1From George Washington to the Commissioners for the District of Columbia, 18 September 1796 (Washington Papers)
More than once, the Spanish Minister expressed, with pleasing solicitude, the intentions of his Government to erect in the Federal City a suitable Building for the accommodation of its Representative, near the Government of the United States; provided a convenient & agreeable Site could be obtained for the purpose. I always answered that this measure would be very pleasing & agreeable to me; &...
2From 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...
3From 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...
4From George Washington to the Commissioners for the District of Columbia, 18 September 1795 (Washington Papers)
The copy of the Letter which you wrote to the Secretary of State on the 21st ulto, enclosing regulations relative to the wharves and buildings in the federal City, came to my hands yesterday. If the proprietors of water-lots will be satisfied with the rules therein established for the extension of wharves & buildings thereon, the regulations will meet my entire approbation; and of their ideas...
5From George Washington to the Commissioners for the District of Columbia, 21 November 1796 (Washington Papers)
Your letter of the 11th Instant has been duly received. The altered One to Messrs Wilhem, and Jan Willink has been forwarded to its address, and the former is herewith returned. Your application to the Bank of the United States for the loan of money, having failed (as I presume the Secretary of the Treasury has informed you, and as I had always supposed would be the case) I have executed the...
6From 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...
7From George Washington to the Commissioners for the District of Columbia, 28 January 1795 (Washington Papers)
A plan for the establishment of an University in the federal City, has frequently been the subject of conversation; but in what manner it is proposed to commence this important institution; on how extensive a scale—the means by which it is to be effected; how it is to be supported; or what progress is made in it; are matters altogether unknown to me. It has always been a source of serious...
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, 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...
10From George Washington to the Commissioners for the District of Columbia, 3 March 1797 (Washington Papers)
Three things relative to the City of Washington call for my decision, and this is the last day I have Powers to give any. The first respects the dispute with Mr Law, touching the conveyances of Lotts; the second, to my approbation of the Plans for the Executive Offices; and the third, to the Instrument you transmitted to me in your letter of the 31st of January. With regard to the first,...