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...
11From 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...
12From 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...
13From George Washington to the Commissioners for the District of Columbia, 3 March 1793 (Washington Papers)
This will be handed to you by Doctor Thornton of this City, who goes forward to lay before you a plan which he has prepared for the Capitol proposed to be built in the federal City. Grandeur, Simplicity and Convenience appear to be so well combined in this plan of Doctor Thornton’s, that I have no doubt of its meeting with that approbation from you, which I have given it upon an attentive...
14From 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...
15From George Washington to the Commissioners for the District of Columbia, 2 April 1793 (Washington Papers)
I approve of the Plan of Doctr Thornton for a Capitol to be erected in the City of Washington. LB , DNA : RG 42, Records of the Commissioners for the District of Columbia, Proceedings. GW received William Thornton’s partial plan of the Capitol in January, and the architect submitted his final design on 1 Mar. ( GW to D.C. Commissioners, 31 Jan. [second letter] , 3 Mar. [first letter] , to...
16From George Washington to the Commissioners for the District of Columbia, 3 April 1793 (Washington Papers)
On my way to, and at the landing of George Town yesterday, I had a good deal of conversation with Major Ellicott—who says, if you will give him an opportunity, he will make it appear to your satisfaction that there are not those errors in his work that have been reported; and that the work reported to have been done, and not actually executed he is persuaded he can expln to your entire...
17From George Washington to the Commissioners for the District of Columbia, 13 June 1793 (Washington Papers)
This letter will be put into your hands by Mr Lear, who is well known to one, or more of you. He has it in contemplation to make (in conjunction with others) a considerable Mercantile establishment in the Federal City; if he should be able to obtain such a site therein, and upon such terms, as will answer his, and the views of his associates. What these are he can best explain to you; and you...
18From George Washington to the Commissioners for the District of Columbia, 25 July 1793 (Washington Papers)
I enclose, for your information, the copy of a letter from the Secretary of State to me, on the subject of the objections made to Doctor Thornton’s plan of a Capitol. By this letter you will see, that after a candid discussion, it was found that the objections stated, were considered as valid by both the persons chosen by Doctor Thornton as practical Architects and competent judges of things...
19From George Washington to the Commissioners for the District of Columbia, 13 August 1793 (Washington Papers)
I have received your letter of the first instant, enclosing certain communications to you from the Surveyors of the Federal City, dated the 29th & 31st of July—and have duly considered the alterations suggested in said Communications. With respect to the first alteration proposed vizt—“to stop S. Carolina Avenue, west of South Capitol, at the public appropriation”—I am perfectly of opinion...
20From George Washington to the Commissioners for the District of Columbia, 20 August 1793 (Washington Papers)
This will be handed to you by Mr James Greenleaf, a native of Boston, who has resided for some years past in Amsterdam, and has lately been appointed Consul for the U.S. at that Place. This Gentleman, I understand, has it in contemplation to make certain proposals to you for building a number of houses in the Federal City, provided he can have lots upon such terms & conditions as may...
21From George Washington to the Commissioners for the District of Columbia, 29 August 1793 (Washington Papers)
I enclose you an Estimate of the cost of the Capitol for the Federal City upon Mr Hallet’s plan calculated in the Philada prices by Mr Carstairs, one of the architects brought forward by Dr Thornton on the late occasion of discussing the objections offered to his plan. Altho’ it may not be proper to rely entirely upon this Estimate; yet it will probably be found a very useful document in going...
22From George Washington to the Commissioners for the District of Columbia, 5 September 1793 (Washington Papers)
Mr Winstanley, a celebrated Landskip Painter, is disposed to take a view of the Federal City, or of the grounds in the vicinity of it. As you will be there about the time he may arrive, I take the liberty of giving him this letter of introduction to you. His designs are more extensive—and I have suggested the Great & little Falls; the passage of the River Potomac through the Blew Mountains—the...
23From George Washington to the Commissioners for the District of Columbia, 9 September 1793 (Washington Papers)
I have duly received your Letter of Septm. 5th and in consequence thereof have Authorised Mr David Ross of Bladensburg & Colo. Robert Townsend Hooe of Alexandria to examine the accounts and Vouchers of the expenditure of the monies appropriated to your trust as Commissioners of the publick buildings of the Federal Territory & to certify to me the result. With esteem, I am Gent. your most Obt...
24From George Washington to the Commissioners for the District of Columbia, 1 December 1793 (Washington Papers)
Your Letter of the 3d of last Month came to me by the Post of yesterday with the George Town mark of the 27th of November. What caused such delay in forwarding it, you better than I, can explain. For the reason mentioned therein it is to be regretted. I shall not lose a Post in transmitting the enclosed Order (to you) and wish it may be in time to produce the desired effect at the Treasury of...
25From George Washington to the Commissioners for the District of Columbia, 14 March 1794 (Washington Papers)
(Private) Gentlemen, Philadelphia, Mar. 14th 1794 My object in giving you a sight of the enclosed letters from Mr Ellicott, is merely to let you see the temper; and tendency of his views; and what may be expected from his representations to others. After reading the letters, be so good as to return them to me. In September last, after having purchased four lots in Carrollsburgh (the doing of...
26From George Washington to the Commissioners for the District of Columbia, 11 April 1794 (Washington Papers)
Your letter of the 23d Ulto came duly to hand, but as you did not expect to meet again until the 12th instt I have, accordingly, postponed my reply to the contents of it ’till now. I am sensible that the No. East quartr of square Number 21. is subject to the disadvantage of a North and East front (not desirable I confess) but these are more than counterpoised in my estimation by the formation...
27From George Washington to the Commissioners for the District of Columbia, 27 April 1794 (Washington Papers)
The Post of yesterday brought me your favor of the 23d instant. I am obliged to you for the early attention which you have given to the request contained in my letter of the 11th preceeding, and I am perfectly well satisfied with the price which you have affixed on the lot, I have obtained. If it be necessary for me to decide at this moment, whether I will avail myself of the offer you have...
28From George Washington to the Commissioners for the District of Columbia, 1 June 1794 (Washington Papers)
I had hopes, and at one time strong expectation, that Congress would have closed their Session before this; and that other matters would have permitted my proposed visit to Mount Vernon about the time of your meeting in the Federal City; which (by a letter from Mr Carroll), I understood was appointed to be on the 5th of this month. In this expectation I have been disappointed. Congress are...
29From George Washington to the Commissioners for the District of Columbia, 23 July 1794 (Washington Papers)
I have subscribed to the alteration in the seventh article of the "Terms & conditions declared on the 17th day of October 1791 for regulating the materials and manner of the buildings and improvements on the lots in the City of Washington" and now enclose it to you. I wish, however, you had declared that so much of the stone walls, on which the railing in the street is to be placed, as shall...
30From George Washington to the Commissioners for the District of Columbia, 27 November 1794 (Washington Papers)
The enclosed letter was put into my hands last night. The writer of it is a gentleman of character, & known I believe to some of you. Whether such a professional character as Mr Hatfield is described to be, is wanting for public purposes in the city, is with you to decide. I mean nothing more than to transmit the information wch the letter contains. In any event, the writer of, or the...