tructions to go to Georgetown and assist in the completion of a map and survey of the plot of land reserved for the capital. This is where the problems began. L’Enfant commenced his survey of the area on March 11, 1791. He soon wrote a letter to Jefferson saying that he had begun the survey, but was plagued by a thick mist that had hung over the area. He also said that, having ridden over the entire area himself, it appeared to be a good location for the capital. Jefferson was upset by these revelations for Washington had planned a trip to the site on the 28th of March. Washington arrived on schedule, and was not pleased to find the survey and map incomplete. He made an attempt to observe the site himself, but was hampered by rain and stated that he had “derived no great satisfaction from the review.” L’Enfant wrote a letter of apology to Washington on April 4 asking for his opinion of the site, and for any further instructions that he may have. It was Jefferson, however, who replied to the letter. In it he stated “I am happy that the President has left the planning of the Town in such good hands and have no doubt it will be done to general satisfaction.” Jefferson had relinquished his reservations about L’Enfant having seen that his plan for the capital was even more ambitious that his own. The new plan was “quite in line with his own hopes and reservations,” for it “superimposed a radial system of avenues of Jefferson’s grid street design” and preserved the “general arrangement of the main elements that Jefferson had suggested.” On June 22 L’Enfant met with Washington at Mount Vernon to give him a progress report. Washington expressed only brief concerns about the location of the President’s house. Construction on the site began, the site was cleared, foundations were dug, and surveyors marked the street lines. Jefferson wro...
