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

TO JAMES ANDERSON. - George Washington, The Writings of George Washington, vol. XII (1790-1794) [1891]

Edition used:

The Writings of George Washington, collected and edited by Worthington Chauncey Ford (New York and London: G. P. Putnam’s Sons, 1890). Vol. XII (1790-1794).

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.


TO JAMES ANDERSON.

Sir,

I had the pleasure a few days ago to receive your letter of the 28th of September, enclosing a letter from the Earl of Buchan, and accompanied with some seeds of the Swedish turnip, or ruta baga. At the same time I received from Mr. Campbell, a bookseller in New York, six volumes of The Bee,1 which he informed me were transmitted by your directions. In your letter you mentioned having sent the first four volumes of The Bee, and the Earl mentions in his that he has sent me a set. I therefore concluded, that the six volumes which I have received are those mentioned by his Lordship, and especially as the pamphlet on wool, by Sir John Sinclair, which you observed in your letter accompanied the books which you sent, was not with those which I received. I mention these circumstances in order that, if there is any mistake in the transmission of the books, it may be set right.

I feel no less grateful, Sir, for your polite attention, whether the books which I have received be those sent by yourself or by the Earl. I must beg your acceptance of my best thanks for the Swedish turnip seed, and the particular account which you were so good as to give me respecting it. As I have spent a great part of my life, and that not the least pleasing, in rural affairs, I am always obliged by receiving such communications or novelties in that way, as may tend to promote the system of husbandry in this country.

When you first determined upon publishing The Bee, the Earl of Buchan had the goodness to transmit to me the plan of the work, with which I was much pleased; and, from the answer which I then gave to his Lordship’s letter, I have considered myself as a subscriber to the publication, and must beg to be informed to whom, or in what manner, I shall cause payment to be made for it.

I have not yet had it in my power to peruse those volumes of The Bee, which I have received, but I promise myself much entertainment and information from them; for the extensive and liberal ground, upon which you appear to have undertaken the work, must make it interesting to the good citizens of every country, and for your complete success in it you have my best wishes. I am, Sir, &c.

[1 ]A periodical magazine published weekly at Edinburgh, under the direction of Dr. Anderson. It was devoted to agriculture, politics, and miscellaneous topics. In the year 1776 Dr. Anderson published Free Thoughts on the American Contest, and in 1782 another tract, entitled The Interest of Great Britain with Regard to her American Colonies Considered. He was likewise the author of numerous other works and essays on politics, rural economy, antiquities, philosophy, and literature.—Sparks.