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JEFFERSON, Thomas. Autograph letter signed ("Th:Jefferson") TO PIERRE CHARLES L'ENFANT (1754-1825), Philadelphia, 15 January 1792. 1 page, 4to, neatly inlaid to a larger sheet, slightly dust-soiled along left-hand edge, otherwise in good condition. Docketed on verso.
JEFFERSON TO THE MAN WHO SURVEYED AND LAID OUT THE CITY OF WASHINGTON D.C.
One of the last in a series of attempts by President Washington and Jefferson to convince the temperamental L'Enfant, in his work on the new capital, to submit to the authority of the Commissioners of the District of Columbia. L'Enfant, trained as a military engineer, had come to the United States at about the same time as Lafayette, shared the hardships of the Continental Army's encampment at Valley Forge, served in the southern campaigns, was wounded at Savannah and captured at the fall of Charleston. Settling in New York in 1784, he designed the emblem and certificate for the Society of the Cincinnati, redesigned New York's Federal Hall (1789) and in 1791 was chosen at Washington's request to lay out the plans for the new Federal City. For his plan, he borrowed from Jefferson engravings and plans of major European cities and edifices. A completed drawing was submitted in August and L'Enfant immediately began work on the site, but he soon exceeded the available budget and serious difficulties "arose through his unwillingness to submit to the authority of the Commissioners of the Federal District, or even to that of the President" (DAB). The Commissioners frequently complained to Washington of L'Enfant's high-handed behavior (see Washington's long letter to David Stuart on one such occasion, Fitzpatrick, 31:419-423). In November 1791 L'Enfant created a furor by summarily demolishing a home belonging to a resident of Carrollton, which lay on the site of one of the proposed avenues, drawing a severe rebuke from the President (ibid., 31:434-435). L'Enfant's response was evidently unsatisfactory, for on December 13, Washington wrote again, reminding L'Enfant of the explicit provisions of the legislation for the establishment of the capital city (ibid. 31:442-443). A few days later, still hoping to mediate the disagreement, he wrote soothingly to the Commissioners, praising L'Enfant's design and energy, but conflicts continued. On the 18th, Washington asked to confer with Jefferson, expressing astonishment at "the conduct of Majr. L'Enfant."
In the present letter, Jefferson peremptorily summons the architect to a discussion of these issues: "The President [Washington] has referred the inclosed papers [not present] to me for consideration and conference with you. The act of authority that the Commissioners have exercised, and to which the laws have made them entirely competent by vesting in them the whole & sold executive powers within the Federal territory, renders it necessary that their relations with you be now entirely understood. I must therefore ask the favor of you to call on me at 10. oclock tomorrow morning that we may consult on this subject, laying aside every passion & desire but that of doing all we can towards promoting the enterprise in hand. I am with great esteem Sir..."
Washington's and Jefferson's patient efforts to bring the recalcitrant L'Enfant into compliance with the Commissioners' authority all proved fruitless. On 27 February, Jefferson notified L'Enfant that his services were no longer needed. He was quickly hired by Alexander Hamilton and Robert Morris and the Society for Establishing Useful Manufactures to plan the new industrial complex at Patterson, New Jersey. No other letter of Jefferson to the stubborn architect of Washington D.C. has appeared on the market since at least 1975, according to ABPC.
JEFFERSON TO THE MAN WHO SURVEYED AND LAID OUT THE CITY OF WASHINGTON D.C.
One of the last in a series of attempts by President Washington and Jefferson to convince the temperamental L'Enfant, in his work on the new capital, to submit to the authority of the Commissioners of the District of Columbia. L'Enfant, trained as a military engineer, had come to the United States at about the same time as Lafayette, shared the hardships of the Continental Army's encampment at Valley Forge, served in the southern campaigns, was wounded at Savannah and captured at the fall of Charleston. Settling in New York in 1784, he designed the emblem and certificate for the Society of the Cincinnati, redesigned New York's Federal Hall (1789) and in 1791 was chosen at Washington's request to lay out the plans for the new Federal City. For his plan, he borrowed from Jefferson engravings and plans of major European cities and edifices. A completed drawing was submitted in August and L'Enfant immediately began work on the site, but he soon exceeded the available budget and serious difficulties "arose through his unwillingness to submit to the authority of the Commissioners of the Federal District, or even to that of the President" (DAB). The Commissioners frequently complained to Washington of L'Enfant's high-handed behavior (see Washington's long letter to David Stuart on one such occasion, Fitzpatrick, 31:419-423). In November 1791 L'Enfant created a furor by summarily demolishing a home belonging to a resident of Carrollton, which lay on the site of one of the proposed avenues, drawing a severe rebuke from the President (ibid., 31:434-435). L'Enfant's response was evidently unsatisfactory, for on December 13, Washington wrote again, reminding L'Enfant of the explicit provisions of the legislation for the establishment of the capital city (ibid. 31:442-443). A few days later, still hoping to mediate the disagreement, he wrote soothingly to the Commissioners, praising L'Enfant's design and energy, but conflicts continued. On the 18th, Washington asked to confer with Jefferson, expressing astonishment at "the conduct of Majr. L'Enfant."
In the present letter, Jefferson peremptorily summons the architect to a discussion of these issues: "The President [Washington] has referred the inclosed papers [not present] to me for consideration and conference with you. The act of authority that the Commissioners have exercised, and to which the laws have made them entirely competent by vesting in them the whole & sold executive powers within the Federal territory, renders it necessary that their relations with you be now entirely understood. I must therefore ask the favor of you to call on me at 10. oclock tomorrow morning that we may consult on this subject, laying aside every passion & desire but that of doing all we can towards promoting the enterprise in hand. I am with great esteem Sir..."
Washington's and Jefferson's patient efforts to bring the recalcitrant L'Enfant into compliance with the Commissioners' authority all proved fruitless. On 27 February, Jefferson notified L'Enfant that his services were no longer needed. He was quickly hired by Alexander Hamilton and Robert Morris and the Society for Establishing Useful Manufactures to plan the new industrial complex at Patterson, New Jersey. No other letter of Jefferson to the stubborn architect of Washington D.C. has appeared on the market since at least 1975, according to ABPC.