila.; dined at the Sorrel House, 13 miles from it, and lodged at the Ship Tavern, 34 off.

4. Breakfasted at the Sign of the Bull, 13 miles from ye Ship; dined at Lancaster, 19 miles further, and lodged at Wright’s Ferry, 10 miles from Lancaster.

5. Breakfasted in York Town. Dined at the Sign of the Buck, 14 miles from York, which is 12 miles from Wright’s Ferry, and lodged at Suttons, 15 miles from the Buck.

6. Breakfasted at Slades, 10 miles from Suttons, and dined and lodged at Baltimore Town.

7. Breakfasted at the Widow Ramsay’s, 15 miles from Baltimore, and lodged at Mr. Calvert’s.

8. Reach’d home to dinner, about 2 o’clock.

* * * * * *

[1 ]From an interleaved Almanac.

[1 ]“Enclosed you have a set of bills for one hundred pounds sterling, which please to set at the prevailing exchange, and retain the money in your own hands to answer Mr. Custis’s expenses at college, and such calls as he may have for cash to defray the incident expenses of his abode in this city.

“In respect to the first article of charge, I submit the matter wholly to your better judgment, under a firm belief of your adopting such measures, as will most contribute to promote the principal end of Mr. Custis’s coming here, not regarding the extra charge incurred in the accomplishing of it. In regard to the second, as I do not know what sum he ought, with propriety, to expend in such a place as New York, I shall not undertake to determine it; but hope, if, contrary to my expectation, you should find him inclined to run into any kind of extravagance, you will be so good, by your friendly admonition, as to check its progress.

“As Mr. Custis may probably want clothing and other necessaries, you will please to establish a credit in his behalf with such merchants as you can recommend; and when the deposit now lodged with you is expended in this and other payments, be so good as to transmit me a copy of the disbursements, and I shall furnish you with other bills whereby to lay in a new fund.

“I have nothing further to add at present, except that at the next vacation, or at any other time, I shall think myself very happy in seeing you in Virginia, and that I am, with very great respect and esteem, your most obedient humble servant.”—Washington to Dr. Cooper, 31 May, 1773.