1From George Washington to the Commissioners for the District of Columbia, 29 August 1793 (Washington Papers)
I enclose you an Estimate of the cost of the Capitol for the Federal City upon Mr Hallet’s plan calculated in the Philada prices by Mr Carstairs, one of the architects brought forward by Dr Thornton on the late occasion of discussing the objections offered to his plan. Altho’ it may not be proper to rely entirely upon this Estimate; yet it will probably be found a very useful document in going...