1To 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...
2Memorandum 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...
3To 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...
4To 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...
5To 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...
6To 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...
7To 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...
8To 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.”
9To 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...
10To 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...