I promised in a letter I wrote to You on Tuesday last to transmit to You by the post of the next day a statement of the progress which might reasonably be expected in the work of the South Wing of the Capitol in the course of the present season. A difficulty had occurred in the course of that day which had induced me to postpone this statement,—the flaws which were discovered in the stone collected on the spot. But there was also another difficulty,—the reluctance & almost absolute refusal of our Workmen to commit themselves to any thing whatsoever. This circumstance, added to the precarious supply of freestone, induced me to satisfy myself as to the means of procuring with absolute certainty the blocks which are deficient, and to acquire a personal knowledge of the actual state of the quarries.—

Mr William Stuart upon whom we have depended for our best stone & the most punctual supply of it, has declined furnished us with any further quantity, and we are now dependant upon Cook & Brent, & Robinson. With tolerable exertion,—such as they have both promised to make we shall, I believe, not be kept back by this disappointment in Stuart’s supply,—and two vessels containing many of our principal blocks have arrived at the Wharf yesterday evening. I venture therefore to submit to you the enclosed statement which,—unless the Season prove more than commonly unfavorable,—will rather be under than over the rate of the progress we shall make.

I am with the highest respect Yours faithfully