Washington: First in War, Peace -- and Accounting

The Washington Post ^ | 12 Oct 2009 | Joel Achenbach

[BGHater]

Vast Cache of Financial Papers Is Rich in Details

One day in 1791, President George Washington received a bill for 60 pounds, 1 shilling and 7 pence from his physician friend James Craik, who regularly made the rounds at Mount Vernon. The invoice ran two pages:

"Anodyne Pills for Breachy . . . Laxative Pills for Ruth . . . syphilic Pills for Maria . . . oz 1 Antiphlogistie Anodyne Tincture . . . Bleeding Charlotte . . . oz 4 Powdered Rhubarb . . . Extracting one of your Negroes tooth . . . a Mercurial Purge for Cook Jack . . ."

This brief glimpse of life in the 18th century is contained in what historians say is a vast and underappreciated cache of financial documents from the life of the first president. Washington's diaries and letters, many composed with one eye on history, have been carefully transcribed, annotated and bound in stately volumes. But his financial records have been treated as scraps.

Documenting the lives of ordinary people -- merchants, tradesmen, servants and slaves -- these records are scattered at multiple institutions. In most cases, they have never been transcribed or published in accessible form.

That archival quandary lured 25 scholars, some of them "forensic accountants," to Mount Vernon this past weekend for a workshop to strategize about how to get the records online, with hyperlinks to the already published letters and diaries.

"It is going to be a treasure trove," said Ted Crackel, editor in chief of the Papers of George Washington, a project based at the University of Virginia. He said publishing the financial papers would probably cost about $1 million, and suggested that patrons are welcome to step forward.

[BGHater]

The Man, ping.

[Pharmboy]

The Man, indeed...thanks much for the post and ping, BGHater. Great story...

The Washington Family
Coat of Arms

The RevWar/Colonial History/General Washington ping list...

[stefanbatory]

could I be added to this ping list, please?

[Pharmboy]

Welcome...
Your Obdt. Svt.
P_____y

[Dr. Scarpetta]

BTTT

[ProtectOurFreedom]

Thanks for posting. Very informative -- an untapped treasure it would seem!

Your close got me to thinking how much we all would like to see O, just once, close one of his missives...

Your Humble & Most Obdt. Svt.
BO

[aculeus]

Thanks!!!!

[SunkenCiv]

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[Ditto]

Over the years, some wags have contended that Washington padded his expense account as commander of the Continental Army during the Revolution. Washington drew no salary for 8 1/2 years of military service, but his bill to the government ran to more than $450,000.

A point to recall when reading this is that in the 18th Century, the General paid directly for all his staff's lodging, food and transport plus the 'office supplies' as they were at the time. He also paid very well from his own pocket for intelligence (spies) which brought very handsome dividends to the rebels.

Washington fronted all that cash for 8+ years and documented it carefully. And he nearly went bankrupt doing it and it took him years to recover.

Congress did not balk at paying him back for every cent he claimed. He deserved that and far more that can never be repaid with simple cash. He was the Indispensable Man.