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

nrocured At home or abroad, It was necessary
that thew should be manufactured according
TO ord-. for the room for which intended, and
be of good quality, strsng, massive and dura-
BILE.
To execute any plan, it was necessary that
furniture should be provided for immediate
use. The furniture in the former building
had been destroyed with it, and the little
which had been purchased afterwards, for the
accommodation Of my predecessor, in the
house which had been rented for him, had OF
necessity, been procured in haste, was OF tr'
fling value, and unsuited to the new building
II was obvious that, if the sum first apPropra-
ted should be laid out in the purchase OF sucn
articles as might be found in the shops, airea-
DIV made, or be bought at sales, at second
hand, the fund would be, in great measure
exhausted, and in procuring such OF inferior
quality. II was equally obvious that the sum
frst appropriated, on the best estimate that
could be formed Of the articles necessary for
the building, and of their prices, would be al
together inadequate. Under these clrc9m'
stances, was compelled to use nv own fur
niture, and for an indefinite term for, if the
alternative of procuring such only as suited
the building, was adopted, respecting which
did not hesitate, it was altogether uncertain
within what time it might be obtained. had
furniture in limited extent, of good quality,
plate, drawing-room, bedroom, kitchen, &C.,
most of which had procured while abroad,
and the residue for my accommodation in the
department of state. 1t was my intention to
have sold this furniture, and should have sold
it Immediately after my election, but for the
reasons stated, having an urgent occasion for
the money It might raise, and which l could
not otherwise readily command.
There were two modes by which might
take my furniture into use one by selling it
at public sale, to the highest bidder, and hav-
ingit bought in by private agent the other,
by having it valued, by men of high charac-
ter, and BY taking it at the valuation. The
latter was preferred, for obvious reasons, and
particularly from the consideration, that if
there should be no other appropriation, which
was uncertain, there could be no sale, and in
consequence, however long the term for
which might use it, should be compelled
to re-take it, without receiving any indemnity
for its use, or the injury it might sustain
NV furniture was valued at 5000 dollars, as
will be seen by the report made by the citi-
zens who were selected for the purpose. BY
recurring to the valuation, twill be seen that
fully one half of the articles consisted OF
plate, mirrors, and china, which undergo little
change, if any, by use.
In deciding on the plan which had adopt:
for furnishing the house, availed myself, IN
aid of my own experience and exertions, and
of those of my family. of the good Offices OF
Others to whom might with propriety apply.
As no compensation was allowed for the ser
vice, Icould ask such aid from none but the
officers of the Government and particular
friends. II was for this reason that my atten-
ton was drawn to Mr.. Lee, Second Auditor
of public accounts, and to col. Lane, superin-
tendent of public buildings, and who render
ed all the service in their power, the first in
digesting the plan for furnishing the house,
and in contracting for, and receiving the arti-
cles when delivered, and the other in taking |
charge ofthe fund, and disbursing it. With
Mr.. Lee, I had become acquainted in my first
mission to France, where he long served his
country as consul at Bordeaux, and with col. |
Lane from the time of his appointment as
of the public buildings, by my
predecessor, shortly after the peace.
In execution of the plan decided on, aremit- |
lance was made by the secretary of the treasu- |
~ of 2, 900 dollars to our bankers in Holland,
subject to the order of Joseph Russell, Of
Boston, then residing in Paris, for the pur-
chase of articles there, according to list and
estimate that were sent him. Other 1000 dol
ars were also sent to James Yard of Philadel-
ohia, for the purchase ofarticles ordered there,
md contracts were entered into for other ar
icles, in this district, and elsewhere, tor the
ialfilment of which was made responsible.
The remaining 5000 dollars were advanced to
ne on account of my furniture, which were
repaid in the autumn Of that year, on the DELI
Gery of the furniture thus contracted tor.
For full information respecting the motive
md condition on which took my furniture
INTO use, refer you to three letters, two OF
which were addressed to COL Lane, and the
third to the first auditor ofpubhc accounts
The first bears date on the 18th OF April
1917, soon after my election to this office, tile
second on the Oath of April, 1878, immedi-
.tely after the second appropriation was made,
and the third on the 28th Feb. 1921, whenit
was understood that col. Lane Intended to
settle his furniture account. BY the first l
was bound to retake my own furniture, II
further appropriation should not be made,
however long might have used 1t, without
any indemnity for it and by the second l
wa, bound to retake it, Internationally, not.
the appropriation which had
been made, and to repay the money which
had been advanced to me for it wheE retired
from Office. The thirdletter, that to the first
auditor, is explanatory Of the principles on
which acted, and with which thought it
proper that he should then be made acquain-
ted
It will be seen by documents in the treasu-
nv department, that whenI entered into the q
rreement, or made the declaration which is
Contained in the second letter to the superin-
tendent of the public buildings, had repaid
the sum which had been advanced to me by
him on account of my own furniture, being
less by one third than that at which it had
been valued by very respectable and disinte-
rested men, and was actually in advance in full.
filment of contracts which had been entered
into in this district and in Philadelphia, up
wards of two thousadd dollars from my own
funds, and was further pledged for large addi-
tional sums for the furniture which had been
ordered and received from France, and en-
gagged in this city and elsewhere. Had been
able to have executed by other means a pur-