| 712 Documents
are only the smaller A and B in the original) is merely the end of
Mccullochs Road. Corresponding to the ¢o near r1 is a figure zo
just below the junction of \ew Creek and Potomac. The legend for
li should read Arcllies, not Archer's Spring. On the original the
words, " Road or Portage ", denoting the clotted line from Cumber-
land to Turkey hoot, are not to be found. The Great Yotrgh is the
Great I' on the manuscript map.]
Ytv. THOMAS BLACKBURN To WASHINGTON .6
RIPPGN LODGE Decr. 2oth 1784.
Dear Sir:
Your Favor of Y esterdav's Date cattle to Hand this Morning.
I intended to have done myself the Honor to have waited on You
Today, to confer with You on the Subject of the Dispatches I received
by Yesterday's Express: but the Intervention of your Letter, and the Bad-
ness of the NVeather, will excuse lne.
I am sorry to inform You, that it is not in my power to attend the
Meeting of the Conunrs. on the Day You mention, being engaged, as an
Administrator, in the Sale of the late revel. James Scott's personal Estate,
in a few Days after; which I must of Necessity attend.
As I am informed that Genl. Gates is with You, and can have lto
Doubt of his Attendance on this Business; I am happy to think it will
not be retarded by my Inabilitv to attend.
I am, luost respectfully,
Dr Sir
Y r. most obt. ltble. Serv't
T. BLACKBURN.
General Washington.
[Zudovscauent:] Fron Colo. T. Blackburn, 1o Decr. 1784.
[The next document according to date is that printed in full in
Tkc Potomac Route to the tFest, pp. 136-139. The endorsement in
Washington's hand reads: " Conferrence of the Commission for
opening the Potornack, Annapolis 21st Decr 1784 and making a
Road from the waters of the Potomac to those of Monongalia."
A letter from Sainucl IIanwaS-, dated Old ']'own, January 26,
1785, follows next in order, but as it is printed entire in Stewart's
report, p. 32, it is not included here. The endorsement reads:
"From Capt'n Sarn'1 Hanwav, 26th Jan. 1787 respecting the cont-
tnunication between. the Western Waters and the Potomac."]
'Thomas Blackburn had been appointed by Virginia. along with Washington
and Gates, a delegate to the Maryland-Virginia meeting held at Annapolis on
Dec.
zz, 1784. General Mason states (Stewart's Rccport, p. 2;) that Blackburn
did not
attend " on account of indisposition "; and Pickcll (A Nea Chapter in the
Early
Life of GVashoigtan, p. 43) described the cause as "serious indisposition
". Both
would seem to be in error according to this letter. It will be noted that
Wash-
ington's endorsement does not pive the correct date. For the record of the
alecting, see The Potomac Poitle to the West, pl). x36-139.
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