1From 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,...
2From 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...
3From 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...
4From 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...
5From 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...
6From 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...
7From 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,...
8From 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...
9From 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...
10From 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...