Tobias Lear to Thomas Jefferson, 11 July 1792
Tobias Lear to Thomas Jefferson
[Philadelphia] July 11t[h] 1792
The President of the U.S. informs the Secretary of State that he has retained one of the proof Sheets of the federal City, and returns the others with the letter from Mr Blodget, which the President thinks had better be sent to the Commissioners by the mail, which will certainly reach G. Town on Monday.1 The President’s Cavalry are in such order that he cannot say with any precision when he shall reach that place; he however, wishes the Secretary to mention to the Commissioners that he sat out this afternoon; but being incumbered with lame and sick horses it is uncertain when he will be at George-Town.2
The President observes that the soundings of the River & Branch are not noted either in this or the other proof sheet, which he thinks would be very satisfactory & advantageous to have done.3
AL, DLC: Jefferson Papers.
1. Jefferson immediately dispatched Blodget’s letter to the commissioners for the District of Columbia ( 24:212). GW expected that letter to reach Georgetown by Monday, 16 July.
2. At GW’s command Bartholomew Dandridge wrote Gabriel P. Van Horne from Baltimore on 14 July “that one of the Presidents horses, which had been sick previous to his leaving Philada, was so far reduced & tired by the time he reached Bush-town that the President was under the necessity of leaving him at that place in care of Mrs [Elizabeth] Stiles. The P——nt requests the favor of you, to enquire, & as soon as the horse is able to travel that you will contrive to send him to Alexa.—either by driving him in one of your Stage Coaches (as he is a carriage horse) or by causing one of your Stage Drivers to lead him. The President will willingly pay any expence which may attend the sending the horse to Alexa.” (DLC:GW). GW arrived at Georgetown by 17 July (see GW to Jefferson, that date).
3. Jefferson wrote to Blodget on 12 July: “the soundings are not in the sheets you send me. I have written to the Commissioners recommending to desire Mr. [Andrew] Ellicot, if they were not in the original, to insert them in one of these proof sheets and forward it to you that they may be put into the plate” ( 24:218). Unfortunately Jefferson had been sent prints, not proof sheets, and the engraving plate was already on its way to Philadelphia (ibid., 20:17–18, n.46).