31From 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...
32To 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...
33From Thomas Jefferson to Benjamin H. Latrobe, 16 January 1805 (Jefferson Papers)
I inclose you the bill appropriating 110,000. D. for the South wing of the capitol & 20,000. for the North wing & other public buildings as it has past the H. of R. with only 17. dissenting votes. I have no reason to suppose it will fare worse with the Senate: but till it passes them it will not be safe to take any positive steps. I will endeavor to have it hurried there, and as soon as it...
34To Thomas Jefferson from Benjamin H. Latrobe, 24 October 1804 (Jefferson Papers)
I arrived here on the 18th. and had the honor to receive Your letter of the 5th. Octr.—I immediately wrote to the works respecting your Iron, & have received for answer that it would be ready to go to Richmond in one Month. In my letter, I ordered our Roller to go to Jones & Howell, late Howell & Roberts to enquire as to the mode of welding the ends of the sheets together. On this point I have...
35To Thomas Jefferson from Benjamin H. Latrobe, 1 December 1804 (Jefferson Papers)
In the reporting to You on the manner in which the work on the public buildings of the United States has been conducted during the Year 1804, I cannot avoid expressing my regret that a sensible portion of the appropriation by Congress has necessarily been expended in pulling down or repairing what was done insufficiently, previously to the Year 1803. The application of the public money to the...
36To Thomas Jefferson from Benjamin H. Latrobe, 2 October 1803 (Jefferson Papers)
I have delayed to answer your favor of the 14h. September for a few days, untill I had compleatly ascertained whether by any exertion it would be possible to procure sheet Iron sufficient to cover the public buildings & to make up the deficiency for Monticello this Autumn, and I have now the satisfaction to inform you, that all your Iron is rolled & will be sent off by the first opportunity, &...
37To Thomas Jefferson from Benjamin H. Latrobe, 26 January 1805 (Jefferson Papers)
My very frequent absence from home at the Ch. & Del. Canal, occasions a great unpunctuality in my correspondence, & I have to apologise for not sooner answering Your letter of the 16th. Jany. Immediately after hearing of the passing of the appropriation law by the Senate, I will come to Washington, & in the mean time endeavor to digest a system of procedure for the next season, to be laid...
38From Thomas Jefferson to Benjamin H. Latrobe, 5 October 1804 (Jefferson Papers)
I returned here on the 30th. Ult. and confess myself much disappointed in the progress of the Capitol. mr Lenthall urges the general sickness among his hands as the cause, and from my entire confidence in his diligence I have no doubt as much has been done as could be by the hands he had. the error has been in not engaging others so as to keep up a sufficient number constantly at work. I am...
39To 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...
40To Thomas Jefferson from Benjamin H. Latrobe, 5 January 1805 (Jefferson Papers)
I received while in Philadelphia, (from whence I am just now returned) a short letter Decr. 21st from Mr Thompson, chairman of the Come. of the House of Representatives on the public buildings, requiring simply an estimate of the sum required to finish the South wing of the Capitol. I promised, by return of post, an answer in a few days. In the mean time, having fortunately all the drawings...
41To 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 &...
42To Thomas Jefferson from Benjamin H. Latrobe, 28 February 1804 (Jefferson Papers)
The circumstances that attend the conflict between my wish to promote your views respecting the Capitol, and my conviction of the necessity for forming a plan different from that which is now said by Dr. Thornton to be the plan approved by General Washington are among the most unpleasant which I have ever had to struggle with.—It cannot in my opinion be stated that any plan,—that is any...
43From 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...
44To Thomas Jefferson from Benjamin H. Latrobe, 20 February 1804 (Jefferson Papers)
On the 4th. of April 1803, I had the honor to lay before you a general report, on the State of the public Buildings in this City. I now beg leave to submit to you an account of the progress that has been made in the works directed by you in consequence of that report: and in order more clearly to explain the subject, I beg to recapitulate concisely what I formerly stated. I. On the North Wing...
45From Thomas Jefferson to Benjamin H. Latrobe, 28 February 1804 (Jefferson Papers)
I am sorry the explanations attempted between Dr. Thornton & yourself on the manner of finishing the chamber of the house of representatives have not succeeded. at the original establishment of this place advertisements were published many months offering premiums for the best plans for a Capitol and President’s house. many were sent in. a council was held by Genl. Washington with the board of...
46To 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...
47To 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...
48Memorandum 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...
49Enclosure: Sources of Stone for the Capitol, 18 February 1804 (Jefferson Papers)
State of the Prospect of procuring Stone for the Capitol for the Year 1804.— 1. From Messrs. Brent & Cook .—These Gentlemen are the only contractors who may with certainty be relied upon. They require an advance of 2000.$ on a contract made with them Feby. 17h. 1804 for 1000 Tons delivered in Washington, at 8.$ ⅌ Ton for all stone of one Ton & under,—8.25 above one Ton to 1½ Ton & 8.75$, for...