Letter to Horatio Gates from William Gordon, Traveller's Rest, Berkley Co., Va.
Jamaica Plain Aut. 31, 1784
Friend Gates
I promised myself the pleasure of a fresh interview with you on my return from Mount Vernon. Expected to see you at Philadelphia, but when I got there the 25th of June, heard that you was at New York. I left Philadelphia the 26th, went to Burlington, and from thence on the monday beyond Princeton eight miles; the next day to Hanover; on the thursday July the 1st to New York, but upon inquiring of Mrs. [Sears?] was informed that you had left the city, and was upon your return to Traveller's Rest; so that I found we had missed of each other. I got home on friday the 9th of July by dinner after a safe pleasant and prosperous journey, and had the happiness of finding Mrs. Gordon and friends well in health, and in agreeable circumstances.
I got to Gen' Washingtons by breakfast on June the 2d; when he had read the Resolve of Congress, he told me that he should make no reserve and keep no papers back, but should trust to my prudence for the proper use of them. I sat in to work and followed it closely, rising by day light and bring at his books as soon as I could read, and continued it till evening, breaking off only for meals, and never went once to visit tho' invited. By the 19th about two o'clock I had finished, having searched and [extracted?] thirty and three folio volº of copied letters of the Genˆls, besides three volº of private, seven volº of gen orders, an bundles upon bundles of letters to the Gen! Don't you think I labored hard? However my gains of knowledge will amply compensate.
You may, I apprehend, remember my request to have the Convention Paper, signed by Burgoyne, and yours telling me that you would make me a present of it, when you found it was no longer wanted. You will add to the number of past favors by forwarding it to me, thro' the hands of Mr. Nourse the Register, whom I shall request to send this, and to remit to your man Thomas thirteen dollars being interest I have [rec'd?] for him at different times.
I expect papers agreeable to promise from Gen' Otho Williams relative to southern operations, which will tend to exculpate you as the want of [sheep?] in that quarter, and throw light upon some subtle manoeuvres of Smallwood in getting thanks, to which he was no ways entitled.
Let me hear from you soon, and be convinced under your own hand that you forget not your old and trusty friend,
William Gordon
Mrs. Gordon writes in best wishes for your present and future happiness.
