ALS signed “Go: Washington,” one page, 7.25 x 9, August 28, 1799. Handwritten letter to William Thornton, the architect who designed the United States Capitol. In full: "I would thank you for requesting Mr. Blagden to give me as early notice of the time, and amount, of his next call upon me, as he can, that I may prepare accordingly." In fine condition, with some faint staining, and a few short fold splits. Accompanied by a vintage press photo of one-time owner Joseph Plummer, a collector of books and Americana, holding the letter.
William Thornton (1759–1828) was an American physician, inventor, painter, and architect who designed the United States Capitol. He was appointed by President George Washington as Architect of the Capitol in 1793, and by Thomas Jefferson as first Superintendent of the United States Patent Office in 1802. The present letter from Washington to Thornton is one of more than thirty recorded in The Papers of George Washington; it relates to the construction of two townhouses on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C., designed by George Washington and built by George Blagden. During this period, Thornton was serving as Commissioner of the Federal City, and in that capacity offered advice and official approval for Washington's plans.
The project had begun in the fall of 1798 with Washington's purchase of a vacant lot on the west side of North Capitol Street. Inspired by a building he had seen in Philadelphia, Washington described his vision as 'two houses, united Doors in the center, a Pediment in the Roof and dormer windows on each side of it in front, skylight in the rear' and 'three flush stories of Brick, besides Garret room…capable of accommodating between twenty and thirty borders…not costly, but elegantly plain.' Washington's builder, George Blagden, who worked as superintendent of stonework and masons at the Capitol, broke ground in December 1798.
Washington took an active role in overseeing the project, providing detailed specifications for the buildings and sourcing many materials himself in order to reduce costs. In this letter, he inquires about the exact time of Blagden's next visit, so that he can "prepare accordingly"—in other words, have funds ready to pay him. Washington had secured a loan from the Bank of Alexandria to pay Blagden a $1,000 installment in July, and would pay him $1,000 more, through Thornton, in September.
On November 9, 1799, Washington recorded in his diary: 'Viewed my building in the Federal City.' A week before his death, he attempted to purchase plaster for the interior. He fell ill in December, and passed away before seeing the completion of the building in 1800. George Washington's nephew and heir, Bushrod Washington, finished and furnished the townhouses, operating them as a boarding house for members of Congress. Several prominent early American legislators stayed there, including Speaker of the House Nathaniel Macon of North Carolina and William Crawford of Georgia.
The property was consumed by fire when Washington burned during the War of 1812, and the lot and charred remains of the building were purchased for a mere $1,446. The buildings were restored into a larger hotel in the mid-19th century, but razed in the early 20th. Today, there stands a plaque marking their place: 'Here were the lots acquired on October 3, 1798 by General George Washington and on which he built two brick dwellings from designs by Dr. William Thornton. A dwelling remodeled from the two dwellings was owned and occupied by Admiral Charles Wilkes, the famous explorer.'
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