31To James Madison from Benjamin Henry Latrobe, 1 September 1810 (Madison Papers)
It is my duty to take up so much of your time, as is necessary to inform you of the progress of the public business under my charge. By the arrangements made by Mr. Munroe, & the sale of useless materials, of which we have a very large stock on hand, I have been able to continue the work of the sculptors on the capitals of the Hall of Representatives, & when congress meet, there will be only...
32To James Madison from Benjamin Henry Latrobe, 24 July 1810 (Madison Papers)
Letter not found. 24 July 1810. Calendared as a two-page letter in the lists probably kept by Peter Force (DLC, series 7, container 2).
33To James Madison from Benjamin Henry Latrobe, 6 July 1810 (Abstract) (Madison Papers)
6 July 1810, Washington. Expresses views about that part of the law appropriating $20,000 for public buildings which relates to the “fireproofs” to be erected in the public building west of the President’s House. Observes that the only security that can be attained in safeguarding records from fire is against “fire from without,” since it is evident that in the case of “persons using the...
34To James Madison from Benjamin Henry Latrobe, 18 January 1810 (Madison Papers)
In the original design of the senate chamber submitted to and approved by the late President, it was intended to place a range of seats along the semicircular wall of the room for the accomodation of members of the house of Representatives. This design was in the progress of execution during the summer session, and was observed and remarked upon by several members of the Senate. The result of...
35To James Madison from Benjamin Henry Latrobe, 15 December 1809 (Madison Papers)
The alterations which you have been pleased to make in the report submitted to you by me, will be attended to, and fair copies one for the Senate, another for the House of Representatives will be transmitted to You on Monday morning. These copies it has been usual with the late President to send to the house of Congress by a Message. In respect to the more detailed Specification of the...
36To James Madison from Benjamin Henry Latrobe, 11 December 1809 (Abstract) (Madison Papers)
11 December 1809, Washington. Gives details on construction and repairs of the Capitol wings, President’s House, and adjacent roads. Progress on the south wing of the Capitol has been steady, with two capitals finished in the House of Representatives chamber and eight more in advanced stages of completion. A severe hailstorm in June broke “almost all the glass on the south front,” and...
37To James Madison from Benjamin Henry Latrobe, 23 November 1809 (Madison Papers)
I have the honor to submit to you the following sketch of expenditures on the furniture of the President’s house. The detail of the principal articles comprised in the first item, has been submitted to You, & I do not therefore occupy your time by repeating the same. Amount of payments on accts. fully settled, 8.575.59 Monies placed in the hands of Mr Deblois & expended for minor articles of...
38To James Madison from Benjamin Henry Latrobe, 8 September 1809 (Madison Papers)
I take the liberty of reporting to you the present State of the public buildings, a practice which I conceived it to be my duty to pursue, once a month, during the Presidency of Mr. Jefferson, & which you will, I doubt not, receive as a proof of my respect, & attention to the trust you have committed to me. During your very short visit to this city, I did myself twice the honor of waiting upon...
39To James Madison from Benjamin Henry Latrobe, 24 July 1809 (Madison Papers)
Having been for the last four days in Baltimore I did not receive the enclosed letters till my return. In answer I have written to Mr. Harvie, that, you certainly could not now take the Chariot , but that I should more fully explain myself to him in a few days. Mr. Patton’s letter I have merely acknowledged, and supposed that he would hear from yourself in a short time. In my last letter to...
40To James Madison from Benjamin Henry Latrobe, 7 July 1809 (Madison Papers)
I beg the favor of your instructions on the enclosed letter from the Seedsman of whom I procured your Seeds. I will wait upon you tomorrow to receive them. The appropriations of last Session for the objects committed to my care, are 15.000$ — for finishing & furnishing the Senate Chamber. 1.600$ . for discharging sundry accts. & fitting up the temporary Chamber 16.600 On both these appropns....
41To James Madison from Benjamin Henry Latrobe, 29 May 1809 (Madison Papers)
I have the honor to lay before you an account of the expenditure of 5.000$, advanced to me on account of the furniture of the President’s house. It will appear from the account itself that some of the payment have been made only on account of Claims. The Vouchers therefore being incomplete, untill the whole accounts shall have been liquidated, it has not be[en] possible to settle thus far the...
42To James Madison from Benjamin Henry Latrobe, 15 May 1809 (Madison Papers)
The expenditure of the office of the Surveyor of the Public buildings prior to the death of the late clerk of the works were as follows: Salary of the Clerk of the Works, Pr Annum $1.400 Office and house rent, from 150 to 250, say 200 A Subordinate clerk appointed at the commencement of the Year 1808 being found absolutely necessary at 1.25 pr Day, say 300 days in each Year } 375 Total...
43To James Madison from Benjamin Henry Latrobe, 14 March 1809 (Madison Papers)
The plan on which the Presidents square is proposed to be planted having been approved by the late President U.S. I had given the necessary directions prior to the 4th. of March last. The principal work which will be done during my departure will be the planting of trees & shrubs near the outer Wall as far as the Ground is finished, the manuring such parts as were omitted on account of the...
44To James Madison from Benjamin Henry Latrobe, 14 March 1809 (Madison Papers)
I solicit your directions as to the adaptation of the rooms in the East end of the President’s house to the use of the President and the Secretaries in Cabinet Council. If the first room occupied by Mr Coles as a sitting room be considered as sufficiently large for this use, supposing that used as the bedchamber to contain the Books & papers not in constant use, it would save much delay,...
45To James Madison from Benjamin Henry Latrobe, 12 March 1809 (Madison Papers)
Previously to the establishment of arrangements for carrying on the work during the ensuing Season, I beg to lay before you a proposition of which I hope to receive your approbation, and which I beg specially to explain on account of the personal interest I appear to have in it. Independently of my Salary, the expenses of the direction of the public works have been, Salary of the Clerk of the...
46To James Madison from Benjamin Henry Latrobe, 10 March 1809 (Madison Papers)
Agreeably to your instructions, I have made arrangements to provide the most necessary articles of furniture required for the President’s house. The first and most expensive of these are Looking Glasses of large dimensions. I have already purchased conditionally 3 pair, the largest of which is 8 ft. 6 in in highth, and I have in view one other pair, of very considerable highth & width. The...