1To Thomas Jefferson from Benjamin H. Latrobe, 26 November 1804 (Jefferson Papers)
This day our board & its Committees finish their business. I shall get into the Mail, if possible today. At all events tomorrow & come on without the loss of a moments’ time. I am with the sincerest respect Yrs RC ( DLC ); endorsed by TJ as received 27 Nov. and so recorded in SJL .
2To 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 .
3To Thomas Jefferson from Benjamin H. Latrobe, 9 November 1804 (Jefferson Papers)
I arrived at this place from our works on the Canal yesterday, having daily attended at the postroad from the 3rd of Novr. to the 5th. in hopes that I should have been able to procure a passage to Washington. But the stages were so crouded with the Members going to Congress that I could not get a seat, and on the 5th. both lines were preengaged for three days to come. It was then too late to...
4To Thomas Jefferson from Benjamin H. Latrobe, 15 January 1804 (Jefferson Papers)
The following passage is contained in a letter just received from Mr Wm Stewart, by far the most wealthy & respectable Stonecutter at Baltimore. Mr Robert Stewart ,—his father is proprietor of an acre, containing the best Stone on the Island. I have not yet received his proposals for supplying stone. “I have understood ⅌ Mr Conway who was in Baltimore some time ago, that Mr D. C. Brent expects...
5To Thomas Jefferson from Benjamin H. Latrobe, 18 October 1804 (Jefferson Papers)
I accept with pleasure the favor of Your invitation to dinner tomorrow, and will come to the house at such an hour, with the workmen, as to put the work you propose into immediate execution. After waiting upon you yesterday, I examined the whole of the lower part of the building with a view to a supply of water to the Washhouse by means of the proposed forcing pump, and by this means have...
6To 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 ,...
7To Thomas Jefferson from Benjamin H. Latrobe, 14 December 1803 (Jefferson Papers)
I have for some days hoped that every day of my stay here would be the last. But I am so dependent of the exertions of others, and so unwilling to leave any thing to their neglect after I shall be gone, that I am still detained. Every however draws to a conclusion. In the mean time, on referring to the date of my letter to the Vice president on the subject of the means of warming the Senate...
8To Thomas Jefferson from Benjamin H. Latrobe, 18 February 1804 (Jefferson Papers)
Since I last had the honor to wait upon you nothing has occurred upon which I felt myself authorized to take up your time, and though I have often been in your house, I have not found it necessary to trespass upon your leisure for directions.— In the mean time, every thing has been prepared to begin the roof as soon as the Weather promises to be fair.—The lead for the Gutters has been cast &...
9To Thomas Jefferson from Benjamin H. Latrobe, 26 February 1804 (Jefferson Papers)
I have received Your note of this morning, and am very happy imperfect as it is, that the Polygraph is not useless to you. I wrote to Mr Peale two or three days ago giving him the necessary directions & particularly describing the manner of making two drawers, one on each side instead of one. If Mr. Foxall makes the plate, he should also polish or scour it. I have another idea however on this...
10To Thomas Jefferson from Benjamin H. Latrobe, 27 February 1804 (Jefferson Papers)
I judged very ill in going to Thornton . In a few peremptory words, he, in fact, told me, that no difficulties existed in his plan, but such as were made by those who were too ignorant to remove them and though these were not exactly his words,—his expressions, his tone, his manner, & his absolute refusal to devote a few minutes to discuss the subject spoke his meaning even more strongly and...
11To Thomas Jefferson from Benjamin H. Latrobe, 30 November 1803 (Jefferson Papers)
The difficulties I have met with in my surveys & levellings for the Canal which is to unite the Bays of Chesapeake & Delaware, have forced me to pay much less attention, otherwise than by correspondence to the duties with which you have intrusted me, than I could have wished.—I am now here solely for the purpose of urging the progress of those works which must be performed here , and find that...
12To 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...
13To Thomas Jefferson from Benjamin H. Latrobe, 29 February 1804 (Jefferson Papers)
The situation of Mr. Lenthall as Clerk of the Works at the Capitol and Presidents house, combines, the duties formerly performed by seperate persons. For instance, Mr. Williams was employed to collect materials at 800 Dollars pr. annum,—Mr. Blagden measured and superintended the Stone work at 3$. 66 Cents pr. day;—the Carpenter at 2$. 33 cts., the Sculptor or Carver at 3$,—each kept their day...
14To 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...
15To Thomas Jefferson from Benjamin H. Latrobe, 11 October 1804 (Jefferson Papers)
I am just now arrived in the city, and will wait upon you as soon as I can make myself acquainted with the exact state of the public Works. I left Washington on the 30th. of June last. On the 12th. of July, Mrs. Latrobe’s mother died suddenly. On the 17th she was brought to bed of a daughter and continued so unwell for a month that it was improper to communicate to her the loss she had...
16To 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...
17To Thomas Jefferson from Benjamin H. Latrobe, 21 February 1805 (Jefferson Papers)
For the last three weeks I have been at Lancaster as the Agent of the Ches. & Del. Canal Co. to solicit Legislative aid to our undertaking, and having been detained from day to day, by the usual tediousness of such an application. Having succeeded as far as a resolution of each house in our favor, I returned hither last night, and shall in an hour proceed by the Mail to the works and thence to...
18To 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...
19To 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...
20To 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...
21To Thomas Jefferson from Benjamin H. Latrobe, 17 November 1804 (Jefferson Papers)
I returned home last night from the Canal and found your favor of the 14th . Our directors meet on Tuesday next the 20th. instant, and will probably sit the two following days. As soon as the board breaks up, I shall set off for Washington, and arrive with the Mail.—There are a few articles of information which it will be necessary for me to obtain before I can compleat my report,—as to the...
22To 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...
23To 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...
24To 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...
25To 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, &...
26To 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...
27To 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...
28To 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...
29To 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 &...
30To 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...