51To George Washington from the Commissioners for the District of Columbia, 8 February 1793 (Washington Papers)
We have received your favour of 31st January on the subject of the Compensation necessary to be made us for our part and future services as Commissioners, and requiring a candid communication of our Sentiments thereupon—As it is both Interesting and delicate and withall one in which we are jointly concerned we hope it will be a sufficient apology for our not entering on it at present, that Mr...
52To 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...
53To George Washington from the Commissioners for the District of Columbia, 11 November 1796 (Washington Papers)
We were duly favored with your letter of the 7th Inst. That the inaccuracy of our Clerk and our own inattention should have occasioned so much trouble to the Executive, excites sensations scarcely to be expressed. The Words per annum noted by you are not contained in the original Draft of the letter to Messrs Willink, from which, the letter itself, and the copy inclosed with it, for your...
54To 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...
55To 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,...
56To 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...
57To 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...
58To 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,...
59To George Washington from the Commissioners for the District of Columbia, 20 February 1797 (Washington Papers)
We had the honor of your favor of the 15th Instant—Your Ideas respecting the capitol are those which have been the prevailing ones with us for some time—No step has been omitted to put things in a state for advancing that building, as far as possible during the present Season; and we expect it to progress 30 additional feet, at least, by December next —You would see by our last Letters to you,...
60To George Washington from the Commissioners for the District of Columbia, 21 February 1797 (Washington Papers)
We had the honor of receiving yours of the 17th Inst. by last mail —The ideas expressed in your former Letter, were perfectly understood, as you will see, by our answer of yesterday[.] We wish a Bill to incorporate the Commissioners, may be passed by Congress —It will obviate many inconveniencies, & place the property of the United-States in a more eligible situation than heretofore—We had...
61To 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...
62To George Washington from the Commissioners for the District of Columbia, 1 October 1796 (Washington Papers)
Conformably to your wish, expressed to us, when we had last the honor of your company, we have taken into consideration such matters, relative to the business of the City, as appear to require your attention, and beg leave, respectfully, to submit our opinions thereon—With respect to a national university, we are of opinion, that the Space heretofore proposed to be appropriated for a fort and...
63To 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...
64To George Washington from the Commissioners for the District of Columbia, 11–12 March 1793 (Washington Papers)
Doctor Thornton’s Plan for a Capitol has been laid before us; the rooms for the different Branches of Congress and the Conference Room, are much to our satisfaction and its outward appearance we expect will be Striking, & pleasing On the whole it gains our preference tho. we cannot but fear that several of the Small Rooms, of which there seems to us, there are more than necessary will want...
65To 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,...
66To George Washington from the Commissioners for the District of Columbia, 30 November 1796 [letter not found] (Washington Papers)
Letter not found : from the Commissioners for the District of Columbia, 30 Nov. 1796 . GW wrote the commissioners on 26 Dec. : “Your letters of the 30th and 30th of November … are now before me.” Only one letter for that date has been found.
67To 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...
68To George Washington from the Commissioners for the District of Columbia, 2 January 1797 (Washington Papers)
We have your favor of the 26th Ulto, covering the opinion of the Attorney General —It is by no means, our wish that any alterations should be made in the published plan of the City —It may, with great truth, be asserted, that every change occasions infinite trouble to the Commissioners, and creates confusion with the proprietors—We are yet without a full board, and are therefore prevented from...
69To 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,...
70To George Washington from the Commissioners for the District of Columbia, 31 October 1796 (Washington Papers)
Since our first Letter of this date, we have thought it prudent to write to Mr Wolcott & to enclose to him the proposals for a Loan from the Bank, drawn out into detail, both which are left open for your perusal & approbation, without which we do not consider ourselves at liberty to make the propositions —Not knowing what may be the event of the application to the Bank, we have thought it...
71To George Washington from the Commissioners for the District of Columbia, 3 December 1796 (Washington Papers)
We are honored with your Letter of 27th Ulto, and on friday, agreeably to your expectations, we received a Letter from Mr Wolcott, informing of the failure of his negotiation with Mr Hope —The board therefore, immediately authorised Mr Scott to repair to Annapolis, and to negotiate a Loan with the Legislature of Maryland, agreeably to the terms of your act, authorising that measure —On an...
72To George Washington from the Commissioners for the District of Columbia, 9 April 1793 (Washington Papers)
We have had explanations with majr Ellicott, there appears to us no occasion to tire you with particulars in general. He is to continue under a general Arrangement marked out which we flatter ourselves will spur to attention and activity platting and dividing, the Squares on Certificates from the head of the surveying department is to be the Work of a different person—As we mentioned before,...
73To George Washington from the Commissioners for the District of Columbia, 7 October 1796 (Washington Papers)
Since our last to you, Mr Walker has been with us, and has often mentioned the subject treated of in the inclosed Letter—presuming that you have yet come to no determination on the Several Subjects submitted in our last Letters for your opinion, we inclose a copy of Mr Walker’s Letter, which, if it deserves weight, will, we have no doubt, receive it. We are, with entire respect Yrs &c. LB ,...
74To 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,...
75To 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...
76To George Washington from the Commissioners for the District of Columbia, 17 November 1796 (Washington Papers)
We had the honor of your favor of the 11th Instant, with the Inclosure & shall now proceed to take a conveyance of all the property in which the United States have an interest —The State of the business laid before you by Messrs Budd & Prior was particularly stated to you on your way to Mount Vernon, last summer, & the measures to be pursued by the board were approved of by you— We now inclose...
77To George Washington from the Commissioners for the District of Columbia, 3 November 1796 (Washington Papers)
Upon an accurate research into the several laws past by the Legislature of Maryland respecting that part of the City formerly known by the names of Carrollsburgh and Hamburgh, it is thought, that the order lately made by you for a reconveyance, may not be extensive enough to include those Lots—We therefore take the liberty of requesting your signature to the enclosed, which will include all...
78To 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...