1To Thomas Jefferson from Benjamin Henry Latrobe, 14 September 1807 (Jefferson Papers)
I much fear that in performing my duty, and endeavoring to give you all the information possible on the State of the public buildings, I claim an unreasonable portion of your time & attention.—My present letter is on a subject on which I see only one mode of proceeding, and that one , involves a mode of finishing the roof of the North wing on which I solicit your opinion and direction:...
2To Thomas Jefferson from Benjamin Henry Latrobe, 23 September 1808 (Jefferson Papers)
The fall of the arch or Vault of the Court room in the North Wing of the Capitol on Monday last, & the death of Mr. Lenthall who was buried in its ruins, must be known to you through the medium of the National Intelligencer & the Monitor in all its circumstances. Among the multitude of vexations, regrets, & business which this unfortunate event has thrown upon me, I feel extremely mortified...
3To Thomas Jefferson from Benjamin Henry Latrobe, 18 November 1808 (Jefferson Papers)
The several appropriations made at the last session of Congress for the progress of the work on the Public Buildings, have, during the late recess of the Legislature been applied to their specific objects in the manner which I now beg leave to report to You. 1. South Wing of the Capitol In this wing all the wood work & the covering of the Roof have been painted,—the Iron railing of the...
4To Thomas Jefferson from Benjamin Henry Latrobe, 21 April 1806 (Jefferson Papers)
Although I have been in the city a week, an unfortunate accident has prevented my waiting upon you hitherto, a blow which I received upon my head from a brick, falling from the scaffolding of the building. I was stunned & senseless for a short time, & have been since so troubled with giddiness, that till yesterday, I could not see to write,—& have not ventured since the accident beyond the...
5To Thomas Jefferson from Benjamin Henry Latrobe, 21 May 1807 (Jefferson Papers)
In arranging the papers which I brought with me from Washington, I have had the mortification to find the enclosed letter, written immediately before my departure from the city, and intended to have been forwarded by the post of that evening, but which it appears, in the hurry of packing up has slipped into my paper case. I still beg the favor of you to read it, as it contains my reasons for...
6To Thomas Jefferson from Benjamin Henry Latrobe, 21 June 1805 (Jefferson Papers)
We have now struck all the centers & I have employed Laborers to remove all the rubbish from the Ground story of the Capitol. If convenient to you to call when taking your ride at one o’clock, I shall be very happy to wait upon you to show You the Work, & will attend at the Building at that hour. The Men will then be at dinner & not return till two o’clock. With true respect DLC : Papers of...
7To Thomas Jefferson from Benjamin Henry Latrobe, 21 March 1807 (Jefferson Papers)
I was going to send you the enclosed when I received your valuable present of the Camera obscura, accompanied by a note still more valuable. You have conferred upon me nothing but benefits. This additional kindness renders me at a loss how to express what I feel towards you. I cannot do it in words; but the opinion and the regard that prompted this new proof of your sentiments towards me are...
8To Thomas Jefferson from Benjamin Henry Latrobe, 21 August 1807 (Jefferson Papers)
Your favor of the 18th. came to hand this morning, & I feel exceedingly obliged by your early attention to mine of the 13th. I should have been the happiest Man in the United States had you adopted my first instead of my second proposition. But you have not, & I must now pluck up the courage of a Man who marches to meet certain death at the breach, & do my duty without inquiring the result of...
9To Thomas Jefferson from Benjamin Henry Latrobe, 13 May 1806 (Jefferson Papers)
I promised in a letter I wrote to You on Tuesday last to transmit to You by the post of the next day a statement of the progress which might reasonably be expected in the work of the South Wing of the Capitol in the course of the present season. A difficulty had occurred in the course of that day which had induced me to postpone this statement,—the flaws which were discovered in the stone...
10To Thomas Jefferson from Benjamin Henry Latrobe, 8 June 1805 (Jefferson Papers)
The Board of Directors & Committee of Works of our Company broke up only last night. The Subscribers are in debt to the Company for arrears of Subscriptions 86.000$ & upwards,—a deficiency fatal to any active operations this season. I have therefore been directed to discharge all our hands (about 300) excepting 60, and in this distressing business I have been all day engaged,—& have not yet...
11To Thomas Jefferson from Benjamin Henry Latrobe, 1 May 1808 (Jefferson Papers)
In reply to the letter I have had the honor to receive from you this morning I beg to submit the following estimate & remarks.— Estimate of the prime cost of Stone walling, in Washington, May 1st. 1808. 1./ The price at which we have paid for rough Stone for the last Season at least, (I believe for 3 Years past) is ⅌ perch delivered at the Wharf.— $1.75 It will not be lower this season,...
12To Thomas Jefferson from Benjamin Henry Latrobe, 29 December 1805 (Jefferson Papers)
The storm of yesterday prevented my waiting upon you to state, that having done all the business relative to the accounts & design of the public buildings, which can now be done,—it was my wish to return for a short time to my family, from whom I have for the last 3 months been almost entirely separated.—Your note of to day found me just ready to go off by the mail, and as Mr. Lenthall is with...
13To Thomas Jefferson from Benjamin H. Latrobe, 29 March 1804 (Jefferson Papers)
I herewith transmit to you, a separate Roll containing drawings:—being the plans & sections of the South Wing of the Capitol according to the ideas which I explained to You when I had the favor of seeing you last.—I fear however that these and any other preparations for proceeding with the public Works may be useless,—for by a letter from Mr Lenthall I learn, that the appropriation bill has...
14To Thomas Jefferson from Benjamin Henry Latrobe, 14 August 1806 (Jefferson Papers)
My last letter d. Philadel. July 26th. gave you an account of the measures I had then taken, and was about to take in order to procure the necessary of supply of articles for the Capitol which can only be had to the North ward, & also to engage as many Stonecutters as could be got.—The consequences of my complaint had till then rendered it impossible for me to ride,—but I on the twenty seventh...
15To Thomas Jefferson from Benjamin Henry Latrobe, 13 August 1807 (Jefferson Papers)
I received the letter you did me the favor to write on the subject of the removal of the earth from the president’s house a few days ago, but have been unable to go thither till yesterday, & to consider the state of the ground. The ground proposed in your letter to be removed is comprised in the space I to O. The section below shows the relative situation of the ground, to the part comprized...
16To Thomas Jefferson from Benjamin Henry Latrobe, 1 July 1806 (Jefferson Papers)
During the course of August the turning of the lobby arches will render the progress of the freestone work unequal, but it is highly probable that on the 1st. of Septr. All the freestone work will be finished & be ready to receive the roof. In the meantime,—on the 1st. of July,—All the sashes & frames of the Office Story will be put in, & the grounds for Plaistering put up.— 10th. The...
17To Thomas Jefferson from Benjamin Henry Latrobe, 28 November 1806 (Jefferson Papers)
The Roof of the South wing of the Capitol having been completly boarded before the late heavy rain, it was sufficiently tight to throw a very large quantity of Water upon the Gutters which lie in the direction of, & over the Arch that surrounds the Area of the house. All the Water which fell between the Gutters & the external Walls was thus collected in a Body in the N.E & N.W, angles. These...
18To Thomas Jefferson from Benjamin Henry Latrobe, 17 March 1807 (Jefferson Papers)
I herewith submit to your consideration a project for laying out the ground around the president’s house. The present enclosure together with the buildings already erected & those projected are also laid down in their proper situations so as to give to You at one view all the merits of the plan. By the arrangement the public are put to no inconvenience of communication between the parts of the...
19To Thomas Jefferson from Benjamin Henry Latrobe, 17 September 1807 (Jefferson Papers)
The arrangements proposed by me for the use of the rooms with North wing of the Capitol may be postponed untill your arrival, when on inspection of them, it may perhaps occur to you to give directions different from those which I have proposed, or which have yet been suggested. The extremely inconvenient accomodation of the court will no doubt strike you, & in the mean time, I will write to...
20To Thomas Jefferson from Benjamin Henry Latrobe, 19 February 1809 (Jefferson Papers)
Mr Latrobe presents his most respectful Compliments to the President U.S.—& thanks him for the Inventory sent him. Mr. Latrobe’s object in going to Philadelphia is to take some measures necessary for the supply of sundry materials for the Pblic Bldgs, & articles of furniture for the Presids. house. He intends to return without fail on the 2d. of March. Before the President’s journey to...
21To Thomas Jefferson from Benjamin Henry Latrobe, 7 December 1806 (Jefferson Papers)
I fear I have done wrong in printing the letter herewith sent without communicating to you the Manuscript. My only excuse is this: that having postponed the fulfillment of my intention so long that I found there would be difficulty in getting the letter printed after congress had met,—I at last wrote hastily, & the little pamphlet is the production of three nights, between the hours of 10 &...
22To Thomas Jefferson from Benjamin Henry Latrobe, 27 August 1806 (Jefferson Papers)
As I could not be well spared myself, I sent down my Clerk to the Quarries, immediately after writing to you, and as soon as the business would permit, I followed him, and made such arrangements, as that we have now all our most heavy stone in the Yard, and shall not probably be again at a Stand for stone. The architrave is set round the East semicircle, & by Friday evening the three Stones...
23To Thomas Jefferson from Benjamin Henry Latrobe, 11 November 1806 (Jefferson Papers)
We have put in the frames of the Pannel lights on the whole of the West side of the dome and are now engaged in putting in those on the East. I find it impossible to save the Center light on the South side, and indeed it would have been better to have sacrificed the two next east & West of them,—for the roof in that part is so flat, that I fear we must cover it with Lead. I will endeavor so to...
24To Thomas Jefferson from Benjamin Henry Latrobe, 23 March 1808 (Jefferson Papers)
To the President of the United States of America. The Report of the Surveyor of the Publick buildings of the United States, at Washington March 23d. 1808 My Report on the progress and state of the publick buildings of the United States in the City of Washington during the year 1807 has been delayed untill all the work performed at the Capitol and the Presidents house could be measured and the...
25To Thomas Jefferson from Benjamin Henry Latrobe, 11 September 1808 (Jefferson Papers)
Since your departure the public Works have made regular progress, nor has any thing occurred which would have authorized, my trespassing on your time by a letter.—I have been since then in Philadelphia & New York, & returned hither about three weeks ago.—The confinement of my wife & the loss of our child has since my return delayed the statement I am now going to make of the present situation...
26To Thomas Jefferson from Benjamin Henry Latrobe, 6 January 1807 (Jefferson Papers)
Since my arrival in this city I have endeavored by enquiries here, & by writing to New York, Boston, & Albany to procure the glass necessary for the lights of the Cieling of the Hall of Representatives, and have been entirely disappointed. I have therefore sent by the Packet an order to England of which a duplicate shall follow by the first opportunity, and, unless the Vessel should be lost we...
27To Thomas Jefferson from Benjamin Henry Latrobe, 5 May 1806 (Jefferson Papers)
I have waited till this late hour for the list of his Workmen, & of all the blocks which are now on the Yard which Mr Blagden has promised me, & which is necessary to the completion of the scheme of the progress of the workg which I have to submit to you. I find so many of our Blocks, on examination, to be cracked by drying, that my statement, is incorrect, in as far as the work expected to be...
28To Thomas Jefferson from Benjamin Henry Latrobe, 21 April 1808 (Jefferson Papers)
A Report has just now been made to the House on the public Buildings. It contains all the arguments that can be adduced in favor of the appropriation & the best defence that could have been urged as to the deficit. To me it is highly flattering, a circumstance not less pleasing to my self love, & useful to my professional standing, than agreeable to every feeling of my heart in reference to...
29To Thomas Jefferson from Benjamin Henry Latrobe, 23 March 1807 (Jefferson Papers)
I most sincerely regret your continued illness.—The weather prevented till Saturday any measures being taken to lay out the grounds. Today I am engaged in it.—A contract for the Wall is made.—As soon as the stakes are driven the diggers will go to work. At the capitol we have this morng recommenced the external works. The plaisterers are lathing the cieling.— with high respect Yrs. DLC :...
30To Thomas Jefferson from Benjamin Henry Latrobe, 3 April 1807 (Jefferson Papers)
I am sorry that the necessity of producing your Voucher to the officers of the Treasury obliges me to trouble you with the enclosed account of expenditures. For my own expenses I have not been able to obtain vouchers in detail, travelling principally with my own horses, and must depend upon the amount of the expenses of each journey, which are minutely correct, appearing reasonable to you. For...
31To Thomas Jefferson from Benjamin Henry Latrobe, 21 November 1808 (Jefferson Papers)
Mr. Latrobe intended to have waited on the President this evening, but as he has returned the report, with his approbation, he will immediately cause two copies to be made of it, & then wait upon the President with them.— The Weather has for two days prevented the Gates being put into the Walls. If fair tomorrow the breach will be made & the Gates fixed.— DLC : Papers of Thomas Jefferson.
32To Thomas Jefferson from Benjamin Henry Latrobe, 2 May 1808 (Jefferson Papers)
Since I dispatched my letter of this morning, I have gone over with Mr Lenthall the papers in the office, & the following is the result. Our large stone has cost $1.75 ⅌ perch such as we have always used at the Capitol; but small stone fit for the Wall, if mixed with larger, may be had at $1.12 ½ , say with Waste, and laying up close, $1.30 One man will lay a perch of Wall & point it on both...
33To Thomas Jefferson from Benjamin Henry Latrobe, 9 October 1807 (Jefferson Papers)
I forgot to mention this morning,—that since my measurement & certificate of Mr Barry’s account he has threatened that unless I immediately complete his measurement he shall charge two Dollars a day for waiting here, & he has stated that you had ordered that no money should be paid out of the funds appropriated to the President’s house untill his demands were satisfied.—I feel an objection to...
34To Thomas Jefferson from Benjamin Henry Latrobe, 19 July 1805 (Jefferson Papers)
Since my departure from Washington, I find by constant correspondence with Mr. Lenthall, that all the works at Washington are regularly going on.—A difficulty has however occurred in procuring the boards for the roof of the Capitol of heart pine 12 inches broad.—Mr. King the Timber merchant at Georgetown has declined engaging to supply them on any terms. I have therefore written to Mr....
35To Thomas Jefferson from Benjamin Henry Latrobe, 22 December 1805 (Jefferson Papers)
In applying the appropriations of the last Session of Congress, of 110,000$ to the prosecution of the work on the South wing of the Capitol, & of 20,000$ to the service of the other public buildings, I have endeavored so to comply with your directions, as to forward the progress of the works to the utmost extent of the limited resources of this City. The mass of building which has been erected...
36To Thomas Jefferson from Benjamin Henry Latrobe, 4 July 1806 (Jefferson Papers)
I had the favor of your letter of the 1st. of July yesterday evening & have immediately taken the necessary steps to procure 6 Stonecutters,—but as this is the Anniversary of our Independence I have found it impossible to procure the attention of anybody today . Tomorrow, I expect to be able to make sure of as many as the city can spare. I have called the Master Stonecutters together, & have...
37To Thomas Jefferson from Benjamin Henry Latrobe, 10 November 1807 (Jefferson Papers)
I have been twice at the Pr. House in hopes of having the favor of a few minutes conversation with you before my departure; but was both times so unfortunate as to find you engaged, and at the same time to be so pressed myself that I could not watch the opportunity of speaking to you.— I have I hope left nothing in a state to suffer by my absence, & I shall return as soon as I can arrange my...
38To Thomas Jefferson from Benjamin Henry Latrobe, 31 August 1805 (Jefferson Papers)
I have been here for some time, 10 days, & shall remain untill every thing which requires my presence is compleatly disposed of, which will be the case I hope about the middle of next week. I will now endeavor to give you full information of all the circumstances attending the present state of the public buildings. 1. The Capitol.— The exterior walls are caried up perfectly as high as the tops...
39To Thomas Jefferson from Benjamin Henry Latrobe, 25 May 1808 (Jefferson Papers)
I herein enclose the strongest specimen of the plant which under the name of Dryrot commits such ravages upon the timber of buildings,—which I had ever met with. It was taken from the timber upon which the principal piers of the Senate chamber were built. The timber itself is reduced almost to powder, being more decayed than any other part of the work. We have now pulled them all down, & I...
40To Thomas Jefferson from Benjamin Henry Latrobe, 14 March 1807 (Jefferson Papers)
I fear the largest Vessel which Mr. Foxall could Cast would be too small for a Cistern for the presidents house. A round Vessel might be indeed made of two Cylinder with a flat bottom. Last Year I proposed to Mr Foxall to cast a number of Flanched plates to make a Cistern, but he made some objection. However I will see him as soon as I can get out. At present I am confined by a most painful...
41To Thomas Jefferson from Benjamin Henry Latrobe, 12 September 1807 (Jefferson Papers)
In my last I informed you of some difficulties which had occurred respecting Mr. Lenthall and our carpenters. I have fortunately arranged every thing with bothe parties to my perfect satisfaction, and hope to derive advantage from the perfect explanation which has taken place. The work that has been done upon thereof has been entirely successful. The West part has not leaked a drop during the...
42To Thomas Jefferson from Benjamin Henry Latrobe, 24 September 1807 (Jefferson Papers)
Your absence from Monticello having prevented my hearing from you before this day, I had proceeded to carry up the Chimnies agreeably to the plan I sent to you. They must be capped as nearly level with the top of the Dome as possible, & I must contrive some kind of a sky light in the center of them. It would not well have done to have carried them straight up; for 4 of them would have come out...
43To Thomas Jefferson from Benjamin Henry Latrobe, 1 September 1807 (Jefferson Papers)
To my no little surprize, but at the same time very much to the advantage of the progress of our works, I have not yet received a summons from Mr. Hay to attend the trial at Richmond, & from the course, which by the latest accounts, the proceedings appear to take, I almost think that, for the present at least, my testimony to the deceptions under which Colonel Burr attempted to raise a force...
44To Thomas Jefferson from Benjamin Henry Latrobe, 20 June 1807 (Jefferson Papers)
I have been so unavoidably detained by the different persons with whom arrangements [were] necessary previously to my departure, that I fear I shall be unable to wait upon you before [one] oclock.— I therefore take the liberty to request you to give the necessary directions to my being furnished, agreeably to Mr Rodneys desire with the papers I have heretofore given to the executive,— as the...
45To Thomas Jefferson from Benjamin Henry Latrobe, 5 May 1805 (Jefferson Papers)
I herewith transmit to You two sheets containing the drawings of the buildings proposed to connect the president’s house with the public Offices on each side The heighth of story indispensibly necessary in the fireproof of the Treasury (of which Wythe’s post also transmit a plan to the Secy. Treasury) as well as the general appearance, & the connection of the Colonnade with the Offices at...
46To Thomas Jefferson from Benjamin Henry Latrobe, 29 October 1806 (Jefferson Papers)
During your illness, from which I sincerely rejoice that you are recovering, I was unwilling personally to intrude upon you, & I am still fearful, lest a visit on business, might not yet be convenient to You. I beg leave therefore to request Your consideration, and indulgence, while I state to you in writing, what I should otherwise have verbally laid before you.— I have heard with great...
47To Thomas Jefferson from Benjamin Henry Latrobe, 7 July 1807 (Jefferson Papers)
I find considerable difficulty in getting a convenient & short road North of the President’s house, on the principle you proposed the evening before last.—I shall not therefore be able to lay a satisfactory project before You this day. I have in the mean time ordered the Mason’s to proceed Northward with the Wall already begun,—not Southward,—and tomorrow I hope to have something to submit to...
48To Thomas Jefferson from Benjamin Henry Latrobe, 27 April 1806 (Jefferson Papers)
Mr Latrobe most respectfully requests the favor that the President will send him the design of the proposed method of completing the Capitol, as it contains the plan of the recess, without which no commencement of the work can be made. The bearer if convenient will take charge of it. DLC : Papers of Thomas Jefferson.
49To Thomas Jefferson from Benjamin Henry Latrobe, 6 July 1808 (Jefferson Papers)
The stone for the Steps of the President’s house is, in part arrived, & I am in hopes that the remainder will come up this week. It is now to be decided where it shall be wrought. GRAPHIC IN MANUSCRIPT If it could be prepared immediately on the spot marked ⊙ not less than 250 Dollars would be saved out of the expence of hauling & time which would be necessary if wrought out of the...
50To Thomas Jefferson from Benjamin Henry Latrobe, 18 February 1807 (Jefferson Papers)
Since the situation of my family has been such as to leave me at liberty to return to Washington, I have been detained here by the most distressing pecuniary embarrassments. They have arisen from the recoil of the notes issued by the Ches: & Del. Canal Company upon me,—which I took in payment & paid away again more than a Year ago; and also from the misconduct of the persons who were...