A few more slaves were taken in payment of a debt, but it was from necessity rather than choice, for at this very time Washington had decided that “it is demonstratively clear, that on this Estate (Mount Vernon) I have more working negros by a full moiety, than can be employed to any advantage in the farming system, and I shall never turn Planter thereon.  To sell the overplus I cannot, because I am principled against this kind of traffic in the human species.  To hire them out, is almost as bad, because they could not be disposed of in families to any advantage, and to disperse the families I have an aversion.  What then is to be done?  Something must or I shall be ruined; for all the money (in addition to what I raise by crops, and rents) that have been received for Lands, sold within the last four years, to the amount of Fifty thousand dollars, has scarcely been able to keep me afloat.”  And writing of one set he said, “it would be for my interest to set them free, rather than give them victuals and cloaths.”

The loss by runaways was not apparently large.  In October, 1760, his ledger contains an item of seven shillings “To the Printing Office ... for Advertising a run-a-way Negro.”  In 1761 he pays his clergyman, Rev. Mr. Green, “for taking up one of my Runaway Negroes L4.”  In 1766 rewards are paid for the “taking up” of “Negro Tom” and “Negro Bett.”  The “taking up of Harry when Runaway” in 1771 cost L1.16.  When the British invaded Virginia in 1781, a number escaped or were carried away by the enemy.  By the treaty of peace these should have been returned, and their owner wrote, “Some of my own slaves, and those of Mr. Lund Washington who lives at my house may probably be in New York, but I am unable to give you their description—­their names being so easily changed, will be fruitless to give you.  If by chance you should come at the knowledge of any of them, I will be much obliged by your securing them, so that I may obtain them again.”

In 1796 a girl absconded to New England, and Washington made inquiries of a friend as to the possibility of recovering her, adding, “however well disposed I might be to a gradual abolition, or even to an entire emancipation of that description of people (if the latter was in itself practicable) at this moment, it would neither be politic nor just to reward unfaithfulness with a premature preference, and thereby discontent beforehand the minds of all her fellow servants, who, by their steady attachment, are far more deserving than herself of favor,” and at this time Washington wrote to a relative, “I am sorry to hear of the loss of your servant; but it is my opinion these elopements will be much more, before they are less frequent; and that the persons making them should never be retained—­if they are recovered, as they are sure to contaminate and discontent others.”