President George Washington Doing Business With The Federal Government: Forbidden Emoluments?

See Certificate for Lots Purchased in the District of Columbia, 18 September 1793, Founders Online, https://founders.archives.gov/‌documents/Washington/05-14-02-0074 [https://perma.cc/V84N-MF3B] 

Certificate for Lots Purchased in the District of Columbia, 18 September 1793

Certificate for Lots Purchased in the District of Columbia

(Duplicate)

Territory of Columbia, 18th September 1793

At a Public Sale of Lots in the City of Washington, George Washington, President of the United States of America became purchaser of Lots No. twelve, No. thirteen & No. fourteen in Square No. six hundred & sixty seven for the consideration of one thousand and sixty six dollars & two thirds of a Dollar, subject to the Terms and Conditions concerning the manner of improvement published, and on the further terms of paying down one fourth part of the purchase money, and also paying the residue in three equal annual payments, with yearly interest on the whole principal unpaid, under forfeiture of the said fourth to be paid down: and he hath accordingly paid the said one fourth, to wit, two hundred and sixty six Dollars and two thirds of a Dollar, and he or his Assigns, on making the said other Payments, will be entitled to a conveyance of the said lot in Fee.1

Lots No. 12. 13. & 14 Square No. 667.

Dd Stuart, Danl Carroll Commissioners.

DS (duplicate), NN. A similar document recording GW’s purchase on this date of lot 5 in square 667 was offered for sale by Parke-Bernet Galleries, Autograph Letters & Documents. Property of the Late Forest G. Sweet. Part I, sale 1756 (1957), item 376.

1. A description of these three lots and lot 5 is to be found at NjMoHP: “Lot No. 14 on Square No. 667.—Beginning at the end of 147. Feet 5¼ I[nches] from the South East corner of the said square, measured on the West side of Water Street, running thence west 100. F. 4. I. then north 32. F. then East 107. F. 3. I. to water Street and with water Street South 12°. 18’ West 32. F. 8¼ I. to the beginning—With a privilege of improving, in front of the Lot, into the Eastern branch.

“Lot No. 13. in same Square—Beging at the end of the third line of Lot No. 14. run[nin]g thence with said line reversed 107. F. 3. I. then North 32. F. then East 114. F. 1½ I. to water street & with water Street South 12°. 18’ West 32. F. 8¼ I. to the beging with the privilege of improving, in front of the lot, into the eastern branch.

“Lot No. 12. in same Square—Beging at the end of the third line of Lot No. 13. running thence with said line reversed 114. F. 1½. I. then north 48. F. then East 124. F. 7½ I. to water Street, & with it South 12°. 18’ West 49. F. 1¾. I. to the beging with the same privilege of improvement.

“Lot No. 5 in same Square—Beging at the end of 165. F. 9. I. north from the South west corner of the Square then running north with 1st Street west 68. F. 6. I. then East 173. F. 7. I. then South 68. F. 6. I. then west 173. F. 7 I. to the Beging.”

For the location of square 667, on the waterfront south of the Capitol, see Fig. 1.

Citation: Seth Barrett Tillman, President George Washington Doing Business With The Federal Government: Forbidden Emoluments?, New Reform Club (May 29, 2017, 5:53 AM), http://tinyurl.com/ycf3w8n2