Digges/L'Enfatnt-Morgan Papers, Library of Congress

Transcription by ECP 1997/06/10

"When I had the honor of an interview with you at Mount Vernon your obliging attention in permitting me to lay ebfore you a Scheme for new city, has induced me to take the Liberty of transmitting my Ideas on that Subject somewhat more at Large and on a scale of calculation less extensive respecting the profits to be raised. I have lately rode over part of the land on the banks of the Patowmack, and at one place within the Limits prescribed for erecting the new city, is a level spot of (as near as I can guess) 16,000 acres on navigable water, which will contain according to the proposed plan about two thirds of the number of Houses that are in the City of London. On a supposition that the public have in view a City of magnitude on the Banks of the nobvle River where it is to be sitauted, I have made a calculation & a ground plan of 1/16th part to wit 1000a acres, which will be correspondent to the Remainder of the calculation, and on the spot I have mentioned there are five squares on navigable water, as in fig. F stained green on the Plan, from the letter A in the alphabetical order E. As the proprieters of each of these five lots of 1000 acres would advance the value of their Lands to a very great amount, should a preferance be immediately given to either; perhaps exorbitant demands may be prevented, if the Commissioners were to treat separately with the different proprieters, as by this method their interests would clash and an opportunity be afforded of purchasing on reasonable Terms. If the Lands are paid for with certificates bearing interest, the payment to be secured by a lien on the Lands, as well as by the Funds to be raised from Ground Rents and purchase of the lots; then on present scqale, the rent of one twentieth part of 162 lots will be sufficient for the purpose, including Expense of collection. And would it not be expedient to give the Election of becoming Lessees or proprieters in Fee Simple at 15 years purchase, the certificates to be received for the purchase money, and the Interest of certificates for ground Rent. The plan I have with great Deference, submitted to your Excellency, will equally answer for either of the 16 squares , and the same form and Direction of the Streets may be continued, but no plan of a city can be designed with accuracy until the site, its promontories, acclivities &c are first Surveyed; and this appears to me the first step necessary, I hope to be excused for mentioning it. These plans and observations I submit to your Excellency with a Freedom arising from your known disposition to receive with attention and complacency the observations of all, who are anxious to contribute their mite to the promotion of a National object. If my moderate abilities are employed in any part of the measures, wither in the Surveying or Delineating of the lands that may be thought elgible for the intended City, or in any other Branch of my profession, I shall endeavor to execute it with credit to myself, advantage to the public, and so as to meet the approbation of your Excellency, requesting only a reasonable compensation for he services I may render.

I am sir, with the greatest Respect your most Obedient Servant Joseph Clark

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file also includes an account 94/10/20 for L 97/10/0 and $60.00; relates to the sale of brick yard and ood; John Henderson assumes the debt in 5/96 but only after Clark gave him L75 in cash on 1795/04/16