To George Washington from William Stephens Smith, 15 July 1783

I am to acknowledge the receipt of your Excellency’s Letters of the 30th Ulto & 9th Inst.

The Key of the Small trunk, I gave to Mr Cortlandt and am surprised at his inattention in not [haveing] it—The Duty of Arts and Sciences is in eight vols,but bound for more convenience in 4.

I have acted with Mr Francis agreable to your Excellency’s directions & have requested him to present his Bills after every supply—he says the Turtle were intended as a present and refuses accepting any thing for them, The Letter directed to him I seald and deliver’d; he expressed his gratitude for the Attention.

The thread &c. sufficient to work up three pieces of nankeen accompanies this; I have spoke for the Caps for the Postilions but am at a loss for the proper dimensions—I shall desire the man to proceed as far as possible without hardning them, untill I can inform him of the [size], for which I shall thank your Excellency—for unless they fit properly, they will be troublesome to the boy’s & never look well. With the sincerest attachment I have the honor to be Your Excellency’s Most Obliged Servant