To George Washington from the Commissioners for the District of Columbia, 16 September 1793
From the Commissioners for the District of Columbia
Sepr 16th 1793
Sir,
We forgot the other day to apply to you for your permission to make sales of the publick property in the City of Washington1—We therefore transmit to you a Couple of Instruments for your signature similar to those given at former times2—Considering it as a mere matter of form, we shall commence tomorrow, agreeable to advertizement, and expect you will favour us with the return of them by the Post of Wednesday.3 Your Hum. Servts
| Dd Stuart |  |
Com. |
| Danl Carroll |
LB, DNA: RG 42, Records of the Commissioners for the District of Columbia, Letters Sent, 1791–1802.
1. The commissioners, who met at Georgetown from 13 to 19 Sept., presumably talked with GW when he passed through that town on 14 Sept. en route to Mount Vernon.
2. These instruments are dated 16 Sept. and were received by the commissioners prior to the sale on 17 September. The first, which varies from GW’s proclamations for the sales of 17 Oct. 1791 and 8 Oct. 1792 only in the date, reads: “The President of the United States doth hereby order and direct that the sale of Lots in the City of Washington, to commence on the 17th Instant be of such Lots as the Commissioners or any two of them shall think proper: That the same sale shall be under their direction and on the Terms they shall publish” (Copy, DNA: RG 42, Records of the Commissioners for the District of Columbia, Proceedings [13–19 Sept. 1793], 1791–1802; Df, DLC:GW; LB, DLC:GW).
The second, which is similar to an order issued on 29 Sept. 1792, reads: “The President of the United States doth hereby order and direct that any Lot or Lots in the City of Washington, may after the public sale to commence on the 17th Inst. be sold and agreed for by the Commissioners or any two of them at private sale for such price and on such Terms as they may think proper” (Copy, DNA: RG 42, Records of the Commissioners for the District of Columbia, Proceedings [13–19 Sept. 1793], 1791–1802; Df, DLC:GW; LB, DLC:GW).
3. The commissioners’ advertisement of the sale of a number of lots in Washington on 17 Sept. had been issued over the signature of John M. Gantt, clerk, and dated 7 Jan. 1793 (Gazette of the United States [Philadelphia], 19 Jan.). GW purchased lots in the Federal City during this sale (see Certifi cate for Lots Purchased in the District of Columbia, 18 Sept.).