e. Washington wrote a letter to Commissioner David Stuart informing him of this and stated “…that he [L’Enfant] must in the future look to the commissioners for directions.” The next problem that L’Enfant encountered was the issue involving Commissioner Daniel Carroll’s house. Carroll had begun construction on his house in a lot that was reserved for a monument and a fountain and the boundaries extended into the lines marked for a street. L’Enfant tore Carroll’s house down without making his reasons known to the Commissioners or Washington. The commissioners were enraged and the President was greatly displeased. Amidst the clamor over Carroll’s house L’Enfant continued with his plan. He did not wish to halt the project over the winter, as he would be in Philadelphia, so he wrote to his assistant Isaac Roberdeau with instructions. It is important to note that these instructions were completely without the consent or knowledge of the Commissioners and this would be the source of several problems. L’Enfant left for Philadelphia on Christmas of 1791 while his assistants Isaac Roberdeau and Balentine Baraof remained in his place. Roberdeau followed L’Enfant’s instructions and took twenty-five workers to the Aquia Creek stone quarry. The Commissioners did not think this was necessary and requested Roberdeau to meet with them to discuss the plans for the winter. Roberdeau ignored the Commissioners and proceeded with L’Enfant’s instructions. Baraof was also continuing to work on the plan and he also ignored the Commissioner’s orders to halt work and meet with them. “The patience of the Commissioners was now being rapidly exhausted…” It was their view that all work should be suspended in the winter months, this was a contradiction to L’Enfant’s plans. The assistants remained disobedient to the point where th...
