From George Washington to Gustavus Scott, 26 December 1796
To Gustavus Scott
Philadelphia 26th Decr 1796
Sir,
Your favour of the 15th instt was not received until the 22d.1 To what the delay is to be ascribed, I know not.
The voice of Maryland, as expressed by its legislature, in the Resolutions which you enclosed, is flattering indeed, as it respects myself, personally; and highly pleasing as it relates to their federal sentiments—I thank you for sendg them.2
From what you have said of the disposition of the Senate, of that State, the presumption is, that the loan of $100,000 for the use of the Federal City, must, ’ere this, have passed through all the requisite forms. The necessity of the case justified the obtaining of it on almost any terms, & the zeal of the Commissioners (if they, in their individual capacities, which they surely may do without hazarding any thing) in making themselves liable for the amount, as it could not be had without, cannot fail of approbation.3 At the sametime I must confess that the request has a very singular appearance and will not, I should suppose, be very grateful to the feelings of Congress.4 With great esteem & regard I am—Sir Your Obedt Hble Servt
Go: Washington
ALS (letterpress copy), DLC:GW; LB, DLC:GW. No reply to GW from Scott has been found.
1. Scott’s letter to GW of 15 Dec. has not been found.
2. Scott had sent GW a copy of the resolution of 14 Dec., adopted by the Maryland legislature, which loaned $100,000 to the D.C. commissioners. The copy transmitted to GW and later filed in the commissioners’ office included a signed statement from GW approving the loan, but that copy has not been found. See Commissioners for the District of Columbia to GW, this date, and n.4 to that document; see also John Hoskins Stone to GW, 12 Dec., and n.2.
3. For the security given by the commissioners for the Maryland loan, see their letter to GW, this date, and n.3.
4. In a 6 May 1796 act, Congress had authorized the commissioners to borrow money for the Federal City. The law stated that Congress would guarantee these loans in cases where lot sales proved insufficient to pay off the principal and interest ( 461).