the vigorous prosecution of the Works depend upon the facility with which the Loan is obtained, no risk that can be avoided ought to be left to chance:-For fatal indeed would it be to the operations in the City if a disappointment, or any considerable delay should have taken place. And here let me add-If I had been called upon for an opinion relative to this loan before arrangements were made with Mr. Gilmore, I should, under my present view of the subject, have given a decided opinion against placing the whole of the sum, authorized to be borrowed in one year, upon this issue; if any part thereof could have been obtained in this country within, or not exceeding, the Provisions of the Law.

In all probability it will be six months before the result of the application in Holland will be known.-This may, & from the peculiar state of things in that country 'tis not unlikely will be unfavorable.-What is to be done in that case?—and what in the meantime?--You have declared yourselves, that you do not place much confidence in aids from Messrs. Morris & Nicholson, & point out no other specific resources. Notwithstanding these sentiments; I am unwilling to obstruct a measure which I presume you have considered in all its relations & chances & have therefore given facility to your plan wishing heartily that it may be attended with success.—

The year 1800 is approaching by hasty strides. The friends of the City are extremely anxious to see the public works keep equal pace therewith. They are anxious too on another account-namely that the Commissioners should reside in the City where the theatre of the business lies.-This was, and is, my opinion.—It is the principle, and was declared to be so at the time; upon which the present establishment of the Commissioners was formed;—that, by being on the spot, and giving close attention to the operations, they might prevent abuses, or overcome them in embryo.-It is said, if this had been the case, those defective walls, which to put up, & pull down, have cost the public much time, labour & expence, would never have been a subject of reproach. For these, and other reasons which might be added, it is my decided opinion & expectation that the Commissioners do reside in the City.-And the nearer

they are to the public Works, the better & more desirable it will be. I wish this; as well on their own account, as on that of the public; because they would have it so much more in their power to scrutinize all the movements of men & measures which are under their controul, than it is possible to do at the distance of two or three miles by periodical or occasional visits. -Being on the spot & seeing everything that occurs, they would be better enabled to systematize the business & have it conducted with greater economy; and finally would insure to themselves those honors & consolations which flow from the punctual discharge of public trust.

I have sent your advertisement of the Sale of Lots, to the places you have requested; but I beg that it may be unequivocally understood that I am opposed to the sale of them in large parcels to Speculators.-It might be asked, if this was to happen, and with propriety too, why give these people the profit accruing between the wholesale and retail prices, when, if the same means and industry in the disposal were used by the Commissioners, it would be saved to the public?-To sell by single lots or at most squares in moderate terms to those who will improve them, appear most eligible to me.-particular cases may arise, to render a departure from this rule necessary, but such cases must speak for themselves & the advantages to be derived from them must be evident.

If there are any matters which you are desirous of laying before me, let me request that they may be prepared (if a decision is not desired sooner) by the time I shall pass through the City; which is as likely to happen about the middle of next month, as at any period I can name at present.-My stay at Mount Vernon can not be long & I shall have many matters of private concern to attend to while there. With great esteem & regard I am, &c.

L. C., Letter Book 14, p. 192.

TO GUSTAVUS SCOTT.

Sir,

PHILADELPHIA 25th. May 1796.

Your favor of the 20th. inst; came to hand yesterday.I have neither received, nor heard of an Address from the Proprietors of the Federal City.-Nor do I know any more of Mr. Law's sentiments relative to the concerns of it, than I do of Tippoo Sahib's.-The ideas conveyed in my last to the Commissioners (dated the 22d.) are not of recent adoption.-They are as old as the change which took place in the establishment of the Commissioners; and were the cause of that change.A combination of causes have brought them more actively, & pointedly, into view than heretofore; among which, and not the least to be regarded, are the remarks which were made during the discussion of the Guarantee Bill, even by its friends (not so much in, as out of the house)-the indispensable necescity for close attention, & great exertion in all those to whom the business is entrusted, with an eye to the strictest economy under the best system that can be formed.—

You cannot, I am persuaded, be enterely unacquainted with the remarks which have been made on the want of economy and due attendance to the operations which are carrying on by those who are entrusted with the management of them.Nor, acquainted as you are with the jealousies, & contracted views of the Proprietors, can the utmost circumspection, and the minutest attentions in the Commisisoners to all the wheels that are in motion and to all the persons that move them, appear unimportant.-Consequently whereever the scene of business is, there also should be the principal actors.-And 'till this happens the Jealousies between the upper & lower end of the City wil not subside, nor will the injurious consequences flowing from them cease.-Nor indeed will it be believed, be the fact as it may, that while the Commissioners, or the major part of them (with the subordinate Agents) reside in George Town, that the concerns of the City will be conducted uninfluenced, and to the best advantage. We may dispise public · opinion and these kind of reports as we please—but they are not less injurious on that account. The time is very short

in which a great deal for the reception of Congress is to be done; and no means, or exertion should be wanting to accomplish it. It would be ineligable, & highly impolitic to bring any new proposition before Congress, before the Government is fixed there.

I do not precisely know what the late Secretary of State may have written with respect to the alternative allowed the Commrs. to reside in the City or George Town But it is a fact known to every one who ever heard me express a sentiment on the subject, that it has been decidedly in favor of the former; and that nothing but necessity, arising from the want of accomodation, could justify the latter.-Nay more, it is known to the first Commissioners, that I not only coincided in opinion with them, that a house, situated between the two principal buildings should be built for their accomodation, but actually approved a plan for the purpose.-Why it was laid aside, unless their going out of Office, or the want of funds was the cause I am unable to say.

I have been thus particular, that you may see what my opinion uniformily has been;-that it has not proceeded from any recent movements in the City (which were unknown to me, before your letter came to hand)-and that it has appeared more necessary & has been more pointedly mentioned, since I find that the friends of the City, and I presume the Community at large, conceive (as I have always done) that the measures which have been suggested, are useful & proper.—With esteem & regard I am Sir, &c.

L. C., Letter Book 14, p. 194.

TO THE COMMISSIONERS.

PHILADELPHIA 30th. May 1796

Gentlemen,

As no mail Southward of Baltimore was received at the post office in this City on Saturday; and as you may not have understood by my Letter of the 22d. inst: that the duplicate of the power of Attorney to Messrs. Wilhem & Jan Willink was required to be forwarded through me, I address this to

you in order to remove the doubt if any there be; as copies of the other papers are ready, and only waiting your duplicates to be dispatched.

Your letter of the 25th. ulto from Martinsburg, did, as you expected, come to my hands on the 3d. instant; but not until the mail of that day was dispatched, consequently, the post of tomorrow will be the first, by which I can reply to the contents of it. I wish, very much indeed, that you could make it convenient, and agreeable to yourself, family, and business, to remain in the city commission; and that you would prosecute to the end, the good work you have begun. I sincerely believe, that this is the wish of all who know you, and are true friends to that place; and very sorry indeed should I be, if the absence, and attention necessary for your private concerns (which your Letter does not sufficiently define, to enable me to form a correct judgment) should be found incompatible with the duties which are expected from the Commissioners. It is unnecessary, I am sure, for me to remark to you (on general ground & reasoning) the necessity there is for the closest attention & the most vigorous exertion of the Commissioners to push this work on; But, independent of General considerations, a particular occurrence has happened lately which makes me more than ever wish you to devote as much time as possible to this business.

It is not entirely unknown to you, I believe, that I have been hinting in pretty broad terms to your colleagues, that I did not conceive that the trust reposed in them could be satisfactorily executed, while they remained at a distance from the scene of action, and held periodical meetings only, & that where there was inattention or remissness in the head, it would