To George Washington from Harriot Washington Parks, 17 July 1796
From Harriot Washington Parks
Mill-Brook [Va.] July 17 [17]96
Aunt Lewis received a letter from my dear & Honor’d Uncle a few days ago wherein he was pleas’d to send me thirty pound also a great deal of good advice which I am extremely obleiged to you for and intend adhereing most strictly to it.1
Beleive me my dear Uncle my heart will ever with the liveliest gratitude most gratefully acknowledge and remember your’s & Aunt Washington’s great goodness and attention to me and if my Uncle will only answer my letter and say he is not offend’d at my Union (which took place yesterday Aunt Lewis’s going immediately to Berkley to stay untill the fall & finding it not convenient to carry me with her wish’d us married before she went) I shall be happy for after my dear Uncle’s protection and kindness toward’s me I should be a most miserable being to reflect that I had displeas’d my greatest freind.
I shall take the liberty of troubleing my Uncle to return my thank’s to Aunt Washington for the earings she sent me from Philadelphia which I received but a week ago from Berkley—Aunt Lewis is much mend’d & intend’s answering your letter by the next post Aunt Lewis join’s me in love to you and Aunt Washington.2 I am my dear @ Honor’d Uncle your affectionate Neice
Harriot Parks
ALS, DLC:GW.
1. GW’s letter has not been found. For his wedding gifts, see Betty Washington Lewis to GW, 5 July, n.9.
2. GW replied to Parks from Mount Vernon on 22 July: “The last Post brought me your letter of the 17th instant informing me of your Marriage the preceeding day with Mr Parks.
“Far from being displeased at the event, I offer you my congratulations thereon; and sincerely wish it may prove the source of continual happiness to you. Much of this depends on your own disposition; on a prudent deportment towards your husband; and on the accomodation of your views to his circumstances. If the first are more extensive than the latter, it will involve both of you in difficulties; perhaps in ruin. always keep the old adage in remembrance—‘Take your measure according to your cloth’ and do not, because you see others do so, (some because their fortunes enable them, and others because they are excited to it by vanity) endulge yourself either in dress, or a mode of living that will be productive of embarrassmt.
“Having much company in the house, at prest I have time only to add, that your Aunt, & Nelly Custis unite with me in best wishes for the happiness & prosperity of your self & Mr Parks; and that if it shd suit his business at any time, to make a visit here, while we are at home we should be glad to see you both at Mount Vernon. With great regard I remain—Your affecte Uncle” (ADfS, NNGL).
Parks replied to GW from Fredericksburg, Va., on 9 Sept.: “I need not repeat to my dear & Honord Uncle, the infinite pleasure I experienced on reading his kind, & affectionate letter, the 22d of July, which I only received a few day’s ago, being in Berkley at the time it reached Fredericksburg and no safe conveyance offering for it to me. Mr Parks and myself return our most grateful thank’s, to you and Aunt Washington for your congratulation’s and also polite invitation, to visit you which no circumstance whatever could afford us more satisfaction. & if his business will permit this fall I flatter myself, with the pleasing idea of seeing my dear Uncle and Aunt at Mt Vernon.
“Aunt Lewis has been to Berkley for a month past & is very much mend’d in her health I have not seen her look so well for a great while cousin Robert Lewis has had the misfortune to loose his youngest child[.] My love to Aunt Washington & Nelly Custis. I am my dear & Honord Uncle Your ever affectionate Neice” (ALS, MH: Jared Sparks Collection). For the infant Betty Washington Lewis, see Robert Lewis to GW, 26 July, and n.2 to that document.