31To Thomas Jefferson from Benjamin H. Latrobe, 19 April 1803 (Jefferson Papers)
In order to save the postage of the enclosed packet, containing the drawings & sections of the foundation Walls of the S. Wing of the Capitol,—I have taken the liberty of addressing it to you, and if there be no impropriety in my giving you the trouble I should beg leave to send further packets by the same means, as most of them will be very heavy.— As soon as I can move my family I shall...
32To Thomas Jefferson from Benjamin H. Latrobe, 4 April 1803 (Jefferson Papers)
I arrived here about a fortnight ago, and have been so unwell since then, as not to be quite so forward in my report upon the state of the Capitol, and the necessary drawings as I could have wished. On this account, and because I believed that on your first arrival your time would be taking up by more important objects,—I have not yet waited upon you. Late this evening however, I will, with...
33To Thomas Jefferson from Benjamin H. Latrobe, 4 April 1803 (Jefferson Papers)
I herewith send you my report & the ground plan of the new wing. I fear I shall tire your patience, but I know not what I could have omitted.— I am with true respect Yrs. faithfully RC ( DLC ); undated; endorsed by TJ as received 4 Apr. and so recorded in SJL .
34To Thomas Jefferson from Benjamin H. Latrobe, 13 March 1803 (Jefferson Papers)
I received your favor of the 6th with the most grateful sentiments. It did not reach me till the 11th. I cannot better express the sense I have of your kindness, than by setting off for Washington as soon as I can leave my business with convenience, & safety. This will be in 2 or 3 days at furthest. I have already made my principal arrangements.—The failure of my partners Messrs. Bollmann ,...
35From Thomas Jefferson to Benjamin H. Latrobe, 6 March 1803 (Jefferson Papers)
Congress have appropriated a sum of money (50,000. D) to be applied to the public buildings under my direction. this falls of course under the immediate business of the Superintendant, mr Monroe, whose office is substituted for that of the board of Commissioners. the former post of Surveyor of the public buildings , which mr Hoben held till the dissolution of the board at 1700. Doll. a year...
36From Thomas Jefferson to Benjamin H. Latrobe, 6 March 1803 (Jefferson Papers)
The letter in which this is inclosed being a public one, and to be produced whenever necessary as a voucher, I have thought it would be useful to add a word in one of a private & friendly nature. from the sum of 50,000 D. we shall take between 5, & 10,000. for covering the North wing of the Capitol & the President’s house. the residue of 40. to 45,000. D. will be employed in building the South...
37To Thomas Jefferson from Benjamin H. Latrobe, 15 December 1802 (Jefferson Papers)
Captain Dale , of the Un. State’s Navy, called upon me this morning, and in conversation upon the Naval Arsenal or Dry Docks proposed by You to be erected at the Federal City, which he most warmly approved,—he informed me that the Swedish Government had lately conceived the idea of adopting the same means of preserving their Navy in times of peace. The Swedish Admiral Söderstrom described to...
38To Thomas Jefferson from Benjamin H. Latrobe, 4 December 1802 (Jefferson Papers)
I should be happy to wait upon you with the result of my calculations at 2 o’clock, if you could then make it convenient to devote half an hour to me. I propose that hour because it is the very earliest that I can mention,—and I believe you to be desirous of obtaining the information which I can give as soon as possible; but a later hour will be equally convenient to me.—I am anxious that you...
39To Thomas Jefferson from Benjamin H. Latrobe, 28 November 1802 (Jefferson Papers)
An unfortunate scratch across the end of my Nose which I received among the briars in the Neighborhood of the Navy Yard, has given me so disgraceful an appearance for the last four days, that I have confined my Labors to the Survey of the Canal, & to my Chamber. I have now nearly finished the Ground work of my Estimate & have every reason to believe, that the Canal from the Locks to the Navy...
40Memorandum from Benjamin H. Latrobe, 22 November 1802 (Jefferson Papers)
Mr. Latrobe presents his respectful Compliments to the President of the U. States: In preparing for his survey of the line of Potowmac Canal, Mr L. has obtained access to the records of the Commissioners, which happen to be perfect as to the levels of the Streets N. West of the Presidents house, & South of the large Street K and also as to those of some streets about the Capitol. The page...
41To Thomas Jefferson from Benjamin H. Latrobe, 16 November 1802 (Jefferson Papers)
The Post came in so late to-day, that I cannot prepare to leave Philadelphia in compliance with your favor of the 13th. before Thursday morning (the day after tomorrow). I shall then come on by the Mail, and by using my utmost exertion to accomplish the object, in which you have pleased to engage me, prove how gratefully sensible I am of the honor you have done me by your confidence. I am with...
42From Thomas Jefferson to Benjamin H. Latrobe, 13 November 1802 (Jefferson Papers)
Your favor of the 9th. is recieved as that of the 8th . had been the day before. on recieving that of the 8th. I was immediately sensible I had omitted in mine to say any thing on the subject of a just compensation for the preliminary business of a survey, estimate &c. I therefore referred your letter to the Secretary of the Navy (who was now returned, having been absent at the date of my...
43To Thomas Jefferson from Benjamin H. Latrobe, 9 November 1802 (Jefferson Papers)
In the haste in which I was under the necessity of answering your letter of the 2d inst. I fear I could not do justice to my sense of the obligation I owe to your kindness. If any thing I have written should have borne the slightest appearance of false pride, or of a mercenary disposition, I have done the greatest injustice to my sentiments of respectful attachment to you, as a public, and as...
44From Thomas Jefferson to Benjamin H. Latrobe, 2 November 1802 (Jefferson Papers)
The placing of a navy in a state of perfect preservation, so that at the beginning of a subsequent war it shall be as sound as at the end of the preceding one when laid up, and the lessening the expence of repairs, perpetually necessary while they lie in the water, are objects of the first importance to a nation which to a certain degree must be maritime. the dry docks of Europe, being below...
45To Thomas Jefferson from Benjamin H. Latrobe, 24 October 1802 (Jefferson Papers)
I beg leave to transmit to you by my particular friend, and near relation,—Mr Eakin of the War-office the enclosed letter, in which I have taken the liberty to give to you all the information which I possess on the proposed plan of a canal communication between the Delaware & Chesapeake bays. I have done this with a view to suggest the propriety of this subject being taken up by Congress as an...
46To Thomas Jefferson from Benjamin H. Latrobe, 27 March 1802 (Jefferson Papers)
Philadelphia, 27 Mch. 1802 . Latrobe takes the liberty to offer ideas on the canal intended to connect the Chesapeake and Delaware Bays. He is assured of the practicability of the project and shall not take up TJ’s time proving it. The principal difficulty will be to prevent the jealousies of Baltimore and Philadelphia from resulting in an imperfect or useless work. Baltimore fears that in a...
47From Thomas Jefferson to Benjamin H. Latrobe, 18 October 1798 (Jefferson Papers)
I have to acknolege the reciept of your favor of Sep. 22. the canal which is the subject of it is a very small affair, the whole fall about 30. feet, of which two thirds are past by my mill canal 1200 yds long, and one third by Henderson’s canal 200 yds long. all between us is dead water. doubling the breadth of our canals would make them wide enough for batteaux, and this we know from the...
48To Thomas Jefferson from Benjamin H. Latrobe, 22 September 1798 (Jefferson Papers)
A round-about application has just now been made to me respecting a navigation in your neighbourhood, between Milton and Charlotte’s ville, for which, I am told, a very considerable subscription is already raised. It comes from a very honest work man here, who presses me to go up, & see it. But as the thing seems to stand not quite upon so good as footing as the negociations of Messrs. W X Y &...
49To Thomas Jefferson from Benjamin H. Latrobe, 28 March 1798 (Jefferson Papers)
I should have taken the liberty to deliver to you the enclosed letter from Mr. Randolph immediately on my arrival two days ago, had he not told me, that he has therein done me the favor to recommend me to you, with a view to interest your kind offices for me in an application I had intended to make to the Executive of the United States, during my stay at Philadelphia.—I had understood that it...