Your Servants Michele and Giacomo Raggi, having learned that Mr. Jefferson would like to expedite the work of the College and at the same time save on the cost of the Corinthian as well as the Ionic capitals, propose to you, Sir, that the fairest price will be obtained if the above-named Raggis go and make them in Italy and give them to you in Leghorn completely finished and crated for half of what they might cost you in this place, either in your marble or stone, and give you the entire lot, that is to say, the four large Corinthian and the ten Ionic in the month of October 1820—together with their bases, if you like, and the other Corinthian capitals, similar to those of the Pantheon, in October 1821—Rest assured that you will always have better workmanship by using these materials. The above-mentioned Raggis can easily deliver this work to you so soon because they have artists in the family and can successfully undertake any job. If, on the other hand, a single ornamentalist were to execute a similar job, it would take infinitely longer and more than double the cost; you will probably reply that conveyance from Leghorn to this place adds a shipping expense, but we can assure you that the total amount will never be half of the cost under the current plan because, once finished, these pieces will be kept together and weigh little. Resigning ourselves to our servitude and declaring that we are