George Washington

Washington to His Confidant James McHenry: "Do not my dear Doctor tease your Mistress in this manner"

      Autograph Letter Signed, Newburgh, NY 1782 - Please inquire about receiving a copy of our Washington catalog. Summary: Washington's highly personal letter, showing a glimpse of the man behind the otherwise stolid image. Dr. James McHenry served as Washington's secretary from 1778 to 1780, as a volunteer without rank or pay. Their friendship remained strong even after McHenry left to become aide-de-camp to the Marquis de Lafayette. At this point, after victory at Yorktown, Americans were awaiting news of a final peace treaty from Paris. Washington remained at the head of the Continental Army, warily watching British General Sir Henry Clinton's army in New York City. George Washington. Autograph Letter Signed, to Major James McHenry, Newburgh, NY, August 15, 1782. 2 p. Complete Transcript: Newburgh 15.th Aug.t 1782 My dear McHenry, Let me congratulate you, and I do it very sincerely, on your restoration to health._ I was in pain for you._ I was in some for myself - and wished for my PS of M--- ; and both my P----e L----s. in J----; resolving (like a man in the last agony) not to follow the trade & occupation of a G----. any more. I attribute all the delays, & my disappointments in this business, to your sickness; for otherwise, I should denominate you an unfeeling - teasing - mortal._ In proof of it, I would assert that in March last, I committed a matter to your care of which you took no notice till July following; -and then in such a way, as to set afloat a thousand ideas; which resolved themselves into almost as many anxious questions._ These again, you acknowledge the rect. of on the 26.th of July, - and on the 3.d of August promise an answer._ When? _When? _ three or four Weeks from that date ; during this time my imagination is left on the Rack._ I remain in the field of conjecture. - unable to acct. for the causes of somethings, or to judge of their effect;_ In a word, I cannot develop some misteries, the appearance of which gave rise to those quæries, which were made the contents of a letter. Do not my dear Doctor tease your Mistress in this manner - much less your Wife, when you get one._ The first will pout, _& the other may scold - a friend will bear with it, especially one who assures you, with as much truth as I do, that he is sincere. Adieu. G:oWashington James McHenry Esq.r [autograph address leaf:] "(Private) / James McHenry Esq.r / Baltimore. [Docketing in McHenry's hand:] "Aug 15th 1782 / Washington Historical Background: The best guess at Washington's cryptic second line is: "I. wished for my [Peace of Mind] . resolving (like a man in the last agony) not to follow the trade & occupation of a G[eneral] any more." His letter of "March last" and McHenry's letters of July 26 and August 3 are not listed in the Washington Papers, so we don't know what this was really about. But we do know that Washington was eagerly awaiting the final peace treaty and the opportunity to return to his private life at Mount Vernon. To help describe this point of the war, the following excerpt is taken from another letter Washington wrote to McHenry, a month prior, on July 18, 1782: "At present, we are inveloped in darkness; and no Man, I believe, can foretell all the consequences which will result from the Naval action in the West Indies. to say no worse of it, it is an unfortunate affair. and if the States cannot, or will not rouse to more vigorous exertions, they must submit to the consequences. Providence has done much for us in this contest, but we must do something for ourselves, if we expect to go triumphantly through with it." Later, as president, Washington sought McHenry's advice and help finding candidates for important posts. In 1796, Washington selected McHenry to be the nation's third Secretary of War. James McHenry (1753-1816) was born in Ballymena, County Antrim, Ireland, and educated in Dublin. He emigrated to America in 1771 and studied medicine with Dr. Benjamin Rush in Philadelphia. McHenry volunteered for military service on behalf of the colonies when hostil