1To John Adams from Pierre Charles L’Enfant, 17 January 1790 (Adams Papers)
your Excellency will be pleased to observe that the provision that had been made By the City for to defray the Expenditure of the building did not comprehended any thing Beyond such movables as were of most immediate necessity for to Furnish & decorate the tow Grand Room’s ([viz] that of the Senat & that of the house of Representatives) and that it had been understood that any articles as...
2To Alexander Hamilton from Pierre Charles L’Enfant, 8 April 1791 (Hamilton Papers)
It was my wish long before to gave you some Information about the particular local Intended for the seat of the federal City & I regreted much the Impossibility of seasing upon a moment, having had no leasure one since my arrival at this place where I have been constantly engaged in the most fatiguing work which I ever had to perform—that of surveying at so improper season of the year. But now...
3To Alexander Hamilton from Pierre Charles L’Enfant, 21 August 1792 (Hamilton Papers)
Under an Expectation of seeing you on the twenty ulterior I differed answering your last favour wishing to assure you that your favorit Child will be carefully nursed and bread up to your satisfaction without Involving the parents in to Extravagant or usless Expence. My sole Embition being to deliver it worthy of its father and capable of doing honor to his Country. The Gentleman who will hand...
4To Alexander Hamilton from Pierre Charles L’Enfant, 17 September 1792 (Hamilton Papers)
The progress of the business here has been as rapide as the time and a stady pursuit of the differents objects to pursue has permitted in the short space since 22d of last mounth that the director have agreed upon the plan which I propos for the canal. The ground through which this is to be carried is already cleared of all timber and immense Rock removed from the way of operation so that I am...
5To Alexander Hamilton from Pierre Charles L’Enfant, 26 March 1793 (Hamilton Papers)
I have fund Everything at Paterson in as good a state as I had promised from the arrangment made previous to my leaving the place and Judging from the progress making in reducing the Rock I would Continue to indulge the flatering hope of happily Ending the opperations of this season was it not that I Feel a Sudden discouragment in the prosecution of them owing to a Intimation I had that the...
6To Alexander Hamilton from Pierre Charles L’Enfant, 16 October 1793 (Hamilton Papers)
I this moment receive a letter from Colt of paterson on the subject of my account with the society. He Inclose to me a late resolve on the same, together with a bill of charges against me both which Evince the already manifested Intent to Wrong and speculate of my own Expences. In the account I am charged with articles I had nothing to do with and the better in order to reduce the Ballance due...
7To Alexander Hamilton from Pierre Charles L’Enfant, 15 September 1794 (Hamilton Papers)
Philadelphia, September 15, 1794. “After all possible exertions on my part, to progress the fortification at and near Mud Island, and however attentive I have been in confining the extent of my operations to the limited sums assigned for, it is with the greatest concern I am to inform you that those means, by proving too small, have long since forced me to relent of the progress; they are at...
8To Alexander Hamilton from Pierre Charles L’Enfant, 1 July 1798 (Hamilton Papers)
Being Just this moment told of a conversation you have had with Mr Soderestrom in reply to a note which he handed to you from me, am not perfectly comprehending what he related, he himself seeming to have but a Confuse recollection. While at the same time, as far as he has explained, it appear to me to be all Important well to understand you. I cannot esitate nor do I delay one Instant,...
9To Alexander Hamilton from Pierre Charles L’Enfant, 6 July 1798 (Hamilton Papers)
Perceiving from your letter of the 3d instant that there must have been some misconception of misrepresentation of what you mentioned, respecting me, to M. Soderestrom, and your explanation upon the whole shewing there was nothing contained in your conversation with that gentleman to Injure me nor that could impeach my Integrity or honor—I here testify this to be satisfactory. only as you...
10To Alexander Hamilton from Pierre Charles L’Enfant, 14 July 1801 (Hamilton Papers)
[ Washington, July 14, 1801. On July 27, 1801, Hamilton wrote to L’Enfant and referred to “your letter of the 14th.” Letter not found. ] L’Enfant had been a French volunteer in the Corps of Engineers during the American Revolution. After the war he redesigned and converted the old Jacobean City Hall in New York City into Federal Hall, the temporary seat of the Federal Government. In 1791 he...
11To Alexander Hamilton from Pierre Charles L’Enfant, 4 September 1801 (Hamilton Papers)
I received your letter of the 18th. ulto (say of the 27. according to post.) which came to hand only last monday. with respect to the Sentiments you manifest I can truely say that if I had not Confided in your good disposition and deed not heighly value to retain your friendship—I certainly would not have writen So freely nor so openly to you as I laterly deed? therefore let those Ideas and...
12To Alexander Hamilton from Pierre Charles L’Enfant, 6 September 1801 (Hamilton Papers)
since last writing to you, it occured to me as proper to address a congratulatory note to Mr Edw. livingston on his ascession to the mayoralty of new york. as it afforded me occasion to appraise him of the business pending with the Corporation the particular of which however I left to your self to Explain. simply having Expressed an hope of your being facilitated by the broard the personall...
13To Benjamin Franklin from Pierre-Charles L’Enfant, the Chevalier de Villefranche, and the Chevalier de Rochefontaine … (Franklin Papers)
AL : American Philosophical Society Mrs. L’Enfant, de Villefranche et de Rochefontaine Se sont presentés pour assurer Monsieur le Docteur franklin de leurs devoirs respectueux, à leur arrivée d’amerique— The wording of this note, written on a half-sheet of paper, leads us to suspect that L’Enfant had not yet called on BF , though he had been in Paris since the middle of December; see the...
14To George Washington from Pierre-Charles L’Enfant, 4 September 1778 (Washington Papers)
It is with the greatest surprize that I have read in the New York papers, the pretended Translation of a Letter I had written to a Friend of mine in Europe. Of all the little, mean Tricks the English makes use of to sow dissentions among their Adversaries, This is indeed the most odious and abominable. They have most Villainously abused of the Liberty of a Translator, and have artfully altered...
15To George Washington from Pierre-Charles L’Enfant, 29 April 1784 (Washington Papers)
I take the liberty to inform your Excellency of my arrival at this place after a passage of 43 days from france which I left on the 16th of march last after having finished Every thing respecting the society, the diploma is Engraved and many prints of it already drawn together with a number of stamps of the bald eagle or sign of the association Exceeding by more than two hundred the number for...
16Appendix III: From Pierre-Charles L’Enfant, 10 May (Washington Papers)
As the reading of the Several Letters of Thanks & petitions which are now before you, may easily convey to you an Idea of the high consideration which the Cincinnati enjoy in Europe, give me leave in the name of all my countrymen to assure you of their sincere and heart felt gratitude, no pledge of friendship can be dearer to them than that which they have received at the hands bf the Society...
17Appendix X: From Pierre-Charles L’Enfant, 17 May 1784 (Washington Papers)
I take the liberty to adresse your Excellency with the inclosed letter from mr duBouchet, who his one of the officer whose particular cases have moved the french Comitee in favour of thier claimes, his suspecting that there as Been in the assembly some opposition to his claimes, is the accasion for is troubling your Excellency with a second adresse —and I could not But Be Confident that your...
18To George Washington from Pierre-Charles L’Enfant, 4 August 1784 (Washington Papers)
having since my arrival at this place been informed that a number of foreigner claimes the Reight to be reconnised Cincinnati, and being all so confident that many of those who applayed to the marquis de la fayette and whose demands were rejected by a colected body of members of the society as Expressed in my last account of our prociding. and considering a great number of person which held...
19To George Washington from L’Enfant, 6 December 1786 (Washington Papers)
the inclosed memorial which my actual circumstances has mad necessary, rendering it usless I should enter here into any of the particular of its content I confine myself with requesting your Excellency will Excuse the length of it. unable to be concise in an explanation where in it is essential to me to give account of the differents sensations which actuated me I have need of much Indulgence...
20To George Washington from L’Enfant, 15 April 1788 (Washington Papers)
Having already taken the liberty of troubling your Excellency with the particular of my circumstances owing to the Cincinnati affaire —and finding that thier resolutions of the last general meeting in consequences of my application on this subject has been of no relief to me it is become incumbent on me that I should once more sollicite your Excellency patronage on the occasion therefore I...
21To George Washington from Pierre L’Enfant, 11 September 1789 (Washington Papers)
The late determination of Congress to lay the Fundation of a City which is to become the Capital of this vast Empire, offer so great an occasion of acquiring reputation, to whoever may be appointed to conduct the execution of the business, that your Excellency will not be surprised that my Embition and the desire I have of becoming a usefull Citizen should lead me to wish a share in the...
22Memorandum of Pierre-Charles L’Enfant, 26 March 1791 (Washington Papers)
Note relative to the Ground laying on the Eastern branch of the River Potowmack & being Intended to parallel the Severals position proposed within the Limits betwen that branch & George-town for the seat of the Federal City. After coming upon the Hill From the Eastern Branch ferry the Country is level & on a Space of above tow mi[les] each way present a most elligible position for the First...
23To George Washington from Pierre-Charles L’Enfant, 22 June 1791 (Washington Papers)
In framing the plan, here anexed, for the Intended federal City I regreted much being induced by the shortness of time from making any particular drawing of the several buildings—squars—and every other Improvement which the smalness of the scale of the general map together with the hurry with which I had it drawn could not admit of having so correctly lay down as necessary to give a perfect...
24To George Washington from Pierre-Charles L’Enfant, 19 August 1791 (Washington Papers)
The heigest of my embition Gratified in having met with your approbation in the project of the Plan which I have now the Honor of presenting to you altered agreeable to your direction, Steel leaving me some thing to wish for until I see the execution of that plan effected to the full attainement of your object. I shall here beg the permission of fixing for a moment your attention on matter...
25To George Washington from Pierre L’Enfant, 21 November 1791 (Washington Papers)
Editorial Note Pierre L’Enfant’s letter of 21 Nov. to GW is the first in a series of letters that document the controversy sparked by L’Enfant’s demolition of a house in the Federal City being constructed by Daniel Carroll of Duddington. L’Enfant ordered the house demolished before obtaining the approval of the Commissioners for the District of Columbia, thus openly challenging their authority...
26To George Washington from Pierre L’Enfant, 21 November 1791 (Washington Papers)
In pursuance of the measure first taken, and of which I took the liberty of Informing you by last post, respecting the House of Mr Carroll of duddington which will become necessary to Have destroyed; he not having acquiessed to proceed himself as requested to the demolishing in lieu of answering my last summon having set out on a Journey—I directed yester day forenoon a number of hand to the...
27To George Washington from Pierre L’Enfant, 7 December 1791 (Washington Papers)
ten day absense from this place prevented me from receiving the Honor of your letter, of the 28th of November, until last Evening I returned from a journey to richemond & to acquia were I had been called to close a bargen for a quarrie ground I have made the purchase of for the publick. I beg this may appologise for my not having answered you as immediatly as I should have done had it come...
28To George Washington from Pierre L’Enfant, 10 December 1791 [letter not found] (Washington Papers)
Letter not found: from Pierre L’Enfant, 10 Dec. 1791. In a postscript to his letter of 13 Dec. 1791 GW wrote to L’Enfant : “Since writing the foregoing letter Yours of the 10th is come to hand.”
29To George Washington from Pierre L’Enfant, 22 December 1791 [letter not found] (Washington Papers)
Letter not found: from Pierre L’Enfant, c.22 Dec. 1791. GW wrote to the Commissioners for the District of Columbia on 27 Dec. : “I find by a letter which I have just received from Majr L’Enfant that the house of Notley Young Esqr. has (contrary to expectation) fallen into a principal Street.” No such letter to GW has been found, but Pierre L’Enfant wrote similarly to the Commissioners for the...
30To George Washington from Pierre L’Enfant, 17 January 1792 (Washington Papers)
the approching season for renewing the work at the federal city and the Importance of progressing it so as to determine the ballance of opinion on the undertaking, to that side to which it already favorably incline, require, that Exertions should be made to Engage in it from the begining with such a degree of vigor and activity, as will disappoint the hopes of those who wish ill to the...