1From George Washington to William Thornton, 8 June 1793 (Washington Papers)
The President of the United States is much obliged by Doctr Thornton’s polite attentions, and prays him to accept his thanks for the Treatise on the Elements of written language. The President is sorry to hear of the Doctors indisposition. A speedy and perfect recovery is wished. AL , DLC : William Thornton Papers. Thornton’s Cadmus, or A Treatise on the Elements of Written Language...
2From Thomas Jefferson to William Thornton, 11 June 1793 (Jefferson Papers)
Th: Jefferson, with his compliments to Dr. Thornton returns him many thanks for the device of the Mace; and still more for his dissertation on the elements of language which he had read in manuscript with great satisfaction, but shall do it with more in print. RC ( DLC : Thornton Papers); addressed: “Doctr. Thornton.” PrC ( DLC ); on same sheet as PrC of TJ to William Stokes of this date. Tr (...
3From Thomas Jefferson to William Thornton, 8 July 1793 (Jefferson Papers)
Th: Jefferson presents his compliments to Dr. Thornton and incloses him a letter he has received from the President, with some observations of Mr. Hallet, the object of which the papers themselves will explain to Dr. Thornton. Th: J. has not yet seen any of the persons mentioned in the letter. He will be happy to receive Dr. Thornton’s observations in any way which shall be least troublesome...
4Tobias Lear to William Thornton, 13 July 1793 (Washington Papers)
The President directs me to inform you, that, upon the best consideration the pressure of public business will allow him to give the subject, he thinks the most likely way to accommodate the differences respecting the plan of the Capitol, by satisfactory explainations, will be for you to have a personal interview with Mr Hoben on the subject, in presence of the best and most skilful Architect...
5From George Washington to William Thornton, 9 November 1795 (Washington Papers)
I have been favoured with your letter of the 1st instt and thank you for the explanations & details given therein. I must however decline giving any decisive opinion on the matter referred to me, by the Board, for the reasons which have been briefly stated in my official letter to it —to which others might have been added, but the pressure of business at this time would not allow me to be more...
6From James Madison to William Thornton, 5 May 1796 (Madison Papers)
I put a few lines into the hand of Mr. Volney, rather that he may be the bearer of my friendly respects, than that he needs any introduction to you, who are always so much disposed to do justice to merit, & who are already so well acquainted with his. He is on a ramble Southwardly, & will make your nascent metropolis a resting place of his observations for a few days. I hope he will carry from...
7From George Washington to William Thornton, 26 December 1796 (Washington Papers)
Your letter of the 4th of the present month came to my hands in the usual course of the Post; but a pressure of other matters at that time, prevented my acknowledging the receipt of it at an earlier period. As you seem sensible of the propriety of the Commissioners residing in the City, with the concerns of which they are intrusted, I have not the smallest doubt of your removing thither as...
8From George Washington to William Thornton, 7 October 1797 (Washington Papers)
Genl Washington presents his compliments to Doctr Thornton. Mrs Washington recollecting her promise of saving him a few of the Spanish Chesnuts, some are now sent. They are immediately from the tree, & should, without delay, be planted where they are intended to remain—or put into a box with earth, otherwise they will soon get hard and worm eaten, & the vegetation be prevented. AL , DLC :...
9From George Washington to William Thornton, 10 October 1797 (Washington Papers)
Your favours of the 6th & 8th instant have both been received, and I pray you to accept my best thanks for the rare & valuable present you have made me. Being the produce of your own Estate renders it more acceptable, and nothing will add more to the go’vt of it, than your coming sometimes to parcipitate in the taste—fog, or no fog. I have no doubt but that the section of Square No. 21 is...
10From George Washington to William Thornton, 18 October 1798 (Washington Papers)
I regret, not having received your letter of the 16th until last night. Had it reached me before I wrote to the Commissioners yesterday morning by Mr Thos Peter, I should have inclined more (although my wish is to have no trouble with the buildings) towards engaging Mr Blagden’s undertaking the Masonry, agreeably to his estimate; doing as much of the wood work myself, as my people are...
11From George Washington to William Thornton, 28 October 1798 (Washington Papers)
When Mr Blagden came here on friday, I was engaged in my usual ride; from which I only returned a little before dinner, and found Mr & Mrs Law, with Govr Crawford & his lady here. These circumstances, and Mr Blagden’s return immediately after dinner, allowed me no time to acknowledge the receipt of your obliging favor of the 25th Instant. For the information you have been so kind as to give me...
12From George Washington to William Thornton, 20 December 1798 (Washington Papers)
Enclosed is a check on the Bank of Alexandria for five hundred Dollars, to enable Mr Blagden, by your draughts, to proceed in laying in Materials for carrying on my buildings in the Federal City. I saw a building in Philadelphia of about the same front & elevation that are to be given to my two houses, which pleased me. It consisted also of two houses united, Doors in the centre—a pediment in...
13From George Washington to William Thornton, 30 December 1798 (Washington Papers)
Your favor of the 25th instant, enclosing Messrs Blagden & Lenthals estimate of the cost of adding a Pediment, and Parapet to the roof of my buildings in the Federal City, has been duly received, but the plan, to which it refers, did not accompany it This plan, on other accounts, I ought to be possessed of, and Mr Blagden is under promise to take a copy thereof for his own use, to work by, and...
14From George Washington to William Thornton, 30 January 1799 (Washington Papers)
Your favor of the 28th instant, enclosing Deeds for my Lots in the Federal City—and Messrs Blagden & Lenthals estimate and drawing of the Windows—dressed in the manner proposed—came to my hands yesterday. The drawing sent, gives a much handsomer appearance to the Windows than the original design did; and I am more disposed to encounter the difference of expence, than to lessen the exterior...
15From George Washington to William Thornton, 15 February 1799 (Washington Papers)
I have received your letter of the 12th instant, with Mr Blagdens estimate of the Glass required for my Houses in the Federal City, and shall take measures for providing it in time. Presuming that Mr Blagdin is apprised of there being a check on the Bank of Alexandria, subject to his call, the neglect is his, if he does not do it. He shall not want the means necessary to push on my buildings...
16From George Washington to William Thornton, 14 March 1799 (Washington Papers)
As the season for transplanting Trees is passing away, and this business cannot be much longer delayed with propriety, or safety to the Plants, I embrace the going up of Colo. Lear to the City, to send you the scaley bark hiccory trees promised you sometime since. They are from the large Nut grown in Gloucester County, of this State. I put such of the Spanish Chesnut as I could save last...
17From George Washington to William Thornton, 24 March 1799 (Washington Papers)
I received your letter of the 18th instant a day or two ago, previous to wch, I had desired Colo. Lear to remain in the City as long as he could derive benefit from your friendly prescription to his Understanding. It, or more properly they, stand so much in need of skilful assistance, that an entire derangement may take place without it. Enclosed is a letter (put under this cover for surety of...
18From George Washington to William Thornton, 21 April 1799 (Washington Papers)
Your favor of the 19th is before me, and for the details it contains respecting my buildings in the City, I thank you. As I do for directing the exterior door Cills thereof to be made of Stone. I never attended so closely to the specification of the work, as to know they were, originally, intended to be of Wood; On the contrary, as the Frontispiece was to be of Stone I took it for granted that...
19From George Washington to William Thornton, 1 June 1799 (Washington Papers)
In replying to your favor of yesterday’s date, I must beg leave to premise that, when I left the Chair of Government it was with a determination not to intermeddle in any public matter which did not immediately concern me; and that I have felt no Disposition since to alter this Determination. But as you have requested that I would give you my Ideas on a certain point, which seems to have...
20From George Washington to William Thornton, 4 June 1799 (Washington Papers)
You will perceive by the enclosed letter, and my order, consequent thereof; that the Glass from Boston is arrived at Alexandria, and in good condition. Be so good as to send the order to Mr Blagden, that he may use his own time & mode of getting it to the City. I hope Mr Blagden will be careful of the overplus, as more glass was written for than the houses will require without loss. With great...
21From George Washington to William Thornton, 16 June 1799 (Washington Papers)
Your favor of the 5th instant came duly to hand. Mr Blagdens last call for $1000 is, I must acknowledge, sooner than I had contemplated; but I will make arrangements with the Bank of Alexandria to meet it by the first of next month. If his progress in the buildings, & faithful execution of the work, keep pace with his demands (and this is all I require) he shall have no cause to complain of my...
22From George Washington to William Thornton, 2 July 1799 (Washington Papers)
Your favour of the 25th has been received; but you have mistaken the case entirely with respect to the Asses who were sent to my Jacks; charging you nothing for the services of the latter, was not designed to lay you under obligation, but a feeble effort to repay the kindnesses you have heaped upon me. Colo. Gilpin has forwarded the wrong box of glass to Baltimore, and soon will, I hope,...
23From George Washington to William Thornton, 14 July 1799 (Washington Papers)
Be so good as to learn from Mr Blagden, and inform me, at what time—and what sum, the next advance must be, that I may be making arrangements therefor. If nothing happens more than I am aware of at present, I shall be in George Town on the first Monday in next Month (August the 5th) at the annual Meeting of the Pot[oma]c Compy and should be glad to know previously thereto, when, and what the...
24From George Washington to William Thornton, 1 August 1799 (Washington Papers)
I shall be obliged to you for letting Mr Blagden know, that I forsee nothing, at present, that will prevent my being at the Union Tavern in George Town on Monday next (the 5th instant) by eleven Oclock. When & where, if he will attend I shall be provided with, & ready to pay him, a thousand Dollars in Columbia Notes. I thank you for the information, & sentiments given in your last favour of...
25From George Washington to William Thornton, 28 August 1799 (Washington Papers)
I would thank you for requesting Mr Blagden to give me as early notice of the time, and amount of his next call upon me, as he can, that I may prepare accordingly. With great esteem & regard I am—Dear Sir Yr most Obedt Servt ALS (photocopy), NjP . Presumably GW intended to write “Sir.” GW on 30 Aug. wrote William Herbert, president of the Bank of Alexandria, that he wished to extend the...
26From George Washington to William Thornton, 5 September 1799 (Washington Papers)
Not sending to Alexandria every day, letters sometimes lye longer in the Post Office than they otherwise would do. This is the reason why your favour of the 1st instant has not been acknowledged sooner. If Mr Blagden would be at the trouble of chusing the Ironmongry himself and pay ready money for it (thereby providing it on the best terms) I had rather he should get it than I because he would...
27From George Washington to William Thornton, 11 September 1799 (Washington Papers)
The 20th of this month—when Mr Blagden would require an advance of a thousand dollars—being near at hand—and Mr Peter affording a good and safe opportunity to remit it—I enclose for this purpose, a check on the Bank of Alexandria, to that amount. Mr Peter informs me that his brother has Ironmongery of a good quality, which he wants to dispose of, and would sell cheap. I pray you therefore to...
28From George Washington to William Thornton, 29 September 1799 (Washington Papers)
Your letter of the 24th instant, enclosing a note from Mr Blagden, came to my hands on thursday last; the next day I sent up to Alexandria to see if a Painter could be had to execute the Painting of my houses in the City, and on what terms. The principal Painters in that place, Messrs McLeod & Lumley, promised (one or the other of them) to repair to the buildings the next day (yesterday) and...
29From George Washington to William Thornton, 1 October 1799 (Washington Papers)
Enclosed are Messrs McLeod and Lumleys prices for painting my Houses in the City. Theirs, as you will perceive, is extended in Virginia currency; that mentioned by you, I presume, is Maryland; and if so, the prices are nearly the same. Wherefore, if the Painter in the City will—finding all materials—do the Windows & Cornice, & Doors, in short all the exterior of the Buildings, the roof...
30From George Washington to William Thornton, 6 October 1799 (Washington Papers)
Your letter of the 3d was recd last Night. I doubt not, the Painting and sanding of such parts of my houses in the City as now require it, will be done well, with the best materials, and on the best terms; wherefore I cannot be otherwise than pleased. As soon after this work is accomplished as I can make it convenient, I will visit the City, & take a view of my Buildings. To part with which,...