Thomas Jefferson Papers
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Benjamin Henry Latrobe to Thomas Jefferson, [ca. 26] December 1817

From Benjamin Henry Latrobe

Washington, Decr 6th [ca. 26] 1817

Dear Sir,

The enclosed letter will prove to you that I have not been unmindful of your wish to have the rate of Carpenter’s prices at Philadelphia, as your rule of valuation for the work of the new College. Mr Thackara is one of the most respectable citizens & mechanics in Philadelphia. He did the Plaisterer’s work, so much & deservedly admired, of the Capitol, & was sent for again, but did not agree with the Commissioner, in which he is not singular.—I also wrote to two Carpenters, but received immediately an answer to the same effect, an answer which I have indeed expected.

But in order to give you the best assistance I can, I will, in 10 days from hence (when I shall be in Baltimore) send you the Pittsburg price book, compiled from that of Philadelphia, by carpenters established there from Philadelphia, and printed under their sanction, & in the mean time I will also compile from a great number of accounts settled by me with the mechanics here, a partial list of prices which may be useful to You

I am with the truest esteem Yrs

B H Latrobe.

RC (DLC: TJ Papers, 211:37740); misdated; endorsed by TJ as a letter of 6 Dec. 1817 received 30 Dec. 1817 and so recorded in SJL. RC (MHi); address cover only; with PoC of TJ to Bernard Peyton, 18 Feb. 1818, on verso; addressed: “Thomas Jefferson Esqr Monticello Virginia”; franked; postmarked Washington, 27 Dec.

The commissioner for the public buildings in the District of Columbia was Samuel Lane.

Index Entries

  • books; of builders’ prices search
  • Capitol, U.S.; construction and repair of search
  • Carstairs, Thomas; and builders’ prices search
  • Central College; construction of search
  • Lane, Samuel; as commissioner of public buildings search
  • Latrobe, Benjamin Henry; and builders’ prices search
  • Latrobe, Benjamin Henry; letters from search
  • Philadelphia; builders’ prices in search
  • Pittsburgh, Pa.; builders’ prices in search
  • The Book of Prices adopted by the House Carpenters of the Borough of Pittsburgh, February 15, 1813 search