The history of the city of Washington, it is believed, could in no way be more effectively supplied than by telling the story, so far as possible, in the words of the participants. From the documents and records in the Government archives it is possible to give an almost complete story of the establishment of the city of Washington in the actual language of the men who achieved it; and believing that in the words of Washington, Jefferson, L'Enfant, Carroll, Johnson, Stuart, Thornton, Scott and White, this story could be told with more intense interest than in any words of his own, the compiler endeavored, in giving this portion of the city’s history, to utilize to the fullest possible extent such of their writings relating to the subject, as are still preserved.