On December 10, 1799, Washington sent a long letter to James Anderson in regard to agricultural plans for his farm during the year 1800.  He calculates closely the probable profits, and specifies the rotation of crops on five hundred and twenty-five acres.  The next day, December 12th, he wrote a short note to Alexander Hamilton, in regard to the organization of a National Military Academy, a matter in which the President had long been deeply interested.  The day was stormy.  “Morning snowing and about three inches drop.  Wind at Northeast, and mercury at 30.  Continued snowing till one o’clock, and about four it became perfectly clear.  Wind in the same place, but not hard.  Mercury 28 at night.”  Washington, who scorned to take any account of weather, rode for five hours during the morning to several of the farms on his plantations, examining the conditions at each and conferring with the overseers.

On reaching home he complained a little of chilliness.  His secretary, Tobias Lear, observed that he feared he had got wet, but Washington protested that his greatcoat had kept him dry; in spite of which the observant Lear saw snow hanging to his hair and remarked that his neck was wet.  Washington went in to dinner, which was waiting, without changing his dress, as he usually did.  “In the evening he appeared as well as usual.  The next day, Friday, there was a heavy fall of snow, but having a severe cold, he went out for only a little while to mark some trees, between the house and the river which were to be cut down.  During the day his hoarseness increased, but he made light of it, and paid no heed to the suggestion that he should take something for it, only replying, as was his custom, that he would ’let it go as it came.’”

Mrs. Washington went upstairs to a room on the floor above to chat with Mrs. Lewis (Nelly Custis) who had recently been confined.  Washington remained in the parlor with Lear, and when the evening mail was brought in from the post-office, they read the newspapers; Washington even reading aloud, as well as his sore throat would allow, anything “which he thought diverting or interesting.”  Then Lear read the debates of the Virginia Assembly on the election of a Senator and Governor.  “On hearing Mr. Madison’s observations respecting Mr. Monroe, he appeared much affected, and spoke with some degree of asperity on the subject, which I endeavored to moderate,” says Lear, “as I always did on such occasions.  On his returning to bed, he appeared to be in perfect health, excepting the cold before mentioned, which he considered as trifling, and had been remarkably cheerful all the evening.”