Alluding to the house in which he had lived in New York, the lease of which was unexpired, he says that he expected ***** would endeavor to impose his own terms when he found he could not get it off his hands; we are in his power and he must do what he pleases with us.  As the “Lustre” is paid for and securely packed up, and may suit the largest drawing-room at Mr. Morris’s house in Philadelphia, he does not incline to part with it; there is a mangle in the kitchen, which Mrs. Morris proposes to leave, taking his mangle instead; [a mangle was a machine for washing or pressing, then in use, and a fixture, I think;] he would not object provided his was as good, but not if he would be the gainer by exchanging.  He concludes, Mrs. Washington and all the family joining in best wishes to Mrs. Lear and himself, “I am your sincere friend and affectionate servant,” signing his name as before.

The next is dated Mount Vernon, October 3, 1790.  In this letter he refers to the declaration of the ministers of Britain and Spain as published in the newspapers,[A] and requests Mr. Lear to give him the earliest information of these or any other interesting matters, beyond what the newspapers say; remarking that Mr. Jefferson’s absence from New York [Mr. Jefferson was then Secretary of State] might be the means of delaying the receipt of official advices to him longer than usual.  He requests Mr. Lear to use his endeavors for ascertaining the best schools in Philadelphia with a view to placing Washington Custis, Mrs. Washington’s grandson, at the best.  If the college is under good regulations, and they have proper tutors to prepare boys of his standing for the higher branches of education, he makes a quaere if it would not be better to put him there at once, the presumption being that a system may prevail there by which the gradations are better connected than in schools which have no correspondence with each other.  Adverting again to his servants, he reminds Mr. Lear that no mention had been made of John’s wife, and asks what he understands to be her plans.  He incloses a letter from John to her, and another from James to his “del Toboso.” [These were four of his black servants.] He requests him when able to get at Count d’Estaing’s letters to send him a transcript of what he says of a bust he had sent him of Neckar, together with a number of prints of Neckar, and of the Marquis la Fayette; and concludes in the same cordial and affectionate style as before.

Mount Vernon, October 10, 1790.  This is next in date.  The early parts of this letter have reference to the steps for removing his furniture and servants from New York; to the getting rid of the house still upon his hands there, and to the proper care and instruction of his niece, Miss Harriet Washington, when he should be established in Philadelphia.  Referring again to Washington Custis’s education, whom he had adopted as a son and in whom he appears to have taken great interest,[B] he wishes inquiry to be made as to the higher branches taught at the college with a view to placing his nephews, George and Lawrence Washington, at that Institution in Philadelphia.  He speaks very kindly of these nephews, and of their desire for improvement.  Having left the languages, they are engaged, he adds, under Mr. Harrow, in Alexandria, in the study of the mathematics and learning French.  Concludes as usual.