1To George Washington from William Thornton, 29 November 1793 (Washington Papers)
I have lately been informed that your Secretary, Mr Lear, has taken his departure for England, on private Business, and as I imagine the multiplicity of your Engagements, and the extent of your Correspondence will require a Substitute I take the liberty of tendering my Services; yet with a degree of hesitation mixed with Confidence. I hesitate, lest my Abilities may not be equal to all that...
2To George Washington from William Thornton, 12 March 1795 (Washington Papers)
I have laid before my Colleagues my Sentiments relative to the propriety of raising the foundation of the Capitol, and in requesting your Attention to this Subject I comply with their desire as well as gratify my own wish to know your pleasure concerning it, that in pursuing our Duty we may proceed under the Sanction of your approbation. It is to be lamented that the Capitol was placed so far...
3To George Washington from William Thornton, 24 July 1795 (Washington Papers)
Letter not found: from William Thornton, 24 July 1795. On 29 July, GW wrote to the commissioners for the District of Columbia: “The memorial dated the 24th instt … came duly to hand; as did Doctr Thornton’s letter of the same date.”
4To George Washington from William Thornton, 26 July 1795 (Washington Papers)
In dissenting from the Memorial of the 24th Instant which my colleagues sent to you by the last mail, I request you will not consider me as having differed in toto, for, in general it expresses my Sentiments. I shall in as few words as possible state wherein we do not coincide in opinion, and submit with great deference to what may be determined. It is agreed that every person shall be...
5To George Washington from William Thornton, 2 November 1795 (Washington Papers)
I address you at this time with the greatest reluctance because I know that the weighty concerns of State must demand a disengagement from all matters of less Importance; the object of my Epistle I hope however will be considered of sufficient moment to apologize for this intrusion. Since Mr Hadfield was engaged by the Board of Commissioners he has called their attention to several parts of...
6To George Washington from William Thornton, 7 November 1795 (Washington Papers)
Your Letter of the 4th Instt addressed to the Board of Commissioners, I had the honor of receiving very late last night. Mr Scott set off for Baltimore on Sunday last, and, by a Resolution of the Board, was to proceed immediately to Annapolis, if a Letter from the Executive were received at Baltimore, in approbation of the measure last contemplated. Your Letter therefore of the 30th Ulto never...
7To George Washington from William Thornton, 13 September 1796 (Washington Papers)
Washington, D.C., 13 September 1796. Thornton supported GW’s desire to construct and fund a national university in the Federal City. He discussed practical challenges related to such an institution and its best location. Df , DLC : William Thornton Papers. For a full transcription, see Harris, William Thornton Papers , C. M. Harris, ed. Papers of William Thornton: Volume One, 1781-1802 ....
8To George Washington from William Thornton, 1 October 1796 (Washington Papers)
As I disagree with my Colleagues in some Sentiments contained in the Letter from the Board of this Date I thought it necessary to trouble you with a separate Communication. I perfectly agree with them in the Scite contemplated for a National University, as my last Letter to you will testify. The Botanical Garden I think would have been better situated in the Square of the University if there...
9To George Washington from William Thornton, 4 December 1796 [letter not found] (Washington Papers)
Letter not found : from William Thornton, 4 Dec. 1796 . GW wrote Thornton on 26 Dec. : “Your letter of the 4th of the present month came to my hands.”
10To George Washington from William Thornton, 14 February 1797 (Washington Papers)
I imagine there will not be a full Board for two or three weeks, and, as I consider the Subject of extending the reservations to the areas which are formed by the Intersection of several Streets & Avenues as very interesting I thought it would border on neglect were I to fail to lay them before you, although I with great unwillingness intrude again upon your time. When the Subject of...