The writings of George Washington; being his correspondence, addresses, messages, and other papers, official and private, selected and published from the original manuscripts; with a life of the author, notes and illustrations. By Jared Sparks.

346 WASHINGTON'S WRITINGS. [1789.
greater part, if not all, of their labor. But if there should, notwithstanding, be time for other things, I know of nothing in which
they could be more advantageously employed, than in getting up
rich-mud from the branches in field No. 8, to spread over the
poor and w-ashed parts of that field, before it is sown in wheat
next August.
Mansion-House Farm.
The ditchers, after the post-and-rail fence, which they are now
about, to the Tumbling Dam is completed, and a strong one put up
across the Mill Run, as will be marked off, may continue on to the
Mill by the line of stakes, which will be set up; but they are not to
use for this purpose those posts, which were got by Marley's house,
as they will be more convenient for the lane, which is to form the
new toad from the Ferry by the Mill, as authorized by the court.
After this work is performed, it will be time enough to point oul
more.
To say what the other part of the force at this place shall be
employed about, is next to impossible, since there is such a variety
of jobs for them to attend to, besides fishing, hay-making, and the
grain harvest in their respective seasons, which must unavoidably
employ them while they last.
But, as it is designed to raise tobacco, and to tend in corn that
part, at least, of the new ground in front of the house, which was
cleared last year, in order that it may be laid down in the fall in
wheat and orchard grass, they must prepare for them accordingly,
and, under the circumstances above mentioned, attempt as much
of the first, that is, tobacco, as there is a moral certainty of their
tending well. The men may be employed in getting posts and
rails of a good kind for the purpose of enclosing this tobacco.
But it is essential, if any labor is expected from the girls and
boys, who are about this house, to keep some person with them,
who will not only make them work, but who will see that the
work is well executed, and that the idleness, which they appear
every day in the practice of, may be avoided.