USA > Washington DC > Washington DC > Historical sketches of the ten miles square forming the District of Columbia : with a picture of Washington, describing objects of general interest or curiosity at the metropolis of the Union. > Part 20
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[No. 1. Intention to meet the Comunissioners. ] Letter from General Washington to Daniel Carroll, dated Philadelphia, March 11th, 1791.
Dear sir :- I write to you by this post, in conformity with my promise so to do. But it is not yet in my power to deter- mine whether I can set out on Monday or not. If I find the reads do not mend much between this time and that, I shall not he anxious about beginning on that day, even if business should permit. 'As my fixing the day for meeting the comres- sioners at Georgetown, must depend upon my departure from this place, I cannot determine upon the former, until the lat- ter is decided. I shall write to you again by the Monday's post, and in that letter shall be able to say with certainty, when I leave this city.
With very great esteem, I am, dear sir, your most obedient servant,
Daniel Carroll, Esq.
Gº WASINNGTON.
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[No. 2. On the form of conveyance of City Lots. ] From General Washington to the Commissioners, Mount Vernon, Sd April, 1791.
Gentlemen :- As the instrument* which was subscribed at Georgetown, by the land holders in the vicinity of that place and Carrollsburg, was not given to me, I presume it has been deposited with you. It is of the greatest moment to close the business with the proprietors of the lands on which the federal city is to be; that consequent arrangements may be made without more delay than can be avoided.
The form of the conveyances as drawn by the Attorney Gene- ral, will, I presume, require alterations or a counterpart, as the present agreement essentially differs from the former. If Mr. Johnson could, conveniently, undertake to prepare such a deed as he thinks would answer all the purposes of the public and grantors, I am sure it would be effectually done .- If this cannot be. then it might be well to furnish the Attorney General of the United States with a copy of the agreement- with the papers I left with you, and such other information as will enable him to do it.
To accomplish this matter so as that the sales of the lots, the public buildings, &c. may commence with as much facility as the nature of the case will admit, would be, I conceive, ad- visable under any circumstances; perhaps the friends of the measure may think it materially so, from the following extract of a letter from Mr. Jefferson to me, dated 27th ult. "A bill was yesterday ordered to be brought into the house of representatives here, for grantinga sum of money for building a federal hall, house for the president, &c." This, (though ) do not want any sentiment of mine promulgated with respect to it) marks, unequivocally, in my mind, the designs of that state, and the necessity of ex cution to convey the residence law into effect agreeably thereto. Yours, &c.
Gº WASHINGTON. Thos. Johnson, D. Stuart, D. Carroll, Esqrs.
[No. 3. On the city boundaries.]
From the President to the Com: lisnicuers, Charleston, May 7,1791.
Gentlemen :- I have received your letter of the 14th of last month. It is an unfortunate circumstance in the present stage of the business relative to the tederal city, that difficulties nn- foreseen and unexpected should arise, to darken, perhaps to destroy the fair prospect which it presented when I left Georgetown, and which, the instrument then signed by the * See page 330.
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combined interest (as it was termed) of Georgetown and Car- rollsburgh, so plainly describes. The pain which this occur- rence occasions me, is the more sensibly felt, as I had taken pleasure during my journey through the several states, to relate the agreement, * and to speak of it on every occasion, in terms which applauded the conduct of the parties, as being ulike conducive to the public welfare, and to the interest of individuals, which last, it was generally thought, would be nost benefitted by the amazing increase of the property re- served to the land holders.
The words cited by Messrs. Young, Peters, Lingan and Forrest, and Stoddart, may be nearly what I expressed, but will these gentlemen say this was given as the precise boun- dary, or will they, by detaching these words, take them in a sense unconnected with the general explanation of my ideas and views upon that oce siou, or without the qualifications, which, I am much maistaken, were added of running about so and so; for I had no map before me for direction. Will they not recollect my observation, that Philadelphia stood upon an area of three by two miles; and that if the Metropolis of one state occupied so much ground, what ought that of the United States occupy? Did I not morcover observe, that before the city could be laid out, and the spot for the public buidings be precisely fixed on, the water courses were to be levelled, the heights taken? &c. &c.
Let the whole of my declaration be taken together, and not apart only, and being compared with the instrument then sub- scribed, together with some other circumstances which might be alluded to, let any impartial man judge whether I had ra- son to expect that difficulties would arise in the conveyances.
When the instrument was presented, I found no occasion to add a word with respect to boundary, becasue the whole was surrendered upon the conditions which were expressed. Had I discovered a disposition in the subscribers to contract my views, I should then have pointed out the inconveniencies and the impolicy of the measure. Upon the whole, I shall hope and expect that the business will be suffered to proceed, and the more so as they cannot be ignorant that the further consi- deration of a certain measure in a neighboring state, stands postponed, for what reason, is left to their own information and conjecture.
I expect to be with you at the time appointed, and should Le exceedingly glad to find all difficulties removed. I am with great esteem, gentlemen, your most obedient servant,
Johnson, Stuart and Carroll. G' WASHINGTON.
* Seo Extracts from the Agreement, page 330.
Original Correspondence of
[No. 4. City and District named. ]
Extract of a letter from the Commissioners, to Maj. L. En; fant, dated Georgetown, Sept. 9, 1791.
We have agreed that the federal district shall be called " the Territory of Columbia," and the Federal City, "The City of Washington:" the title of the map, will, therefore. be a "A map of the City of Washington, in the Territory of Column- bia."
We have also agreed the streets be named alphabetically one way, and numerically the other, the former divided into North and South letters, the latter into East and West num- bers from the Capitol. Major Ellicet, with proper assistance, will immediately take, and soon furnish you with soundings of the Eastern Branch, to be inserted in the map. We ex- pect he will also furnish you with the direction of the propos- ed post read, which we wish to have noticed in the map.
Weare, &c.
(Signed) THOS. JOHNSON, STUART & CARROLL, [No. 5. On the sale of city lots. ]
From the Commissioners to the President, from George- town, 21st Oct. 1791.
Sir :- The numbers 3, in square 107, at £80. No. S, in square 87, at 55. No. 15, in square 105, at 92. And No. 16,in the same squr. at £76, fall again to the public; those bids were to protect its interest so that sales are of thirty-one lots, aver- aging 96.7.9. To accommodate some strangers we were oblis- ed after the payment of the { deposite, to agree that the land should stand as security, subject to forfeiture of the deposite. if the payments are not made. The gentlemen in town bave come to a resolution not to be security, perhaps it was almost necessary, and it has happened that the purchasers had no ac- quaintances, of whom they could desire such a favor; it makes it worth consider tion whether in future the terms ought not to be varied. Since our sale, there has been a few private sales, which we believe will not injure the public. Opportu- nities we expect will present for the Commissioners to dispose of lots at private sale; we shall do so unless you perceive any impropriety in it. We have consulted Maj. L'Enfant and Maj. Ellicot as to the time against which things will be in rea- diness for another sale; they expect it may be by the middle or last of June, though we wish it may be earlier, because of the ideas strangers have of coming to the Southward so late as July; yet, it is our present intention not to publish a further Ble till we see that the plate is in circulation, and the work sq
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far complete that every body may have a chance for the ob- ject of their choice, and no way leave cause of complaint, that the whole circumstances are not fully before them. We have been under some difficulties from the imperfect state furnish- ed, which has subsided, but we wish to avoid the like in future. From several intimations, we considered the business as rest- ing more on us than heretofore; this is an additional motive for us to wish a clear understanding of the terms on which Maj. L'Enfant renders his assistance, we therefore requested him to-day to mention to us the sum by the year, including the time past, which would be satisfactory for his services, or if it was not his choice, though not so agreeable to us, we would.propose the sum we intended, six hundred pounds, but Maj. L'Entant desired to be excused, from entering on the subject for the present. We requested him to prepare a draft of the public buildings for your inspection, and he has promised to enter on it as soon as he finds himself disengaged. Hle can have recourse to books in Philadelphia, and cannot have that assistance here. We cannot expect much of your time nor wish to encroach on it. Yet we cannot but request you will take occasion to impress Maj. L'Enfant with the ne- cessity of being explicit on the subject of consideration. We shall feel ourselves happy in your advice at any time you may be pleased to communicate it to
(Signed) THOS. JOHNSON, D. STUART, D. CARROLL.
[No. 6. Blodget's Scheme.] Thomas Jefferson to Commissioners, Philadelphia, Nov. 21 st, 1791.
Gentlemen :- A Mr. Blodget has a scheme in contempla- tion for purchasing and building a whole street in the new city, and any one of them which you may think best. The magnitude of the proposition occasioned it to be little attend- ed to in the beginning, however great as it is, it is believed by good judges to be practicable. It may not be amiss, therefore, to be ready for it. The streets most desirable to be built up at once, we suppose to be the broad one (Pennsylvania) avenne leading from the President's house to the Capitol. To prepare squares adjoining to. that, on both sides, in the first place can do no harm, because if Mr. Blodgett's scheme does not take effect, still it is part of a work done, which was to be done. If his scheme takes effect, you will be in readi- ness for him, which could be desirable, the President there- fore desires me to suggest to you, the beginning at once on that avenue, and when all the squares on that shall be laid off"
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they may go on laying off the rest of the squares between that and the river, from Georgetown to the Eastern Branch, according to an idea he has suggested to you not long since. This however is but a suggestion for the good of the underta- ker, on which you will decide as you think proper. I have the honor to be, gentlemen, &c. THOS. JEFFERSON.
Messrs. Johnson, Stuart & Carroll.
[No. 7. On an Equestrian Statue. ]
Mr. Jefferson to Commissioners, dated Philadelphia, 9tl: April, 1792.
Gentlemen : In a former letter, I enclosed you an idea of Mr. Lee's, for an immediate appropriation of a number of lots, to raise a sum of money for erecting a national monu- ment in the City of Washington. It was scarcely to be doubt- ed but that you would avoid appropriations for matters of or- nament, till a sufficient sum should be secured out of the pro- ceeds of your sales to accomplish the public buildings, bridges, and other such objects as are essential. Mr. Creech," the artist who had proposed to execute the monument, has had hopes that a subscription set on foot for that purpose, would have sufficed to effect it. That hope is now over, and he is about to return to Europe. He is unquestionably an artist of the first class : he has had the advantage of taking the model of the president's person in plaister, equal to every wish. In resemblance and spirit, it is pretty certain that the equestrian statue of the President can never be executed by an equal workman, who has had equal advantages ; and the question is, whether a prudent caution will permit you to enter into any engagement, now taking time enough before the term of pay- ment, to have accomplished the more material objects of the public buildings, &c. He says that to execute the equestrian statue with the cost of the materials, in marble, will be worth 20,000 guineas. That he could begin it on his return, if four or five years hence you can engage to pay him 20,000 dollars, and the same sum annually afterwards, till the whole is paid, before which time the statue shall be ready. It is rather pro- bable that within some time Congress would take it off our hands, in compliance with an ancient vote of that body. The question for your consideration is whether, supposing no dif- ficulty as to the means, you think such a work might be un- dertaking by you ? Whether you can have so much confidence in the productive ness of your tands, as to engage for a residuum
* See page 296.
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of this amount, all more necessary objects being first secured, and that this may be within the times, before proposed ? And in fine, which will preponderate in your mind, the hazard of undertaking this now, or that of losing the aid of the first art- ist? The nature of this proposition will satisfy you that it has not been communicated to the President, and of course would not be, unless a previous acceptance on your part should ren- der it necessary to obtain his sanction. Your answer is ne- cessary for the satisfaction of Mr. Creechi, at whose instance I submit the proposal to you, and who I believe will only wait here the return of that answer.
I bave the honor to be, with the most perfect esteem, gen- tlemen, yours, &c. Signed, THOS. JEFFERSON.
[No. 8. Mr. Homan's letter of introduction. ]
The President to Commissioners, Philadelphia, June 8, 1792.
Gentlemen :-- The bearer of this, Mr. James Hoban, was strongly recommended to me by Colonel Laurens, and several other gentlemen of South Carolina, when I was there last year, as a person who had made architecture his study, and was well qualified not only for planning or designing build- ings, but to superintend the execution of them. He informs me that he intends to produce pians of the two buildings next month, agreeable to the advertisement of the commissioners, and is now on his way to view the ground on which they are to stand. I have given him this letter of introduction in order that he might have an opportunity of communicating his views and wishes to you, or obtaining any information necessary for completing the plans. But as I have no knowledge of the man or his talents, further than the information which I re- ceived from the gentlemen in South Carolina, you must con- sider this letter merely as an introduction for the purpose mentioned. With esteem and regard, I am gentlemen, &c.
G' WASHINGTON.
The Commissioners of the Federal Dt.
[No. 9. Hoban's Contract.] Commissioners to President Washington, dated Georgetown, 19th July, 1792.
Sir: Yesterday the Commissioners contracted with Mr. lloban 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 choose. Doctor Stewart's uneasiness at the state of his family occasioned his going away, as soon
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as the most material of our business was finished. This mon ing we went with Mr. Hoban to the seite of the palace, that he might lay out the foundation, the plan, being much less than Major L'Enfant's design, will not fill up the diverging points marked by the stakes. This will necessarily occasion a divi- sion of the excess, on the two sides, or to recede the whole distance on one only ; it does not seem to create so much em- baurassment as might be expected, but as the work may go on without any waste of labor till you will be here again, we have left the choice open to be made by yourself on the spot. Ho- ban's affairs requires his absence about a month ; his return is expected to be as soon as he will be much wanted. After Doctor Stewart left us, we received a letter, and draft from Judge Turner: there is something in it striking and agreeable to us; we send it for your consideration.
Lamphier's plan is given up as impracticable. We have written to Hallet, inviting him down to attempt improvements. Mr. Turner too, seems very capable of it. We still hope a little time may give you an opportunity of making a choice to your satisfaction.
We are, &c. Signed, THOS. JOHNSON, DAN. CARROLL.
[No. 10. Sale of Lots.]
President Washington, to Commissioners, dated Philadel- phia, November 13th, 1792.
Gentlemen : I have received your letter of the 13th, October, enclosing a list of the sale of lots in the Federal City ; with the prices of which I am moregratified, than with the number which have been, disposed of. I am pleased to find that seve- ral of your mechanies were among the purchasers of lots, as they will not only, in all probability, be among the first imn. provers of them, but will be valuable citizens.
I agree with you. in opinion, that the ground in such eligi- ble places as about the Capitol and President's House, should not be sold in squares, unless there are to be some great and apparent advantages to be derived from specified buildings,. immediate improvements, or something which will have a tendency to promote the advancement of the City. The cir- cumstances under which Mr. Blodget bid off the square . near the Capitol, were such as occur at almost every public sale, and in that instance, his Laving done so, appeared very proper for the interest of the public : I agree, however, with you, that it would be best for the circumstance not to be gen- erally known. How far the idea which Mr. Blodget sig-
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gests of having an agent to pass through the several states, to dispose of lots, might be beneficial or not, I am unable to say ; but it appears to me, that if a respectable character, in the principal town of each state, could be authorized to dispose of the public lots, as purchasers might appear ; provided the matters could be so arranged that no confusion or inconve- nience should arise, from the same lot being disposed of by two or more agents, (which might possibly be done by month- ly returns being made, from the several agents to the com- missioners, ascertaining the day, and even hour of each sale, to be by them confirmed previous to any payment ; a small per centum to be allowed the vender ; and all private sales to cease a month before any public sale, ) it would be the means of accommodating persons in different parts of the Union, and would expedite the sale of the lots.
But this, as well as Mir. Blodget's suggestion ( which rather appears to me to be hawking the lots about) must be weighed and determined upon according to your best judgment and information. I think that a further public sale in the spring, or early in the summer, would be advantageous. For it is desirable that every opportunity which could be made conve- nient, on account of the season and other circumstances, to dispose of lots in this way, should be embraced. In propor- tion as numbers become interested in the Federal City, and the public works advance, a constant attendance at the spot will be more and more requisite on the part of those who superintend or direct the business thereof ; and I am of opin. jon it will be found necessary, as neither of the commission- ers reside there, that some active and competent character, vested with proper authority by them, should be constantly on the ground to superintend the business carrying on there. But who this person shall be, is altogether with yourselves to chuse ; and the various and essential qualifications requisite in him will readily occur to you.
With great esteem, I am, gentlemen, &c
G' WASHINGTON.
[No. 11. Original Plan of the Capitol.]
President Washington, to the Commissioners, dated Philade !- phia, March 3d, 1793.
Gentlemen : This will be handed to you by Dr. Thorton. of this City, who goes forward to lay before you a plan which he has prepared for the Capitol proposed to be built in the Federal City. Grandeur, simplicity, and convenience, ap- Near to be so well combined in this plan of Dr. Thornton's.
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that I have no doubt of its meeting with that approbation from you, which I have given it upon an attentive inspection, and which it has received from all those who have seen it and are considered as judges of such things. How far the expenses of such a building, as is exhibited by the plan, will comport with the funds of the City, you will be the best judges, after having made an estimate of the quantity of materials and labor to be employed in executing it. And to obviate the objections that may be raised on this head, it should be considered, that the external of the building will be the only immediate expense . to be incurred. The internal work, and many of the orna- mental without, may be finished gradually, as the means will permit, and still the whole be completed within the time con- templated by law for the use of the building.
With very great esteem, I am, gentlemen, &c.
Gº WASHINGTON.
[No. 12. Plan of the President's House, and manner of pay- ing public moneys.]
President Washington, to Commissioners, dated Philadel- phia, 3d March, 1793. .
Gentlemen: I have to acknowledge the receipt of your let- ters of the 5th of January, and 8th of February; the former enclosing a list of squares actually divided, &c .; copies of two letters from Major Ellicott, and a statement of your certain fund and probable expenditure for the year 1793. Ahhough I have already written to you since the receipt of your first letter, yet I have not, till this moment, had time to touch on the several points therein mentioned, which seemed to re- quire a particular answer. As it is of importance that the squares should be divided and finished as soon as circumstan- ces will admit, I trust that no time will be lost in obtaining a suitable and well qualified person, to complete that business, if the services of Major Ellicot cannot be counted upon to finish it.
I think with you, that the expense of surveying and mark- ing the lines of the District should, and I have no doubt will be defrayed by the United States; but it was not thought best to lay the matter before Congress this session. In justice, the expense of surveying the city, should be refunded from the same source; but, on this point, a question would be more likely to arise than on the former. The proprietor's claim of payment for a quantity of land in the squares inter- sected by the two cross streets, &c. is a subject on which I am not qualified to give an opinion, but I should suppose a refer-
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ence to the terms of agreement with these gentlemen would decide the matter; if it should not, the mode which yon men- ton, of leaving it to proper and impartial judges, appears to be the best. When it was suggested to increase the dimen- sions of the President's house one fifth, I had no idea that it would carry the expense of that building to any thing like the sura of £77,900 sterling, which is estimated by Mr. Hoban. And if that should be the case, I am decidedly of opinion that it would be the best to take the plan on its original scale, as you mention. It was always my idea, (and if I am not mis- taken, Mr. Hoban coincided in the propriety and practicabil- ity of it, ) that the building should be so arranged, that only a part of it should be erected at present, but upon such a plan as to make the part so erected an entire building, and to ad- mit of an addition in future, as circumstances might render proper, without hurting, but rather adding to the beauty and magnificence of the whole, as an original plan. I was led to this idea by considering that a house which would be very proper for a President of the United States for some years to come, might not be considered as corresponding with other circumstances at a more distant period; and, therefore, to avoid the inconvenience which might arise hereafter on that subject, I wished the building to be upon the plan I have mentioned. But I confess that I cannot see how so great an increase of expense would arise from the small increase of di- mensions proposed, and am much mistaken indeed, if it does not far exceed any ideas he let out at the time his plan was adopted. However, as I do not profess to be an accurate judge of these matters, I cannot undertake to say that the ad- ditional expense is inconsistent. In order that no means in our power for raising a fund commensurate with the objects in view, for the ensuing season, may be left untried, I enclose you a draft on the Maryland Treasury, for the third instal- ment of that State, agrecably to the request of your letter of the Sth of January. In looking over your statement of the certain funds for the year 1793, I observe, that, after men- tioning the sum " now in the Treasurer's hands," you say, " his advances on account, as money has been wanted, not covered by warrant," &c. it struck me, on reading this, that it might be possible that some inconvenience might arise from having money paid without a special warrant. While the pre- sent gentleman who acts as your Treasurer, continues in that office, there can be no apprehension of any evil arising from having money paid without being covered by a warrant; but, in the event of death, or the death, or the withdrawing of the
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