11Drawing of the Fireplace for Monticello’s Parlor, 18 May 1803 (Jefferson Papers)
MS ( MHi ); undated; entirely in TJ’s hand; see Nichols, Architectural Drawings Frederick Doveton Nichols, Thomas Jefferson’s Architectural Drawings, Compiled and with Commentary and a Check List , Charlottesville, 1978 , No. 160. Although the Editors cannnot be completely certain that this sketch was among those enclosed by TJ, the above drawing matches almost exactly the design that Dinsmore...
12From Thomas Jefferson to James Dinsmore, 28 January 1804 (Jefferson Papers)
I return you the drawings for the architrave of the front of the gallery, with a preference of that marked b. with the rounded listel. I do not approve of cutting the wall, not even the cellar wall, to make a space for the descent of the clock weights ; but would have them advanced into the room so as to descend clear even of the cellar wall. should the box in this case encroach too much on...
13From Thomas Jefferson to James Dinsmore, 24 May 1804 (Jefferson Papers)
Yours of the 18th . is recieved and I have this day inclosed to mr Deblois of Alexandria 20. D. for Alexander Perry and 10. D. for mrs Wanscher. mr Duncan shall have 20. D. a month and his washing done. you will be so good as to give directions for the latter. I presume he engages to continue till all the work is ready for mr Wanscher. I will thank you to keep me informed of your progress, of...
14From Thomas Jefferson to James Dinsmore, 13 June 1804 (Jefferson Papers)
Your’s of the 9th . is recieved, and I now inclose you a five dollar bill for mr Wanscher. after you have finished the Dome room, I would rather you should finish the three bed rooms on the same floor that we may have them plaistered & ready for use. if J. Perry has not done the floors of those rooms, he should finish them in preference to every thing else. mr Stewart should finish off the...
15From Thomas Jefferson to James Dinsmore, 24 June 1804 (Jefferson Papers)
I recieved last night your favor of the 20th. I am very sorry mr Wanscher has plaistered the cieling of the Hall before the floor above was laid. as to waiting a month or two for the keys of the plaistering to get hard, a century would not make them proof against the effect of putting up the partitions above and laying the floor. let the partitions above therefore be put up immediately & the...
16From Thomas Jefferson to James Dinsmore, 8 June 1805 (Jefferson Papers)
After writing to you yesterday, I was at the painting room of mr Stewart (the celebrated portrait painter) who had first suggested to me the painting a floor green, which he had himself tried with fine effect. he observed that care should be taken to hit the true grass -green, & as he had his pallet & colours in his hand, I asked him to give me a specimen of the colour, which he instantly...
17From Thomas Jefferson to James Dinsmore, 26 June 1805 (Jefferson Papers)
Your’s of the 22d. came to hand yesterday. I inclose you two specimens of cherry, one done with boiled linseed oil, the other with the newspaper composition you referred to. I think the former the best; but am inclined to believe that daily rubbing with wax will soon produce the same effect. I rather think therefore of leaving the floor to time to give it’s proper colour. as you will but...
18From Thomas Jefferson to James Dinsmore, 31 October 1805 (Jefferson Papers)
I find by Latrobe & Mifflin’s account that on the 7th. of Aug. they shipped for me from Philadelphia 2. boxes of sheet iron weighing 7C—2n/2.—16℔ has it ever been recieved? be so good as to inform me by return of post as I am called on for paiment. I never sent to them for sheet iron but twice. the question is then whether we have recieved a supply of sheet iron once only, or twice. best...
19From Thomas Jefferson to James Dinsmore, 28 December 1806 (Jefferson Papers)
In answer to your letter of the 20th. I would prefer that the door of the North pavilion should be a folding one, opening from the outer architrave into the jamb, so as to enter the room but a little below the chairboard, within, it is to be plaistered. the cornice to be Tuscan of the form of that used in the bedrooms of the house, but proportioned to the height of the room, that is to say,...
20From Thomas Jefferson to James Dinsmore, 31 May 1807 (Jefferson Papers)
Will you be so good as to press mr Jordan for the circular bricks? the semicircular cast iron sashes will be at Monticello before I shall, & I shall be anxious while at home to get them put in. mr Barry will be with us about the last of September, before which the glass will be recieved, & also the sheet iron for the South offices. I salute you with my best wishes. MHi : Coolidge Collection.