Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

President George Washington's $300,000 late-book fee
Herald Sun (Australia) ^ | April 18, 2010 | Herald Sun

Posted on 04/18/2010 9:51:54 PM PDT by I still care

GEORGE Washington racked up a $300,000 fee at the New York Library with two books he borrowed 220 years ago. America's first president never returned the books, on international law and parliamentary debates.

"We're not actively pursuing the overdue fines. But we would be very happy if we were able to get the books back," librarian Mark Bartlett said.

Washington's late fee went unnoticed for almost 150 years.

But in 1934 a dusty ledger was discovered in a rubbish heap in the library's basement, revealing the names of all the people who had borrowed books from the city's oldest library between July 1789 and April 1792.

Washington borrowed on October 5, 1789, the Law of Nations, a treatise on international relations, and Vol. 12 of the Commons Debates, which contained transcripts of debates from Britain's House of Commons.

(Excerpt) Read more at heraldsun.com.au ...


TOPICS: Constitution/Conservatism; Government
KEYWORDS: birthcertificate; certifigate; devattel; lawofnations; library; mtvernon; naturalborncitizen; washington
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first 1-2021-27 next last
Found this of all places in an Aussie paper. Thought it was interesting -The books Washington checked out were books on International Laws and Treaties, and a book of Transcripts of Parliament debates.

Just more proof how seriously Washington took his responsibilites to educate himself on how this new nation should establish itself.

Can you imagine Obama taking out a book on established international law within his first year? It's obvious he's clueless about it, or he wouldn't have insulted every ally we have.

1 posted on 04/18/2010 9:51:54 PM PDT by I still care
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | View Replies]

To: I still care
President George Washington 'borrowed' the legal reference book "Law of Nations".
George Washington Racks Up Late Fees at NYC Library ^
President George Washington racks up $300,000 late fee for two Manhattan library books ^
George Washington racks up late fees at NY library ^
2 posted on 04/18/2010 9:56:31 PM PDT by BlessedBeGod (New Wizard of Oz: Pelosi as the Wicked Witch of the West & Michelle as the Wicked Witch of the East.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: I still care

He’d probably take out Twilight and lie and say it was one of the girls’ when pressed.


3 posted on 04/18/2010 9:56:33 PM PDT by Rastus
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: I still care

4 posted on 04/18/2010 9:59:21 PM PDT by fieldmarshaldj (~"This is what happens when you find a stranger in the Amber Lamps !"~~)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: fieldmarshaldj

Bookman!


5 posted on 04/18/2010 10:01:47 PM PDT by Zeppelin (Keep on FReepin' on...)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 4 | View Replies]

To: I still care

btt


6 posted on 04/18/2010 10:06:02 PM PDT by Cacique (quos Deus vult perdere, prius dementat ( Islamia Delenda Est ))
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: I still care

It was probably one of his staff that checked out the books using Georges library card, hehe.


7 posted on 04/18/2010 10:11:06 PM PDT by Ciexyz
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: I still care

he was reading the book on “post America”, something like that.


8 posted on 04/18/2010 10:22:00 PM PDT by machogirl (First they came for my tagline.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: I still care

That looks like the largest book fine ever. Good thing they are not “actively pursuing it” because it would no doubt bankrupt his descendents particularly if the burden fell one to just one person.


9 posted on 04/18/2010 10:27:00 PM PDT by Republic_of_Secession.
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: I still care

Washington may have skated on the library books but there is a cadre of feds still looking for him for removing the tag from his mattress!


10 posted on 04/18/2010 10:29:36 PM PDT by freedumb2003 (Craven spirits wear their master's collars but real men would rather feed the battlefield's vultures)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: I still care
It was probably one of his staff that checked out the books using George's library card, hehe.
11 posted on 04/18/2010 10:29:56 PM PDT by Ciexyz
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: I still care

ha, while we should be sympathetic to libraries trying to retain books in their collections, there must be an informal statute of limitations on the accumulating fines!! If they are out there somewhere the books would likely be worth huge amounts to collectors now, but assuming they are not in GW’s known estate and library they seem to be lost to history.... anyway, who’s to pay? Take it out of National Park revenues for administering Mt. Vernon?? I think not....

Who knows, maybe this info will spur an interest in any surviving copies of these works and increase their value.... maybe someone will even dig up the NY library copies if they have survived in some collection somewhere....


12 posted on 04/18/2010 10:30:28 PM PDT by Enchante (Obama and Brennan think that 20% of terrorists re-joining the battle is just fine with them)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: I still care
I.The books Washington checked out were books on International Laws and Treaties, and a book of Transcripts of Parliament debates.

Just more proof how seriously Washington took his responsibilites to educate himself on how this new nation should establish itself.


De Vattel's - Law of Nations:




13 posted on 04/18/2010 10:39:05 PM PDT by Red Steel
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: I still care
Bush's fault. His administration should have settled it.
14 posted on 04/18/2010 10:40:46 PM PDT by Bronzy
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: I still care

Then George Washington knows that Barack Obama is not eligible to be U.S. President, if BHO-I is really his father, as he of course claims.


15 posted on 04/18/2010 11:04:02 PM PDT by unspun (PRAY & WORK FOR FREEDOM - investigatingobama.blogspot.com)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: I still care
Washington borrowed on October 5, 1789, the Law of Nations, a treatise on international relations

Even as it racks up late fees, that one also wastes time on FR.

16 posted on 04/18/2010 11:12:41 PM PDT by cynwoody
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: I still care

There is no proof it wasn’t returned.


17 posted on 04/18/2010 11:18:29 PM PDT by Paladin2
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: fieldmarshaldj

If he hadn’t been posted, I’d have done it. Proud of you for getting Bookman in at post #4!


18 posted on 04/18/2010 11:32:29 PM PDT by Yaelle
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 4 | View Replies]

To: I still care
So, he cut down a cherry tree and did not return a few library books.

See my profile page for some REAL presidential crimes.
(In no particular order.)

19 posted on 04/19/2010 12:17:26 AM PDT by Slyfox
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: BlessedBeGod

Hmmm. I did a search for both Washington and library. I’m not quite sure why I didn’t see previous postings.


20 posted on 04/19/2010 12:36:19 AM PDT by I still care (I believe in the universality of freedom -George Bush, asked if he regrets going to war.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first 1-2021-27 next last

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson