From George Washington to Thomas Jefferson, 8 March 1792
To Thomas Jefferson
[Philadelphia] Thursday Morning [8 March 1792]1
Dear Sir,
I do not recollect whether any notice has ever been taken in your letter to the Commrs of Mr Johnsons suggestion of bringing the Canal navigation to the City—The ascertainment of the practicability ought by all means to be encouraged.2 Yours
G.W.
ALS, DLC: Jefferson Papers.
1. Jefferson apparently was mistaken when he endorsed this letter as having been received on 7 Mar., as GW dated it “Thursday Morning,” 8 March.
2. In his letter to the commissioners for the District of Columbia of 6 Mar., Jefferson had mentioned the canal as a possible undertaking for the current work season (see 23:224–28). After receiving GW’s letter Jefferson wrote privately on 8 Mar. to commissioner Thomas Johnson: “You formerly hinted the expediency of bringing the navigable canal from the little falls down to Washington. The President thinks the practicability of this should be properly examined into, as it would undoubtedly be useful” (ibid., 236–37).