To George Washington from the Commissioners for the District of Columbia, 15 May 1795
From the Commissioners for the District of Columbia
City of Washington May 15th 1795.
Sir
We had the honor of your favor of the 5th Inst. some Days since covering several Letters from Mrs Hallet. Your letter to her was immediately forwarded.1 Mr Hallet was discharged by the old board from the public service some time in June last; but he appearing to be much dissatisfied the new Board indulged him some time last winter with a full hearing in the presence of such of his friends as he wished; and upon full consideration determined it was by no means adviseable to take him again into the public service.2 He has no pretence of Claim for a Salary or any other pecuniary reward since his dismission was notified to him. The Board however in Compassion to his family came to a Resolution to allow him 250 Dollars over and above what they conceived to be due to him in strict justice.3 Our Negotiations with Mr Peter were never drawn to a conclusion until 11th Inst. when he executed a Deed for the Lots you wished.4 We have not said any thing to Mr Dalton respecting payment for the Lots. It will be time enough when Mr Lear returns who will we presume be instructed on the Subject.
We are happy in having it in our power to inform you that the Capitol progresses rapidly and that we have at present a good prospect of a plentiful supply of all the materials necessary for the present Season at least. We wish we could give as good an Account of Mr Greenleafs payments. Instead of 68,571.43$ we have only received $28,333.33 in post notes of New York payable in 25 Days after date, which answers no valuable purposes to us.5 unless a payment is soon made agreeably to his Contract we shall endeavor to compel one. We have the Honor to be with the greatest respect sir &c.
Gusts Scott
William Thornton
LB, DNA: RG 42, Records of the Commissioners for the District of Columbia, Letters Sent.
1. The D.C. commissioners referred to Mary Gomain Hallet’s two letters to GW of 27 April (letters 1 and 2) and one of 28 April. GW responded to Hallet on 5 May.
2. The commissioners discharged Stephen Hallet on 28 June 1794 (see n.2 to Mary Gomain Hallet’s first letter to GW of 27 April).
3. For Stephen Hallet’s compensation of $250, see his wife’s letter to GW, 28 April, n.3.
4. The commissioners’ meeting of 18 April recorded a sale of lots 2 and 3 in square number 21 sold to GW “at £200 ⅌ Lot, with Interest from the 7th of June 1794 and upon the usual terms of payment, the said lots having been then applied for to the late board” (DNA: RG 42, Records of the Commissioners for the District of Columbia, Proceedings). The sale agreement between GW and Robert Peter of Georgetown was dated 11 May (DS, NjMoHP).
5. The commissioners recorded at their meeting of 2 May that they had received an unsigned letter from James Greenleaf detailing his forthcoming payment (DNA: RG 42, Records of the Commissioners for the District of Columbia, Proceedings).