To George Washington from Burwell Bassett, 27 January 1776
From Burwell Bassett
Eltham 27 Janry 1776
Dear Sir
Your favour of the 26 of Decr is just come to hand, it gave us great pleasure to hear that Mrs Washington got safe to the Camp & in good health as we ware afraid from the advance season of the year that she would meet with great difficultys on her Journey1 I waited on Mr Evevard last month enterd the petitions & paid the proper fees for your Ohio Land & shall continue to take every step necessary for securing it for you,2 Lord Dunmore is a[t] last stopt in his carreer the particulars of which you must have seen in the papers3 he is still confind on board his ship whare he suffers much for fresh provision and other necessarys I am just released from the Convention which set seven weaks they have agreed to raise six new Regiments & a Battallion of five hundred men for the Eastern shoore4 I have inclos’d you a list of the Officers.5
Let Mr Custis know that I shall write to him by the next post tho he does not deserve it as he has been so long at Cambridge & never let me hear from him: Mrs Bassett is writing to her Sister & will give her all the news that is stiring with us to which I must refer you.
The family at Eltham join me in Love for Mrs Washington Self Jack & his Lady I am Dr Sr Yr Affnate Friend & Obt Servt
Burl Bassett
ALS, DLC:GW.
1. Letter not found. Martha Washington arrived at Cambridge on 11 December.
3. Bassett is undoubtedly referring to the defeat of Lord Dunmore’s forces at Great Bridge on 9 December.
4. Burwell Bassett and Bartholomew Dandridge were the delegates from New Kent County to the fourth Virginia convention which met from 1 Dec. 1775 to 20 Jan. 1776. The convention voted on 11 Jan. to raise seven new regiments to be added to the two already in service (, 5:383–84).
5. Bassett’s list has not been found, but see Fielding Lewis to GW, 4 Feb. 1776, n.2.