TO JOHN PARKE CUSTIS. - 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 PARKE CUSTIS.
Philadelphia, 19 June, 1775.
Dear Jack:
I have been called upon by the unanimous voice of the colonies to take the command of the continental army. It is an honor I neither sought after, or was by any means fond of accepting, from a consciousness of my own inexperience and inability to discharge the duties of so important a trust. However, as the partiality of the Congress has placed me in this distinguished point of view, I can make them no other return but what will flow from close attention and upright intention—for the rest I can say nothing. My great concern upon this occasion is, the thought of leaving your mother under the uneasiness which I fear this affair will throw her into; I therefore hope, expect, and indeed have no doubt, of your using every means in your power to keep up her spirits, by doing everything in your power to promote her quiet. I have, I must confess, very uneasy feelings on her account, but as it has been a kind of unavoidable necessity which has led me into this appointment, I shall more readily hope that success will attend it and crown our meetings with happiness.
At any time, I hope it is unnecessary for me to say, that I am always pleased with yours and Nelly’s abidance at Mount Vernon; much less upon this occasion, when I think it absolutely necessary for the peace and satisfaction of your mother; a consideration which I have no doubt will have due weight with you both, and require no arguments to enforce.
As the public gazettes will convey every article of intelligence that I could communicate in this letter, I shall not repeat them, but with love to Nelly, and sincere regard for yourself, I remain, &c.
P. S.—Since writing the foregoing, I have received your letter of the fifteenth instant. I am obliged to you for the intelligence therein contained, and am glad you directed about the tobacco, for I had really forgot it. You must now take upon yourself the entire management of your own estate, it will no longer be in my power to assist you, nor is there any occasion for it, as you have never discovered a disposition to put it to a bad use.
The Congress, for I am at liberty to say as much, are about to strike two millions of dollars as a continental currency, for the support of the war, as Great Britain seems determined to enforce us into—and there will be at least fifteen thousand raised as a continental army. As I am exceedingly hurried; I can add no more at present than that I am, &c.