Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1825-03-19

There were then employed about it, not less
than ffty workmen, and like number were
thus employed for the two succeeding years.
I NAV add, that scarcely summer has since
elapsed, during which, nearly as many have
been employed about the house or tne
grounds around it, within the Enclosure, so that
even when was present, it has required my
constant attention to preserve order, and TO
protect the interior from injury. During my
absence, this care was committed to Colonel
Lane. As Superintendent he would have
control of the Architect, and through him, OF
the workmen, and thereby be better enabled,
than any other person could be, to protect the
House and p roperty within it, from injury.
always left steward & several servants there,
but they were not equal to the duty. 1t re-
quired a public officer, invested with compe'
tent authority for the purpose. The charge
of the House necessarily involved that OF tne
whole establishment, including the servants
over whom gave him control. TO accom-
plish the object, he generally resided III tne
House. For the servants, always made pro-
vision, as did for him, by the advance OF mo-
new. sometimes to him, and sometimes to the
steward, for it was far from my intention, that
he should incur one cents expense, on my &C
cunt or ON his own, in rendering that ser
vice.
had repeatedly requested Colonel Lane to
eettle his account for furniture, for which
considered myself responsible, notwithstand-
ing his agency, and to settle his privite &C.
coTnt with me: but the former he declined, for
tbe want of some vouchers for articles receiv-
ed and paid for, as l understood, from Pitts.
b,Irrh. and the latter he avoided, as inferred,
from desire to settle his public account first
When it was manifest in 1928 that his health
was declining, pressed the settlement of his
furniture account, which was accomplished,
by the aid of his clerk. wished much to
have settled then, our private account also,
knowing that there could be no difficulty be-
tween him and me, but, his indisposition in
creasing, so that his recovery was at length
despaired Of, declined it from motives of del
icacy, prefering to make the settlement with
his representative. Immediately after his de-
mise, authorised Mr.. Hay to settle that ac-
count, and on the most liberal principles. l
committed to him my bank books, and all my
other papers, for his own inspection, and for
that also of Colonel Lane g executor, and par
tcularly enjoined it OH him to admit every
item, without regard to vouchers, which he
should have reason to believe had been adj
vanced to the steward, or otherwise applied to
my use, and which he did with a reservation
that the account should still be O.
pen to revision and correction, should it after
wards appear that any item had been omitted,
or been improperly charged, on either side.
Ofthe sum which became due by that settle
ment, which exceeded far my anticipation, the
greater part was Immediately paid The delay
in paying the balance has proceeded from de-
sire to examine, at my leisure, all the docu.
ments relating to transactions, with many of
which l was altogether ignorant, and with
,ome of the parties to them unacquainted; from
A belief also, as no receipts had ever been Ia
ken for personal advances to him, that all the
credits to which / was entitled, had not been
allowed me.
1t will appear by the items and their dates,
hat he never advanced to me one cent d.
-ectly, except on account of my furniture, nor
one cent more on that account than was sup.
posed to be due me at the time, taking into
the sum at which it had been
valued, and the amount which Ihad paid for
he public furniture which had been delivered
in between the first and second approp-ia-
ions. The princi pal items are, !, 500 dollars,
which he paid to the Patriotic Bank, and the
Iums which he likewise paid to Russell and La
fourque, of France, and to Mr. Yard, of Phil
ldelphia Respecting the first mentioned sum,
/ note from Mr.. Carr, the cashier of that bank,
will explain the circumstances under which
he payment was made. BY this, it is evident
hat it was not my desire, nor with my know
edge. 1t will also be seen, by comparing
iates, that it was made at time when there
vas due to me, beyond the temporary advance
which had been made Cd account of my furni.
ure, upwards of 5000 dollars, independently
IF the sums which was, Immediately after
wards, paying from my own funds, for the fur
,iture delivered in before the second appro-
oriation. Respecting the other two items,
have to add, that, when the furniture was Or
lered from France, through the agency of Mr.
Russell, and from Philadelphia, by that of Mr..
Yard, requested those gentlemen, with
whom i had been long acquainted, and for
whom had great personal regard, to procure
for and send to me, from each place, certain
articles and supplies OH my private account
md to draw on me for the amount. Mr.. Rus
Scu > lCItCTS SHOW Illdt uC ~ uuuCTSlOOu
The furniture, however, received from France,
having exceeded considerably the $4,000 dol
ars which had been RENTED to him, he drew
Tor the balance, and also for the sum due on
my private account, on me, in the same bill,
which, being presented TO col. Lane, was paid
by him. To Mr.. Yard had RENTED "a, 500,
which, had supposed would not only pay for
his engagements for me, but 60 far to satisfy
the demands against the public, as was, IN fact
the case. The list, however, being enlarged,
a balance, Of about 1900 remained due on
account of the furniture he had purchased,
and for which he drew on COL Lane, who paid
i. As had previously RENTED to MIR. Yard
upwards of 1000 dollars more than owed
him on my private account, and he knew that
col Lane was the agent for the furniture fund,
i was natural thathe should pay it. Neither
could the one have received that balance, nor
the other have paid it, on my private account,
or on any other account than that of the pub
lie furniture. Nor could it be known that
owedto col. Lane that sum or any other, un-
Ill his account # the public furniture, as well
as his private account with me, should be first
settled. of the other items, no particular ex-
PLANTATION is deemed necessary. 1t is mani.
fest that they grew out Of the charge which
he had of the house and household establish.