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accustomed to the W. India fees which are very high)
that he relinquished the practice & the house, & in
consequence of his unfortunate passion for raising
horses took a small place a mile from Phila, where
he remained, 'till he received from President Washington
the honorable appointment of Commissioner of the new
City of Washn. or Federal City, in conjunction with
two of the most respectable Gentlemen in Maryland
Mr Gustavus Scott & Mr Danl. Carroll (brother to
the late most respectable & amiable Bishop Caroll)..-
This was apparently a very desireable Situation, as the
City was expected to rise rapidly into consequence, as
the Government was to be established there, but a spirit
of Speculation* resigned, property was held unreasonably
high, new Comers with small Capitals were tempted to
purchase, & from a variety of causes the progress of
improvement was retarded, & even now, after the lapse
of so many years, property both in & near the City, can
be purchased (except perhaps in a very few Situations)
for half or a quarter of what was asked & given for it
in the 1794- the year he removed here. In conse
=qence of his purchasing then, & being disappointed