lli.l KL I-). .Si. JuIl.N b. C.IH RLH .^S SkKTC.IlI.U in BiNI.VMI.N L.MRlilU l.i , w ; Ij 



showing in the background tlie ruins of the While House. (Phutu courtesy 

 Library of Congress.) 



On December 23, Latrobe wrote that the lamps 

 received "give great satisfaction to Mr. and Mrs. 

 Madison and permit me to add at a proper distance 

 to myself although I cannot say that I admire the 

 mixture of Egyptian, Grecian, and Birmingham taste 

 which characterizes them." " Here, he must refer 

 to those for the new drawing room, as he adds that 

 one of the two branch lamps ''leaks so exceedingly as 

 to have spoiled a crimson velvet cushion of one of 

 the sofas." 



Now all that was needed to complete the room was 

 the floor covering. That, too, was provided by John 

 Rea, whose bill to Latrobe under date of December 

 27, 1810, records the following: -" 



To making up iGq yds of Brussels carpt. 



To 169 yds of carpi. Brussels 2 



75 



33- 80 



4*H- 75 



'" Latrobe papers, letter no. 389. 



-" National Archives, record group 217, General Accounting 

 Office, Miscellaneous Treasury Accounts, account 29.494, 

 voucher 1 1 . 



To 30 yds of Border 2 



75 



82. 50 



To I Large Harth ruge to match 24. 00 



The room was furnished in time for the President's 

 reception on New Year's Day, IHld. The final effect 

 was apparently worth the time and money lavished 

 on it, for contemporary accounts speak of the elegance 

 and beauty of the room. With completion of the 

 Oval Room, the collaboration of DoUey Madison and 

 Benjamin Latrobe in furnishing the White House 

 drew to a close. They never had the funds to deco- 

 rate the East Room; it is left to our imagination to 

 visualize this great ballroom done in the classical 

 style. Other interior work in the house during the 

 Madison administration had included converting the 

 oflice, formerly used by the private secretary, into a 

 room to be used for Cabinet meetings. Latrobe also 

 closed off the west windows in the library, converting 

 it into a large dining room, which it remains to this 

 day. It was in the dining room that Latrobe placed 

 the Gilbert Stuart portrait of Washington, one of the 

 few things saved from the Wliite House when it was 

 burned. 



The cost of the rclurnishing project undertaken by 



162 



BULLETIN 24 1 : CONTRIBUTIONS p-ROM THE MUSEUM OF HISTCJR^' ANIJ TECH X( )I.O(;Y 



