George Washington Papers
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https://founders.archives.gov/documents/Washington/05-21-02-0294

To George Washington from Thomas Law, c.10 February 1797

From Thomas Law

Friday morng [c.10 Feb. 1797]1

Dear Sir

I was yesterday morning walking about in search of ornament Carvers whose work costs two Dollars ⅌ Diem—It occurred to me that I had best enclose this Lre to You as the followg words to the Commrs may save perhaps 10000 Ds “You will order Jno. Hadfeild to avoid all superfluous & useless ornaments”—pardon this intrusion which I make as short as possible.2 With unfeigned esteem respect & affection

Thomas Law

ALS, DLC:GW.

1GW docketed this letter “Feby 1797.” The letter’s enclosure, dated 9 Feb. (see n.2 below), suggests that Law may have written this letter as early as Friday, 10 February. However, GW’s discussion of this letter’s contents and enclosure in his missive of 20 Feb. to the D.C. commissioners puts this letter’s possible composition date at Friday, 17 February.

2Law probably enclosed the letter of 9 Feb. from George Hadfield, the architect appointed to oversee the construction of the U.S. Capitol, to an unknown recipient, most likely Law. That letter reads: “I hear you are going to Philadelphia, tomorrow morning if so I shall take the liberty to request a favour of you, which is to enquire if any of the Ornement Carvers there could be induced to come to the Capitol, as that branch is the only part that will prevent expedition in the Building. the unnecessary ornements introdus’d have lost, do & will lose much time &c: I am therefore obliged for the sake of peace & harmony to have recourse to the only expedient to prevent delay, by multiplying hands if possible.” Hadfield asked to be informed “if any such people are to be had” so that he could “take the best means to get them” (DLC:GW). Hadfield’s reference to his correspondent’s imminent trip to Philadelphia suggests that his letter was written to Law, who on 5 Feb., informed the D.C. commissioners of his possible travels to that city (DNA, RG 42, Records of the Commissioners for the District of Columbia, Letters Received, 1791–1802). The priority to get the “Capitol covered” provoked Hadfield’s and Law’s concerns over the significant expenditure of time required to complete the excessive ornamentation of that edifice (Law to GW, 8 Feb.). For GW’s order to the commissioners to avoid unnecessary carvings, see his letter to them of 20 February.

On 30 Jan., the commissioners had written Robert Morris from Washington, D.C.: “We are much in want of a few good Stone-carvers, and presume … you must know the best artists in Town. We shall be much obliged to you to enquire, whether two or three carvers can be had in Philadelphia and at what wages” (DNA: RG 42, Records of the Commissioners for the District of Columbia, Letters Sent). In a reply, written on 13 Feb. from Philadelphia, Morris informed the commissioners that Andrew Jardella (Iardella) and two other stone carvers “employed in the Marble Work of my House” had traveled to the Federal City “to make an agreement with” the commissioners. Morris’s “desire to promote the progress of the City” convinced him to “encourage them to go” (DNA: RG 42, Records of the Commissioners for the District of Columbia, Letters Received). For Jardella’s travel expenses to Washington, D.C., which amounted to $53.50, see DNA: RG 42, Records of the Commissioners for the District of Columbia, Proceedings, 1791–1802, under 20 March 1797.

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