WASHINGTON, George (1732-1799). Letter signed ("G.Washington") to Battaile Muse. Mount Vernon, 28 July 1785.

3 pages, 4to, on a bifolium, some minor mostly marginal chipping touching a few letters, a few discreet repairs, some show-through, docketed verso; in a custom slipcase. Provenance: John Gribbel (sold his sale, Parke-Bernet, 30 October-1 November 1940, lot 775.

Washington writes his land agent, Battaile Muse (1750-1803), regarding land he owned in Frederick County. By Washington's own admission, rents were in arrears and his knowledge about the status of his tenants was poor.

Washington had purchased the land in Frederick County from the sale of Colonel George Mercer's estate in 1774. Mercer served under Washington during the French and Indian War, and became Washington's aide-de-camp in 1775. Battaile Muse was the son of Colonel George Muse, who served with Washington in the Virginia Regiment in protecting Virginia claims against French and Native forces, culminating in the Ft. Necessity Campaign. The younger Muse was a planters' agent in Berkeley County Virginia (present-day Jefferson County West Virginia), and Washington enlisted him as agent for his land in Berkeley, Frederick, Fauquier and Loudoun Counties in 1784. Published in Fitzpatrick, Writings, vol. 28 p. 212.

Property from the Patrick Atkinson Collection, Minneapolis, Minnesota