1To George Washington from the Commissioners for the District of Columbia, 21 October 1791 (Washington Papers)
The numbers 3 in Square 107 at £20 No. 8 in Square 87, at 55 No. 15 in Square 105 at 92, and No. 16 in the same Square at 76£ fall again to the public those bids were to protect its Interest so that the real Sales are of Thirty one Lots averaging 96 . . 7 . . 9. To accomodate some Strangers we were obliged after the payment of the ¼ Deposit to agree that the Land should stand as Security,...
2To George Washington from the Commissioners for the District of Columbia, 25 November 1791 (Washington Papers)
We are sorry to be under the disagreeable necessity of mentioning to you an Occurance which must wound your feelings. On our meeting here to day, we were to our great astonishment informed that, Majr L’Enfant, without any Authority from us, & without even having submitted the matter to our consideration, had proceeded to demolish, Mr Carroll’s house, Mr Carroll who had received some letters,...
3To George Washington from the Commissioners for the District of Columbia, 26 November 1791 (Washington Papers)
A variety of considerations have induced us to think, that many and great benefits might result from the employment of a person of intelligence, to make a tour for a few months into the Eastern States, and inform himself of the terms on which men, and materials may be had—We are happy that Mr Cabots engagements have permitted him to undertake this Office. We have requested him to call on you...
4From George Washington to the Commissioners for the District of Columbia, 1 December 1791 (Washington Papers)
I receive with real mortification the account of the demolition of Mr Carrolls house by Major L’Enfant, against his consent, and without authority from yourselves or any other person: for you have done me but justice in ass⟨erting that⟩ he had no such authority from me. My letter of the 28th Ulto to Mr Carroll of Duddington will prove this. I now enclose you the copy of one to Majr L’Enfant,...
5From George Washington to the Commissioners for the District of Columbia, 18 December 1791 (Washington Papers)
It gave me much pleasure to find by a late letter of yours to Mr Jefferson, that the dispute between Major L’Enfant & Mr Carroll of Duddington is likely to terminate more favorably than might have been expected from the nature of it; and that you are disposed to take no further notice of his late unjustifiable proceedings. You will perceive by the enclosed copy of a letter which I have just...
6To George Washington from the Commissioners for the District of Columbia, 21 December 1791 (Washington Papers)
We have before had occasion to inform you, that we had contracted with Mr Fendall, for the delivery of rough foundation Stones, from the falls to the amount of £1200, to be delivered by next and the money to be paid at different periods during the delivery, our attention has since been directed to the securing some of the Quarries on Acquia. Before doing any thing final however, it was...
7From George Washington to the Commissioners for the District of Columbia, 27 December 1791 (Washington Papers)
When I proposed the alternatives contained in my letter of the 28th Ulto to Mr Carroll of Duddington it was done on the ground of accomodation; & under full persuation that, as the house of that Gentleman had been begun before the land was ceded, and had progressed between that and the ultimate decision on the lines of the Street which embraces part of it, no doubt would arise with respect to...
8To George Washington from the Commissioners for the District of Columbia, 7 January 1792 (Washington Papers)
Desirous of answering your letters on particular subjects, we think it best to do it separately. With a view to settle all accounts to the first of this month and to form, as far as we might be able, a scheme of the business for the ensuing year, we met here the day before yesterday. many accounts are presented for our examination, the aggregate of which, exceeds our expectation, and many of...
9To George Washington from the Commissioners for the District of Columbia, 8 January 1792 (Washington Papers)
The enclosed Papers give the best state we are able of Danl Carroll’s House —the times of the several runnings and their Difference can best be ascertained by the Artists employed, for, of the first we have no Certainty, of the latter we can conclude nothing—Majr L’Enfant has written us a Letter Concerning Mr Youngs House and Improvements, and without any previous Consultation with us another...
10Enclosure: Daniel Carroll’s Case, 8 January 1792 (Washington Papers)
In 1790. the Cellar of his House was walled up and stood so the Winter—30th March 1791. He signed the Agreement subjecting his property. Mark’d. A. 27th or 28th June 1791 he executed a deed in Trust to Carry the Agreement into Effect—The Original is in the Office at Annapolis where it was lodged to be recorded, but the paper B. is a Copy of the trust part of that and the other Deeds. (B.) In...
11To George Washington from the Commissioners for the District of Columbia, 9 January 1792 (Washington Papers)
On Saturday morning we passed the enclosed order to Mr Boaraff, nor suspected that there would be any repugnance to, or delay in carrying it into effect. We saw nothing of him again till today, having in the morning heard that he had been in Virginia, had an intercourse with Mr Roberdeau there, returned and was proceeding in the old line. Soon after this he came to our Room to settle the pay...
12To George Washington from the Commissioners for the District of Columbia, 10 January 1792 (Washington Papers)
Several Incidents have occurred since Yesterday Evening—We had a conversation with Mr Roberdeau, which at first ⟨intimated⟩ no disposition to accomodate but afterwards on being renewed opened a prospect of our being able to retain him consistant with our own Views—This morning received a Letter from him and had another Conversation with him, which induced us to point out by Letter to him...
13From George Washington to the Commissioners for the District of Columbia, 17 January 1792 (Washington Papers)
I have duly received your favors of January 7th & 9th—am sensible of the expediency of the act of authority you have found it necessary to exercise over all the persons employed in the public works under your care, and fully approve of what you did. It has appeared, I think, that nothing less would draw their attention to a single source of authority and confine their operations to specified...
14To George Washington from the Commissioners for the District of Columbia, 21 January 1792 (Washington Papers)
After seeing things settled here as we thought the 10th of this Month, we left this place the Eleventh, we were again summoned by express and brought together last Tuesday. for Mr Roberdeau had the day after we left George Town collected hands, resumed digging of the Foundation of the Capitol—The severity of the season has prevented our visiting the spot more than once: when Mr Roberdeau...
15From George Washington to the Commissioners for the District of Columbia, 6 March 1792 (Washington Papers)
Mr Jefferson, in a letter which he writes to you this day, will enter fully into the points touched upon in your letters to me of the 21st of December, and of the 7th 9th 10 & 21st of January and Mr Johnson’s letter of the 3d of february. I shall therefore, do little more at present (being much pressed with other important public matters) than acknowledge the receipt of these letters, and...
16To George Washington from the Commissioners for the District of Columbia, 14 March 1792 (Washington Papers)
We have to acknowledge the receipt of your several dispatches to us by the last Post —We regret you should have had any occasion to experience the untowardness of Majr LEnfants Temper—But without it, you could not have been so sensible of the very great disquietude which he has given us—As we were sincerely desirous, of retaining him as long as it was practiable, we cannot but lament the...
17To George Washington from the Commissioners for the District of Columbia, 6 June 1792 (Washington Papers)
We enclose you a Copy of a Section of our Act of the Assembly of Maryland, passed at the last session, the Treasurer, as we are informed, has about 24,000 Dollars now in Hand, we shall be obliged to you for your Order, as the late Demands has been so heavy that it is proper to lodge more Money in our Treasurers hands —There is a Ballance of 5746 Maryland Currency yet to receive on the Virginia...
18From George Washington to the Commissioners for the District of Columbia, 8 June 1792 (Washington Papers)
The bearer of this, Mr James Hoben, was strongly recommended to me by Colo. Laurens and sevral other Gentlemen of So. Carolinia when I was there last year, as a person who had made architecture his study, and was well qualified not only for planning or designing buildings, but to superintend the execution of them. He informs me that he intends to produce plans of the two buildings next month...
19To George Washington from the Commissioners for the District of Columbia, 19 July 1792 (Washington Papers)
Yesterday the Commissrs Contracted with Mr Hoben for his services by the year at 300 Guineas, his Draft and Attention may, be confined to the Palace or extended to other objects they may chuse. Doctor Stewart’s uneasiness at the State of his Family occasioned his leaving us as soon as the most material of our Business was finished—This morning we went with Mr Hoben to the Seite of the Palace...
20From George Washington to the Commissioners for the District of Columbia, 23 July 1792 (Washington Papers)
Your favor of the 19th, accompanying Judge Turner’s plan for a Capitol, I have duly received; and have no hesitation in declaring that I am more agreeably struck with the appearance of it than with any that has been presented to you. I return it without delay, because (among other reasons for doing it) Mr Turner wishes to receive it, in any event, immediately. There is the same defect,...
21To George Washington from the Commissioners for the District of Columbia, 1 September 1792 (Washington Papers)
Esteeming it necessary to have your written order for Sales in the City we have enclosed a Draft, a Copy of that given last year, to be Signed against the approaching public Sales—An Idea has been pretty generally entertained, that it would be prudent to Sink a part of the price on condition of Speedy Improvement, and we have presumed to enclose the Draft of an Order calculated for that End,...
22From George Washington to the Commissioners for the District of Columbia, 29 September 1792 (Washington Papers)
Your letter of the 1st instant from George Town came duly to hand. The delay in acknowledging the receipt of it, has proceeded from a belief that if the orders were transmitted before the sale of lots (appointed to be holden on the 8th of next month) they would get to your hands in time. Enclosed is an order from the President of the United States authorising the above Sale—and an another for...
23To George Washington from the Commissioners for the District of Columbia, 5 October 1792 (Washington Papers)
As we have not yet received your order for the Sales and the Time is near at hand, we think it proper (least it should have escaped you) to remind you of it —A few of the Plans executed, in Boston have Arrived, which we have dispersed, we have some expectation, that tomorrows Post may bring us some of those executed in Philaa—We take the liberty to send you one of the former. We are Sir &c. LB...
24To George Washington from the Commissioners for the District of Columbia, 13 October 1792 (Washington Papers)
Inclosed we send you a list of our Sales, which were closed yesterday. Tho’ the average price is not entirely equal to that of the first sales, yet, when it is considered, that the Company assembled, was by no means such, as might have been expected, from the unlucky intervention of several circumstances; and allso, that it was the Public opinion, that the first sales were too high; and that...
25From George Washington to the Commissioners for the District of Columbia, 13 November 1792 (Washington Papers)
No. 13. Gentlemen, Philadelphia Novr 13th 1792 . I have duly received your letter of the 13th of October, enclosing a list of the sale of lots in the federal City; with the prices of which I am more gratified than I am by the number which have been disposed of. I am pleased to find that several of your Mechanics were among the purchasers of lots, as they will not only, in all probability, be...
26From George Washington to the Commissioners for the District of Columbia, 18 December 1792 (Washington Papers)
Your letter to the Secretary of State, dated if I recollect rightly, the 5th instant, intimating among other things, that you had failed in an attempt which had been made to import workmen from Scotland, equally with that for obtaining them from Holland, fills me with real concern: for I am very apprehensive if your next campaign in the Federal City is not marked with vigor, it will cast such...
27To George Washington from the Commissioners for the District of Columbia, 5 January 1793 (Washington Papers)
We enclose you a list of the Squares actually devided, of those certified ready for division, and a Copy of Majr Ellicott’s Return of those marked out but not yet certified for Division, as well as a Copy of Majr Ellicott’s Letter to us—From the Two last you will perceive that there is at least an Uncertainty whether we shall much longer have Majr Ellicott’s services, he has however shewn such...
28To George Washington from the Commissioners for the District of Columbia, 9 January 1793 (Washington Papers)
After closing our Letter of the 5th we wrote Majr Ellicott—a copy is sent, to which we soon received the inclosed answer —We feel a strong disinclination to go into discussions before the public and believe we shall not be led or drove into it. We are Sir with the greatest respect & esteem Your Obt hble Servts LS , DLC:GW ; LB , DNA : RG 42, Records of the Commissioners for the District of...
29From George Washington to the Commissioners for the District of Columbia, 31 January 1793 (Washington Papers)
The regular course which the affairs of The Federal City are likely to move in by the appointment of a Superintendant, who may relieve you from details, & from all sacrifices of time except your periodical meetings, enables me now to proceed, on more certain ground, to the subject of compensation. That a proper compensation should be made you, must undoubtedly be the public expectation as well...
30From George Washington to the Commissioners for the District of Columbia, 31 January 1793 (Washington Papers)
(Private) Gentlemen, Philadelphia January 31st 1793 I have had under consideration Mr Hallet’s plans for the Capitol, which undoubtedly have a great deal of merit. Doctor Thornton has also given me a view of his. These last come forward under some very advantageous circumstances. The Grandeur, Simplicity and Beauty of the exterior—the propriety with which the apartments are distributed—and the...