From George Washington to the Commissioners for the District of Columbia, 18 September 1796
To the Commissioners for the District of Columbia
Philadelphia 18th Septr 1796
Gentlemen,
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; & that I was sure the Commissioners of the Federal City would feel happy in accommodating him with ground for these Buildings.
But on Tuesday last he told me, that application had been made to you through, or by Mr Barry, and difficulties (which he was not able to explain to me) had occurred.1 I hope they can be removed, for in my opinion, a precedent of this sort may influence other foreign Governments to follow the example, which would, I conceive, contribute much more to the advancement of the City than any pecuniary consideration to be derived from the Sale of the Lots.2
I shall not dwell however on the subject in this letter, as I expect in eight or ten days to be in the City, and will renew the matter then. With very great esteem & regard I am—Gentlemen Your Obedt Servt
G: Washington
Copy, in GW’s secretary George Washington Craik’s writing, DLC:GW; copy, DLC:GW; LB, DLC:GW.
1. Spanish minister Carlos Martinez Yrujo spoke to GW on Tuesday, 13 September.
2. The D.C. commissioners wrote Yrujo on 23 Sept.: “It was with great pleasure, we heard from Mr Barry that the Court of Spain were desirous of erecting a house in this City, for the residence of it’s Minister; but as the proposition was new, in it’s kind and required arrangements which the President of the United States alone, is competent to we suspended taking any measures till he should return, which we then expected would take place in a shorter time than has since elapsed. By last post, we had a Letter from the President on the subject, and, in consequence, assure you, that a site for a house, for the purpose abovementioned, will be appropriated in such a situation as will be agreeable to you. We take the liberty of suggesting the propriety of making the Selection, by yourself, or some friend, whom you may authorise for the purpose, while the President remains in this City, where we daily expect him, that the business may be completed before his return to Philadelphia—We cannot conclude, without assuring you that this Instance of the friendly disposition of the King of Spain, towards these States, excites in our minds, the most pleasing sensations, and the opportunity it affords of expressing our regard for the Spanish nation, and our high respect for your personal character, gives us peculiar satisfaction” (DNA: RG 42, Records of the Commissioners for the District of Columbia, Letters Sent).
Yrujo replied to the D.C. commissioners from Philadelphia on 28 Sept. that he would “take proper measures respecting the Selection of a Site” (DNA: RG 42, Records of the Commissioners for the District of Columbia, Letters Received; see also Commissioners for the District of Columbia to GW, 1 Oct., in DNA: RG 42, Records of the Commissioners for the District of Columbia, Letters Sent).