31From James Madison to William Thornton, 19 August 1803 (Madison Papers)
I have not been able to find a purchaser for Childers nor an opportunity of exchanging him with any other person than myself for other horses. In part from my own stock, and in the other part by a purchase from a neighbour I have made up a pair, which I consider as equivalent to the rate you affixed to Childers, and which if regarded in the same light by you, I am willing to give for him. My...
32From Thomas Jefferson to William Thornton, 6 March 1803 (Jefferson Papers)
Could you do me the favor to come a quarter or half an hour before the company, say at three a clock & bring with you the plans of the Capitol , on which & the avenue I wish to consult you? RC ( DLC : William Thornton Papers); partially dated; addressed: “Doctr. Thornton.” Although William Thornton’s original plans of the capitol had been modified, he continued to discuss the construction of...
33From Thomas Jefferson to William Thornton, 10 September 1802 (Jefferson Papers)
Your favor of the 8th. was recieved yesterday. by that I learn that on my letter to mr Munroe , referring to himself and mr Mason to consider whether the sale of mr Stoddert’s lots might be postponed for some time without injury to the public, they had been of opinion it could, and had accordingly postponed it to the 25th. of Oct. the same reasons being in favor of the indulgence you ask. I...
34From Thomas Jefferson to William Thornton and Others, 23 April 1802 (Jefferson Papers)
Th: Jefferson requests the favor of Doctr. & Mrs. Thornton & Mrs. Breadeau to dine with him on Monday next, the 26th. Inst. at half after three oclock.— The favor of an answer is asked. RC ( DLC : William Thornton Papers); in Meriwether Lewis’s hand; addressed: “Doctr. Thornton.” Not recorded in SJL . William Thornton, his wife Anna Maria Thornton, and her mother Ann Brodeau were frequently...
35From James Madison to William Thornton, 8 August 1801 (Madison Papers)
I have duly recd. your obliging letter of the 30th. ult: and thank you very sincerely for your attention to the request I left for you. I am sorry to find Mr. Harbough disposed to require the advances intimated by you; it being neither very convenient, nor otherwise eligible to make them. If he shoul⟨d⟩ relinquish this condition, and will provide stables & a carriage house of any kind that...
36From Thomas Jefferson to William Thornton and Others, 12 May 1801 (Jefferson Papers)
Th: Jefferson requests the favor of Dr. Thornton, Mrs. Thornton and Mrs. Bridau ’s company to dinner tomorrow at three oclock. RC ( DLC : William Thornton Papers); probably in Meriwether Lewis’s hand; addressed: “Dr Thornton.” Not recorded in SJL . Dr. Thornton, Mrs. Thornton and Mrs. Bridau : William Thornton, his wife Anna Maria Brodeau, and his mother-in-law Ann Brodeau, a former...
37From James Madison to William Thornton, 24 April 1801 (Madison Papers)
I have been some time in debt for your very friendly letter of the 16th. Ult. For some time after I recd. it [it] was not improbable that I might be able to acknowledge it in person as soon as I could do it on paper. Since the visit of the President to Virga. which suspended my setting out for Washington for a definite period, I have been so occupied with pressing business, & of late have been...
38From Thomas Jefferson to William Thornton, 14 February 1801 (Jefferson Papers)
Th: Jefferson presents his compliments to Doctr. Thornton. he has recieved his friendly invitation to pass the evening on Monday next; but for 10. years past he has been in the habit, from considerations of health, of never going out in the evening. his friends have been so kind as to indulge this habit, & he is sure Dr. Thornton will accept it as an apology. RC ( DLC : William Thornton...
39From Thomas Jefferson to William Thornton, 23 April 1800 (Jefferson Papers)
The bearer hereof mr John Barnes is a merchant of this city, of a worthy & excellent character. he thinks of removing with the government to the city of Washington, & therefore goes on now to see if he can do it to advantage. I take the liberty of recommending him to you for such information & counsel as may be useful to a stranger in a place where those into whose hands he might otherwise...
40From George Washington to William Thornton, 8 December 1799 (Washington Papers)
For the communications contained in your letter of yesterday, I thank you. As a citizen of the United States, it gives me pleasure, at all times, to hear that works of public ⟨uti⟩lity are resolved on, and in a state of progression—wheresoever adopted, and whensoever begun. The one resolved on between the Chesapeake and Delaware is of great magnitude, and will be, I trust, the Precursor of...
41From George Washington to William Thornton, 7 December 1799 (Washington Papers)
Your favour of the 5th instant was received last night. Not sending up to the Post Office every day, is the cause of its not getting to hand in time for my answer by the Mail of this day. Enclosed is a list of such fruit Trees as my Gardener has chosen. Be so good as to have them sent to the care of Colo. Gilpin in Alexandria, who will receive—take care of—and give me notice of their arrival:...
42From George Washington to William Thornton, 1 December 1799 (Washington Papers)
Your favour of the 30th Ulto, enclosing Mr Blagdens dimensions of the rooms in my houses in the City, came to my hands this morning; With a list of the different kinds of Fruit trees in the Frenchmans Garden; to whom I was a subscriber. The terms on which the subscription was set on foot, have entirely escaped me; my motive for subscribing—namely—to encourage a nursery of that sort, still...
43From George Washington to William Thornton, 26 November 1799 (Washington Papers)
For, and on account of Mr Blagden, I enclose you a Post note of the Bank of Columbia, for ninety three dollars forty three cents, and a check on the Bank of Alexandria for nine hundred and six dollars and fifty seven cents. Together, amounting to one thousand dollars, requested by Mr Blagden. With esteem and regard I am Dear Sir Your Obedt Humble Servt Let me request the favour of you to...
44From George Washington to William Thornton, 20 November 1799 (Washington Papers)
When I wrote to you the other day, I expected to have settled matters with the Bk of Alexandria so as to have been enabled to have sent you, for Mr Blagdens use, a check thereon for $1000—But not being well enough acquainted with the rules of the Bank, I suffered what are called discount days, to pass over before I applied; for which reason the business there must remain over until after...
45From George Washington to William Thornton, 18 November 1799 (Washington Papers)
Your favour of the 13th inst: came duly to hand. I am now making arrangements at the Bank of Alexandria for obtaining money. When this is accomplished, I will forward a check, on that Bank, for the $1000 required by Mr Blagden, & hope it will be in time to answer his purposes. I have no objection to Mr Blagden’s frequent calls for money; but I fear the work which is not ennumerated in the...
46From George Washington to William Thornton, 7 October 1799 (Washington Papers)
Colo. Walker, a very respectable Gentleman of this State, will hand you this letter. He, with Mr Nelson, who married his Grand daughter, are on a visit to the Federal City, and propose to view the Canals & Falls in the Potomack before they return. Colo. Walker is well acquainted with Mr White, but as the latter may be absent, I take the liberty of soliciting your civilities in shewing them...
47From 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,...
48From 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...
49From 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...
50From 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...
51From 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...
52From 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...
53From 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...
54From 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...
55From 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,...
56From 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...
57From 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...
58From 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...
59From 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...
60From 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...