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YFasklngton acid the Potomac: .1danuscripts of the .l1innesota His
torical Society, [17541 1769r-1796, 11.
x. JAMES CRAIK TO WASIITNGTON.r
I have thought it might be more satisfactory- to leave you the different
Accounts I received respecting the Communication between the waters
of the Yohiogany and the North Branch of I'otowniack, that you might
from a vies of the whole Collect an opinion for yourself. it appears to
tie that the land Carriage front the Forks of Voliiogany to Cumberland
which from a variety of accounts will not be more than thirty miles is to
be preferred to Sixty miles of difficult Navigation up the little Crossing,
and twenty miles land Carriage afterwards, which is the distance front
the little crossing on the Turkey foot Road to Cumberland. If the Com-
munication is to be carried on by the little Crossing, the Turkey Foot
Road is to lie preferred to Braddocks old Road, as it is infinitely better
and above two miles shorter. Indeed I found the whole Turke_v foot
Road across the mountains much better and nearer than Braddocks Road,
that if there were good entertainment no one could hesitate in the choice.
I delivered your letter to Colo. Stetson, who informed me lie had a
few days before engaged his inare to Captn. Tauncyhin but offered the
a horse Colt far above its value. He says lie expects to be at Alexandria
this month when he will endeavour to let you have some money. Capt.
Bell will also be down and has promised to go and view the Falls of
Y ohio;gany and report to you particularly on theta. On my arrival at
Colo. Warner Washingtons I wrote to your Brother Charles who next
day called on Mr. Gaunt when he informed loin that he was still in the
mind of purchasing the Land and requested that you would leave your
terms in writing and that if they were not very hi911 he would take the
land upon your word lie said lie knew what you gave for it. As you
altered your Rout down I desired Bushrod to request lihn to come clown
to you as soon as possible, which was his first intention. I have the
Honour to be with the utmost Respect and affect'n.
Your Excel'cvs
Most obed't hum'I Ser't
JAS. CRAIK.
MOUNT VERNON
Oct 2d, 1784
' Part of this letter appears in Stewart's report, p, 31, but as the second
p1ra-
graph was not printed, and as it contains items of interest bearing on the
navi-
gation of the Potomac, it bas seemed best to print the entire letter. Dr.
James
Craik was Washington's old friend and family physician who accompanied him
on his trip to the West in 1784. Washington took a diftcrcnt route on the
return
trip and was to have met Dr. Craik at Warner Washington's. Changing his
plans,
however, Washington sent word to Dr. Craik to proceed to Alt. Vernon. Thie
letter must have been written immediately on Dr. Craik's return to NIt.
Vernon
and before Washington had arrived. For an account of the life of James Craik
see Dinwiddie Papers, T. 11,5 note.
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