1From Thomas Jefferson to Benjamin H. Latrobe, 31 March 1804 (Jefferson Papers)
Congress having appropriated another sum of 50,000. D. for the public buildings it becomes necessary to settle the plan of operations for the summer. the following are my ideas on the subject. Capitol. The walls to be completely finished this summer. for ensuring this every effort must be exerted from this day forward, the supplies of stone pushed with all the energy possible, and the cutting...
2From Thomas Jefferson to Benjamin H. Latrobe, 9 April 1804 (Jefferson Papers)
I recieved, three days ago, your favor of Mar. 29. and have taken the first leisure moment to consider it’s contents & the drawings they refer to, and I approve generally of the internal distribution of both the floors, with some exceptions which shall be noted below. but we must for the present defer whatever is external to the North wall of the South wing, that is to say, the Vestibule, the...
3From Thomas Jefferson to Benjamin Henry Latrobe, 10 March 1805 (Jefferson Papers)
I now inclose you the letter for mr Appleton which covers one for mr Mazzei according to promise. I have considered the case of mr Lenthall according to your letter of Feb. 29. 04. and to the statement you put into my hands the other day, and I approve of your allowing him three dollars & two thirds a day. pressed with business before my departure I can only add my salutations and assurances...
4From Thomas Jefferson to Benjamin Henry Latrobe, 3 April 1805 (Jefferson Papers)
I return you mr Lenthal’s letter, on which the most painful observation is that it furnishes proof in addition to suggestions which have been recieved that he is not always in a state of temperance. should he take this turn, he would be a real loss. I have by this post desired mr Munroe to settle his account @ 4. D. a day, back from the beginning because that seems to have been his own...
5From Thomas Jefferson to Benjamin Henry Latrobe, 22 April 1805 (Jefferson Papers)
Having returned a few days since, I called on mr Ludlow to have the offices for this house now begun. he told me he awaited your instructions, papers etc and would write to you immediately. having three months now before our Autumnal recess I should be glad this work could be pushed on such a scale as to compleat one end at least while I am here. having given you the only sketches I had of the...
6From Thomas Jefferson to Benjamin Henry Latrobe, 11 May 1805 (Jefferson Papers)
I could not sooner return your drawings, because I could not till yesterday have a conference with mr Gallatin. some parts of your propositions being approved, some doubtful, some not satisfactory. I can only write short observations as texts for consideration, and to be discussed vivâ voce when you come here. the piers instead of half columns at the junction of the new with the old buildings...
7From Thomas Jefferson to Benjamin Henry Latrobe, 8 September 1805 (Jefferson Papers)
Yours of Aug. 31. has been recieved. the partition you propose in the clerk’s office of the Senate is readily approved, as it will not injure the room for that purpose, and is necessary to support the decayed beam. this latter consideration will justify it to the Senate even should it not be otherwise agreeable to them. but the division of the semicircular Vestibule I cannot say I approve. it...
8From Thomas Jefferson to Benjamin Henry Latrobe, 20 April 1806 (Jefferson Papers)
The H. of R. having by a resolution requested me to take effectual measures for the completion of the S. wing of the Capitol by the commencement of the next session, it becomes my duty to be under a constant & well supported certainty that the work (except such internal stone carving as may be done at leisure hereafter) is making such progress as will admit it’s being ready by a fixed day....
9From Thomas Jefferson to Benjamin Henry Latrobe, 28 April 1806 (Jefferson Papers)
Th: Jefferson presents his compliments to mr Latrobe. he delivered yesterday to Colo. Tatham (who said he was to meet mr Latrobe at 10. oclock, and therefore came to ask them) every drawing of the capitol he was able to find, & which, as he then supposed, he possessed but after he was gone he found another which he suspects to be exactly the one mr Latrobe desires, as he observes in it a part...
10From Thomas Jefferson to Benjamin Henry Latrobe, 1 July 1806 (Jefferson Papers)
In order to keep within our power the completion of the South wing of the Capitol, as desired by the H. of R. I have requested mr Lenthall to report to me, at the epochs stated in your estimate, the progress actually made. the report of this day should have stated 1. all the columns on the E. side set up. this is done. 2. the West architrave up. half only up. i.e. ¼ of the whole. 3. grounds...