From George Washington to the Commissioners for the District of Columbia, 29 September 1792
To the Commissioners for the District of Columbia
Mount Vernon Sepr 29th 1792
Gentlemen,
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 disposing thereafter, of lots by private Sale, at such times, and on such terms as you shall deem best calculated to promote the growth of the Federal City, and the essential interests thereof.1 With esteem I am—Gentlemen Your Most Obedt Servt
Go: Washington
ALS, DLC:GW; ADfS, DLC:GW; LB, DLC:GW. The ALS is docketed: “Recd 8th Octr 1792.”
1. Both orders are dated 29 Sept. 1792. The first order reads: “The President of the United States doth hereby order & direct that any Lot or Lots in the City of Washington may, after the public sale to commence on the Eighth day of October, be sold and agreed for by the Commissioners or any two of them at private sale, for such price and on such terms as they may think proper” (copy, filed with the ADfS, DLC:GW; LB, DLC:GW). The second order reads: “The President of the United States doth hereby order and direct that the sale of Lots in the City of Washington, to commence the eigth day of October next, be of such Lots as the Commissioners, or any two of them shall think proper; that the same sale shall be under their direction, & on the terms they shall publish” (copy, filed with the ADfS, DLC:GW; LB, DLC:GW).