Archive · The claimants and the governor, 1782 to 1784
March 31, 1783
Washington to Bland: the article “had escaped my Notice”
Washington forwards Bland’s letter to Carleton and admits that “I have several Servants in like predicament with yours.”
What it says, in plain language
Washington replies that the article of the preliminary treaty about “Negroes” had escaped his notice until Bland mentioned it; on rereading the treaty he finds it as Bland stated, and has sent the letter in to Carleton. He adds that although he has “several Servants in like predicament,” meaning people who had escaped from Mount Vernon, he has not yet tried to recover them. Four weeks later he would ask Daniel Parker in New York to look for them.
What it adds to the boards
Board 2 shows the claimants of 1783 as Virginia’s governor and his agent. This pair of letters shows the commander in chief learning of Article VII from a claimant, and counting himself among them.
No image of the original is shown here yet. The original is at Princeton University Library; no page image is reproduced here.
Transcription
Head Quarters 31st March 1783
Sir
The Article in the provisional Treaty respecting Negroes, which you mention to Sir Guy Carleton, had escaped my Notice, but upon a recurrence to the Treaty, I find it as you have stated. I have therefore tho't it may not be amiss to send in your Letter to Sir Guy, and have accordingly done it.
Altho I have several Servants in like predicament with yours, I have not yet made any attempt for their recovery, Sir Guy Carleton's reply to you, will decide upon the propriety or expediency of any pursuit to obtain them, If that rep[ly] should not be transmitted thro my Hands, I will thank you for a Communication of it. With much Regard, I am Sir Your most Obedient Servt
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Text from Founders Online (National Archives). Original spelling kept; the manuscript’s long dashes are shown as commas; modern editorial notes are not reproduced.