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...
41To George Washington from the Commissioners for the District of Columbia, 20 April 1795 (Washington Papers)
It being our earnest wish that every means of just information should be furnished to form a proper Opinion on Mr Johnsons claim under the Contract entered into by the late Board with Morris & Greenleaf; we beg leave to forward to you in addition to the Statement handed in by Dr Thornton—the Contract with Greenleaf (see page 3rd marked with double Lines) The State of the Case and opinion of...
42To George Washington from the Commissioners for the District of Columbia, 15 May 1795 (Washington Papers)
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. 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...
43To George Washington from the Commissioners for the District of Columbia, 24 July 1795 (Washington Papers)
The enclosed Letter from the Secretary of State covering the charge made by Mr Greenleaf were received by the mail the Day you left town. Upon such an occasion we thought the sooner an Invitation to Greenleaf to come forward and substantiate his charges was handed to him the better. The enclosed answer to him open and under Cover to the Secretary of State which is also enclosed was forwarded...
44To George Washington from the Commissioners for the District of Columbia, 24 July 1795 (Washington Papers)
The Board have had under Consideration for some days past the Subject of regulating the building of wharves; according to the Powers delegated to them by the Act of the Maryland Legislature passed in 1791: An Abstract of which is herewith inclosed. On a Subject so extensive, it is not to be wondered at that considerable difficulties have occurred: and it is not probable that all will be...
45To George Washington from the Commissioners for the District of Columbia, September 1795 (Washington Papers)
We had the pleasure of your favor by Mr Lear Covering Mr Morriss Letter of the 21t instant —finding that Mr Morris is of Opinion that we have no power to sell his property we think it highly necessary to assure him that we are impress’d with very Different sentiments and shall if Compelled by him take the advice of able Counsel on the point—We enclose a Copy of our letter to Mr Morris with his...
46To George Washington from the Commissioners for the District of Columbia, 13 April 1796 (Washington Papers)
Our Principal surveyor Mr Freeman has applied to us to recommend him to an Appointment for laying out the Lines under the direction of General Knox: His good Conduct whilst in public Employment entitles him to our Recommendation & We with pleasure give it. Mr Freeman wou’d be usefull to us in the City for some Months yet, but We cannot blame his seeking a just Occasion to advance his fortune....
47To George Washington from the Commissioners for the District of Columbia, 13 May 1796 (Washington Papers)
In consequence of a correspondence between Mr Scott & Mr Robert Gilmor of Baltimore, and a conversation Mr White had with Mr Gilmor, in his return from Phila., we have judged it expedient, through his means to set on foot a negotiation for a Loan in Holland—Mr Gilmor expressed a very clear opinion that the necessary Sums may be procured at an interest not exceeding 6 percent per Annum,...
48To George Washington from the Commissioners for the District of Columbia, 14 May 1796 (Washington Papers)
Our Letter of Yesterday, covering the power of attorney to Messrs Willink, will shew you, that we are busily engaged in endeavoring to draw some good effects from the Loan Bill which has cost us so much time & trouble—We beg leave to submit to your consideration, the enclosed advertisement, which, when approved by you, we wish to appear in the public prints at Boston, New York and Phila., as...
49To George Washington from the Commissioners for the District of Columbia, 31 May 1796 (Washington Papers)
We have this day, the honor of your Letter of the 22nd of this month, which was detained on the road by the late heavy rains—The Duplicate of the powers to Mesrs Wilhem & Jan Willink, we should not fail to forward by the next post, but as the original was signed by Mr White, it will be more in order to have his signature to the Copy—It shall be our first business, on his arrival, which we...
50To George Washington from the Commissioners for the District of Columbia, 22 June 1796 (Washington Papers)
The board, pursuant to your request, have had under consideration the propriety of permitting the erecting of wooden buildings in the City, & enclose you the result—should you be of opinion that the proposed suspension should take place, they have forwarded a sketch of the form which appears to them to be proper. We are happy to have it in our power to inform you, that a letter has been...
51To George Washington from the Commissioners for the District of Columbia, 29 June 1796 (Washington Papers)
We had your favor of the 26th Inst. inclosing your approbation of the proposed alterations in the manner of improving in the City of Washington—We have given the necessary Instructions for their publication in the public prints of Boston, New York, Philadelphia, Baltimore, City, George Town, Alexandria, Richmond and Charleston; if you think the publication ought to be more general, we shall...
52To George Washington from the Commissioners for the District of Columbia, 12 July 1796 (Washington Papers)
We had the honor of your two Letters, first and eighth Inst., covering a letter from the Secretary of War (which is returned) and also the several papers to be forwarded to Messrs Willink of Amsterdam —One complete set of those papers, with a [ ] of the power, signed by all of the Commissioners, will be forwarded to the Secretary at War by him, to be transmitted to Holland by fridays Mail—We...
53To George Washington from the Commissioners for the District of Columbia, 20 July 1796 (Washington Papers)
Since our last to you, we have been obliged to abandon all hopes of seeing Mr Morris here; in consequence of which, we forwarded to him, on the 15th a Letter of which, the enclosed is a Copy—We certainly mean to pursue the measures intimated in our Letter. A second Letter from Mr Wolcott of the 13th Inst. gives us no hopes of any aid from the Bank of the United States—We are proceeding to...
54To George Washington from the Commissioners for the District of Columbia, 12 August 1796 (Washington Papers)
Our affairs with Messrs Morris & Nicholson bearing something like an appearance of drawing to a crisis; we beg leave to enclose you our two last letters to those gentlemen, with their Answers —We hope and believe that things are now in a train to raise some money from that unfortunate Contract, and we think it not prudent to let the breaches of Contract respecting the buildings until after the...
55To George Washington from the Commissioners for the District of Columbia, 1 October 1796 (Washington Papers)
Conformably to your wish, expressed to us, when we had last the honor of your company, we have taken into consideration such matters, relative to the business of the City, as appear to require your attention, and beg leave, respectfully, to submit our opinions thereon—With respect to a national university, we are of opinion, that the Space heretofore proposed to be appropriated for a fort and...
56To George Washington from the Commissioners for the District of Columbia, 1 October 1796 (Washington Papers)
We enclose a copy of a Letter from Messrs Morris & Nicholson respecting the completion of their titles; and supposing that the most eligible mode of accommodating those gentlemen, as well as all others similarly circumstanced, will be, to obtain a conveyance from the Trustees to the Commissioners, agreeably to a clause in the Deeds of Trust, authorising such conveyance; we also enclose a form...
57To George Washington from the Commissioners for the District of Columbia, 7 October 1796 (Washington Papers)
Since our last to you, Mr Walker has been with us, and has often mentioned the subject treated of in the inclosed Letter—presuming that you have yet come to no determination on the Several Subjects submitted in our last Letters for your opinion, we inclose a copy of Mr Walker’s Letter, which, if it deserves weight, will, we have no doubt, receive it. We are, with entire respect Yrs &c. LB ,...
58To George Washington from the Commissioners for the District of Columbia, 31 October 1796 (Washington Papers)
We were favored, by last Mail, with the two inclosed Letters, which are forwarded by the earliest conveyance since their arrival; not having been received until the Saturday’s Mail had been closed—The prospects held out by Messrs Willinks are by no means flattering —We inclose an answer to their letter which we presume will readily meet with a conveyance to Amsterdam or Hamburgh; a copy of...
59To George Washington from the Commissioners for the District of Columbia, 31 October 1796 (Washington Papers)
Since our first Letter of this date, we have thought it prudent to write to Mr Wolcott & to enclose to him the proposals for a Loan from the Bank, drawn out into detail, both which are left open for your perusal & approbation, without which we do not consider ourselves at liberty to make the propositions —Not knowing what may be the event of the application to the Bank, we have thought it...
60To George Washington from the Commissioners for the District of Columbia, 3 November 1796 (Washington Papers)
Upon an accurate research into the several laws past by the Legislature of Maryland respecting that part of the City formerly known by the names of Carrollsburgh and Hamburgh, it is thought, that the order lately made by you for a reconveyance, may not be extensive enough to include those Lots—We therefore take the liberty of requesting your signature to the enclosed, which will include all...
61To George Washington from the Commissioners for the District of Columbia, 11 November 1796 (Washington Papers)
We were duly favored with your letter of the 7th Inst. That the inaccuracy of our Clerk and our own inattention should have occasioned so much trouble to the Executive, excites sensations scarcely to be expressed. The Words per annum noted by you are not contained in the original Draft of the letter to Messrs Willink, from which, the letter itself, and the copy inclosed with it, for your...
62To George Washington from the Commissioners for the District of Columbia, 17 November 1796 (Washington Papers)
We had the honor of your favor of the 11th Instant, with the Inclosure & shall now proceed to take a conveyance of all the property in which the United States have an interest —The State of the business laid before you by Messrs Budd & Prior was particularly stated to you on your way to Mount Vernon, last summer, & the measures to be pursued by the board were approved of by you— We now inclose...
63To George Washington from the Commissioners for the District of Columbia, 21 November 1796 (Washington Papers)
We do ourselves the honor of inclosing a Memorial concerning the intended University, about which, you expressed a desire to receive some documents, which, if judged proper, might be laid before Congress—The one inclosed, has been drawn up with a view to that object; and the authors of it will feel the highest gratification, if it in any degree brings about the commencement of this great...
64To George Washington from the Commissioners for the District of Columbia, 25 November 1796 (Washington Papers)
We do ourselves the honor of inclosing, a Letter received from Mr Covachichi, one of the partners of Messrs Lynch & Sands in the late purchase from Bailey—Wishing, ardently, to preserve harmony among all city proprietors, we have paid the earliest attention to this gentleman’s Letter —A copy of our Letter to him, and an Extract from the contract of Morris & Greenleaf, alluded to, by Mr...
65To George Washington from the Commissioners for the District of Columbia, 30 November 1796 (Washington Papers)
Your Instructions to Messrs Beall & Gantt to convey to us all the Lands in the City of Washington, vested in them, in trust, by the original proprietors, have been duly considered, with a reference to carrying the same into effect; in which some difficulties occur—That part of the Land which is held for the use of the United States, we consider, as in a very different predicament from those...
66To George Washington from the Commissioners for the District of Columbia, 30 November 1796 [letter not found] (Washington Papers)
Letter not found : from the Commissioners for the District of Columbia, 30 Nov. 1796 . GW wrote the commissioners on 26 Dec. : “Your letters of the 30th and 30th of November … are now before me.” Only one letter for that date has been found.
67To George Washington from the Commissioners for the District of Columbia, 3 December 1796 (Washington Papers)
We are honored with your Letter of 27th Ulto, and on friday, agreeably to your expectations, we received a Letter from Mr Wolcott, informing of the failure of his negotiation with Mr Hope —The board therefore, immediately authorised Mr Scott to repair to Annapolis, and to negotiate a Loan with the Legislature of Maryland, agreeably to the terms of your act, authorising that measure —On an...
68To George Washington from the Commissioners for the District of Columbia, 26 December 1796 (Washington Papers)
The State of our funds will not admit of delay in disposing of some part of the Stock borrowed of the State of Maryland —Our Labourers and Mechanics will have a month’s wages due, on monday next; and, also, there will then be one quarter’s Salary due to all the Officers, who are paid by the Year —The Rules of the public Offices do not permit any transfer of Stock until the first of January,...
69From George Washington to the Commissioners for the District of Columbia, 30 Dec. 1796 [letter not found] (Washington Papers)
Letter not found : to the Commissioners for the District of Columbia, 30 Dec. 1796 . The commissioners’ minutes for 4 Jan. 1797 read: “Letter of the 30th Ulto received from the Prest of the U. S. enclosing his approbation endorsed on the Resolutions approving the Loan made of the State of Maryland” ( DNA : RG 42, Records of the Commissioners for the District of Columbia, Proceedings, 1791–1802).
70To George Washington from the Commissioners for the District of Columbia, 2 January 1797 (Washington Papers)
We have your favor of the 26th Ulto, covering the opinion of the Attorney General —It is by no means, our wish that any alterations should be made in the published plan of the City —It may, with great truth, be asserted, that every change occasions infinite trouble to the Commissioners, and creates confusion with the proprietors—We are yet without a full board, and are therefore prevented from...