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1791 Gazette of The United States, with Plans for the Capital City of Washington
About the Item
Presented is a very early description of the City of Washington, as the planned Federal capital city. The article, written by an anonymous "Spectator,” was published in the October 8, 1791 issue of the Gazette of the United States. Spanning two columns of text, the article details in full the natural terrain and waterways, the designed plan of Pierre L’Enfant for the city’s layout, buildings, and streets, the ceding of territory from Virginia and Maryland, and the eventual sale of lots to the public. The author argues that “the founding of this city, in such an eligible situation, upon such a liberal and elegant plan, will, by future generations, be considered as one of the most important transactions of the present President of the United States; while its name will keep fresh in mind, to the end of time, the many important services he has rendered his country.”
The authority to establish a federal capital was provided in Article One, Section 8, of the United States Constitution, which permits Congress “to exercise exclusive Legislation in all Cases whatsoever, over such District (not exceeding ten Miles square) as may, by Cession of particular States, and the Acceptance of Congress, become the Seat of the Government of the United States.” The Constitution, however, did not specify a location for the new capital. James Madison explained the need for a federal district on January 23, 1788 in the Federalist No. 43, arguing that the national capital needed to be distinct from the states, in order to provide for its own maintenance and safety. In what later became known as the Compromise of 1790, Madison, Hamilton, and Jefferson came to an agreement that the federal government would assume war debt carried by the states, on the condition that the new national capital would be located in the South. On July 16, 1790, the Residence Act provided for a new permanent capital to be located on the Potomac River, the exact area to be selected by President Washington. Both Maryland and Virginia ceded portions of their territory to form the new capital, located on the north bank of the Potomac. On September 9, 1791, the federal city was named in honor of George Washington and the district was named the Territory of Columbia.
The city's lay-out derived from a number of ideas, Washington's and Jefferson's most famously, but owes most of its initial configuration to Pierre Charles L'Enfant, who had served under Washington during the war as an engineer. In 1791, President Washington asked L'Enfant to design the new capital city in the District of Columbia. L'Enfant designed a city similar in layout to the then French capital city of Versailles. Spreading out from the crux of the Potomac and its East Branch in a north-south grid, the city was planned with fifteen additional avenues (for the then fifteen states) that radiated from the White House or Capitol or parallel one of those avenues. As described in the article, these avenues “not only produce a variety of charming prospects, and facilitate the communication through the city, but remove that insipid sameness, that renders Philadelphia and Charleston unpleasing.”
L’Enfant’s great plan for the federal city, as described in this article, was later modified by Andrew Ellicott. In 1791, troubles arose between the Commissioners of the City and L'Enfant because they needed to have a printed copy of the plan in order to sell buildings and public lots. L'Enfant frustrated them by working too slowly and releasing only sketchy plans. On February 27, 1792, by instruction from Washington, Thomas Jefferson wrote a letter to L'Enfant dismissing him as city planner. Surveyor and mathematician Andrew Ellicott had already completed a detailed survey of the city in 1791, so he was an obvious choice as L’Enfant’s replacement.
The Gazette of the United States was the leading Federalist newspaper of the late 18th century. Adopting the motto, “he that is not for us, is against us,” the newspaper was a stalwart defender of the Federalist administration and a staunch critic of its opponents. Editor John Fenno issued the Gazette as a semiweekly newspaper, published on Wednesdays and Saturdays, with the first edition appearing on April 15, 1789, in New York City, the nation’s capital at the time. One of its most significant supporters was Alexander Hamilton, who organized its initial funding and was a primary, albeit anonymous, contributor of letters and essays. In 1791 the Gazette moved to Philadelphia, located at No. 69 High Street, between Second and Third Streets. The newspaper included foreign news, political essays, letters, and news reports, with very little distinction between the news and editorial comment.
CONDITION:
Very good condition. Paper is very healthy, with only light toning. Light wrinkling and creasing in outer margins. Paper is printed with black ink in three columns of text. Ink has faded only slightly. Attractive masthead at the top, indicating issue number and date, “No. 47 of Vol. III, Saturday, October 8, 1791. Whole No. 255.”
Attractively and archivally framed in a custom-built black wooden frame with gold beaded spandrel, acid-free top mats, and UV conservation glass.
Framed Dimensions: 20 1/8"H x 13 5/8"W x 1"D.
Accompanied by our company's letter of authenticity.
- Dimensions:Height: 20.13 in (51.14 cm)Width: 13.63 in (34.63 cm)Depth: 1 in (2.54 cm)
- Style:Federal (Of the Period)
- Materials and Techniques:
- Place of Origin:
- Period:1790-1799
- Date of Manufacture:1791
- Condition:Additions or alterations made to the original: Archivally framed by Artem Art Services in Colorado Springs, Colorado, in November of 2024. Wear consistent with age and use.
- Seller Location:Colorado Springs, CO
- Reference Number:Seller: PR5081stDibs: LU909745223842
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