To James Madison from Richard Forrest, 9 August 1816
From Richard Forrest
City of Washington August 9. 1816
Dear Sir
The nine Marble Scales which you requested me to purchase for you, were shipped on the 3d. inst, on board the schooner Gift, Capt. Palmer bound to Fredericksburg. The size is 19 Inches square. Freight 9d virginia Money each.
The Hail-Storm on Saturday week, did considerable damage to the corn, in many parts of Maryland; there will however, from present appearances, be a large crop made.
I hope to have my new houses finished by the time stipulated with Mr. De Neuville (Sepr. 10.).
This Place is improving most rapidly, notwithstanding the high price of every building material, and mechanic’s wages, Common Bricklayers from $2.50/100 to $3. Pr. day. I remain dear Sir, with sincere respect and esteem, Your most Obt. servt.
Richd. Forrest
Coll: Tayloe lost his youngest son this morning.1 He died of the Whooping Cough. Coll. T. is in the neighbourhood of Fincastle.
RC (NN). Docketed by JM.
1. Lloyd Tayloe, the youngest son of John Tayloe III and Anne Ogle Tayloe, died on 8 Aug. 1816, aged ten months (George McCue, The Octagon: Being an Account of a Famous Washington Residence; Its Great Years, Decline & Restoration [Washington, D.C.; 1976], 95, 96 n. 15).