Your letter of the 31st. Ulto. by Mr. Hadfield has been received. I have since seen Mr. Hoban and have had a good deal of conversation with both of them, in the presence of each other with the plans before us. From the explanations of the former, it would seem as if he had not been perfectly understood.—or in other words tht. now he means no change in the interior of the building of the least importance;-nor any elsewhere, that will occasion delay or add to the expence, but the contrary; whilst the exterior will in his opinion, assume a better appearance, & the Portico be found more convenient than on the present plan.-As far as I understand the matter the difference, lyes simply in discarding the Basement, and adding an Attick Story, if the latter shall be found necessary; but this (the attick) he thinks may be dispensed with, as sufficient elevation may be obtained in the manner he has explained it without-and to add a dome over the open, or circular area or lobby which in my judgment is a most desirable thing, & what I always expected was part of the original design until otherwise informed in my late visits to the City, if strength can be given to it & sufficient light be obtained. However proper it may have been in you to refer the decision of the objections of Mr. Hadfield to the Executive I shall give no final opinion thereon.— 1. because I have not sufficient knowledge of the subject, to judge with precision. 2. because the means of acquiring it are not within my reach.—3d. if they were, pressed as I am with other matters particularly at the eve of an approaching -perhaps an interesting Session of Congress I could not avail myself of them-but above all because I have not the precise knowledge of the characters you have to deal with-the knowledge of all the facts which are before you-nor perhaps the same view you can take of the consequences of a decision for, or against Mr. Hadfields proposed alterations; or of his abilities to carry them into execution, if adopted. I have told him in decisive terms however, that if the plan on which you have been proceeding, is not capitolly defective, I cannot (after such changes, delays, & expences as have been encountered already) consent to a departure from it, if either of these consequences is to be involved:-but that if he can satisfy you of the contrary I should have no objection as he conceives his character as an Architect is in some measure at stake—and inasmuch as the present plan is no body's, but a compound of every body's, provided these things as I have just observed can be ascertained to your entire satisfaction— I added further as a matter of material moment, the short term for which he was engaged and what might be the consequence of his quitting the building at the end thereof, or compelling fresh-perhaps exorbitant terms if a new agreement was to be made. to this he replied, he would not only promise, but bind himself to stick by the building until it was finished.On the spot at the seat of information-with a view of the materials on hand-the facility of obtaining others-with a better knowledge of the only characters on whom you can rely for carrying on the building, than I possess-with other details unknown to me, you can decide with more safety than I am enabled to do, on the measures to be pursued under the embarrassment which has arisen from this diversity of opinion: -That decision be what it may will be agreeable to Gentlemen yours &c. L. C., Letter Book 14, p. 184. TO THE COMMISSIONERS. PHILADA. 14th. Decr. 1795. Gentlemen, Your letter of the 9th. inst. covering Mr. Law's of the 2d. with your answer has been received.— At present I decline giving any opinion upon the subject of Mr. Law's Letter, as you say the state of your finances renders it impracticable to execute the object of his wishes. When you are in a situation to begin the opening of the Avenues, it is presumed those which will be more immediately useful, will be first cleared.-I am, &c. L. C., Toner copies. MESSAGE TO CONGRESS. UNITED STATES, January 8th, 1796. Gentlemen of the Senate, and House of Representatives, I transmit to you a memorial of the commissioners appointed by virtue of an act entitled, "An act for establishing the temporary and permanent seat of the Government of the United States", on the subject of the public buildings under their direction. Since locating a district for the permanent seat of the Government of the United States, as heretofore announced to both Houses of Congress, I have accepted the grants of money and of land stated in the memorial of the commissioners. I have directed the buildings therein mentioned to be commenced on plans which I deemed consistent with the liberality of the grants and proper for the purposes intended. I have not been inattentive to this important business intrusted by the Legislature to my care. I have viewed the resources placed in my hands, and observed the manner in which they have been applied. The progress is pretty fully detailed in the memorial from the commissioners, and one of them attends to give further information if required. In a case new and arduous, like the present, difficulties might naturally be expected. Some have occurred, but they are in a great degree surmounted, and I have no doubt, if the remaining resources are properly cherished, so as to prevent the loss of property by hasty and numerous sales; that all the buildings required for the accommodation of the Government of the United States may be compleated in season without aid from the Federal Treasury. The subject is therefore recommended to the consideration of Congress, and the result will determine the measures which I shall cause to be pursued with respect to the property remaining unsold. Letters and Recollections of George Washington, p. 194. TO DAVID STUART. Dear Sir, PHILADELPHIA 7th. Feby. 1796 I find by our last letters from the Federal city that Betsey Custis25 has cast her lot-very much she says, to her own satisfaction-having given it due weight and consideration in every point of view she could place the matter so, of course disparity in age could not have escaped.-Mr. Law, so far as I have obtained any knowledge of his character, is a respectable man and much esteemed, and is reputed to be wealthy :but he is a stranger, and may, at least in a degree, be an Agent, for which reasons, I think prudence requires, and as a man of honor he cannot refuse, to make a settlement upon her previous to marriage; of her own fortune, if no more. L. C., 1901 Calendar of MSS. My dear Sir, TO TOBIAS LEAR. PHILADELPHIA 15th. Feb 1796 P. S. Mr. White seems to entertain no doubt of a favorable issue to his mission-but it goes (as everything else does) slowly on. 25 Elizabeth Parke Custis, eldest daughter of John Parke Custis, son of Mrs. George Washington, was married at Hope Park near Fairfax Court House, Va., the home of her stepfather, Dr. David Stuart, March 21, 1796, to Thomas Law of England, the largest purchaser of city lots from Morris, Nicholson and Greenleaf. Letters and Recollections of George Washington, p. 102. TO TOBIAS LEAR. PHILADELPHIA, 13th. Mar. 1796. My dear Sir, Having no doubt of the correctness of the account, which was transmitted in the last mentioned letters; I have only to beg that you would favor me with the numbers-or other designation or description, of all the shares I now hold, in the Banks of Alexandria & Columbia, by your purchases,-and to request if you wish to part with any of the twenty shares you purchased in the Potomac Navigation, that you would appropriate the balance due me, by your account, in as many as it will command;-first paying up the Installment on the old; called for I perceive to be paid on the first of the present month. If my present purposes and gratifications could be answered by prospects of future emolument, I would devote all the money I could command, to this Investiture;-but for the few Years I have to remain here, the enjoyment of less, with ease & certainty will be more convenient and desirable. L. C., Letter Book 14, p. 189. TO THE COMMISSIONERS. PHILADELPHIA 22d. May 1796. Gentlemen, Your letters of the 13th. and 14th. instant have been received, and the Attorney General of the United States having given his opinion relatively to the Power of Attorney,-And having pronounced the proceedings to be accordant with the Act for Guaranteeing the Loan; matters have been arranged with Mr. Gilmore for execution and the Papers, agreeably to your desire will be forwarded to Holland. A duplicate of the Power of Attorney to Messrs. Wilhem & Jan Willink is necessary to guard against the delay which would result from a miscarriage of the original.-In short as |