The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1901-02-03

ton, which is now the theme of adnaira-
gtion of the whole country.
Pierre Charles PEnfant came to Amer
lea from France in the early part of III;
he was a lieutenant in the French pro-
Vincial service. In the autumn of that
year he rendered his services as an en-
gineer to Tie Continental congress. His
original commission IS captain of en-
gineers is dated Feb. is, 177S. lie fought
through the Revolutionary war and
was wounded on the battle field of Sa-
vannah; was taken prisoner under Sir
Henry Clinton, parolcd in May, 1850, and
exchanged on May ,, 1888.
At the close of the Revolution we find
his serSices constantly in demand more
especially as engineer and architect. A
testimonial from the corporation Of New
York, dated Oct. 49, 1889, and signed by
James Duane, secretary, speaks of his
distinguished merit and services in that
tity. He came to this city, then in en-
Dryo, and under the eye of the immortal
Washington, commenced his labors and
prepared the plans which have made
lie city what ii is.
L find in the paper read by DIR. James
Dudley Morgan before the historical So
ciety Of the district, to whom I am in
dehted for the information conveyed in
this article, that on the 18th of June
17S9, letter was written him, signed d.
Humphries, saying: Mrs. Washington,
having postponed an engagement for
Saturday next, is DESTROYS of seeing the
federal building
In the same year Alexander Hamilton,
on the 2t4h Of May, writes rEnfant about
designs for the medal of the Cincinnati:
You will not forget I hope, the devices
Tor the coins As soon as your iniagina-
ton shall have fixed upon anything I
shall be glad to know it." He was the
architect and builder Of the house of
Robert Morris, in Philadelphia. 1t has
been said that he was the man who built
the house of Robert Morris which
brought financial ruin to it's owner
In DR.. Morgan's possession are uncan-
celed promissory notes of Robert Morris
for large sums due IEnfant.
He planned and built Fort Miflin in
1884, and later on Fort Washington. He
examined the quarries at Aquia Va. for
the foundation stone for the capitol and
on the 18th of November 1881, he con-
summated lease of those Quarries from
Brent. He was appointed July Z, 1872
professor of the art Of engineering of
the military academy at West Point
which he did not accept, and. wrote on
the letter of notification, "Unaccepted
but not rejected Documentary facts
and written evidences all tending to show
the part taken by L Enfant in laying out
the city of Washington are in abundance
in the hands of Dr. Morgan
Mr.. Jefferson writes: st am happy the
president has left the planning of the
town in such good hands," And under
date of Aug. IS, 1871. Jefferson writes:
"A person applied to me the other day
on the subject of engraving a map of
the federal territory. observed to him
that if yourself or Mr.. EIlicott chose
to have 1t done, you would have the best
right to it,
Covering tie time from the period
when he was appointed a captain of en-
gineers in the Revolutionary army down
to and including the declining days of
his life, he was the guest of William
Dudley DlEScSi the grandfather of DR..
Morgan, at Green Hill. Prince George
county. This testimonial, signed by all
except two of the original proprietors, 1
find among DR.. Morgans papers:
We still hope that some mode of ac-
conmodatlonS- may be devised to admit
OF your return on principles not deroea-
tory to you or to your own feelings, nor
injurious TO The city. The conna&Ssioners
we trust. whatever misunderstanding
may have arisen we will be very much
disposed (for they know and acknowledges
your talents1 to leave You in that control
wish to be in control.
At all events. accept the testimony OF
our sense OF YOUR merits and of the obi
cations We owe you as persons who are
interested IN the city of Washington and
with respect ana esteem, We are, sir YOUR
most obedi NJ servants.
ROBERT Peters,
John Davidson
Sam Davidson.
james NJ lincan,
Abraham Young,
Ben Stoddart,
e-Uriah Forrest,
William King,
WI lam Prcut,
-Alberton Cam
George Walker
David Burn.
-Elphaz Douglas
Dated Geerce own. March 8. 1872.
The commissioners. VIM. Johnson, Da-
vid Stuart and Daniel Carroll. under date
OF the go OF March 1874. writing to Pres
ident Washington. say:
you may recollect the several things
IA the course of the quarrel with j. En-
FAINT strongly pointed to the duplicity and
Nl-intentioned conduct of Ellicott'
'L'Enfant was handled" DR.. Morgan