George Washington ALS, March 15, 1785, to Mathew Carey 

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• Lot Description
  ALS, 1p, 7.5 x 12.5 in., Mount Vernon, 15 March 1785. George Washington to Mathew Carey requesting a subscription to his proposed newspaper. Copy in "The George Washington Papers," (online) Series 2, Letterbook 12, page 42. However, the copy in the letterbook differs from this in the last paragraph, and the transcription indicates this discrepancy, although not the reason for it. The copy in the letterbook is much more positively worded, so possibly this is an earlier version?
  
  Mount Vernon 15 Mar. 1785
  
  Sir
  
  I purposed, so soon as I understood you intended to become the publisher of a news paper in Philadelphia to request that [inserted - a copy of your] weekly production might be sent to me. I was the more pleased with this determination when, by a letter from my friend the marquis de La Fayette, I found he had interested himself in your behalf.
  
  It has so happened, that my Gazettes from Philadelphia, whether from inattention at the Printing or Post Offices, or other causes, come very irregularly to my hands: Let me pray you therefore to address those you send me in the appeareance of a letter. The common paper, usually applied, will do equally well for the cover. It has sometimes occurred to me that htere are persons who wishing to read News Papers without [inserted -being? at] the expence of paying for them, make free with those which are addressed to others. Under the garb of a letter it is not presumable this liberty would be taken.
  
  I am, Sir
  Y[ou]r. most Obed[ient] Serv[ant]
  G. Washington
  
  The letterbook copy differs in the first line, reading: "It was my intention, so soon as I understood...."  The last part is: "I have sometimes suspected that there are persons who have stronger desires to read Newspapers than to pay for them, borrow with a pretty heavy hand: this may be avoided by deception, and I know of no other way." These differences suggest an earlier draft (since there are several insertions and one word crossed out on this copy. In addition, the bottom address line has "Matthew Carey," while the letterbook correctly spells his name "Mathew."
  
  Mathew Carey (1760-1839) was born in Dublin, Ireland. He became an apprentice in printing, against his father's wishes, and quickly became involved in politics (in print). Carey's father sent him to Paris to avoid prosecution. While there, because he was known for his pro-American sentiments, he was introduced to Benjamin Franklin, and to the young Marquis de Lafayette. Franklin put him to work at his press in Passy. During his time in Paris, young Carey also met talented French printers, further improving his craft.
  
  He returned to Ireland when the threat of prosecution faded, but immediately got involved in political publishing again. This time he was arrested, but with the support of other printers and his many friends, the Parliament could not decide his guilt. When that body adjourned, they had to release Carey, who took the opportunity to flee to America. Ironically, the ship which brought him to Philadelphia was also named America.
  
  He arrived on these shores with a handful of guineas, most of the rest having been transferred to gamblers on board the ship. But he made a friend of one fellow traveler, John Wallace. Upon arriving in the states, Wallace proceeded to Mount Vernon with a letter of recommendation to George Washington. It just so happened that Lafayette was visiting Washington at the time, and upon learning that Wallace just came from Dublin, inquired about his old friend Mathew Carey. The surprised Wallace informed him that Carey had arrived with him in the States, so on his way to New York to return to France, the Marquis called on Carey in Philadelphia. He learned that Carey was awaiting an overdue payment from Dublin (his portion of the publication he abandoned when he fled) so that he could begin a publication in Philadelphia. Lafayette's parting gift as he left town was a note of encouragement and $400. Lafayette also wrote a note to Washington recommending Carey. When Lafayette returned to America for his "farewell" tour decades later, the fortunes of the two men had reversed, and Carey repaid the $400 to the impoverished Marquis.
  
  It was presumably this "network" that prompted Washington to request a subscription to Carey's Philadelphia Evening Herald. Carey also continued his political commentary, as seems to have been his character. Initially the going was tough, since there were many other political publications, but through many adjustments, adding lithographs, maps and atlases, pamphlets, and more, Carey was ultimately successful. (His greatest successes came late, when he began publishing medical treatises and books, which became the only business of later incarnations of the publishing house, right up to Lea and Febiger, controlled by Carey's descendants since 1785, that continued until the firm sold to Waverly, Inc. in 1990).
  
  References:
  
  Green, James N.
       1985     Mathew Carey, Publisher and Patriot. The Library Company of Philadelphia. 

  Condition

  Folds as expected, with just a bit of edge scuffing. Scattered foxing and light overall toning.
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