Beschreibung:

WASHINGTON, GEORGE, President . Autograph letter signed ("G:Washington") as President, to Colonel Burgess Ball, Philadelphia, 27 July 1794. 3 1/4 pages, 4to, 230 x 190mm. (9 x 7 1/2 in.), on Washington's specially made paper with watermark: "George Washington," show-through due to thin paper, neat restorations to extreme margins, otherwise in very good condition. THE PRESIDENT'S GUIDELINES FOR OVERSEERS OF SLAVES AT MOUNT VERNON President Washington briefly discusses purchasing land for a federal arsenal and comments on the work habits of a former Mount Vernon overseer: "...[I]f from an apprehension that the tract you bought is sickly, or from any other cause, you are disposed to part with it, it is possible the United States would become the purchaser, on which to establish an Arsenal. The person who was employed by the War Department, to explore the water conveniences on the Margin of the River, above the Great Falls...seems to have given a preference to yours, although others are favorably mentioned... "[M]y only opportunities of forming an opinion of...[overseer Hyland Crow] has been from the occasional visits I have made to Mount Vernon...The ideas I have formed of him are these -- That he has good & bad qualities, but if he is to act under your own eyes, the former would preponderate, if you are strict & will keep him with your people; and others from his house. With me...he was too often from home, & had too much company with him when at it although rigidly restricted from both by written articles; the consequence of which (supposing the negroes had been idle during his absence) was that he and his charge were perpetually at variance. This, & inattention to the Stock...are the exceptionable parts of his character... "[H]e is active, understands farming full...and possesses more judgment in conducting the business of a farm than you generally meet with among that class of people...my best crops have been raised by him...[but] I had too frequent complaints of ill treatment, though I must acknowledge I never discovered any marks of abuse & the whole may be summed up in this -- if you can keep him always with your people he will make you a good Overseer; & without it neither he or any other man will..." Washington concludes with his rule for managing slave labor: "With me, it is an established maxim, that an Overseer shall never be absent from his people but at night, and at his meal..." Ball considered Washington's opinions and did not hire Crow. He did, however, pass along the terms by which he would sell his land to the government (letter of 5 August, Library of Congress, Washington Papers ).