New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1881-07-22

whereupon came grave letters from General Wash
ington, warning Major LEntant that he and every
body were subordinate to the common and neigh
borhood law. There are number Of such letters
graphs and indicative of Washngton's quality of
mind There were also letters from Jefferson
neer to understand and subscribe to the condition
OF things Even old Dayy Burns, Who owned the
is on record among these letters.
Finally LEnfant lost bis place, though he had
finished fms the plot of WASHINGTON by refusing to
atty. that they might buy lots ut the regular sales
wherever they listed; The Frenchnan's criticism
was that they would Immediately leap upon the
best lands in his vstas and architectural squares
and raise huddes of shanties which would perma-
nenty embarrass the city. Such INSTRUMENTATION
Washington was in no frame of mind to permit and
at his order Jefferson wrote to the architect that his
services were at an end
ALMOST IN OBLIVION.
period of twenty years ensues in which
this unfortunate genius almost disappears from
sight. except through the medium of these letters
hamilton writes him several times to come to din
ner or supper, and discuss some question of taste.
Secretary of State Monroe is particularly solicitous
to lift the old out of his misfortunes AMI give
him reliable support. The Society of the Cincn-
natl had never settled L'Enfants claim and the
various officers of it write kind but Ineffective
letters, bemoaning his condition. Monroe ap-
pointed him professor at West Point and ear
nesty entreated him to accept the s. tuation giving
nm at the same time his old rank of major of en- g
hocrs, but on the copy of his commission the old
man has scrawled the words: d" Not accepted but
not refused" With delicate artistic and military
nature. he would seem to have been constantly
fearing that he might do sonnet hing disparage his
rank. and he preferred that the country should be
ungrateful to him, rather than take less than his
due. He was not without money all the time and
the schedule of his effects and bills shows a liberal
allowance for wines at the army and social clubs of
that day. He was for n while particular in his
attire. In one of his bills is mentioned "A surtout of
light brown duffy and satnet vest, lined with
nannels. lie had many suits of nankeen. Most of
or green w hr wp'. Ihs sarSout OF oIue
lor and could get along a small amount of money
especially under the hosptabc conc itlons of that
day, though the decline and poverty of slavery
rapidly bringing about "A new generation possessed
OF neither the decacy nor the means of their prede
When the war of 1912 broke ont and the British
appeared on the Potomac it became necessary to
below Washington. Secretary Monroe selected
LEniant, and particularly cautioned him that 4" his
slow" IN his constructions. The Major planned
the work, but in short time became FESTIVE under
some OF the surrounding conditions and finally he
was mustered out of the service. Thcnceforward.
LOT ABOUT seven years he remained most of the time
at Warburton Manor, the seat of Thomas Dlgges
within a few rods of the fort he had built Some of
the bricks and stones of the Dgges house are still
to be seen near Fort Washington, and also the
graves of the proprictors buried according TO GUS
tom III one of the fields.
AN OLD MARYLAND FAMILY.
The Diggrs family is one of the most historical in
Maryland, and intermarricd with many other lead
ing families, such the CAROLS the Atwoods and
the Brents. In DIR. Morgans house are portraits by
Sir Joshua Reynolds. of unqucstioncd validity. of
both Thomas Diggcs and his brother Thomas
Digges was in England at the outbreak of the Revo-
lutionary War. and his ncighbor General Washing
ton, utilized his absence to obtain from him politi-
cal information. The Wings of that part of Mary
land, however. endcavored to coniscate the War
burton property because Mr. Diggcs was absent At
a critical moment General WASHINGTON stepped for
ward and showed that he really abroad in the
interests of the instruction. Diggcs had plenty Of
slaves, land and animals, ran his own vessels and
led the life of gentleman of the world He was
descended from Sir Dudley Digges. Master OF the
Rolls of Charles L., whose portrait by Vandykc is at
Dr. Morgans. Thomas Diggcs died in 1921, and
then began the old Majors troubles with collateral
members of the family. Among them was Mr..
DiggeSs sister who laid clam to part of the
estate. and finding L'Eniani qucrulous or in the
way, she made IL unpleasant for hun. whenupon
the late Mr. Dggcs's nephew William Dudley
Digge,. who lived at Green Hin. to the north Of
Washington. wrote to the MAJOR 10 make his home
at the latter house He sent horses and wavon 70
uansport his effects. and about 1874 the old
ohcer then on the verge of seventy years repaired
to Green Hi, which is described frame house
with It's front TO the south, built about lsOl with
a long piazza In the front. abundant donesi &c
buildings IN the rear and the negro quarters scat
W" 'i'uh"' NV l"NcI Ho"r was composed OF
three large rooms, between two of which ran a hall
The hOuSc stood on grass terraces, below which WAS
circular drive, banks of flowers and steps of g-ass
n sun-dlal ard large lie NotIc garden, perhaps
conceived by the Frenchman, with borders of box
and clusters of peach and plum trees There IN
the Sprng of ls25, Major LEnfant was buried and
IN the latter months of his life he il remembered
walking around the garden, smelling of the flowers
ana looking AT the sky. No stone has vet been
pnt over his remains. Near by hm is buried an
amy officer the son of the lady who claimed Var
lrton Manor. This young man gave promise Of
great legal ability, but from some cause unknown
he lost his peace of mind and his throat lie is
INFERRED by the side of the engineer of the CAPITAL
VINO VIII, perhaDs, at some future daV be- the sub
lect of public statue in Of the squares of
Washington.