Mount Vernon 28th. Feby 1785 My dear Sir, Your favor of the 31st. ulto. came to my hands by the last Post. - enclosed are letters under flying Seals to Count de Rochambeau & the Marqs. de Chastellux (late Chevr.) introductory of Mr. Swan. - Also certificates for Lieutts. Seaver & Henley. - if these will answer the purposes designed, I shall think nothing of the trouble, but be happy in having given them. - Upon summing up the cost of my projected building in Alexandria, I found my finances not equal to the undertaking; & have thereupon suspended, if not altogether declined it. - Notwithstanding, if any Vessel should be coming hither from that part of your state where the Limestone abounds, & where it is to be obtained at a low price, & would bring it at a low freight, - unburn'd: - or if in this State it could be brought hither from Boston as Ballast, or at a low freight, I should be glad to get some; in either of these ways. - I use a great deal of lime every year, made of the Oyster shells, which, before they are burnt, cost me 25 or 30/ pr. hundred Bushels; but it is of mean quality, which makes me desirous of trying stone lime. - The Assemblies of Virginia & Maryland passed laws before their adjournment, for improving and extending the Navigation of this River as far as it shall be found practicable; a copy of which (for they are exactly the same in both States) I send you - they also gave a sum of money for the purpose of opening, & keeping in repair, a good Road of communication between the Eastern & Western Waters. - And this State passed a similar Act respecting James River, & the Communication with Green Brier (a branch of the Great Kanhawa [2] Kanhawa) which opens equally advantageously to another part of the Western territory; - [inserted: shares in either or] both of which, in my opinion, presents to monied men the most certain, & lucrative speculation [inserted: of any] of wch. I can have any idea.- The State of Virginia accompanied these proceedings with another Act, which particularly respected myself; & tho' generous in the extreme, is rendered more valuable by the flattering, yet dilicate expression of its recitals. It directs their Treasurer to subscribe for my use & benefit, One hundred shares (50 in each Navigation); which it declares vested in me & my heirs for ever. - But I can truly aver to you, my dear Sir, that this Act has given me more pain than pleasure. - It never was my inclination - nor is it now my intention, to accept any thing pecuniary from the public: but how to decline this gift without appearing to slight the favor (which the [inserted: Assembly] ascribe to a sense of gratitude) of my Country, and exhibiting an act of [inserted: seeming] disrespect to the Legislature on the one hand - or incurring the imputation of pride, or an ostentatious display of disinterestedness on the other, is my embarrassment. but I must endeavor to hit upon some expedient before the next Session (for I had not the smallest intimation of the matter before the rising of the last) to avoid any of these charges, and yet follow the bent of my wishes; which are to be as independent as the Air - I have nobody to provide for, & I have enough to support me through life in the plain, & easy style in which I mean to spend the remainder of my days. - I thank you for the particular [inserted: acct] which you have given me of the different Rivers to which the British have given the names of St. Croix [3] Croix - I shall be much mistaken if they do not in other matters, as well as this, give us a good deal of trouble before we are done with them. - and yet, it does not appear to me, that we have wisdom, or national policy enough to avert the evils which are impending - How should we, when contracted ideas, local pursuits, and absurd jealousy are continually leading us from those great & fundamental principles which are characteristic of wise & powerful nations; & without which, we are no more than a rope of Sand, and shall as easily be broken. In the course of your literary disputes at Boston (on the one side to drink Tea in Company, & to be social & gay - on the to impose restraints which at no time ever were agreeable, & in these days of more liberty & endulgence, never will be submitted to) I perceive, & was most interested by something which was said respecting the composition for a public walk; which also appeared to be one of the exceptionable things. - Now, as I am engaged in works of this kind, I would thank you, if there is any art in the preparation, to communicate it to me - whether designed for Carriages, or walking. - My Gardens have gravel walks (as you possibly may recollect) in the usual style, but if a better composition has been discovered for these, I should gladly adopt it. - the matter however which I wish principally to be informed in, is, whether your walks are designed for Carriages, and if so, how they are prepared, to resist the impression of the wheels. - I am making a serpentine Road to my door, & have doubts (which it may be in your power to remove) whether any thing short of solid pavement will answer. Having received a letter from Majr. Keith (dated at New York) and not knowing where to direct my answer I take the liberty of putting it [inserted: & the Papers wch it enclo] under cover to you, as he was of the Massachusetts [4] state, & I presume only came to New York on business. - He is one, among numberless others, who want me to do inconsistent things. - Namely to annul - or rather do away, the effect of his Court Martial. - The other letter for a Mr. Palmer, be so good as to put into a channel for delivery. Mrs. Washington joins me in affectionate regards for Mrs. Knox, and the rest of the Family, & I am My dear Sir, With great truth and sincerily - Yrs. Go: Washington Genl. Knox [docket] From his Excellency General Washington 28 Feby 1785 -