1Benjamin Henry Latrobe to Thomas Jefferson, 14 April 1818 (Jefferson Papers)
Since my retirement from the public service I no longer here hear from You, in answer to the letters I have written transmitting the information you requested, and in the only manner in which I could, myself, obtain it. This is the only bad consequence which has resulted to me from my resignation, and the displeasure of the President US. I enclose you, I hope without offence, as a statement...
2Benjamin Henry Latrobe to Thomas Jefferson, 7 March 1818 (Jefferson Papers)
I arrived here with my family on the 12 h of Jan y and a few days afterwards was taken ill of my old complaint, the Hemicran i a , a complaint in which no one, I believe, can more heartily sympathise with me than yourself, as I believe you are often severely afflicted with it. I was confined to my room for three weeks. Immediately on my recovery I was called to Annapolis to examine the bar at...
3Benjamin Henry Latrobe to Thomas Jefferson, [ca. 26] December 1817 (Jefferson Papers)
The enclosed letter will prove to you that I have not been unmindful of your wish to have the rate of Carpenter’s prices at Philadelphia , as your rule of valuation for the work of the new College . M r Thackara is one of the most respectable citizens & mechanics in Philadelphia . He did the Plaisterer’s work, so much & deservedly admired, of the Capitol , & was sent for again, by but did not...
4Benjamin Henry Latrobe to Thomas Jefferson, 20 November 1817 (Jefferson Papers)
Your letter has remained a week unanswered in consequence of my absence, but immediately on my return I wrote (yesterday ) to Philadelphia , desired one of the Carpenter’s pricebooks to be sent to You, which I have no doubt will be done without Loss of time.— I am under the necessity of resigning my situation at the Capitol . The present Commissioner Colonel Lane , has from the first week,...
5Benjamin Henry Latrobe to Thomas Jefferson, 28 October 1817 (Jefferson Papers)
I thank you for your letter of the , & am much gratified by the approbation you express of my drawings. I hope you will do me the favor to let me know which of the pavilions you approve for your first work of next spring; with a sketch of its dimensions and its plan, that I may send you the working drawings & the details a t large. Some months ago, I sent to Jefferson & Gibson of Richmond a...
6Benjamin Henry Latrobe to Thomas Jefferson, 6 October 1817 (Jefferson Papers)
Having been absent from Washington I did not receive your letter of the 24 t of Aug t under untill about (sept. 7 th ) 3
7Benjamin Henry Latrobe to Thomas Jefferson, 12 August 1817 (Jefferson Papers)
A slight indisposition having prevented my attendance at my office, I did not receive your favor of the 2 d (post mark 4 th ) till the 9 th when you would have left Monticello , and I therefore did not immediately answer it, and now direct this letter where I hope it will soon reach You. I now offer to you, with the utmost freedom, a freedom which your request, as well as your long friendship...
8Benjamin Henry Latrobe to Thomas Jefferson, 28 July 1817 (Jefferson Papers)
Since my last of the 24 th I have engaged a young man of the name of Johnson , to undertake your Stone cutting, should the terms be approved. He is not only capable of to cut a Doric Capital, or a Base, but to execute the common Architectural decorations, as foliage & Rosettes, with great neatness & dispatch, for, in the scarcity of Carvers, I have, for some time past, put him under Andrei , &...
9Benjamin Henry Latrobe to Thomas Jefferson, 24 July 1817 (Jefferson Papers)
Yesterday I had the pleasure to receive Your letter d. July 16 th (P.mark 19 h ). I had presumed that you were from home, and also that as your institution has been so lately organized, some time could be given to the preparation of a design for the buildings.—But by your letter I find not only that I have been designing under a great misconception of your local e but also have presumed upon...
10Benjamin Henry Latrobe to Thomas Jefferson, 28 June 1817 (Jefferson Papers)
I have found so much pleasure in studying the plan of your College , that the drawings have grown into a larger bulk than can be conveniently sent by the Mail. If you can point out to me any convenient mode of conveyance within a few days, I should gladly avail myself of it. I have put the whole upon one very large sheet, which I am very unwilling to double; and to roll it on a stick will make...
11Benjamin Henry Latrobe to Thomas Jefferson, 17 June 1817 (Jefferson Papers)
Your letter of the 12 th curr t (P.M. 14 th June ) I have just now received, and am, more than I can express, flattered and gratified by the request it contains.—And not only is it pleasing to me, tha to find that after so many Years knowledge of my character & talents, while employed in the public service under your eye & direction, I still retain your esteem and friendship, but I have...
12Benjamin Henry Latrobe to Thomas Jefferson, 5 November 1816 (Jefferson Papers)
When your letter of the 27 t of Aug t arrived, I was confined to my bed by a bilious fever. After my recovery two long absences from the city, and as much occupation as filled all my time, prevented my acknowledging the favor you have done me in communicating to me the very simple, & valuable invention it discribes . But what renders your letter more valuable, is the assurance it gives me of...
13Benjamin Henry Latrobe to Thomas Jefferson, 12 July 1815 (Jefferson Papers)
My absence from Washington and the circuitous tour which your letter to me has made, has prevented its reaching my hands before the 6 th of this month. For the last 18 months I have resided at Pittsburg , engaged for M r Fulton in the agency of one of his Steam boat companies, whose object it was to establish a compleat line of boats from thence to New Orleans . But so deficient were the...
14Benjamin Henry Latrobe to Thomas Jefferson, 2 July 1812 (Jefferson Papers)
The occasion of my writing to you at present is to solicit your sanction to a voucher of expenditure which, without it, cannot pass the treasury, but will leave the amount chargeable to me individually.— The supper given, according to a custom, which I cannot but think a good one, to all the workmen at the Capitol was so arranged (as it to its being furnished), with M r Steele Stelle ,—that he...
15Benjamin Henry Latrobe to Thomas Jefferson, 1 August 1811 (Jefferson Papers)
Having received your very acceptable letter of the 14 th of April in the midst of the hurry & anxiety of my departure for Philadelphia , I did not acknowledge its receipt untill after my arrival in that city; and then only cursorily, and with a wish that my silence might not appear to have been the effect of insensibility to your kindness. I remained in Philadelphia more than six weeks,...
16Benjamin Henry Latrobe to Thomas Jefferson, 19 May 1811 (Jefferson Papers)
Two days before I left Washington , I had the pleasure to receive your letter of the 14 h of April .—This letter was of two much importance to me to be hastily answered amidsst amidst the hurry of the preparations necessary to my leaving Washington , and I brought it with me hither in hopes that I should find more leisure than at home to say to you all that is upon my mind in relation to the...
17Benjamin Henry Latrobe to Thomas Jefferson, 5 April 1811 (Jefferson Papers)
The high respect & attachment which I have always professed and very sincerely felt for you has not been proved by the frequency of my letters to you. But knowing how much your time & mind are occupied by correspondence of infinitely more importance, I have never had the vanity to believe that I am entitled to intrude upon you with t special occasion.—Another reason,—the reason indeed which...
18Benjamin Henry Latrobe to Thomas Jefferson, 28 August 1809 (Jefferson Papers)
I have packed up & sent to Richmond to be forwarded to Monticello a box containing the Model of the Capital of the Columns of the lower Vestibule of the Senatorial apartments of the North Wing of the Capitol; which is composed of Ears of Maize. On a short frustum raising it about 4 feet from the Ground it may serve for a Dial stand, and should you appropriate it to that use I will forward to...
19To Thomas Jefferson from Benjamin Henry Latrobe, 19 February 1809 (Jefferson Papers)
Mr Latrobe presents his most respectful Compliments to the President U.S.—& thanks him for the Inventory sent him. Mr. Latrobe’s object in going to Philadelphia is to take some measures necessary for the supply of sundry materials for the Pblic Bldgs, & articles of furniture for the Presids. house. He intends to return without fail on the 2d. of March. Before the President’s journey to...
20To Thomas Jefferson from Benjamin Henry Latrobe, 16 February 1809 (Jefferson Papers)
Mr LeMair has no inventory of the furniture of the President’s house, but he informs me that Mr Claxton’s is perfect excepting as to some articles of Plate made at Richmond. Under the circumstances of the case, if Mr Madison does me the honor to confide the future expenditure to me, it would be necessary for me to possess the inventory as soon as possible, or otherwise to refer the Member of...
21To Thomas Jefferson from Benjamin Henry Latrobe, 31 January 1809 (Jefferson Papers)
Your letter of the 29th. relative to the Glass supplied to you from the public Stock, was received on Sunday and I have since then searched all the papers belonging to the office for an account of it, an employment which took up the whole of yesterday, & part of this morning before I succeeded. I hope this will plead my apology for the late answer to your note. It was Mr Lenthall’s habit to...
22To Thomas Jefferson from Benjamin Henry Latrobe, 30 November 1808 (Jefferson Papers)
The impossibility in the present hurry of the Post office of ascertaining correctly the balances of the appropriations & indeed the variation hourly taking place in them by the payment of accounts, induced me to alter in the Report the passage rela tive to them, & to State merely tha t they were so nearly exhausted that the Work must soon close an d Workmen be discharged unless the legislature...
23To Thomas Jefferson from Benjamin Henry Latrobe, 21 November 1808 (Jefferson Papers)
Mr. Latrobe intended to have waited on the President this evening, but as he has returned the report, with his approbation, he will immediately cause two copies to be made of it, & then wait upon the President with them.— The Weather has for two days prevented the Gates being put into the Walls. If fair tomorrow the breach will be made & the Gates fixed.— DLC : Papers of Thomas Jefferson.
24To Thomas Jefferson from Benjamin Henry Latrobe, 20 November 1808 (Jefferson Papers)
I have the honor to enclose a sketch of my report on the public buildings. I will wait upon you on Tuesday in hopes of receiving your instructions on this subject With the highest respect I am Yrs. DLC : Papers of Thomas Jefferson.
25To Thomas Jefferson from Benjamin Henry Latrobe, 18 November 1808 (Jefferson Papers)
The several appropriations made at the last session of Congress for the progress of the work on the Public Buildings, have, during the late recess of the Legislature been applied to their specific objects in the manner which I now beg leave to report to You. 1. South Wing of the Capitol In this wing all the wood work & the covering of the Roof have been painted,—the Iron railing of the...
26To Thomas Jefferson from Benjamin Henry Latrobe, 23 September 1808 (Jefferson Papers)
The fall of the arch or Vault of the Court room in the North Wing of the Capitol on Monday last, & the death of Mr. Lenthall who was buried in its ruins, must be known to you through the medium of the National Intelligencer & the Monitor in all its circumstances. Among the multitude of vexations, regrets, & business which this unfortunate event has thrown upon me, I feel extremely mortified...
27To Thomas Jefferson from Benjamin Henry Latrobe, 11 September 1808 (Jefferson Papers)
Since your departure the public Works have made regular progress, nor has any thing occurred which would have authorized, my trespassing on your time by a letter.—I have been since then in Philadelphia & New York, & returned hither about three weeks ago.—The confinement of my wife & the loss of our child has since my return delayed the statement I am now going to make of the present situation...
28To Thomas Jefferson from Benjamin Henry Latrobe, 6 July 1808 (Jefferson Papers)
The stone for the Steps of the President’s house is, in part arrived, & I am in hopes that the remainder will come up this week. It is now to be decided where it shall be wrought. GRAPHIC IN MANUSCRIPT If it could be prepared immediately on the spot marked ⊙ not less than 250 Dollars would be saved out of the expence of hauling & time which would be necessary if wrought out of the...
29To Thomas Jefferson from Benjamin Henry Latrobe, 25 May 1808 (Jefferson Papers)
I herein enclose the strongest specimen of the plant which under the name of Dryrot commits such ravages upon the timber of buildings,—which I had ever met with. It was taken from the timber upon which the principal piers of the Senate chamber were built. The timber itself is reduced almost to powder, being more decayed than any other part of the work. We have now pulled them all down, & I...
30To Thomas Jefferson from Benjamin Henry Latrobe, 23 May 1808 (Jefferson Papers)
Since your departure I have made every possible exertion to forward the progress of the public Works,—and will concisely state their present situation. 1. North Wing, Capitol .— To support the Vaults of the Courtroom-cellar , it was necessary to take up & vault the floors of the stairs & north lobby against which . This has been done, & the vaults are finished. The Cellar of the Court is also...
31To Thomas Jefferson from Benjamin Henry Latrobe, 2 May 1808 (Jefferson Papers)
Since I dispatched my letter of this morning, I have gone over with Mr Lenthall the papers in the office, & the following is the result. Our large stone has cost $1.75 ⅌ perch such as we have always used at the Capitol; but small stone fit for the Wall, if mixed with larger, may be had at $1.12 ½ , say with Waste, and laying up close, $1.30 One man will lay a perch of Wall & point it on both...
32To Thomas Jefferson from Benjamin Henry Latrobe, 1 May 1808 (Jefferson Papers)
In reply to the letter I have had the honor to receive from you this morning I beg to submit the following estimate & remarks.— Estimate of the prime cost of Stone walling, in Washington, May 1st. 1808. 1./ The price at which we have paid for rough Stone for the last Season at least, (I believe for 3 Years past) is ⅌ perch delivered at the Wharf.— $1.75 It will not be lower this season,...
33To Thomas Jefferson from Benjamin Henry Latrobe, 21 April 1808 (Jefferson Papers)
A Report has just now been made to the House on the public Buildings. It contains all the arguments that can be adduced in favor of the appropriation & the best defence that could have been urged as to the deficit. To me it is highly flattering, a circumstance not less pleasing to my self love, & useful to my professional standing, than agreeable to every feeling of my heart in reference to...
34To Thomas Jefferson from Benjamin Henry Latrobe, 23 March 1808 (Jefferson Papers)
To the President of the United States of America. The Report of the Surveyor of the Publick buildings of the United States, at Washington March 23d. 1808 My Report on the progress and state of the publick buildings of the United States in the City of Washington during the year 1807 has been delayed untill all the work performed at the Capitol and the Presidents house could be measured and the...
35To Thomas Jefferson from Benjamin Henry Latrobe, 22 March 1808 (Jefferson Papers)
I herewith have the honor to send you two Copies of my report on the public buildings, the statements being corrected agreeably to your observations. It has been delayed by the copyist, & is even now not as fair, as I could have wished. With the highest respect Yrs. faithfully DLC : Papers of Thomas Jefferson.
36To Thomas Jefferson from Benjamin Henry Latrobe, 14 March 1808 (Jefferson Papers)
Agreeably to your desire I submit to you an estimate of one intercolumnation as erected on each side of the Presidents house, calculating for a Stone entablature, on the South front,—and also stating the difference if the entablature be of Timber. Should the public offices be accomodated in these rooms, the necessary security from fire might require them to be arched as in the Treasury...
37To Thomas Jefferson from Benjamin Henry Latrobe, 13 March 1808 (Jefferson Papers)
Mr. Latrobe offers his most respectful compliments to the President UStates & sends his annual report for consideration. It has taken up the whole of his time & attention for the last two months.—The accounts may be perhaps more clearly stated but their result is correct.— Mr L. will have the honor of waiting on the President on Wednesday morning for his further instructions unless it should...
38To Thomas Jefferson from Benjamin Henry Latrobe, 6 March 1808 (Jefferson Papers)
I am exceedingly sorry that the verbal, & written orders given on my departure for Philadelphia respecting the cistern, have not been attended to. I will immediately attend to it, & have the leaks stopped from the place which is discovered to be tight, upwards. This however can only be a temporary measure,—but a Vat-cistern will forever cure the defect, and I will apply to the Secy. of the...
39To Thomas Jefferson from Benjamin Henry Latrobe, 23 January 1808 (Jefferson Papers)
I arrived here on Wednesday evening, having been 11 days on the road, 3 of which were spent in waiting till it was practicable to cross the Susquehannah. The last fortnight of my stay in Philadelphia was devoted to the providing of curtains to be hung round the house of representatives by direction of the Committee appointed to devise the means of rendering the Hall less objectionable on the...
40To Thomas Jefferson from Benjamin Henry Latrobe, 10 November 1807 (Jefferson Papers)
I have been twice at the Pr. House in hopes of having the favor of a few minutes conversation with you before my departure; but was both times so unfortunate as to find you engaged, and at the same time to be so pressed myself that I could not watch the opportunity of speaking to you.— I have I hope left nothing in a state to suffer by my absence, & I shall return as soon as I can arrange my...
41To Thomas Jefferson from Benjamin Henry Latrobe, 7 November 1807 (Jefferson Papers)
I do not leave Washington till Tuesday next, before which period I hope to have the pleasure to wait upon you. The House of Representatives, exhibited only one leak in the Dome, but a very bad one in the flat under the dome at X [GRAPHIC IN MANUSCRIPT] at the NE Corner. The rain poured in a stream into the lobby. I think it can be easily cured, & probably arose from a drift of Snow. The...
42To Thomas Jefferson from Benjamin Henry Latrobe, 31 October 1807 (Jefferson Papers)
Last night, the wind having changed suddenly to the N. West it was exceedingly cold for a short time,—and this morning the condensed vapor was found to have dropped upon the decks in 3 or 4 places in the Hall of Representatives, but in one place exactly over one of the decks, a quantity fell equal to about a Wine Glass full. On going onto the roof I found the Cause of this difference. In...
43To Thomas Jefferson from Benjamin Henry Latrobe, 9 October 1807 (Jefferson Papers)
I forgot to mention this morning,—that since my measurement & certificate of Mr Barry’s account he has threatened that unless I immediately complete his measurement he shall charge two Dollars a day for waiting here, & he has stated that you had ordered that no money should be paid out of the funds appropriated to the President’s house untill his demands were satisfied.—I feel an objection to...
44To Thomas Jefferson from Benjamin Henry Latrobe, 3 October 1807 (Jefferson Papers)
B. Henry Latrobe presents his most respectful compliments to the President of the UStates, & begs to know when he may wait upon him, or whether it is rather the wish of the President to come up to the Capitol when Mr Latrobe may attend him.— The Glass for the roof of the Capitol was brought up to the building this morning and will be begun to be put on on Monday.— DLC : Papers of Thomas Jefferson.
45To Thomas Jefferson from Benjamin Henry Latrobe, 24 September 1807 (Jefferson Papers)
Your absence from Monticello having prevented my hearing from you before this day, I had proceeded to carry up the Chimnies agreeably to the plan I sent to you. They must be capped as nearly level with the top of the Dome as possible, & I must contrive some kind of a sky light in the center of them. It would not well have done to have carried them straight up; for 4 of them would have come out...
46To Thomas Jefferson from Benjamin Henry Latrobe, 17 September 1807 (Jefferson Papers)
The arrangements proposed by me for the use of the rooms with North wing of the Capitol may be postponed untill your arrival, when on inspection of them, it may perhaps occur to you to give directions different from those which I have proposed, or which have yet been suggested. The extremely inconvenient accomodation of the court will no doubt strike you, & in the mean time, I will write to...
47To Thomas Jefferson from Benjamin Henry Latrobe, 14 September 1807 (Jefferson Papers)
I much fear that in performing my duty, and endeavoring to give you all the information possible on the State of the public buildings, I claim an unreasonable portion of your time & attention.—My present letter is on a subject on which I see only one mode of proceeding, and that one , involves a mode of finishing the roof of the North wing on which I solicit your opinion and direction:...
48To Thomas Jefferson from Benjamin Henry Latrobe, 12 September 1807 (Jefferson Papers)
In my last I informed you of some difficulties which had occurred respecting Mr. Lenthall and our carpenters. I have fortunately arranged every thing with bothe parties to my perfect satisfaction, and hope to derive advantage from the perfect explanation which has taken place. The work that has been done upon thereof has been entirely successful. The West part has not leaked a drop during the...
49To Thomas Jefferson from Benjamin Henry Latrobe, 5 September 1807 (Jefferson Papers)
Mr. Lenthall has been so ill in health, & so much worse in humor for sometime past, that I cannot leave the Work sufficiently to compleat today the drawings necessary to explain to You the Work on the North Wing for which I have to request Your direction.—Every thing is going on well & to my utmost satisfaction excepting my situation with Mr Lenthall. He has been always in the habit of...
50To Thomas Jefferson from Benjamin Henry Latrobe, 2 September 1807 (Jefferson Papers)
I wrote to you yesterday, & gave you an account of the State of the Work in the South Wing of the Capitol. I will now report to you the progress of our work at the Presidents house. The South road is cut out excepting only at the Block A, at which [GRAPHIC IN MANUSCRIPT] the Men are hard at Work & in three Weeks they will have removed it. From the point B westward the Wall has not been...