Letter, from Anthony Whitting, 1793 January 16

Washington's farm manager reports the bad conduct of Thos. Green, carpenter -- will not use delegated authority concerning Green, because realizes he is necessary -- good men are hard to come by -- suggests an addition of carpenters, or estate will be a long time in improving -- mentions all the buildings that need to be built or repaired -- wishes farms to look neat -- will put up fences and gates -- suggests moving post and rail fence at Dogue Run to make meadow correspond to fields -- new corn house going up at River farm -- will move Rich's house to Muddy Hole, for David's house likely to be blown down by high wind -- engaged planks and scantling for [Dogue Run] barn from Mr. Kenzie -- Green keeps sawyers about the corn house -- poor Maj. Washington cannot recover, but he doesn't consider himself fatally ill -- G.A. Washington desires him to continue building on his house -- has treated Whitting like a brother -- will keep carpenters on G.A. Washington's house until they run out of work and he will order no more scantling -- has planted hedges of honey locust, French furz, and cedar berries, but sheep eat them -- need nettle fences on each side of hedge to enable it to grow -- hedges must be given much care to grow -- advises English thorn imported for live fences and estimates cost -- Lombardy and weeping willow cuttings planted about the Mansion house fences -- River plantation will be hard to fence -- Mr. Stuart advises water fences there -- a batteau is needed for this -- should it be built in Alexandria or by one of carpenters? -- Mr. Butler and he can carry on the hedging and fencing, including the night work -- grubbing proceeds to line of locust trees below Vineyard -- will make it a year of fencing -- little wool to spin -- spinning sewing thread and candlewick of tow -- Caroline unwell -- bled her -- trouble with Charlotte -- whipped and refuses to work -- claims she hasn't been whipped for 14 years -- will try to make seine twine -- deer destroying trees at mansion house, especially mulberry -- ice house not filled -- Dr. Stuart and young man managing Custis estates take plough to White House to use as pattern -- Mr. Ring present manager -- shorts from mill can be ground over as ship stuff or fed to cattle -- high price of flour in Alexandria.