PRELIMINARY CORRESPONDENCE. DEAR SIR: PHILADELPHIA, January 6th, 1875. Some confusion of idea, as you are aware, has prevailed of late among antiquaries, as to the exact situation and history of the house, in Market street, below Sixth, occupied by Washington, while the seat of Government was in this city. Mr. Everett, in his discourse delivered here, not many years since, seemed, according to a printed report of it, to have considered the house as then standing. "The house in which he lived," said he, "is known." We question the accuracy of that impression. Claims are now made for different sites, below Sixth street, as the honored spot. The matter is, probably, to be ascertained with certainty by reference to title papers. We suppose you to be now the owner of the lot on which the house formerly stood, and if this is so, no one can know the history better than you. Should it be agreeable to you to communicate to the Society, in a discourse before it, your knowledge of the subject, we shall be most happy to have you do so. We are with great respect, Your Obedient Servants, To Nathaniel Burt, Esq. JOHN WM. WALLACE, CRAIG BIDDLE, HENRY C. CAREY, AUBREY H. SMITH, 6 PRELIMINARY CORRESPONDENCE. GENTLEMEN - 1203 WALNUT STREET, January 14th, 1875. Your very kind letter of the sixth instant, requesting a discourse before the Historical Society of Pennsylvania, on the subject of the Washington Mansion, in this city, is received. As the subject is one of general interest, and as the papers in my possession are certainly such as permit of no doubt as to the location, I shall only fulfill a public duty in complying with your request, and will take pleasure in doing so on any evening agreeable to the Society. Very Respectfully, Your Obedient Servant, NATHANIEL BURT. To Messrs. John Wm. Wallace, John Jordan, Jr., and others. A MINUTE. SPECIAL MEETING, HISTORICAL SOCIETY OF PENNSYLVANIA, February 12th, 1875. The President in the chair, and a large attendance of members and others. The President introduced Mr. Nathaniel Burt, who proceeded to read a paper entitled "The Washington Mansion in Philadelphia." At the conclusion of the paper the following resolution, offered by Dr. Edward Shippen, U. S. N., was unanimously adopted : Resolved, That the thanks of the Society be presented to Mr. Burt for his most interesting, able and eloquent address; and that a copy be requested for publication. SAMUEL L. SMEDLEY, Rec. Sec. |