1From George Washington to William Thornton, 16 June 1799 (Washington Papers)
Your favor of the 5th instant came duly to hand. Mr Blagdens last call for $1000 is, I must acknowledge, sooner than I had contemplated; but I will make arrangements with the Bank of Alexandria to meet it by the first of next month. If his progress in the buildings, & faithful execution of the work, keep pace with his demands (and this is all I require) he shall have no cause to complain of my...
2From George Washington to William Thornton, 18 November 1799 (Washington Papers)
Your favour of the 13th inst: came duly to hand. I am now making arrangements at the Bank of Alexandria for obtaining money. When this is accomplished, I will forward a check, on that Bank, for the $1000 required by Mr Blagden, & hope it will be in time to answer his purposes. I have no objection to Mr Blagden’s frequent calls for money; but I fear the work which is not ennumerated in the...
3From George Washington to William Thornton, 7 December 1799 (Washington Papers)
Your favour of the 5th instant was received last night. Not sending up to the Post Office every day, is the cause of its not getting to hand in time for my answer by the Mail of this day. Enclosed is a list of such fruit Trees as my Gardener has chosen. Be so good as to have them sent to the care of Colo. Gilpin in Alexandria, who will receive—take care of—and give me notice of their arrival:...
4From George Washington to William Thornton, 29 September 1799 (Washington Papers)
Your letter of the 24th instant, enclosing a note from Mr Blagden, came to my hands on thursday last; the next day I sent up to Alexandria to see if a Painter could be had to execute the Painting of my houses in the City, and on what terms. The principal Painters in that place, Messrs McLeod & Lumley, promised (one or the other of them) to repair to the buildings the next day (yesterday) and...
5From George Washington to William Thornton, 1 June 1799 (Washington Papers)
In replying to your favor of yesterday’s date, I must beg leave to premise that, when I left the Chair of Government it was with a determination not to intermeddle in any public matter which did not immediately concern me; and that I have felt no Disposition since to alter this Determination. But as you have requested that I would give you my Ideas on a certain point, which seems to have...
6From George Washington to William Thornton, 8 December 1799 (Washington Papers)
For the communications contained in your letter of yesterday, I thank you. As a citizen of the United States, it gives me pleasure, at all times, to hear that works of public ⟨uti⟩lity are resolved on, and in a state of progression—wheresoever adopted, and whensoever begun. The one resolved on between the Chesapeake and Delaware is of great magnitude, and will be, I trust, the Precursor of...
7From George Washington to William Thornton, 7 October 1799 (Washington Papers)
Colo. Walker, a very respectable Gentleman of this State, will hand you this letter. He, with Mr Nelson, who married his Grand daughter, are on a visit to the Federal City, and propose to view the Canals & Falls in the Potomack before they return. Colo. Walker is well acquainted with Mr White, but as the latter may be absent, I take the liberty of soliciting your civilities in shewing them...
8From George Washington to William Thornton, 21 April 1799 (Washington Papers)
Your favor of the 19th is before me, and for the details it contains respecting my buildings in the City, I thank you. As I do for directing the exterior door Cills thereof to be made of Stone. I never attended so closely to the specification of the work, as to know they were, originally, intended to be of Wood; On the contrary, as the Frontispiece was to be of Stone I took it for granted that...
9From George Washington to William Thornton, 28 August 1799 (Washington Papers)
I would thank you for requesting Mr Blagden to give me as early notice of the time, and amount of his next call upon me, as he can, that I may prepare accordingly. With great esteem & regard I am—Dear Sir Yr most Obedt Servt ALS (photocopy), NjP . Presumably GW intended to write “Sir.” GW on 30 Aug. wrote William Herbert, president of the Bank of Alexandria, that he wished to extend the...
10From George Washington to William Thornton, 26 November 1799 (Washington Papers)
For, and on account of Mr Blagden, I enclose you a Post note of the Bank of Columbia, for ninety three dollars forty three cents, and a check on the Bank of Alexandria for nine hundred and six dollars and fifty seven cents. Together, amounting to one thousand dollars, requested by Mr Blagden. With esteem and regard I am Dear Sir Your Obedt Humble Servt Let me request the favour of you to...
11From George Washington to William Thornton, 5 September 1799 (Washington Papers)
Not sending to Alexandria every day, letters sometimes lye longer in the Post Office than they otherwise would do. This is the reason why your favour of the 1st instant has not been acknowledged sooner. If Mr Blagden would be at the trouble of chusing the Ironmongry himself and pay ready money for it (thereby providing it on the best terms) I had rather he should get it than I because he would...
12From George Washington to William Thornton, 1 October 1799 (Washington Papers)
Enclosed are Messrs McLeod and Lumleys prices for painting my Houses in the City. Theirs, as you will perceive, is extended in Virginia currency; that mentioned by you, I presume, is Maryland; and if so, the prices are nearly the same. Wherefore, if the Painter in the City will—finding all materials—do the Windows & Cornice, & Doors, in short all the exterior of the Buildings, the roof...
13From George Washington to William Thornton, 2 July 1799 (Washington Papers)
Your favour of the 25th has been received; but you have mistaken the case entirely with respect to the Asses who were sent to my Jacks; charging you nothing for the services of the latter, was not designed to lay you under obligation, but a feeble effort to repay the kindnesses you have heaped upon me. Colo. Gilpin has forwarded the wrong box of glass to Baltimore, and soon will, I hope,...
14From George Washington to William Thornton, 1 August 1799 (Washington Papers)
I shall be obliged to you for letting Mr Blagden know, that I forsee nothing, at present, that will prevent my being at the Union Tavern in George Town on Monday next (the 5th instant) by eleven Oclock. When & where, if he will attend I shall be provided with, & ready to pay him, a thousand Dollars in Columbia Notes. I thank you for the information, & sentiments given in your last favour of...
15From George Washington to William Thornton, 11 September 1799 (Washington Papers)
The 20th of this month—when Mr Blagden would require an advance of a thousand dollars—being near at hand—and Mr Peter affording a good and safe opportunity to remit it—I enclose for this purpose, a check on the Bank of Alexandria, to that amount. Mr Peter informs me that his brother has Ironmongery of a good quality, which he wants to dispose of, and would sell cheap. I pray you therefore to...
16From George Washington to William Thornton, 20 November 1799 (Washington Papers)
When I wrote to you the other day, I expected to have settled matters with the Bk of Alexandria so as to have been enabled to have sent you, for Mr Blagdens use, a check thereon for $1000—But not being well enough acquainted with the rules of the Bank, I suffered what are called discount days, to pass over before I applied; for which reason the business there must remain over until after...
17From George Washington to William Thornton, 6 October 1799 (Washington Papers)
Your letter of the 3d was recd last Night. I doubt not, the Painting and sanding of such parts of my houses in the City as now require it, will be done well, with the best materials, and on the best terms; wherefore I cannot be otherwise than pleased. As soon after this work is accomplished as I can make it convenient, I will visit the City, & take a view of my Buildings. To part with which,...
18From George Washington to William Thornton, 4 June 1799 (Washington Papers)
You will perceive by the enclosed letter, and my order, consequent thereof; that the Glass from Boston is arrived at Alexandria, and in good condition. Be so good as to send the order to Mr Blagden, that he may use his own time & mode of getting it to the City. I hope Mr Blagden will be careful of the overplus, as more glass was written for than the houses will require without loss. With great...
19From George Washington to William Thornton, 14 July 1799 (Washington Papers)
Be so good as to learn from Mr Blagden, and inform me, at what time—and what sum, the next advance must be, that I may be making arrangements therefor. If nothing happens more than I am aware of at present, I shall be in George Town on the first Monday in next Month (August the 5th) at the annual Meeting of the Pot[oma]c Compy and should be glad to know previously thereto, when, and what the...
20From George Washington to William Thornton, 1 December 1799 (Washington Papers)
Your favour of the 30th Ulto, enclosing Mr Blagdens dimensions of the rooms in my houses in the City, came to my hands this morning; With a list of the different kinds of Fruit trees in the Frenchmans Garden; to whom I was a subscriber. The terms on which the subscription was set on foot, have entirely escaped me; my motive for subscribing—namely—to encourage a nursery of that sort, still...