11To George Washington from the Commissioners for the District of Columbia, 14 March 1792 (Washington Papers)
We have to acknowledge the receipt of your several dispatches to us by the last Post —We regret you should have had any occasion to experience the untowardness of Majr LEnfants Temper—But without it, you could not have been so sensible of the very great disquietude which he has given us—As we were sincerely desirous, of retaining him as long as it was practiable, we cannot but lament the...
12To George Washington from the Commissioners for the District of Columbia, 6 June 1792 (Washington Papers)
We enclose you a Copy of a Section of our Act of the Assembly of Maryland, passed at the last session, the Treasurer, as we are informed, has about 24,000 Dollars now in Hand, we shall be obliged to you for your Order, as the late Demands has been so heavy that it is proper to lodge more Money in our Treasurers hands —There is a Ballance of 5746 Maryland Currency yet to receive on the Virginia...
13To George Washington from the Commissioners for the District of Columbia, 19 July 1792 (Washington Papers)
Yesterday the Commissrs Contracted with Mr Hoben for his services by the year at 300 Guineas, his Draft and Attention may, be confined to the Palace or extended to other objects they may chuse. Doctor Stewart’s uneasiness at the State of his Family occasioned his leaving us as soon as the most material of our Business was finished—This morning we went with Mr Hoben to the Seite of the Palace...
14To George Washington from the Commissioners for the District of Columbia, 1 September 1792 (Washington Papers)
Esteeming it necessary to have your written order for Sales in the City we have enclosed a Draft, a Copy of that given last year, to be Signed against the approaching public Sales—An Idea has been pretty generally entertained, that it would be prudent to Sink a part of the price on condition of Speedy Improvement, and we have presumed to enclose the Draft of an Order calculated for that End,...
15To George Washington from the Commissioners for the District of Columbia, 5 October 1792 (Washington Papers)
As we have not yet received your order for the Sales and the Time is near at hand, we think it proper (least it should have escaped you) to remind you of it —A few of the Plans executed, in Boston have Arrived, which we have dispersed, we have some expectation, that tomorrows Post may bring us some of those executed in Philaa—We take the liberty to send you one of the former. We are Sir &c. LB...
16To George Washington from the Commissioners for the District of Columbia, 13 October 1792 (Washington Papers)
Inclosed we send you a list of our Sales, which were closed yesterday. Tho’ the average price is not entirely equal to that of the first sales, yet, when it is considered, that the Company assembled, was by no means such, as might have been expected, from the unlucky intervention of several circumstances; and allso, that it was the Public opinion, that the first sales were too high; and that...
17To George Washington from the Commissioners for the District of Columbia, 5 January 1793 (Washington Papers)
We enclose you a list of the Squares actually devided, of those certified ready for division, and a Copy of Majr Ellicott’s Return of those marked out but not yet certified for Division, as well as a Copy of Majr Ellicott’s Letter to us—From the Two last you will perceive that there is at least an Uncertainty whether we shall much longer have Majr Ellicott’s services, he has however shewn such...
18To George Washington from the Commissioners for the District of Columbia, 9 January 1793 (Washington Papers)
After closing our Letter of the 5th we wrote Majr Ellicott—a copy is sent, to which we soon received the inclosed answer —We feel a strong disinclination to go into discussions before the public and believe we shall not be led or drove into it. We are Sir with the greatest respect & esteem Your Obt hble Servts LS , DLC:GW ; LB , DNA : RG 42, Records of the Commissioners for the District of...
19To George Washington from the Commissioners for the District of Columbia, 8 February 1793 (Washington Papers)
We have received your favour of 31st January on the subject of the Compensation necessary to be made us for our part and future services as Commissioners, and requiring a candid communication of our Sentiments thereupon—As it is both Interesting and delicate and withall one in which we are jointly concerned we hope it will be a sufficient apology for our not entering on it at present, that Mr...
20To George Washington from the Commissioners for the District of Columbia, 11–12 March 1793 (Washington Papers)
Doctor Thornton’s Plan for a Capitol has been laid before us; the rooms for the different Branches of Congress and the Conference Room, are much to our satisfaction and its outward appearance we expect will be Striking, & pleasing On the whole it gains our preference tho. we cannot but fear that several of the Small Rooms, of which there seems to us, there are more than necessary will want...
21To George Washington from the Commissioners for the District of Columbia, 13 March 1793 (Washington Papers)
This day has been Cheifly spent in writing letter to Major Ellicott. those and his as well as his hand bill we enclose you—We are vexed and tired by an Intercourse so triffling —It may be proper to inform you, that when we were at Prouts House last night with Major Ellicott, he offered us the Platt of the Territory telling us he had received it from you, with Orders to make additions, we...
22To George Washington from the Commissioners for the District of Columbia, 9 April 1793 (Washington Papers)
We have had explanations with majr Ellicott, there appears to us no occasion to tire you with particulars in general. He is to continue under a general Arrangement marked out which we flatter ourselves will spur to attention and activity platting and dividing, the Squares on Certificates from the head of the surveying department is to be the Work of a different person—As we mentioned before,...
23To George Washington from the Commissioners for the District of Columbia, 9 April 1793 (Washington Papers)
Since closing our letter of this date we have had conversation with Mr Blodget on the Subject of another letter The avidity which the Ticketts of the present have been bought up, the probability of the sale of Ticketts in the time of the drawing and the Sale of lots, and our being restrained by an Act of the Assembly of Maryland from raising a Lottery after the first of June, have induced us...
24To George Washington from the Commissioners for the District of Columbia, 23 June 1793 (Washington Papers)
We inclose to you a letter from Majr Ellicott respecting a change of part of the southern Branch of the Canal, and his reasons for a change or totally striking out the Eastern Branch of it in the course of our divisions of the Carrollsburgh property, and the knowledge of situation and circumstances collected from the plats laid before us—the change of the southern branch occurred to ourselves...
25To George Washington from the Commissioners for the District of Columbia, 24 June 1793 (Washington Papers)
We beg leave to refer you to Mr Blodget on the subject of the National University to which in general we have the most friendly disposition, and the site painted out by him we entirely approve if it can be had on the generous terms proposed, on its meeting your approbation we will do every thing in our power in favour of the important institution. We are &ca LB , DNA : RG 42, Records of the...
26To George Washington from the Commissioners for the District of Columbia, 1 August 1793 (Washington Papers)
We inclose you a copy of the return of the 29th of July, from the surveyors office, which will give an Idea of the progress and state of the work of that department and a copy of Mr Briggs and B. Ellicotts letter of the 31st. You will be pleased to observe that they propose, three small alterations, which will be understood on referring to the printed plan. 1st stopping S. carolina Avenue west...
27To George Washington from the Commissioners for the District of Columbia, 5 September 1793 (Washington Papers)
we have now before us your Letters of the 13th & 29th of last month, the surveyor will be informed of your direction, in consequence of our Letter of the first of august and of the result of our views with him of the two short avenues on the spot which we intend this morning —we have so good an opinion of the probity and disinterestedness of Capn Conway and Mr David Ross of Bladensburgh, whose...
28To George Washington from the Commissioners for the District of Columbia, 16 September 1793 (Washington Papers)
We forgot the other day to apply to you for your permission to make sales of the publick property in the City of Washington —We therefore transmit to you a Couple of Instruments for your signature similar to those given at former times —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...
29To George Washington from the Commissioners for the District of Columbia, 3 November 1793 (Washington Papers)
Colo. Hooe and Majr Ross’s report, which they have inclosed you will inform you of the result of their examination of our accounts; that with the Treasurer stands in the place of a cash account, is accurate and authorized by our warrants, which are justified by Vouchers—these were all compared and did not take up two days—The Gentlemen went farther and have given a general state of Funds, this...
30To George Washington from the Commissioners for the District of Columbia, 23 December 1793 (Washington Papers)
You will receive inclosed a copy of an Agreement we have entered into with Messrs Morris and Greenleaf for the Sale of three thousand Lots farther, at 35£ a Lot, somewhat modifying the old and stating the whole in this new Contract —A consideration of the uncertainty of Settled Times, and an unembarrassed Commerce, weighed much with us: as well as Mr Morris’s Capital, Influence, and...
31To George Washington from the Commissioners for the District of Columbia, 28 January 1794 (Washington Papers)
Major Ellicotts return in November, after being absent great part of the Summer, and soon after we had employed his Brother Joseph, was so plainly calculated to be heavy on the Funds, that we could not submit to it, and discharged him at our last Meeting: we flattered ourselves, that we should have more expedition and Quiet too with his Brothers, but he has continued here, and has, we believe,...
32To George Washington from the Commissioners for the District of Columbia, 23 March 1794 (Washington Papers)
We inclose you a Certificate of your Purchase of Lots, and payment of the price, which by a late Act transfers the Title without the formality of Deeds—This is a Duplicate, the Original is lodged in the Office of the recording Clerk, to be entered by him, and will be returned to our Office. We were not unmindful of your intention of becoming a Purchaser of a Situation in the other end of the...
33To George Washington from the Commissioners for the District of Columbia, 23 March 1794 (Washington Papers)
Major Ellicott’s, Briggs’s and Benjamin Ellicott’s Letters of the 29th of June, and 28th of February which you inclosed to Us assert so many untruths, artfully combined that an unusual lengthiness is required to draw the Circumstances into view which have happened for two or three years past. We certainly best know the real State of our own minds with regard to this Corps and Dermott, and of...
34To George Washington from the Commissioners for the District of Columbia, 23 April 1794 (Washington Papers)
We take the Liberty to inclose you a Letter for Messrs Richard Harrison and George Taylor Jr, which we beg you to read and send to them: it will apprize you of our very difficult Situation with Mr Blodget, who has come hither without any Thing nearly, but evasions and excuses—we have past by the Secretary, because we imagine his time will not allow this to be a first object to him as it is...
35To George Washington from the Commissioners for the District of Columbia, 7 June 1794 (Washington Papers)
Having many reasons for wishing an interview with you at this meeting we cannot but express our regret at the Circumstances which have prevented it. We have the pleasure to inform you that it will be in our power from the Arrangements we have made with Mr Peter, the Proprietor of the Square on which your lots lie to accomodate you agreeably to your desire with the whole Square. The...
36To George Washington from the Commissioners for the District of Columbia, 10 July 1794 (Washington Papers)
We have come to an agreement with Mr Greenleaf by which he will be accomodated, and the public participate in a Loan negociating in Holland in his name—the inclosed copy will let you into the particulars, one of which, that the paper which gives the legal title in the 1000 Lots the public part of the Mortgage, is to remain till Bills are drawn and the money deposited agreeable to our Order, on...
37To George Washington from the Commissioners for the District of Columbia, 18 December 1794 (Washington Papers)
Your favor of the 24th Ulto with the inclosure came to hand —We take the liberty of enclosing our letters to Mr Trumbull and his Brother for your perusal. We embrace this occasion to say that it is our intention to send for your information a statement of the business of the City as far as may be in our power, and Materials for that purpose can be collected together. We are &c. LB , DNA : RG...
38To George Washington from the Commissioners for the District of Columbia, 2 January 1795 (Washington Papers)
We did ourselves the honor of inclosing, in our answer to your letter, two Communications to Messrs Trumbu⟨ll. W⟩e could not at that time determine what should be done relative to Mr Hatfield. We require all the aid of Talents, but the inadequacy of our Funds restrain our Engagements. We have met with several Disappointments, not only in the inability of the Bank here to give us accommodation,...
39To George Washington from the Commissioners for the District of Columbia, 4 February 1795 (Washington Papers)
The Board have for some time contemplated a statement of the affairs of the City, to be laid before you; which has been hitherto delayed by the difficulty of collecting the several Documents necessary to accompany it; and which even yet are very far from being perfect. Independent of the present circumstances of Affairs, there are strong reasons why our proceedings at certain stated periods...
40To George Washington from the Commissioners for the District of Columbia, 18 February 1795 (Washington Papers)
Your Letter of the 20th of January relates to one of the most engaging subjects with which the human mind can be impressed. The Legislators of all enlightened Countries have thought the education of youth so important to the welfare of Society that it has been a primary object of their attention. It is a theme which merits the most serious Consideration of United America at this time; for, as...