To Thomas Jefferson from James Dinsmore, 12 December 1801
From James Dinsmore
Monticello Dec. 12th 1801
Sir
your favour of Nov. 28th with its inclosures is recieved. Mr Wanschaw has done plaistering & is now engaged in Mixing up Stuff for the dineing room; I am rather afraid I will not have it ready for plaistering by the 1st of March. I will do my endeavour. I do not remember that we ever fixed on the Size of the architrave to go round the Sky light. the joist is 10 in. deep. Mr Moran has quit Some time ago. Mr Wash. requested me to Mention that he would be glad to have the balance Settled which he Says is five Dollar. if it is right & you request it I Can advance him that Much—Mr Perry says he will get the timber hauled in Imediately, for roof of the offices, we will have to get more plank Sawed. I think it would also be best to have what flooring plank is wanted got now the Course of the winter; you will please to Mention if we Must Include the Hall in the Bill—
I Congratulate you Sir on the Conclusion of peace, between Frans & Great Briatain, &, hope it will ease you of a great Maney Embarrassments in the administration of our Government. with Respect I am Sir your Hbl svt.
Nails made from the 16th Nov to the 15 Dec Inclusive—
| |
||||
| XXX. | 60 |  |
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| XVI. | 34 | |||
| X. | 151.5 | Amt. nails sold in same time | £ 9.12.5 | |
| VI. | 109.5 | Cash rd | 5.19.6 | |
| IV. | 50.5 | |||
| […] | ||||
FC (ViU: Monticello); in Dinsmore’s hand; bottom of sheet trimmed; on same sheet as letters of 1 Jan., 23 Jan., and 12 Feb. 1802. Recorded in SJL as received 16 Dec.
Your favour: TJ’s letter of 28 Nov. is recorded in SJL but has not been found.
The brothers Reuben and John Perry both worked as carpenters at Monticello in 1801, but John Perry probably had the Timber Hauled. TJ later noted that John Perry knew “nearly all the plank I have ever bought for my house, & the prices of it” (, 2:1000, 1022–3, 1063; Jack McLaughlin, Jefferson and Monticello: The Biography of a Builder [New York, 1988], 294).
For Dinsmore’s supervision of the nailery orders and accounts, see TJ to Dinsmore, 22 June 1801.