Details
WASHINGTON, GEORGE, 1732-1799, President. Autograph letter signed ("G:Washington") as President, to Dr. David Stuart, one of the Commissioners of the District of Columbia, Philadelphia, 20 January 1794. 1 1/2 pages, 4to, 227 x 182mm. (9 x 7 5/8 in.), edges slightly worn, two tiny losses at folds, two words smudged.
PRESIDENT WASHINGTON SEEKS CONFIDENTIAL ADVICE ON COMMISSIONERS FOR THE NEW FEDERAL CAPITAL BEARING HIS NAME
Dr. David Stuart of Fairfax County and Thomas Johnson had recently resigned as Commissioners for the new Federal City: "Your letter of the 6th. instant came duly to hand. As you appear to have taken a final determination, I can say nothing more on the subject...than that it would have been pleasing to me, if it had been convenient to yourselves [Stuart and Johnson], that those who began sh[oul]d have compleated the work; and not to have left the harvest of your labours to be reaped by others. As you are better acquainted than I am with characters in the vicinity of the federal City, and with those not so remote as to make an attendance therein inconvenient. Know also the connections...[which] ought to disqualify them for Commissioners; I would thank you for the names of such as in your judgment are most likely to subserve the public purposes. Wishing as I do to make a good choice of successors, every aid I can derive towards the accomplishment of it would be grateully received. Well qualified men might perhaps be had in George Town, or among the Proprietors; but how far their local, and perhaps jarring interests and views might render them unfit for the trust, being questionable, your opinion thereon would be agreeable to[o]..." Published in Writings, ed. J.C. Fitzpatrick, 33:246-247.
PRESIDENT WASHINGTON SEEKS CONFIDENTIAL ADVICE ON COMMISSIONERS FOR THE NEW FEDERAL CAPITAL BEARING HIS NAME
Dr. David Stuart of Fairfax County and Thomas Johnson had recently resigned as Commissioners for the new Federal City: "Your letter of the 6th. instant came duly to hand. As you appear to have taken a final determination, I can say nothing more on the subject...than that it would have been pleasing to me, if it had been convenient to yourselves [Stuart and Johnson], that those who began sh[oul]d have compleated the work; and not to have left the harvest of your labours to be reaped by others. As you are better acquainted than I am with characters in the vicinity of the federal City, and with those not so remote as to make an attendance therein inconvenient. Know also the connections...[which] ought to disqualify them for Commissioners; I would thank you for the names of such as in your judgment are most likely to subserve the public purposes. Wishing as I do to make a good choice of successors, every aid I can derive towards the accomplishment of it would be grateully received. Well qualified men might perhaps be had in George Town, or among the Proprietors; but how far their local, and perhaps jarring interests and views might render them unfit for the trust, being questionable, your opinion thereon would be agreeable to[o]..." Published in Writings, ed. J.C. Fitzpatrick, 33:246-247.