No mention is made of Mr. Gallatin, nor indeed of any others besides
Colonel Morgan, from whom the information was derived; but there can
hardly be a doubt that this was the occasion of the meeting. The only
possible importance of this district of country, in which both
Washington and Gallatin had at times large interests, was derived from
the fact that it lay between the head-waters of the Potomac and the
nearest navigable branches of the Ohio.[7] The reason why Gallatin and
Savary selected George's Creek for their base of operations was that in
their opinion they thus held in their hands the best practicable
connection between the Ohio and the Potomac which was their path to
Richmond and a market. Probably this subject had engaged much of
Gallatin's attention during a good part of this summer, and it is not
unlikely that he had already arrived, from his own study, at the
conclusion which he found Washington so slow to adopt.
The following winter was also passed in Richmond, where Savary
ultimately built a brick house, long remembered for its tall, round
chimneys. Gallatin was now established here so firmly that he regarded
himself as a Virginian, and seems to have been regarded as such by his
acquaintances, as the following paper testifies:
* * * * *
"The bearer hereof, Mr. Albert Gallatine, is going from this place to
Greenbriar County, and from thence towards Monongalia and the Countys
northwestward. His business is with the surveyors of some of these
Countys, particularly with him of Greenbriar. And I do request that
from him in particular, as well as from all others, he may meet with
particular attention and respect.
"I feel it my duty in a peculiar manner to give every possible facility
to this gentleman, because his personal character, as well as his
present designs, entitle him to the most cordial regards.
"Given under my hand at Richmond this 25th March, 1785.
"P. HENRY."
Governor Henry also intrusted Gallatin with the duty of locating two
thousand acres of land in the Western country for Colonel James Le
Maire, or of completing the title if the land were already located. This
commission is dated March 29. On the 30th, Gallatin wrote to Badollet a
letter, of which the following extract is all that has interest here. He
at length tells Badollet to come over at once. His own position is
sufficiently secure to warrant a decisive step of this kind. The next
day began his second expedition to the West.
GALLATIN TO BADOLLET.
RICHMOND (EN VIRGINIE), ce 30 mars, 1785.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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