1From 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 .
2From 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...
3From 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...
4From 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...
5From 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...
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...
7Tobias 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...
8From 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 :...
9VII. 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...
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...
11Enclosure 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...
12From 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...
13From 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...
14Thomas 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...
15From 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...
16From 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...
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 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...