1From Thomas Jefferson to James Dinsmore, 10 June 1801 (Jefferson Papers)
Your’s of the 5th . is recieved this day. I wonder the Copper sheets had not got to hand, as it is very long since they left Philadelphia. the steps, or plinths for the dome must be got from Fluvanna. as there seems to be too little dependance on Reuben Perry to let the whole work of the housejoiner & plaisterer depend on him alone, I will pray you to engage some other person to go on with the...
2From Thomas Jefferson to James Dinsmore, 22 June 1801 (Jefferson Papers)
I have just learned by letters from mr Traquair & mr Jefferson that mr Stewart is gone on, having arrived at Richmond the 17th. inst. so that I presume he is with you by this time. I am rendered uneasy by the account I have of the condition in which he was there. if it be habitual, he could not be trusted with the superintendance of the nailery. Mr. Traquair had once before got alarmed on the...
3From 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....
4From 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...
5From Thomas Jefferson to James Dinsmore, 20 July 1802 (Jefferson Papers)
Your’s of the 12th . did not get to hand till last night. the ornaments for the frize of the chamber left this on the 10th. and are probably at Richmond by this time. but I shall be at home on Sunday, as early as they will arrive. from what you mention of the rotting of the sleepers of the Bow part of the Parlour, & the ends of the other, I presume that wall was close & that they have dry...
6From Thomas Jefferson to James Dinsmore, 15 October 1802 (Jefferson Papers)
On opening the door leading from the passage into my bookroom, and on the shelves to the left, immediately on entrance, are a parcel of locks which I omitted to give out to mr Perry to be put on the doors he made. there are 3. small Cup-board locks for the 3. lockers in the kitchen. 3. japanned closet locks, for the 3. servants rooms, and a 4th. I think for the North necessary. of the stock...
7From Thomas Jefferson to James Dinsmore, 1 December 1802 (Jefferson Papers)
Your’s of Nov. 25 is recieved and I have ordered the patera wanting for the tea-room. with respect to the joists for the N. West wing of offices, I leave it to yourself to decide; only let there be no danger of failure for want of due strength. I am quite at a loss about the nailboys remaining with mr Stewart. they have long been a dead expense instead of a profit to me. in truth they require...
8From Thomas Jefferson to James Dinsmore, 10 December 1802 (Jefferson Papers)
I some days ago wrote directions to mr Lilly for filling the Icehouse : but I forgot one previous requisite, which I must get you to have done. make a long square tube , open at both ends, 6. I. square within, & reaching from the bottom of the well of the icehouse up through the flat roof. the bottom of the tube to be notched thus to let water run into it at bottom. then make a square bucket...
9From Thomas Jefferson to James Dinsmore, 3 January 1803 (Jefferson Papers)
I conclude absolutely to cover my terras with sheet iron , and have accordingly written to Philadelphia to see if I can procure sheets 15. I. wide and 9½ f. long.—The method of doing it is shewn below Fig. 1. it consists in forming gutters across the terras declining from the ridge pole to the eaves, the gutters being 21. I. horizontal measure each. We shall take off the present shingling, and...
10From Thomas Jefferson to James Dinsmore, 18 May 1803 (Jefferson Papers)
Yours of the 1st. & 9th. have been recieved, and the last has much relieved me as to the last box or boxes of Composition ornament. it was impossible to think of taking mr Hudson’s cherry , for which he asked five times what has ever been given within my knolege. I hope mr Meriwether’s will suffice for the parlour, and we must take time for the rest. I am told there is great difference in...