31To George Washington from the Commissioners for the District of Columbia, 20 July 1796 (Washington Papers)
Since our last to you, we have been obliged to abandon all hopes of seeing Mr Morris here; in consequence of which, we forwarded to him, on the 15th a Letter of which, the enclosed is a Copy—We certainly mean to pursue the measures intimated in our Letter. A second Letter from Mr Wolcott of the 13th Inst. gives us no hopes of any aid from the Bank of the United States—We are proceeding to...
32To George Washington from the Commissioners for the District of Columbia, 12 July 1796 (Washington Papers)
We had the honor of your two Letters, first and eighth Inst., covering a letter from the Secretary of War (which is returned) and also the several papers to be forwarded to Messrs Willink of Amsterdam —One complete set of those papers, with a [ ] of the power, signed by all of the Commissioners, will be forwarded to the Secretary at War by him, to be transmitted to Holland by fridays Mail—We...
33To George Washington from the Commissioners for the District of Columbia, 29 June 1796 (Washington Papers)
We had your favor of the 26th Inst. inclosing your approbation of the proposed alterations in the manner of improving in the City of Washington—We have given the necessary Instructions for their publication in the public prints of Boston, New York, Philadelphia, Baltimore, City, George Town, Alexandria, Richmond and Charleston; if you think the publication ought to be more general, we shall...
34To George Washington from the Commissioners for the District of Columbia, 22 June 1796 (Washington Papers)
The board, pursuant to your request, have had under consideration the propriety of permitting the erecting of wooden buildings in the City, & enclose you the result—should you be of opinion that the proposed suspension should take place, they have forwarded a sketch of the form which appears to them to be proper. We are happy to have it in our power to inform you, that a letter has been...
35To George Washington from the Commissioners for the District of Columbia, 31 May 1796 (Washington Papers)
We have this day, the honor of your Letter of the 22nd of this month, which was detained on the road by the late heavy rains—The Duplicate of the powers to Mesrs Wilhem & Jan Willink, we should not fail to forward by the next post, but as the original was signed by Mr White, it will be more in order to have his signature to the Copy—It shall be our first business, on his arrival, which we...
36To George Washington from the Commissioners for the District of Columbia, 14 May 1796 (Washington Papers)
Our Letter of Yesterday, covering the power of attorney to Messrs Willink, will shew you, that we are busily engaged in endeavoring to draw some good effects from the Loan Bill which has cost us so much time & trouble—We beg leave to submit to your consideration, the enclosed advertisement, which, when approved by you, we wish to appear in the public prints at Boston, New York and Phila., as...
37To George Washington from the Commissioners for the District of Columbia, 13 May 1796 (Washington Papers)
In consequence of a correspondence between Mr Scott & Mr Robert Gilmor of Baltimore, and a conversation Mr White had with Mr Gilmor, in his return from Phila., we have judged it expedient, through his means to set on foot a negotiation for a Loan in Holland—Mr Gilmor expressed a very clear opinion that the necessary Sums may be procured at an interest not exceeding 6 percent per Annum,...
38To George Washington from the Commissioners for the District of Columbia, 13 April 1796 (Washington Papers)
Our Principal surveyor Mr Freeman has applied to us to recommend him to an Appointment for laying out the Lines under the direction of General Knox: His good Conduct whilst in public Employment entitles him to our Recommendation & We with pleasure give it. Mr Freeman wou’d be usefull to us in the City for some Months yet, but We cannot blame his seeking a just Occasion to advance his fortune....
39To George Washington from the Commissioners for the District of Columbia, September 1795 (Washington Papers)
We had the pleasure of your favor by Mr Lear Covering Mr Morriss Letter of the 21t instant —finding that Mr Morris is of Opinion that we have no power to sell his property we think it highly necessary to assure him that we are impress’d with very Different sentiments and shall if Compelled by him take the advice of able Counsel on the point—We enclose a Copy of our letter to Mr Morris with his...
40To George Washington from the Commissioners for the District of Columbia, 24 July 1795 (Washington Papers)
The enclosed Letter from the Secretary of State covering the charge made by Mr Greenleaf were received by the mail the Day you left town. Upon such an occasion we thought the sooner an Invitation to Greenleaf to come forward and substantiate his charges was handed to him the better. The enclosed answer to him open and under Cover to the Secretary of State which is also enclosed was forwarded...
41To George Washington from the Commissioners for the District of Columbia, 24 July 1795 (Washington Papers)
The Board have had under Consideration for some days past the Subject of regulating the building of wharves; according to the Powers delegated to them by the Act of the Maryland Legislature passed in 1791: An Abstract of which is herewith inclosed. On a Subject so extensive, it is not to be wondered at that considerable difficulties have occurred: and it is not probable that all will be...
42To George Washington from the Commissioners for the District of Columbia, 15 May 1795 (Washington Papers)
We had the honor of your favor of the 5th Inst. some Days since covering several Letters from Mrs Hallet. Your letter to her was immediately forwarded. Mr Hallet was discharged by the old board from the public service some time in June last; but he appearing to be much dissatisfied the new Board indulged him some time last winter with a full hearing in the presence of such of his friends as he...
43To George Washington from the Commissioners for the District of Columbia, 20 April 1795 (Washington Papers)
It being our earnest wish that every means of just information should be furnished to form a proper Opinion on Mr Johnsons claim under the Contract entered into by the late Board with Morris & Greenleaf; we beg leave to forward to you in addition to the Statement handed in by Dr Thornton—the Contract with Greenleaf (see page 3rd marked with double Lines) The State of the Case and opinion of...
44To George Washington from the Commissioners for the District of Columbia, 18 February 1795 (Washington Papers)
Your Letter of the 20th of January relates to one of the most engaging subjects with which the human mind can be impressed. The Legislators of all enlightened Countries have thought the education of youth so important to the welfare of Society that it has been a primary object of their attention. It is a theme which merits the most serious Consideration of United America at this time; for, as...
45To George Washington from the Commissioners for the District of Columbia, 4 February 1795 (Washington Papers)
The Board have for some time contemplated a statement of the affairs of the City, to be laid before you; which has been hitherto delayed by the difficulty of collecting the several Documents necessary to accompany it; and which even yet are very far from being perfect. Independent of the present circumstances of Affairs, there are strong reasons why our proceedings at certain stated periods...
46To George Washington from the Commissioners for the District of Columbia, 2 January 1795 (Washington Papers)
We did ourselves the honor of inclosing, in our answer to your letter, two Communications to Messrs Trumbu⟨ll. W⟩e could not at that time determine what should be done relative to Mr Hatfield. We require all the aid of Talents, but the inadequacy of our Funds restrain our Engagements. We have met with several Disappointments, not only in the inability of the Bank here to give us accommodation,...
47To George Washington from the Commissioners for the District of Columbia, 18 December 1794 (Washington Papers)
Your favor of the 24th Ulto with the inclosure came to hand —We take the liberty of enclosing our letters to Mr Trumbull and his Brother for your perusal. We embrace this occasion to say that it is our intention to send for your information a statement of the business of the City as far as may be in our power, and Materials for that purpose can be collected together. We are &c. LB , DNA : RG...
48To George Washington from the Commissioners for the District of Columbia, 10 July 1794 (Washington Papers)
We have come to an agreement with Mr Greenleaf by which he will be accomodated, and the public participate in a Loan negociating in Holland in his name—the inclosed copy will let you into the particulars, one of which, that the paper which gives the legal title in the 1000 Lots the public part of the Mortgage, is to remain till Bills are drawn and the money deposited agreeable to our Order, on...
49To George Washington from the Commissioners for the District of Columbia, 7 June 1794 (Washington Papers)
Having many reasons for wishing an interview with you at this meeting we cannot but express our regret at the Circumstances which have prevented it. We have the pleasure to inform you that it will be in our power from the Arrangements we have made with Mr Peter, the Proprietor of the Square on which your lots lie to accomodate you agreeably to your desire with the whole Square. The...
50To George Washington from the Commissioners for the District of Columbia, 23 April 1794 (Washington Papers)
We take the Liberty to inclose you a Letter for Messrs Richard Harrison and George Taylor Jr, which we beg you to read and send to them: it will apprize you of our very difficult Situation with Mr Blodget, who has come hither without any Thing nearly, but evasions and excuses—we have past by the Secretary, because we imagine his time will not allow this to be a first object to him as it is...
51To George Washington from the Commissioners for the District of Columbia, 23 March 1794 (Washington Papers)
We inclose you a Certificate of your Purchase of Lots, and payment of the price, which by a late Act transfers the Title without the formality of Deeds—This is a Duplicate, the Original is lodged in the Office of the recording Clerk, to be entered by him, and will be returned to our Office. We were not unmindful of your intention of becoming a Purchaser of a Situation in the other end of the...
52To George Washington from the Commissioners for the District of Columbia, 23 March 1794 (Washington Papers)
Major Ellicott’s, Briggs’s and Benjamin Ellicott’s Letters of the 29th of June, and 28th of February which you inclosed to Us assert so many untruths, artfully combined that an unusual lengthiness is required to draw the Circumstances into view which have happened for two or three years past. We certainly best know the real State of our own minds with regard to this Corps and Dermott, and of...
53To George Washington from the Commissioners for the District of Columbia, 28 January 1794 (Washington Papers)
Major Ellicotts return in November, after being absent great part of the Summer, and soon after we had employed his Brother Joseph, was so plainly calculated to be heavy on the Funds, that we could not submit to it, and discharged him at our last Meeting: we flattered ourselves, that we should have more expedition and Quiet too with his Brothers, but he has continued here, and has, we believe,...
54To George Washington from the Commissioners for the District of Columbia, 23 December 1793 (Washington Papers)
You will receive inclosed a copy of an Agreement we have entered into with Messrs Morris and Greenleaf for the Sale of three thousand Lots farther, at 35£ a Lot, somewhat modifying the old and stating the whole in this new Contract —A consideration of the uncertainty of Settled Times, and an unembarrassed Commerce, weighed much with us: as well as Mr Morris’s Capital, Influence, and...
55To George Washington from the Commissioners for the District of Columbia, 3 November 1793 (Washington Papers)
Colo. Hooe and Majr Ross’s report, which they have inclosed you will inform you of the result of their examination of our accounts; that with the Treasurer stands in the place of a cash account, is accurate and authorized by our warrants, which are justified by Vouchers—these were all compared and did not take up two days—The Gentlemen went farther and have given a general state of Funds, this...
56To George Washington from the Commissioners for the District of Columbia, 16 September 1793 (Washington Papers)
We forgot the other day to apply to you for your permission to make sales of the publick property in the City of Washington —We therefore transmit to you a Couple of Instruments for your signature similar to those given at former times —Considering it as a mere matter of form, we shall commence tomorrow, agreeable to advertizement, and expect you will favour us with the return of them by the...
57To George Washington from the Commissioners for the District of Columbia, 5 September 1793 (Washington Papers)
we have now before us your Letters of the 13th & 29th of last month, the surveyor will be informed of your direction, in consequence of our Letter of the first of august and of the result of our views with him of the two short avenues on the spot which we intend this morning —we have so good an opinion of the probity and disinterestedness of Capn Conway and Mr David Ross of Bladensburgh, whose...
58To George Washington from the Commissioners for the District of Columbia, 1 August 1793 (Washington Papers)
We inclose you a copy of the return of the 29th of July, from the surveyors office, which will give an Idea of the progress and state of the work of that department and a copy of Mr Briggs and B. Ellicotts letter of the 31st. You will be pleased to observe that they propose, three small alterations, which will be understood on referring to the printed plan. 1st stopping S. carolina Avenue west...
59To George Washington from the Commissioners for the District of Columbia, 24 June 1793 (Washington Papers)
We beg leave to refer you to Mr Blodget on the subject of the National University to which in general we have the most friendly disposition, and the site painted out by him we entirely approve if it can be had on the generous terms proposed, on its meeting your approbation we will do every thing in our power in favour of the important institution. We are &ca LB , DNA : RG 42, Records of the...
60To George Washington from the Commissioners for the District of Columbia, 23 June 1793 (Washington Papers)
We inclose to you a letter from Majr Ellicott respecting a change of part of the southern Branch of the Canal, and his reasons for a change or totally striking out the Eastern Branch of it in the course of our divisions of the Carrollsburgh property, and the knowledge of situation and circumstances collected from the plats laid before us—the change of the southern branch occurred to ourselves...