21From Thomas Jefferson to James Dinsmore, 26 June 1805 (Jefferson Papers)
Your’s of the 22d. came to hand yesterday. I inclose you two specimens of cherry, one done with boiled linseed oil, the other with the newspaper composition you referred to. I think the former the best; but am inclined to believe that daily rubbing with wax will soon produce the same effect. I rather think therefore of leaving the floor to time to give it’s proper colour. as you will but...
22From Thomas Jefferson to James Dinsmore, 13 June 1804 (Jefferson Papers)
Your’s of the 9th . is recieved, and I now inclose you a five dollar bill for mr Wanscher. after you have finished the Dome room, I would rather you should finish the three bed rooms on the same floor that we may have them plaistered & ready for use. if J. Perry has not done the floors of those rooms, he should finish them in preference to every thing else. mr Stewart should finish off the...
23From Thomas Jefferson to James Dinsmore, 24 May 1804 (Jefferson Papers)
Yours of the 18th . is recieved and I have this day inclosed to mr Deblois of Alexandria 20. D. for Alexander Perry and 10. D. for mrs Wanscher. mr Duncan shall have 20. D. a month and his washing done. you will be so good as to give directions for the latter. I presume he engages to continue till all the work is ready for mr Wanscher. I will thank you to keep me informed of your progress, of...
24From Thomas Jefferson to James Dinsmore, 19 March 1802 (Jefferson Papers)
This is merely to correct an error in my last . I mentioned that the brick pilasters should have their Capitals 3. courses of brick high & with 3. projections. but as the Capital should be in height only half the diameter, & that is of a brick and a half, say 13. I. the height of the capital must be of 2. courses only, each course projecting 1.¼ I. so as to make the upper one 2. bricks square....
25From Thomas Jefferson to James Dinsmore, 8 June 1805 (Jefferson Papers)
After writing to you yesterday, I was at the painting room of mr Stewart (the celebrated portrait painter) who had first suggested to me the painting a floor green, which he had himself tried with fine effect. he observed that care should be taken to hit the true grass -green, & as he had his pallet & colours in his hand, I asked him to give me a specimen of the colour, which he instantly...
26From Thomas Jefferson to James Dinsmore, 22 June 1802 (Jefferson Papers)
Yours of the 17th. is recieved. a very useful emploiment for mr. Fitch will be the partitioning the side and end of the kitchen, and studding the 3. servants rooms. the kitchen partitions are to be of inch plank, planed on both sides, & square jointed. the front & partitions of the servants rooms and dairy to be bricknogged, with good lime mortar: or perhaps the front of the dairy had better...
27From Thomas Jefferson to James Dinsmore, 28 June 1807 (Jefferson Papers)
Mr. Barry is engaged in some painting for this house & the Capitol, and tells me he can get a crate of window glass here for Monticello; & he thinks it safest that he should cut it here & pack it because it will be so much less liable to break in small plates than great ones. I must therefore get you to cut models of the circular panes in stiff writing paper & inclose them to me by the return...
28From Thomas Jefferson to James Dinsmore, 27 February 1809 (Jefferson Papers)
Your’s of the 24th. is recieved, and I will send a bunch of good bell wire by the waggon. I would wish the Piazza to be plaistered as soon as the weather will permit. it is not to be white washed. I have given directions through mr Bacon to mr Watkins as to the manner of finishing the stone house now building, to wit, with a roof hipped every way, so that there will be no pediment. he was not...
29From Thomas Jefferson to James Dinsmore, 15 December 1807 (Jefferson Papers)
I recieved yesterday yours of the 11th. I wrote to mr Oldham on the 12th. of October for mahogany for the tables, & took for granted it was gone on but as I have not heard from him I will write again to-day, as to that as well as the additional quantity you want. I was in hopes that Abram could have hewed locust as fast as Lewis could turn it, but if he cannot, let mr Perry supply it as I...
30From Thomas Jefferson to James Dinsmore, 3 January 1808 (Jefferson Papers)
Mahogany forwarded to Monticello by mr Oldham f I 43— 4 of St. Domingo wood. 31÷ 8 of Bay do. 1 ½ I. 75— 0 The two planks for tables measure 27. I. at one end and 26. I. at the other by 10. f. 3 I. long. I could not possibly find any wider; & supposed this could be made to answer. it is very nice & solid. there is very little of St. Domingo wood made use of here. The 1 ½