1To Thomas Jefferson from Benjamin H. Latrobe, 29 March 1804 (Jefferson Papers)
I herewith transmit to you, a separate Roll containing drawings:—being the plans & sections of the South Wing of the Capitol according to the ideas which I explained to You when I had the favor of seeing you last.—I fear however that these and any other preparations for proceeding with the public Works may be useless,—for by a letter from Mr Lenthall I learn, that the appropriation bill has...
2To Thomas Jefferson from Benjamin H. Latrobe, 1 April 1804 (Jefferson Papers)
Since my last letter accompanying the designs for finishing the South Wing of the Capitol I have received an account of the passing of the appropriation Law for the completion of the public buildings. Although I did not expect this event I have lost no time in preparing the drawings, & giving the directions which are now become necessary; and I presume that Mr Lenthall is already engaged in...
3To Thomas Jefferson from Benjamin H. Latrobe, 29 April 1804 (Jefferson Papers)
I had not the honor of receiving your favors of the 30th. March , & the 9th. April, till 5 days ago, having been in the lower parts of the peninsula during the beginning & middle of the Month. My attendance on the Board of Directors of the Ches: & Delaware Canal at Wilmington has since then prevented that immediate attention to them which it was my duty to pay.— Previously to Your approval of...
4To Thomas Jefferson from Benjamin Henry Latrobe, 26 March 1805 (Jefferson Papers)
I have kept the enclosed letters by me above a Week, doubtful how to act respecting the subject of them. If in sending them to You I act imprudently,—my heart assures me, that the high opinion I have of your candor alone has led me into this imprudence, and that the sincerest & most respectful sentiments accompanies them.—By them it will appear that the sum I mentioned to You in the...
5To Thomas Jefferson from Benjamin Henry Latrobe, 31 March 1805 (Jefferson Papers)
Dr. Salary of the Surveyor of the public Buildings Cr. Decr. 29 to March 1st. 60 days. By one Years pay 1804. 1.700 April 17th. 9 July 1. 13 Balance, loss on this Engagement 86. 62 Oct. 20.
6To Thomas Jefferson from Benjamin Henry Latrobe, 28 April 1805 (Jefferson Papers)
On my return home,—for a few hours today,—to my family, I had the honor to receive both your letters of the 8th. & the 22d. April.—I feared that in the letter to which your first is an answer, I had exceeded the bounds of propriety, in my wish to go to the extent of my duty.—I beg to acknowledge with gratitude the manner in which you have received, & answered my letter.—I hope sincerely that...
7To Thomas Jefferson from Benjamin Henry Latrobe, 3 May 1805 (Jefferson Papers)
I herewith transmit to you my correct, & carefully collated copies of your original Sketches of the arrangement of the connecting buildings between the Presidents house and the public Offices. The originals having been drawn in very soft black lead pencils, have been so rubbed by carriage, as to be almost obliterated in some parts, and I have therefore by carefully examining every part of them...
8To Thomas Jefferson from Benjamin Henry Latrobe, 5 May 1805 (Jefferson Papers)
I herewith transmit to You two sheets containing the drawings of the buildings proposed to connect the president’s house with the public Offices on each side The heighth of story indispensibly necessary in the fireproof of the Treasury (of which Wythe’s post also transmit a plan to the Secy. Treasury) as well as the general appearance, & the connection of the Colonnade with the Offices at...
9To Thomas Jefferson from Benjamin Henry Latrobe, 8 June 1805 (Jefferson Papers)
The Board of Directors & Committee of Works of our Company broke up only last night. The Subscribers are in debt to the Company for arrears of Subscriptions 86.000$ & upwards,—a deficiency fatal to any active operations this season. I have therefore been directed to discharge all our hands (about 300) excepting 60, and in this distressing business I have been all day engaged,—& have not yet...
10To Thomas Jefferson from Benjamin Henry Latrobe, 21 June 1805 (Jefferson Papers)
We have now struck all the centers & I have employed Laborers to remove all the rubbish from the Ground story of the Capitol. If convenient to you to call when taking your ride at one o’clock, I shall be very happy to wait upon you to show You the Work, & will attend at the Building at that hour. The Men will then be at dinner & not return till two o’clock. With true respect DLC : Papers of...
11To Thomas Jefferson from Benjamin Henry Latrobe, 28 June 1805 (Jefferson Papers)
I hoped yesterday morning to have personally answered the notes I had the pleasure to receive from you. But you were engaged when I did myself the favor to call, & I could not again wait upon you.— The Method used, I believe most generally on the Wharves in London to raise Weights into & out of Vessels is by a Walking wheel as it is called. This Wheel brings your idea of the Wallower or...
12To Thomas Jefferson from Benjamin Henry Latrobe, 19 July 1805 (Jefferson Papers)
Since my departure from Washington, I find by constant correspondence with Mr. Lenthall, that all the works at Washington are regularly going on.—A difficulty has however occurred in procuring the boards for the roof of the Capitol of heart pine 12 inches broad.—Mr. King the Timber merchant at Georgetown has declined engaging to supply them on any terms. I have therefore written to Mr....
13To Thomas Jefferson from Benjamin Henry Latrobe, 31 August 1805 (Jefferson Papers)
I have been here for some time, 10 days, & shall remain untill every thing which requires my presence is compleatly disposed of, which will be the case I hope about the middle of next week. I will now endeavor to give you full information of all the circumstances attending the present state of the public buildings. 1. The Capitol.— The exterior walls are caried up perfectly as high as the tops...
14To Thomas Jefferson from Benjamin Henry Latrobe, 13 September 1805 (Jefferson Papers)
I have been this day honored by your letter of the 8th. and shall immediately take care, that the alteration in the North Wing of the capitol shall extend no further than to divide the room in the north west corner; leaving the Semieliptical Vestibule in its present state. I am, at the same time not a little apprehensive of the disposition of the Senate at their next meeting. On your arrival...
15To Thomas Jefferson from Benjamin Henry Latrobe, 21 October 1805 (Jefferson Papers)
For the last three Weeks I have been confined by a very severe Fever, & am still so far from well that I cannot leave the house.—I take the liberty to enclose a packet containing drawings for the capitol, and with your permission, shall avail myself of your cover for the remaining drawings which are now becoming very numerous & bulky, and the postage of which is a very serious expense.—My...
16To Thomas Jefferson from Benjamin Henry Latrobe, 15 December 1805 (Jefferson Papers)
I arrived in the city last night by the Mail, having for the last five weeks, since my recovery, been detained from day to day, by the most disagreeable task of winding up for the present the concerns of canal company, & discharging our people without the immediate means of discharging their claims.—On this account, and because I did not conceive that I had a right to occupy your valuable time...
17To Thomas Jefferson from Benjamin Henry Latrobe, 22 December 1805 (Jefferson Papers)
In applying the appropriations of the last Session of Congress, of 110,000$ to the prosecution of the work on the South wing of the Capitol, & of 20,000$ to the service of the other public buildings, I have endeavored so to comply with your directions, as to forward the progress of the works to the utmost extent of the limited resources of this City. The mass of building which has been erected...
18To Thomas Jefferson from Benjamin Henry Latrobe, 26 December 1805 (Jefferson Papers)
It has been out of my power from the multiplicity of business necessary now to be done to forward the reports & plans herewith sent before now.—I transmit them by Mr Demun, who will receive any commands with which you may please further to favor me respecting them.—A plan of the Wing so arranged as to be set in types is now in the hands of the printer, & will be ready for the printing of the...
19To Thomas Jefferson from Benjamin Henry Latrobe, 29 December 1805 (Jefferson Papers)
The storm of yesterday prevented my waiting upon you to state, that having done all the business relative to the accounts & design of the public buildings, which can now be done,—it was my wish to return for a short time to my family, from whom I have for the last 3 months been almost entirely separated.—Your note of to day found me just ready to go off by the mail, and as Mr. Lenthall is with...
20To Thomas Jefferson from Benjamin Henry Latrobe, 21 April 1806 (Jefferson Papers)
Although I have been in the city a week, an unfortunate accident has prevented my waiting upon you hitherto, a blow which I received upon my head from a brick, falling from the scaffolding of the building. I was stunned & senseless for a short time, & have been since so troubled with giddiness, that till yesterday, I could not see to write,—& have not ventured since the accident beyond the...
21To Thomas Jefferson from Benjamin Henry Latrobe, 27 April 1806 (Jefferson Papers)
Mr Latrobe most respectfully requests the favor that the President will send him the design of the proposed method of completing the Capitol, as it contains the plan of the recess, without which no commencement of the work can be made. The bearer if convenient will take charge of it. DLC : Papers of Thomas Jefferson.
22To Thomas Jefferson from Benjamin Henry Latrobe, 28 April 1806 (Jefferson Papers)
In the success of my exertions to compleat the South wing of the Capitol so far as that it shall be capable of receiving the House of representatives at their next session, I conceive all my professional reputation, & every evidence of the truth of my profession of attachment & respect to You to be at Stake,—& I beg leave therefore to assure you,—that whatever may be the event of my present...
23To Thomas Jefferson from Benjamin Henry Latrobe, 5 May 1806 (Jefferson Papers)
I have waited till this late hour for the list of his Workmen, & of all the blocks which are now on the Yard which Mr Blagden has promised me, & which is necessary to the completion of the scheme of the progress of the workg which I have to submit to you. I find so many of our Blocks, on examination, to be cracked by drying, that my statement, is incorrect, in as far as the work expected to be...
24To Thomas Jefferson from Benjamin Henry Latrobe, 13 May 1806 (Jefferson Papers)
I promised in a letter I wrote to You on Tuesday last to transmit to You by the post of the next day a statement of the progress which might reasonably be expected in the work of the South Wing of the Capitol in the course of the present season. A difficulty had occurred in the course of that day which had induced me to postpone this statement,—the flaws which were discovered in the stone...
25To Thomas Jefferson from Benjamin Henry Latrobe, 27 May 1806 (Jefferson Papers)
Our Works at the Canal are 18 Miles from hence at the nearest point, and at present 6 Miles in extent. Our Clerk of the Works being absent & sick the whole weight of general & detailed direction has for two Months been on my shoulders, and on this acct. my daily occupation is uncertain as to it’s place . Owing to this circumstance your letter & the drawings you returned to me, did not reach me...
26To Thomas Jefferson from Benjamin Henry Latrobe, 1 July 1806 (Jefferson Papers)
During the course of August the turning of the lobby arches will render the progress of the freestone work unequal, but it is highly probable that on the 1st. of Septr. All the freestone work will be finished & be ready to receive the roof. In the meantime,—on the 1st. of July,—All the sashes & frames of the Office Story will be put in, & the grounds for Plaistering put up.— 10th. The...
27To Thomas Jefferson from Benjamin Henry Latrobe, 4 July 1806 (Jefferson Papers)
I had the favor of your letter of the 1st. of July yesterday evening & have immediately taken the necessary steps to procure 6 Stonecutters,—but as this is the Anniversary of our Independence I have found it impossible to procure the attention of anybody today . Tomorrow, I expect to be able to make sure of as many as the city can spare. I have called the Master Stonecutters together, & have...
28To Thomas Jefferson from Benjamin Henry Latrobe, 5 July 1806 (Jefferson Papers)
Agreeably to your desire, I have exerted myself to collect Workmen (Stonecutters) in this city, but have not yet obtained more than two, who will set off as soon as they can finish a small job which they are now about.—I called the Master Stonecutters together, & was so fortunate, as to obtain their promise to assist me in ascertaining the Character of the Men I may find willing to go to the...
29To Thomas Jefferson from Benjamin Henry Latrobe, 14 August 1806 (Jefferson Papers)
My last letter d. Philadel. July 26th. gave you an account of the measures I had then taken, and was about to take in order to procure the necessary of supply of articles for the Capitol which can only be had to the North ward, & also to engage as many Stonecutters as could be got.—The consequences of my complaint had till then rendered it impossible for me to ride,—but I on the twenty seventh...
30To Thomas Jefferson from Benjamin Henry Latrobe, 27 August 1806 (Jefferson Papers)
As I could not be well spared myself, I sent down my Clerk to the Quarries, immediately after writing to you, and as soon as the business would permit, I followed him, and made such arrangements, as that we have now all our most heavy stone in the Yard, and shall not probably be again at a Stand for stone. The architrave is set round the East semicircle, & by Friday evening the three Stones...