1From George Washington to Pierre Charles L’Enfant, 4 March 1782 (Washington Papers)
I have been favord with a Letter from you of the 18th feby—I am sensible how disagreable it is to have an inferior Officer promoted over your head, and am sorry it is not in my power to remedy it—The promotion of Major Rochefontaine was a matter in which I had not the least interference, it took place solely on the recommendation of General Duportail, who I believe represented to Congress,...
2From George Washington to Pierre Charles L’Enfant, 15 February 1783 (Washington Papers)
Your Letter of the 28th of January did not reach me ’till yesterday. In answer to it—I can only repeat what I before said on the same subject, in answer to your former application, that from the testimony of those under whom you have served and from the little opportunity I have myself had of observing your Conduct I have every reason to believe you a meritorious Officer—nor will any objection...
3From George Washington to Pierre Charles L’Enfant, 30 October 1783 (Washington Papers)
Herewith you will receive 250 Dollars in Bank notes, with which you will please to procure for me Eight of the Bald Eagles—one of which, if there shall appear (upon conversing with gentlemen, better acquainted in those matters than I am) no impropriety in it, or any deviation from the intention of the order, may not only be finished in a masterly manner; but ornamented in an elegant , tho’ not...
4From George Washington to Pierre Charles L’Enfant, 4 December 1783 (Washington Papers)
Having made a purchase of most of the Articles of plated ware contained in my last to the Marqs de la Fayette, of wch you were the bearer, & was desired, if he was not in Paris, to open & comply with. I have to request that nothing may be done in the matter by him or you, as it is unnecessary. I am Sir Your Most Obt Servt DLC : Papers of George Washington.
5From George Washington to Pierre L’Enfant, 1 January 1787 (Washington Papers)
The Letter which you did me the honor of writing to me the 6th ulto together with the Memorial which accompanied it came safe, after some delay. Without entering into the merits of the latter, which I could only do as an individual, I shall regret that your zeal for the honor, & your wishes to advance what you conceived to be the interests of the Society of the Cincinnati, should have led you...
6From Alexander Hamilton to Pierre Charles L’Enfant, 29 September 1790 (Hamilton Papers)
I have examined into the State of the provision for the payment of interest to foreign officers; and am very Sorry to find that it does not admit of my complying with your wish. Funds have been appropriated for payment of that interest at Paris to the end of the year 1788. &c. Copy, Lilly Library, Indiana University, Bloomington. L’Enfant, a Frenchman, had served as a volunteer in the...
7From Thomas Jefferson to Pierre Charles L’Enfant, [2] March 1791 (Jefferson Papers)
You are desired to proceed to George town where you will find Mr. Ellicot employed in making a survey and map of the federal territory. The special object of asking your aid is to have drawings of the particular grounds most likely to be approved for the site of the federal town and buildings. You will therefore be pleased to begin on the Eastern branch, and proceed from thence upwards, laying...
8VII. Thomas Jefferson to Pierre Charles L’Enfant, 17 March 1791 (Jefferson Papers)
Your favor of the 11. inst. has been duly recieved. Between the date of that and your reciept of the present, it is probable that the most important parts of the ground towards the Eastern branch will have been delineated. However, whether they are or not, as the President will go on within two or three days, and would wish to have under his eye, when at Georgetown, a drawing also of the...
9From George Washington to Pierre-Charles L’Enfant, 4 April 1791 (Washington Papers)
Although I do not conceive that you will derive any material advantage from an examination of the enclosed papers, yet, as they have been drawn by different persons, and under different circumstances, they may be compared with your own ideas of a proper plan for the Federal City (under the prospect which now presents itself to us.)—For this purpose I commit them to your private inspection...
10XII. Thomas Jefferson to Pierre Charles L’Enfant, 10 April 1791 (Jefferson Papers)
I am favored with your letter of the 4th. inst. and in compliance with your request I have examined my papers and found the plans of Frankfort on the Mayne, Carlsruhe, Amsterdam Strasburg, Paris, Orleans, Bordeaux, Lyons, Montpelier, Marseilles, Turin and Milan, which I send in a roll by this post. They are on large and accurate scales, having been procured by me while in those respective...
11From Alexander Hamilton to Pierre Charles L’Enfant, 24 May 1791 (Hamilton Papers)
I received in due time your letter of the 8th. of April; an early acknowlegement of which has been prevented by the hurry of business. I thank you much for the full communication you have made me concerning the intended seat of Government, and will be obliged by a continuance of your observations and such further information as the progress of your operations may render interesting. You will...
12From Thomas Jefferson to Pierre Charles L’Enfant, 18 August 1791 (Jefferson Papers)
The President had understood for some time past that you were coming on to Philadelphia and New York, and therefore has delayed mentioning to you some matters which have occurred to him. Will you be so good as to inform me by return of post whether it is still your purpose to come this way, and when, that the President may thereon decide whether he will communicate his ideas by letter, or...
13From Thomas Jefferson to Pierre Charles L’Enfant, 31 August 1791 (Jefferson Papers)
Th: Jefferson presents his compliments to Majr. Lenfant, and begs the favor of him to come and take a dinner with him and Mr. Madison alone tomorrow at half after three, as they wish to converse with him before their departure on several matters relative to George town. RC ( DLC : Digges-L’Enfant-Morgan Papers). Not recorded in SJL .
14Tobias Lear to Pierre-Charles L’Enfant, 1 September 1791 (Washington Papers)
The President wishes to have the map of the federal City to shew to some Gentlemen about nine o’clock this morning—and requests you to send it either by the bearer at this time, or if it should be more convenient for you, he shall call for it a little before nine. I am Dear Sir with much esteem Your most Obedt Servt ALS , DLC : Digges-L’Enfant-Morgan Papers. For background to this letter, see...
15From George Washington to Pierre L’Enfant, 28 November 1791 (Washington Papers)
Your letter of the 21st instant came duly to hand, as did one of the same date from Mr Carroll of Duddington on the same subject. A Copy of my answer to the latter is enclosed, by which you will perceive I have proposed an accomodation. As a similar case cannot happen again (Mr Carrolls house having been begun before the Federal District was fixed upon) no precedent will be established by...
16Enclosure II: George Washington to Pierre Charles L’Enfant, 1 December 1791 (Jefferson Papers)
I have recieved with sincere concern the information from yourself as well as others, that you have proceeded to demolish the house of Mr. Carrol of Duddington, against his consent, and without authority from the Commissioners, or any other person. In this you have laid yourself open to the laws, and in a country where they will have their course. To their animadversion will belong the present...
17From George Washington to Pierre L’Enfant, 2 December 1791 (Washington Papers)
I have received with sincere concern the information from yourself as well as others, that you have proceeded to demolish the house of Mr Carroll of Duddington, against his consent, and without authority from the Commissioners or any other person. In this you have laid yourself open to the Laws, and in a Country where they will have their course. To their animadversion will belong the present...
18From George Washington to Pierre L’ Enfant, 13 December 1791 (Washington Papers)
I have received your letter of the 7th instant, and can only once more, and now for all, inform you that every matter and thing which has relation to the Federal district, and the City within it, is committed to the Commissioners appointed agreeably to the “Act for establishing the temporary and permanent Seat of the Government of the United States” that it is from them you are to derive your...
19From Thomas Jefferson to Pierre Charles L’Enfant, 7 January 1792 (Jefferson Papers)
Th: Jefferson presents his compliments to Majr. Lenfant and is sorry to have been absent when he was so kind as to call on him, as he wishes to have some conversation with him on the subject of the federal city. He asks the favor of him to come and take a private dinner with him tomorrow at half after three which may afford time and opportunity for the purpose. RC ( DLC :...
20From Thomas Jefferson to Pierre Charles L’Enfant, 22 February 1792 (Jefferson Papers)
The advance of the season begins to require that the plans for the buildings and other public works at the Federal city should be in readiness, and the persons engaged who are to carry them into execution. The circumstances which have lately happened have produced an uncertainty whether you may be disposed to continue your services there. I am charged by the President to say that your...
21Thomas Jefferson to Pierre Charles L’Enfant, [27 February 1792] (Hamilton Papers)
From your letter in answer to mine of the and your declarations in conversation with Mr. Lear it is understood that you absoultely decline acting under the authority of the present Commissioners. If this understanding of your meaning be right I am instructed by the President to inform you that notwithstanding the desire he has entertained to preserve your agency in the business the condition...
22From Thomas Jefferson to Pierre Charles L’Enfant, 27 February 1792 (Jefferson Papers)
From your letter received yesterday in answer to my last, and your declarations in conversation with Mr. Lear, it is understood that you absolutely decline acting under the authority of the present commissioners. If this understanding of your meaning be right, I am instructed by the President to inform you that notwithstanding the desire he has entertained to preserve your agency in the...
23From George Washington to Pierre L’Enfant, 28 February 1792 (Washington Papers)
Your final resolution being taken, I shall delay no longer to give my ideas to the Commissioners for carrying into effect the plan for the federal City. The continuance of your services (as I have often assured you) would have been pleasing to me, could they have been retained on terms compatible with the law. Every mode has been tried to accommodate your wishes on this principle, except...
24From Alexander Hamilton to Pierre Charles L’Enfant, 29 March 1793 (Hamilton Papers)
The ideas you have communicated give me pain. I wish you had not adopted the idea of adjourning the hands, unless you had been legally directed so to do. I cannot imagine that the Directors will adopt the change. If you are still in a situation to go on with propriety I wish you by all means to do it. You may be assured I shall not be unmindful of the business. Yrs. truly ALS , Hamilton...
25From Alexander Hamilton to Pierre Charles L’Enfant, [20 March 1798] (Hamilton Papers)
On my return from Albany, I received a letter referring to one I sometime since received from you. I am ashamed to tell you that the extreme pressure of my engagements has hindered my attending hitherto to your wish. I shall in the course of this week pay such attention to it as my relative situation permits, guided by a real desire to be useful to you. Yrs. with regard ALS , Digges-L’Enfant...
26From Alexander Hamilton to Pierre Charles L’Enfant, [3 July 1798] (Hamilton Papers)
I lose no time in answering your letter of the first instant. I am altogether at a loss to imagine how Mr Soderstrom could have so extremely misconceived me. You may be assured that he has done it—that it was not said that you received a good price from Adet or any other person or any thing like it. The substance of what I observed was this—“that an opinion was entertained that your political...
27From Alexander Hamilton to Pierre Charles L’Enfant, [1801] (Hamilton Papers)
Mr. Hamilton called at Major L’Enfant’s this Afternoon, with intent to communicate something interesting. He will be glad to see the Major, at his house, this Evening or tomorrow Morning. AL , Digges-L’Enfant-Morgan Collection, Library of Congress. For background to this letter, see H to L’Enfant, July 27, 1801, note 2 ; L’Enfant to H, September 4, 1801 .
28From Alexander Hamilton to Pierre Charles L’Enfant, 27 July 1801 (Hamilton Papers)
Three days since I received your letter of the 14th. As there is a Court sitting, I defer a particular answer to it, and drop you a line to say, that I shall certainly do every thing in my power to fulfil your wish. With regard, I am, Sir Yr. Obed ser ALS , Digges-L’Enfant-Morgan Collection, Library of Congress. Letter not found. The New York Supreme Court met in New York City from July 21,...
29From Alexander Hamilton to Pierre Charles L’Enfant, 18 August 1801 (Hamilton Papers)
[ New York, August 18, 1801. On September 4, 1801, L’Enfant wrote to Hamilton : “I received your letter of the 18th. ulto.” Letter not found. ]
30From Thomas Jefferson to Pierre Charles L’Enfant, 14 March 1802 (Jefferson Papers)
Your letter of the 12th. is at hand. immediately on the reciept of the former one I referred it to the board of Commissioners, the authority constituted by law for originating whatever proceedings respecting this city have been confided by the legislature to the Executive. their opinion , which I approved, was that they could only renew to you the offer formerly made with the approbation of...