51To Thomas Jefferson from Benjamin Henry Latrobe, 17 October 1806 (Jefferson Papers)
I had the honor of receiving your letter of the 13h. this morning, being arrived here from the country, on my road to Washington. I am still so weak, that a few days of rest are necessary to me, before I can proceed, but on Monday or Tuesday, I shall go by way of Newcastle to Baltimore & be in Washington in all next week. I write to Mr. Lenthall by this post & shall give him such instructions...
52Benjamin 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...
53To 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...
54To 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...
55To 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...
56To 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...
57To 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...
58To 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...
59To 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...
60To 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...
61To 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...
62To Thomas Jefferson from Benjamin Henry Latrobe, 30 November 1806 (Jefferson Papers)
The very unfavorable weather of yesterday rendered it impossible for me to procure all the information necessary to compleat the enclosed report before the evening, & then, having no servant of my own here, I could not procure it to be conveyed to you agreeably to promise. In order to avoid intrusion on your time at the present near approach of the Session, I do not wait upon You. I have left...
63To 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...
64To Thomas Jefferson from Benjamin Henry Latrobe, 14 July 1807 (Jefferson Papers)
The important business which engages you, induces me to anticipate what I presume to be one of the objects of your wish to see me,—namely to explain to you the state of the fund for the south wing of the Capitol:— My estimate (from memory) stood thus South wing 25.000.— Due from the North wing, at least 5,000— From the Offices of State, War, {—3,000
65To 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...
66To 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...
67To 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...
68To Thomas Jefferson from Benjamin Henry Latrobe, 27 November 1806 (Jefferson Papers)
Mr Lenthall did not put the drawings of the proposed alteration of the North Wing of the Capitol into my hands till this moment. I have in the limits of the recess been attentive to the caution you formerly gave me on the subject of the Center part of the Work, and they are contracted within the line that bounds the North side of the South Recess, at the angle of which stands the pilaster...
69Benjamin 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...
70To 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...
71To 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...
72To Thomas Jefferson from Benjamin Henry Latrobe, 21 May 1807 (Jefferson Papers)
In arranging the papers which I brought with me from Washington, I have had the mortification to find the enclosed letter, written immediately before my departure from the city, and intended to have been forwarded by the post of that evening, but which it appears, in the hurry of packing up has slipped into my paper case. I still beg the favor of you to read it, as it contains my reasons for...
73To Thomas Jefferson from Benjamin Henry Latrobe, 21 August 1807 (Jefferson Papers)
Your favor of the 18th. came to hand this morning, & I feel exceedingly obliged by your early attention to mine of the 13th. I should have been the happiest Man in the United States had you adopted my first instead of my second proposition. But you have not, & I must now pluck up the courage of a Man who marches to meet certain death at the breach, & do my duty without inquiring the result of...
74To 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...
75To 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,...
76To 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...
77To Thomas Jefferson from Benjamin Henry Latrobe, 13 August 1807 (Jefferson Papers)
I received the letter you did me the favor to write on the subject of the removal of the earth from the president’s house a few days ago, but have been unable to go thither till yesterday, & to consider the state of the ground. The ground proposed in your letter to be removed is comprised in the space I to O. The section below shows the relative situation of the ground, to the part comprized...
78Benjamin 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...
79To 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...
80To 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...
81Benjamin 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...
82To Thomas Jefferson from Benjamin Henry Latrobe, 6 January 1807 (Jefferson Papers)
Since my arrival in this city I have endeavored by enquiries here, & by writing to New York, Boston, & Albany to procure the glass necessary for the lights of the Cieling of the Hall of Representatives, and have been entirely disappointed. I have therefore sent by the Packet an order to England of which a duplicate shall follow by the first opportunity, and, unless the Vessel should be lost we...
83Benjamin 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...
84Benjamin 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
85Benjamin 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...
86To 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....
87To 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...
88Benjamin 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...
89To 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...
90To 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...
91To 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...
92To Thomas Jefferson from Benjamin Henry Latrobe, 29 October 1806 (Jefferson Papers)
During your illness, from which I sincerely rejoice that you are recovering, I was unwilling personally to intrude upon you, & I am still fearful, lest a visit on business, might not yet be convenient to You. I beg leave therefore to request Your consideration, and indulgence, while I state to you in writing, what I should otherwise have verbally laid before you.— I have heard with great...
93To Thomas Jefferson from Benjamin Henry Latrobe, 8 November 1806 (Jefferson Papers)
I am so unwilling to take up your time unnecessarily, especially on my own concerns, that I take the liberty to write, rather than speak to you. During my stay here from the 10th. of April to the latter part of May, I stated to you an account, showing the inadequacy of my Salary of 1.700$ to cover the expenses induced by my appointment. You were pleased to say that it should be raised to...
94To 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...
95To 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...
96Benjamin 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...
97To 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...
98Benjamin 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...
99Benjamin 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 , &...
100Benjamin 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...