Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1886-12-24

/ pMIantnIOp1SC; III. j. n. TOnN ana 0CAef PUBIC.
spirited citizens are agtating the removal Of tho
remains Of Major Peter Charles L,EnlAAs the de-
signer and first engineer OF the federal city, 20 Q
suitable site within the beautiful metropolis, and
the erection over them OF fitting memorial tribute
| In commem0ration OF his genius In Prince George
| county, nve miles northeast Of washington, Is
Green Hill, the manor house Of Gillian Castle
Manor, portion Of an old grant Of 5000 acres to
Dudley Digges OF the family OF Sir Dudley Digges,
| OF Gillian Castle, England, Master Of the Rolls
under King Charles l. In 1858, George W. Riggs,
the eminent Washington banker, became the posses
s0r OF the manor house and 026 acres Of the orfg-
| nal tract. The estate, beautifled through the
munincence OF its new proprietor, upon his death
Ia Law RIr4s Who With his two
sisters, makes the manor his summer residence:
In the rear OF the mansion few nne specimens OF
vive the beauty OF the garden, laid out after his
design OF the capital city by the eminent land
1e Of an sos
manor.
In a copse Of cedars In secluded spot in the
family burial place. The ruins OF the tenements
of the former denizens of the hallowed soil lie
crumbling around. Three lonely and unmarked
uses Of the spot. In the largest over SIX feet In
length, lies what remains, after 81 years Of the
death are child and a suicide, buried by super:
| hands Of kindred and friends have tenderly con-
veyed to consecrated ground the remains OF those
who once gathered here as the skeleton harvester
vigorous life from the very earth Which envelopes
the ashes Of EEnfant, attuned by the breeZes OF
carries the Of his genius n5s
than man, has drawn over the lonely mound
| mantle OF myrtle, like pail Of perennial green.
L'RNPANT's CAREER.
The career OF L'Enfant and its sequel presents
tp3Pto <aP
genius the nobility of human SOUL the littleness
| of men and the ingratitude of nation. Peter
| charles L'Enfant was born In France about 1885,
He was an officer in the French line. He came to
sword to the cause Of liberty. In ITS he was q
captain of engineers in the Continental army. His
was p on every
oner in the assault by Count d'Estang. In 17s2 he
was exchanged and year later was promoted 10
major of engineers.
In 1889 he designed and super1ntended the recon-
structiOn OF Federal hail. in New York, for the &C
commodation Of the first Congress. In Philadel,
agent OF the government, secured his services for
the erection OF a magnificent marble mansion,
financial i embarrassment overtaEing its protector
| He was the only architect in the United States
| capable OF large undertakings. When the site OF
under the act OF July 10, $780, he was selected by
President washington to make reconnaissance
Of the ground and plan OF city, the report
tumn OF 1870, still preserved, gives detailed &C.
count of the Site and recommends the location Of
would rest. On August %, 1871, secretary OF
State Jefferson, in letter. mentions the arrival OF
Major L'Enfant at Philadelphia with his plan Of
| dent.
THE PLAN OF WASHINGTON.
This priceless souvenir of the nations capital in
embryo, much faded by the lapse Of time, is pre-
served in the Office of Col John M. wilson, engi-
| nd
The name Of the city had not yet been determined.
The drawing bears the t1tle "Plan Of the City In
tended for the seat OF the m sh
direction Of the President of the United states in
pursuance OF an Act of Congress passed on the Six
Permanent Seat on the Banks Of the Potomac by
| Peter Charles LEnfant." The plan is practically
identical with the city Of to-day Washington q
| specializing friend who owned land, and marred
| the symmetry and beauty Of the grounds in the
the plan commenced by its protector did not long re-
| main in his hands. One OF the dtscreditable acts
Of washington was his treatment OF the accom- COM
d1ngtOn, having built house In one OF the avenues
| laid down on the plan, the engineer proceeded to
| injustice OF CARROTS demands and against the
wishes Of many interested In the carrying forward
Of the work assented to LEnfant's removal An,
the boundaries OF the territory, was entrusted
| with the prosecution Of the work and made copy
|
which was engraved in Philadelphia In 1892 by
Thackara 4 valance. ElltcOtt year later was
dismissed, but the work was continued by others
| down to the present day.
HIS LATER HISTORY.
! In 1874 LEnfant was employed on Fort Mifflin,
below Philadelphia. Then for twenty years he
lived in obscurity. washington, Jefferson and
Hamilton admitted his genius, but deplored his
eccentr1citieS. President Monroe appointed him
professor OF engineering at West Point. In re-
turning his commission he endorsed upon 1t "Not
| accepted, but not refused" In 1910 Congress ap-
propriated 81 ,394 20 to pay p. c. LEnfant $685.
with legal interest from March 1, 1872, "fOr his
services In laying out the plan for the city OF
Upon the outbreak of the war OF 1912 L'Enfant
was made engineer in charge of the construction
| OF Fort Washington, stone casemated baStion
work. the key to the outer line OF the river defenseS
| disputes with the authorities he was relieved.
During the remainder OF his days he was the OBJ
Ject OF the charitable hospitality OF friends. For
some years he resided with Thomas Digges on War
burton Manor, near Fort Washington. After that
gentlemans death the aged engineer accepted
home with William Dudley Digges q nephew OF
| Castle Manor, now Green Hill. the estates Of Mr..
Riggs. Here, on the fourth day of the summer
| month OF June, in 1928, at seventy years Of age,
the mortal remains OF Peter Charles LEnfant, the
designer OF the beautiful capital OF the United
States were laid to rest by the hand Of charity 1t
is another sad page in the history OF LEnfant that
the last living descendant of his benefactor is now
an object OF charity In washington asylum. The
growing maguifcence Of the American capital, al
ready outrivaling in artistic and landscape eff
fectS In public buildings and statues the most Gel
ebrated capitals OF the Old World, is an enduring
monument to the genius OF LEnfant, as Versailles,
that queen OF royal residences, stands to-day the
greatest tribute to the skill and taste Of LeBrun
and LeNOtre.
In 1884, through the influence OF Mr. Corcoran,
Engineer Commissioner Twining and others, a bill
was introduced into the House OF Representatives