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The Bon "Vivant's Companion
Qeorge Washington^
In 1776 Washington shipped an unruly negro to the
West Indies, and wrote the captain of the vessel as fol
lows:
"With this letter comes a negro (Tom) which 1 beg
the favor of you to sell in any of the Islands you may
go to, for whatever he will fetch, and bring me in return
for him:
One hhd of best molasses
One ditto of best rum
One barrel of lymes—if good and cheap
One pot of tamarinds, containing about 10 lbs
One small ditto of mixed sweetmeats,—about 5 lbs
each—and the residue—much or little, in good
old spirits."
Shortly before this time Washington was a candidate
for the Legislature. There was then a Virginia statute
forbidding treating the voters, or briberyat elec5tions, and
declaring illegal all eledions thus obtained, yet the fol
lowing is the bill of the liquor Washington furnished
the voters of Frederick:
40 gallonsof Rum Punch at 3s. 6d.
7.00
15 gallons of Wine at 1Os. per gal
7.00
Dinner for your friends
3.00
13H gallons of Wine at 10s.
6.15
13 gallons of beer at 1s. 3d.
4.4.2
8 quarts Cider Punch at 1s. 6d.
16.3
Punches
3.9