1IX. The Secretary of State to the Commissioners of the Federal District, 29 January 1791 (Jefferson Papers)
Mr. Carroll, supposing that Doubts may arise, whether he can act as one of the Commissioners for the federal Seat, while a Member of Congress, has declined, and has returned me the Commission, which had been deposited with him as one of the Members; I have now the Honor to enclose it to Mr. Johnson, first named therein, and to observe that two Members suffice for Business. It will be some Time...
2From Thomas Jefferson to Commissioners of the Federal District, 28 August 1791 (Jefferson Papers)
Your joint letter of the 2d. inst. to the President , as also Mr. Carrol’s separate letters of the 5th. and 15th. have been duly recieved. Major Lenfant also having arrived here and laid his plan of the Federal city before the President, he was pleased to desire a conference of certain persons, in his presence, on these several subjects. It is the opinion of the President, in consequence...
3Queries for D. C. Commissioners, [ca. 28 August 1791] (Jefferson Papers)
Will circumstances render a postponement of the sale of lots in the Federal City advisable?—If not Not adviseable? 2. Where ought they to be made Left to be considered ultimately on the spot, the general opinion being onlythat the leading interests be accomodated. 3. Will it in that case, or even without it, be necessary or prudent to attempt to borrow money to carry on the difft. works in the...
4From Thomas Jefferson to the Commissioners of the Federal District, 21 November 1791 (Jefferson Papers)
A Mr. Blodget has a scheme in contemplation for purchasing and building a whole street in the new city, and any one of them which you may think best. The magnitude of the proposition occasioned it to be little attended to in the beginning. However, great as it is, it is believed by good judges to be practicable. It may not be amiss therefore to be ready for it. The street most desireable to be...
5From Thomas Jefferson to the Commissioners of the Federal District, 6 March 1792 (Jefferson Papers)
It having been found impracticable to employ Majr. Lenfant about the federal city, in that degree of subordination which was lawful and proper, he has been notified that his services are at an end. It is now proper that he should receive the reward of his past services, and the wish that he should have no just cause of discontent suggests that it should be liberal. The President thinks of...
6From Thomas Jefferson to the Commissioners of the Federal District, 11 March 1792 (Jefferson Papers)
I inclose you two letters, the one from a Mr. Leslie of this place, offering to make a clock for some one of the public buildings at Washington, the other from Mr. R. B. Lee proposing that Mr. Ciracchi a statuary now at this place should be employed to erect at Washington a monument he has proposed. With respect to Leslie, he is certainly one of the most ingenious artists in America; and as to...
7From Thomas Jefferson to the Commissioners of the Federal District, 21 March 1792 (Jefferson Papers)
Your favors of Mar. 14. have been duly received, as also Mr. Carrol’s separate letter of Mar. 15. I now inclose you copies of the two advertisements inserted in Freneau’s, Fenno’s, and Dunlap’s papers of this place. You will probably think it proper to have them inserted in the papers of other parts of the Union, following herein your own choice. It is rather desired too that you adopt such...
8From Thomas Jefferson to the Commissioners of the Federal District, 5 April 1792 (Jefferson Papers)
I now send you 500 obligations for your signature. Should Mr. Johnson not be with you it will be proper to send them to him by express. As soon they have received all your signatures if you will be so good as to return them to me the business shall be finally completed. I received yesterday yours of Mar. 30. and laid it immediately before the President. Tho’ he thinks the estimate of the...
9From Thomas Jefferson to the Commissioners of the Federal District, 9 April 1792 (Jefferson Papers)
In a former letter I inclosed you an idea of Mr. Lee’s for an immediate appropriation of a number of lots to raise a sum of money for erecting a national monument in the city of Washington. It was scarcely to be doubted but that you would avoid appropriations for matters of ornament till a sufficient sum should be secured out of the proceeds of your sales to accomplish the public buildings,...
10From Thomas Jefferson to the Commissioners of the Federal District, 20 April 1792 (Jefferson Papers)
Your favor of the 11th. has been duly received and laid before the President. He thinks it best to decline making any alterations in the plan of the city. The considerations which weigh with him are the expediency of fixing the public opinion on the thing as stable and unalterable, the loss of the work done if altered, the changing all the avenues which point to the Capitol, removing the two...