o which I examined the Surveys of Mr.
Ellicott who had been sent on to lay out the district of ten miles
square for the federal seat; and also works of Majr. L'Enfant who
had been engaged to examine and make a draught of the grds. in the
vicinity of George Town and Carrollsburg on the Eastern Branch
making arrangements for examining the ground myself tomorrow with
the Commissioners.'

'Tuesday, 29th

'In thick mist, and under strong appearance of a settled rain (which
however did not happen) I set out about 7 o'clock, for the purpose
above mentioned, but from the unfavorableness of the day, I derived
no great satisfaction from the review.

'Finding the interests of the Landholders about George Town and
those about the Carrollsburgh much at variance and that their fears
and jealousies of each were counteracting the public purposes and
might prove injurious to its best interests, whilst if properly
managed they might be made to subserve it, I requested them to meet
me at six o'clock this afternoon at my lodgings, which they
accordingly did....

'Dined at Colo. Forrest's today with the Commissioners and others.'
[Whose residence was at 3348 M Street.]

'Wednesday, 30th.

'The parties to whom I addressed myself yesterday evening, having
taken the matter into consideration, saw the propriety of my
observations; and that whilst they were contending for the shadow
they might loose the substance; and therefore mutually agreed and
entered into articles to surrender for public purposes, one half of
the land they severally possessed within the bounds which were
designated as necessary for the City to stand with some other
stipulations, which were inserted in the instrument which they
respectively subscribed.

'This business being thus happily finished and some directions given
to the Commissioners, the Surveyor and Engineer with respect to the
mode of laying out the district--Surveying the grounds for the City
and forming them into lots--I left Georgetown, dined in Alexandria
and reached Mount Vernon in the evening.'"

The "others," with whom he dined, were evidently the proprietors of the
land, sixteen, who next day signed before witnesses the agreement drawn
up that day. It is too long to quote in its entirety, but in effect
these were the conditions: "that in consideration of the