o pass through Georgetown on his journeys
between the North and Mount Vernon, and I have heard my grandfather
describe the interest which he took when the "Federal City" was
located. On one occasion he rode over to visit David Burns, who
owned a farm on which the Executive Mansion and the Departments
now stand. Washington agreed with the Commissioners that what is
now Lafayette Square should be a reservation, but Burns disliked
to donate any more building lots for the public good. Finally
Washington lost his temper and left, saying, as he crossed the
porch: "Had not the Federal City been laid out here, you would
have died a poor tobacco planter." "Aye, mon!" retorted Burns, in
broad Scotch, "an' had ye nae married the widow Custis, wi' a' her
nagurs, you would hae been a land surveyor to-day, an' a mighty
poor ane at that." Ultimately, however, the obstinate old fellow
donated the desired square of ground.

When Major L'Enfant came to Georgetown to lay out the Federal
District he brought a letter of introduction to my grandfather,
who had a great deal of trouble in endeavoring to adjust the
difficulties between the fiery French officer and the Commissioners
appointed to govern the infant metropolis. The Major, who was very
imperious, claimed supreme authority, which the Commissioners would
not submit to. On one occasion, a Mr. Carroll had commenced the
erection of a large brick house, which Major L'Enfant found encroached
on one of the proposed streets. Summoning his chain bearers and
axmen, he demolished the trespassing structure and filled up the
cellar, against Mr. Carroll's earnest protests.

He was a favorite with Washington, but Jefferson disliked him on
account of his connection with the Society of the Cincinnati, and
availed himself of his difficulty with the Commissioners to discharge
him.

The Major then became an unsuccessful petitioner before Congress
for a redress of his real and fancied wrongs, and he was to be seen
almost every day slowly pacing the rotunda of the Capitol. He was
a tall, thin man, who wore, toward the close of his life, a blue
military surtout coat, buttoned quite to the throat, with a tall,
black stock, but no visible signs of linen. His hair was plastered
with pomatum close to his head, and he wore a napless high beaver
bell-crowned hat. Under his arm he generally carried a roll of
papers relating to his claim upon the Government, and in his right
hand he swung a formid