Bay View High School - Oracle Yearbook (Milwaukee, WI)

Page 17 text:

rio 1 I 0 l Q It f 0 va ll' other words more than 221 dearer . . . 1786-Ian., Tuesday, 17th-Employed as yes- terday, in collecting Ice, but under many disadvantages, being obliged to go over to the Maryland shore and pick up the floating Ice in the river, which I was disposed to do, rather than run the risk of not laying up a store . . . Saturday, 18tla-Took a list today all my Negroes which are as follows, at Mount Vernon and the plantation around it-viz a................... Total 216 . . . May, Thursday, 251619-Put a Coller on a large Bull in order to break him to the draft. At first he was sulky and restive, but came to fitj by degrees . . . Sept., Thursday, 71511-Began to Paper the yellow room this day fMajr. Wfashington and Thos. Green, the undertakersj by the directions I re- ceived with the Paper from England . . . Monday, 151511-Ascertained how many of the following sorts of Seeds there are in a lb. Troy. The weight of a bushel of each, and how much an acre will take of each sort to sow it . . . 1787-journey to Philadelphia to the Constitutional Convention. May, Sunday, 13th-At Gray's Ferry the city light horse . . . met me, and Qby whom and a large concourse I was escortedj escorted me in by the artillery officers who stood arranged fat the entrance of the City QPhila.J and saluted as I passed . . . Being again warmly and kindly pressed by Mr. and Mrs. Robt. Morris to lodge with them, I did so, and had my bag- gage removed thither. Waited on the President, Doctr. Franklin, as soon as I got to Town. On my arrival, the Bells were chimed . . . Friday, 2Stb-The Members present resolved to organize the body, when by a unanimous vote I was called up to the Chair as President of the body . . . Sunday, 19tlo-In company with Mr. Powell rode up to the White Marsh, traversed my old Incampment, and contemplated on the dangers which threatened the American Army at that place . . . Monday, 3rd-In Convention. Visited a Machine at Doctr. Franklin's Ccalled a Manglej for pressing, in place of Ironing, clothes from the wash. Which Machine from the facility with which it dispatches business is well calculated for Table cloths and such arti- cles as have not pleats and irregular foldings and would be very useful in all large fam- ilies . . . Monday, 17th-Met in Convention, when the Constitution received the unanimous assentof all States and Colo. Hmiltonis from New York fthe only dele- gate from thence in Conventionj , and was subscribed to by every Member present except Govr. Randolph and Colo. Mason from Virginia, and Mr. Gerry from Massa- chusetts. The business being thus closed, the Members adjourned to the City Tavern, dined together and took a cordial leave of each otherg after which I returned to my lodgings, did some business with, and received the papers from the Secretary of the Convention, and retired to meditate on the momentous wforjk which had been exe- cuted, after not less than ive, for a large part of the time six, and sometimes 7 hours sitting every day, Cexceptj sundays . . . Wednesday, 191512-Prevented by Rain from setting off till about 8 oclock, lodged at the head of Elk. At the bridge near to which CI narrowly escaped an ugly accidt. to my Chariot and horsesj my horses C two of themj and Carriage had a very narrow escape. For the Rain which had s .f fallen the preceding evening having swelled the Water considerably, If -- there was no fording it safely, I was reduced to the necessity therefore - wi' - ' ' of remaining on the other side or of attempting to cross on an old, rotten and long dis- used bridge. Being anxious to get on I preferred the latter, and in the attempt one of my 1 V 3 3 - W' 5 P .gn N l l our al Q ora s s O Ix- i,M.,,L....h.........4

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V------fn' 'W' ' 41+ I C on it I Ori il as 0 , 4 4 i , i l. I . Q 4 Q. 15 I r F County, on which those, whose names are herein inserted, are settled . . . 178 S-Ian. Friday, 281519--Road to day to my Plantations in the Neck, partly with a view to search for Trees, for which purpose I passed through the Woods and in the first drain beyond the Bars in my lower pasture, I discovered in tracing it upwards, many small and thriving plants of the Magnolio, and about and within the Fence, not far distant, some young Maple Trees g and the red berry of the Swamp. I also . . . came across a mere nursery of young Crab trees of all sizes and handsome and thriving, and along the same branch on the outer side of the fence'I discovered several young Holly trees . . . March, Wednesday, 9th-A great deal of rain fell last Night and the heaviest sleet I ever recollect to have seen. The bows of all the trees were encrusted by tubes of Ice, quite round, at least half an Inch thick, the weight of which was so great that my late trans- plantations in many instances sunk under it either by bending the bodies of the young trees, breaking the limbs, or weighing up the roots. The largest pines in my outer Circle were quite oppressed by the Ice, and bowed to the ground, whilst others were loosened at the roots, and the largest Catalpa trees had some of their principal branches broken. The ground also where the holes had been dug to receive the Trees, and where it had not been rammed, was a mere quagmire . . . April, Saturday, 16th -A great Hoar Frost and Ice at least the one eighth of an Inch thick. What injury this may have done to the fruit, and vegetation, will soon be seen. The Buds of every kind of tree and shrub are swelling, the tender leaves of many had unfolded, the Ap- ricot blossoms were putting forth, the Peaches and Cherries were upon the point of doing the same. The leaves of the Apple tree were coming out, those of the Weeping Willow and Lilac had been out many days, and were the first to show them- selves. The Sasafras was ready to open, the Red bud had begun, but not to make any show. The Dogwood had swelled into buttons. The Service tree was showing its leaf, and the Maple had been full in bloom ten days or a fortnight. Of this tree, I observed great diiference in the colour of the blossomsg some being of a deep scarlet, bordering upon crimson, others of a pale red, approaching yellow . . . Aug., Wednesday, 31st -This day I told Doctr. Craik that I would contribute one hundred Dollars pr. ann. as long as it was necessary, towards the Education of His Son, George Washington, either in this Country or in Scotland . . . Sept., Saturday, 10th-Rid to meet a party from Alexandria at johnson's Spring Con my Landj where we dined on a g cold dinner brought from Town by Water, and spent the Afternoon , agreeably, returning home by sundown or a little after it . . . Wednes- day, 26th-Having received by the last Northern Mail advice of the arrival at Boston, of one of the Jack Asses presented to me by his Catholic Majesty fKing of Spainj . I sent my Overseer John Fairfax, to conduct him, and his Keeper, a Spaniard, home safe. . . . Thursday, lst-In order to try the difference between burning Spermaceti and Tallow Candles I took one of each, the lst weighing 3 oz. 10 p. w. 6 g., and 2d 5 oz. 2 p. w., and lighted them at the same instant. The first burnt 2 hours and 21 Min- utesg when, of the latter, their remained 14 pennyweight, which continued W to burn one hour and quarter longer, making in all 9 hours and 36 Minutes, By which it appears Kas both burnt without flairingj that, estimating Sper- maceti Candles at 3! pr. lb., the former is dearer than the latter as 30 is to nearly 13, in x y s f i s . . . .U.g. .

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w l 'R 'l l' le l rl li-'lil -I lil A-uf 1 li' 4 P 1 1 Q., in 54 .P t 'n. i Q . X 1 w w horses fell 15 feet at least, the other very near following, which Chad it happenedl would have taken the Carriage with baggage along with 'him and destroyed the whole effectually. However by prompt assistance of some people at a Mill just by and great exertion, the first horse was disengaged from his harness, the 2nd prevented from go- ing quite through and drawn off and the Carriage rescued from hurt . . . 1788- Ian., Saturday, Sth-About Eight o'clock in the evening we were alarmed, Q3 and the house a good deal a dangered, by the soot of one of the chimneys taking fire and burning furiously, discharging great flakes of fire on the A' Roof, but happily by having aid at hand and proper exertion no damage ensued . . . 1789--Mar.- CBy March 4th, Washmgton was convinced that there was great likeli- hood he would be chosen President under the new Constitution, and on that day he applied to Captain Richard Conway, of Alexandria, for a loan of LS 00, a thing 'I never expected to be driven to-that is, to borrow money on interest! ! Owing to 'short crops and other causes not entirely within my control,' he was in debt to numerous people in Alexandria and elsewhere, and it would have been 'exceedingly disagreeable' to him to leave Virginia Cif it shall not be in my power to remain at home in retire- ment'Q without discharging those debts. Two days later he asked Conway for an addi- tional L100, the receipt of which, with the L500, are to be found duly entered in his expense account, along with the items of indebtedness discharged by these means., . . . 1789 - Oct., Monday, Sth - Had conversation with Colo. Ham- ilton on the propriety of my making a tour through the East- ern States during the recess of Congress, to acquire knowledge of the face of the Country, the growth and agriculture thereof - and the tem- per and disposition of the inhabitants towards the new government, who thought it a very desirable plan, and advised it accordingly . . . Friday, 9tb-Received from the French Minister, in person . . . the orders of his Court to make the following com- munication, viz: That his Majesty was pleased at the alteration which had taken place in our Government, and congratulated this Country on the choice they had made of a Presid't. Hitherto he observed that the Government of this Country had been of so fluctuating a nature, no dependence could be placed on its proceedings 3 wh'h caused foreign nations to be cautious of entering into Treaties, etca., with the United States. But under the present Government there is a head to look up to-and power being put into the hands of its oflicers, stability will be derived from its doings . . . -I , .1 Thursday, 15th-Commenced my Journeyabout 9 o'clock for Boston and a tour through the Eastern States . . . Saturday, 24th-Dressed by Seven 'ag' o'clock, and set out at eight - at ten we arrived in Cambridge, but most of the Militia having a distance to come, were not in line till after eleven, they made however an excellent appearance . . . At this place the Lieut. Govr. Mr. Saml. Adams, with the Executive Council, met me and preceeded my entrance into town-which was in every degree flattering and honorable . . . We passed through the Citizens classed in their different professions, and under their own banners, till we came to the State House: from which across the Street an Arch was thrown, in the front +,.n,r4.,o, of which was this Inscription--'To the Man who unites all hearts'- , and on the other-'To Columbia's favorite Son'-and on one side there- 'P 1 of next the State House, in a pannel decorated with a trophy, com- Tig