51From George Washington to the Commissioners for the District of Columbia, 3 March 1793 (Washington Papers)
I have to acknowledge the receipt of your letters of the 5th of January and 8th of february. The former enclosing a List of the squares actually divided &c.—copies of two letters from Majr Ellicott; and a statement of your certain funds & probable expenditures for the year 1793. Altho’ I have written to you since the receipt of your first Letter, yet, I have not ’till this moment had time to...
52From 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...
53From 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...
54From 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...
55From 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...
56From 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...
57From 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,...
58From 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...
59From 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...
60From 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...
61From 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...
62From 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...
63From 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,...