George Washington Autograph Letter Signed. One page, recto and verso, 7.5" x 9" (sight), Mount Vernon; May 20, 1792. The letter was written during his Presidency and addressed to Mrs. Washington of Fairfield [Hannah Fairfax Washington], wife of his late cousin. "Dear Madam, To the variety & importance of public business which press upon me toward the close of the session of Congress, and which leaves not a moment to attend to my private concerns, you will have the goodness to impute this late acknowledgement of this receipt of your obliging favor of the 9th of April. Permit me now, my dear madam, to offer my best thanks for your kind attention to the request contained in my former letter, and for the information which you have been so good as to furnish me with relative to the genealogy of the family Washington. I return herewith the Will of Lawrence Washington agreeably to your desire. Mrs. Washington received with much pleasure your kind remembrance & affectionate regard, and would, were she here (where I am for a few days only) return the same with much sincerity...to which permit me to add the best wishes and ardent prayers for your happiness of Dear Madam Your affete and Obedt Sert Go: Washington" On March 24, 1792, Washington had written to Hannah (1742-1804) enquiring about the will of his paternal grandfather, Lawrence Washington (1659-1698), which was in Hannah's possession after the death of her husband, Warner Washington (1722-1790), a cousin of the President. He was attempting to answer some genealogical questions about the Washington family that had been made by an Isaac Heard, of London, in a letter to the President on December 7, 1791. Hannah responded on April 9th enclosing the will, along with her response in which she advised the President to search the records and wills deposited in Westmoreland or Cumberland County for further information. Matted, framed and double-glazed to the overall size of 14.5" x 15.75". Not examined outside of the frame. Reference: National Archives Founders Online Condition: Dampstaining to bottom of letter. 1.5" closed tear on fold at bottom margin. A further 1.5" closed tear extends from that torn fold. 1.25" closed tear at center left margin has been repaired on verso with archival tape. Edgewear with some chipping. Small areas of paper loss along creases. Letter has been toned from age with further intermittent staining. HID03101062020 © 2020 Heritage Auctions | All Rights Reserved