can--When
your Bed and Chest comes down, I will send Anthony down to you, he
can make your fire, clean your Shoes, fetch you water &c.... As I
mentioned to you, that what you now get from your industry shall be
your own, besides, I will help you all that I can 'till you are of
age, please God to bless me & you with the sight of that day, I will
strain every nerve to set you forward in the World, your behavior I
hope will entitle you to it, and give your Mother and me the highest
pleasure we can hope for here, that is, your doing well--If you want
a Waistcoat and Breeches you may get them in town yourself. Mr. Hooe
says that he will immediately send you some Rum & Sugar on their
Acco^t to dispose off in the Wholesale way, that you may take your
choice out of it to retain on your own Account--Be cautious and do
not trust. I do not know my dear Dennis anything I can say more to
you at this time. I expect to hear from you next Post and that you
will be particular with regard to your situation &c. Your Mother
gives her blessing to y^o, all your sisters,

I am, my dear Dennis, your most Affectionate Father,

WM RAMSAY[65]

[Illustration: Bill of Lading to William Ramsay at Bellehaven, dated
1751. (Ramsay Papers)]

When war came, Denny Ramsay, like his brother, threw his lot with the
cause of liberty and served with distinction in the army, reaching the
rank of colonel.

Dennis Ramsay closely followed in the footsteps of his father. Both
served as mayor of the town and it was the official duty of both to
address General Washington upon commemorative occasions--William in 1781
after Yorktown, and Dennis in 1789 when the General paused in Alexandria
on his way to be inaugurated as President of the new republic. Both
father and son were Freemasons and members of the Sun Fire Company.

After the death of Martha Washington's little daughter, Patsy Custis,
her empty heart sought solace in association with the young daughters of
her friends. The girls of Alexandria kept the carriage wheels rolling
to Mount Vernon, where they were joyfully received, and where they were
nearly always numerous enough to make a gay evening. The young ladies
from the houses of Carlyle, Dalton and Ramsay were near neighbors in
Alexandria and frequenters of Mount Vernon, as were the Misses Craik,
Herbert, Fitzhugh, Lee, and Fendall, whose presence brightened the
mansion house with girlish lau