To DOCTOR WILLIAM TAZEWELL Mount Vernon, August 25, 1799. Sir: I have duly received your letter of the 14th inst. expressing a wish to be intrusted with the medical care of the Marine Hospital, about to be established in Norfolk. Whether it is determined to make such an establishment at present, or not, I am unable to say. But, in any event, if the establishment is in the Marine Department, it is out of the line in which I have engaged to serve the public, if called upon. And as I determined, when I quitted the Chair of Government, not to be the medium of applications for appointments, however deserving I might conceive the applicant to be, it would, therefore, be proper for you to make your wishes known to the President through some other Channel. Should the establishment be connected with the Military Department, I would willingly forward your application, and any testimonials you might chuse to produce, to the war office, as I have been accustomed to do in similar cases, where they would remain to be considered and determined upon according to their merits. With esteem etc. *To JOHN FRANCIS Mount Vernon, August 25, 1799. Sir: Your letter of the 17th instant in answer to mine of the 14th, has been received. I have already given you the specific terms on which I propose to rent my houses in the Federal City, and from which I shall not depart an iota; because I fixed them as low as any, "The draft is in the writing of Tobias Lear. "Francis's letter is in the Washington Papers. He could not, he said, begin to pay rent until August, 1800. 1799] RENT OF HOUSES 343 with whom I conversed, thought I ought to ask, and much lower than many seem disposed to take. It is true I did not give you the aggregate amount of the Rent, nor is it in my power (upon the principle I act) to do it at this time, with exact precision, because the cost of some parts of the Work is not, nor will not be known until the whole is completed; But as I am entirely disposed to give you all the data I possess, to enable you to form a judgment thereof, I send you enclosed the cost of all things which is conclusively fixed, and an ennumeration of them which are not; to which I shall add your information, that all the work, inside and out, is plain. Possessed of these facts you can err but little in ascertaining the question of Rent. My reason for informing you of the epochs at which my houses, by Contract were to be completed, was not that I expected the Rents of them were to commence precisely on those days. They may not, although Mr. Blagden seems quite certain of being within the time stipulated, be in condition to receive tenant, or tenants, so soon. And as they are to be papered, some little time may be required for that, although occupancy is not to be retarded on that account as that operation can be performed as well after, as before the entry of the tenant; probably must be so, to prevent injury to the Paper, which must be on Plaster uncommonly well seasoned, to avoid its ranting [sic]. 7 After giving this explanation, I must be permitted to add as there are two views of the case, that I conceive in naming the first of August, you . . . extended the time for commencing the Rent unreasonably long; for certainly, it would be as hard for me, if the houses are ready, agreeably to Contract, to keep them empty five months to accomodate you, as it would be on you to pay two Rents, when the presumption is, that such houses will be in demand. Considering the matter therefore in both 'The press copy was poorly made. Words indicated by leaders [ ... ] are illegible. ... points of view, I am not indisposed to share the inconvenience with you; that is, be the interval what it may between the completion of the houses (as before mentioned) and the first of Aug. that it shall be borne between us; suppose, that instead of the 1st of March, they are not ready until the end of it there will then be a vacuum of four months, in which case the Rent shd. commence the 1st. of June. again, if not ready until the 1st. of May, then to commence the middle of ... I am thus particular, that you may, in your next, decide positively. whether you will take the houses on the terms here mentioned, or not. If an affirmative answer is not, unconditionally given, I shall consider myself as under no other obligation to give you a preference, and will let the houses to any good tenant or tenants, who may apply, or dispose of them in any other manner. I am etc. [N. Y.P.L.] Cost of two Lots in the Federal City, extending from North Capital Street, to New Jersey Avenue in Square 634, together with the expence of the Buildings now erecting thereon, according to Contract; and an estimate of work not included in the said Contract, occasioned by alterations agreed on since viz. For lot No. 16, bought from the Commissioners 'On the price of these lots considerable abatement was made, on condition of my building two brick houses three Stories high each. To Mr Blagden, Undertaker of the Buildings, according] to written Contract. Estimate of Glazing, Painting, and Ironmongry * Glazing and Painting, agreeably to this estimate handed in by Mr. Blagden, but not agreed to, nor included in the Contract. Of "Duddington." Dollars II, 250 840 1799] BUILDING COSTS Ironmongry....Ditto....Do....Do...... A Well of fine Water at the back doors of both houses; 30) odd feet deep, walled, and a Pump therein; the cost of which has not been exhibited, as it was procured to be done by Mr. Blagden, and paid for by him, out of the monies advanced him for general purposes A Pediment, and Parapet, in addition to the original cost of the Buildings. No specific sum agreed on for erecting them 345 397.20 Carried over $13.451.31 * Conceiving these charges were high, in the estimate, I took them upon myself. But whether I shall lose by so doing, remains to be decided. Mr. Blagden assured me that he could not obtain them on better terms than was specified. Cost of two lots Brought over. . . . for the original design of . . . to add to the appear- Taxes-if any at present, they are very trifling, and prob- ... last article. Dollars $13.451.31 There may be some other charges which are not recollected; and expences accrued, which will, on the principle here . . . be to be added; but none that will be costly, or unnecessary; as plainness and simplicity will run through the whole work. 'The press copy was poorly made. Words indicated by leaders [ ... [N. Y. P. L.] ] are illegible. *To DOCTOR WILLIAM BAYNHAM Mount Vernon, August 27, 1799. Sir: By my Servant . . .10 with your letter of the 21st. instant. I am persuaded ... benefit which the nature of his case would admit he has, or will receive from your treatment of the affliction under which . . . and if it is incurable, neglected nothing to restore his sight to him. ... I have It was an imposition to ask you for money, (for I gave him more than sufficient to bear his expences down and up, and impudent, to say I had directed it. A liberty I never should have thought of Your charge is extremely moderate, and the amount is herein enclosed by Sir, Your etc *To THE COMMISSIONERS OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA [N.Y.P.L.] Mount Vernon, August 28, 1799. Gentlemen: Monday's mail, brought me the enclosed letter of the 22d. instant from Colo. Pickering. As it is more in your line than in mine, to give it the consideration which so interesting a subject merits; and as the field (hitherto so little outlined) is [illegible] to the adoption of any plan which wisdom, sound policy and [illegible] dictate, I take the liberty of transmitting it for your perusal; being persuaded that the thoughts of any intelligent and well disposed person on a point of such importance to the well being of a City which is designated to be the Seat of Empire; can not be illy received by you. With great esteem etc. 10 The press copy was poorly made. Words indicated by leaders [ ... [N.Y.P.L.] ] are illegible. |