To George Washington from Thomas Johnson, 6 February 1794
From Thomas Johnson
Frederick [Md.] 6 February 1794.
Sir.
Your Letter of the 23d of last Month came to Hand whilst I was attending on the Lottery Business at George Town:1 I forbore to answer it immediately hoping that a little Delay might enable me to do it more to your Satisfaction, as well as my own for I could not think of any Gentleman of the Neighbourhd whom I could venture to recommend to you and the Proprietors, amongst whom there is the most Ability, have not lately gained in my Confidence—Reflection has not assisted me nor do I see a prospect of a favorable Change unless from an Accession of Strangers several of whom it is said will be at the City in the Spring and amongst them I hope such as will be proper for your Choice—In the Mean Time, with your Approbation I will continue to act for though I shd not Suffer much in seeing the little Credit I may have earned, transferred by common Opinion to a Successor, I should be very sorry a Change of Comrs should injure the Work I have very much at Heart.2 I am sir, with the most Respect, Your affectionate Servant.
Th. Johnson
ALS, DLC:GW.
1. Johnson met with fellow D.C. commissioners David Stuart and Daniel Carroll (of Rock Creek, Md.) at Georgetown, D.C., from 24 to 31 Jan. (DNA: RG 42, Records of the Commissioners for the District of Columbia, Proceedings, 1791–1802). On problems with the lottery managed by former D.C. superintendent Samuel Blodget, Jr., see n.4 of GW to Johnson, 23 January.
2. On the proprietors, see source note to Agreement of the Proprietors of the Federal District, 30 March 1791. For persons suggested by David Stuart, who also wished to resign as commissioner, see Stuart to GW, this date. For the men who replaced Johnson and Stuart on the commission later this year, see n.2 of GW to Johnson, 23 January.