To Thomas Jefferson from Robert Brown of Washington, 22 April 1805
From Robert Brown of Washington
Apl. 22th 1805.
Sir,
I hope your honrable Body Will Concider My Misfortune in the publick work Since your honner Discharged Me from the Barrecks I never got aney work since in the City Worth a naming though Mr Voss is Work Was thought Beter Work than the Barrecks I am informed that Conl, Wartton has Menthend that the walls of the Barricks that is, uncoverd this four years is Beter work than was Don Last Year By Voss though the purser was Much More in favour of Voss I should Be Willing to Do the work at the Navey yard By the Day Without trying to Mack aney Speat on the Publick it is Well None By Docter thorntin And Sevral others that I was imployed as fore man at the house your honour Livs in at Present to the Chimneys Was finished and above all others Worked in the plac though I Say it I could Never Be shenshred for aney Mis Conduct what Ever I have Laid out my all in this City and hav Made Som purchesis for a fue Lots the Money is Due this Summar Sir I should not trobeld you honour But no Use in Spacking to aney one But you for Mr Smith i have Menthend it to him But you honor is the onley person to put me in To the work or not at toll if your honnar Be so kind as to give me a fue Lins to hosoever that I may aply to By Geting the Work i Shall be In gutey Bound to Ever prey if I went aney thing Astray at the Barrecks it was not intentily Don Mr Voss Complaned to Mr Smith when the Gust put Down four of the arkade arches of the Barreks or your honner Never Should Been trubeld in the Busness if the Walls of the Navey Yard was Examned as i hav Don the publick Wood find them indifrently Don By aney Brickwork in the City I have Been a sitison this twelve years its well None that if that Report of the Baricks had not tacken plase that i should Be aponnted one of the foremen at the Captal I never Was a man that Enterdferd With aney polliticks What Ever But was the industres Man i hope I have Don Nothing a miss But What Your honour Will forgive all so there is fore hundred Dollars Rimanes to Be paid me if you honner will Do With me as the publick Don with Mr McNanze in the Carpenter work of the Baricks in short if So Concered i will taek two Dollars pr Day and Keep the time as i Don at the house your honour Livs in I now Wate for a Entervue With your honner I am you Most Obet Set,
Robt, Brown
RC (DLC); addressed: “The Right Onrebele the presedent of United States”; endorsed by TJ as received 22 Apr. and so recorded in SJL.
Robert Brown (d. 1815) was a Washington bricklayer who made his home on F Street. In 1801, he and partner Lawrence Pearson were contracted to do the brickwork on the new navy yard barracks. The quality of their work was questioned and a number of repairs were demanded on TJ’s instructions. By 1806, Brown had found work laying brick at the President’s House (Daily National Intelligencer, 30 July 1814, 28 Dec. 1815; “Monies Expended on the President’s House,” 1806, 1807, 1808 [FCs in DNA: RG 53, RES]; Vol. 35:417, 512; Vol. 36:668).
Mr Voss is Work: local builder Nicholas Voss handled the brickwork for a navy yard warehouse contracted in 1803 (Robert Smith to Thomas Tingey, 25 Apr. 1803, in DNA: RG 45, MLS; , 2:46n).
Conl, Wartton: Franklin Wharton, commandant of the Marine Corps (Vol. 43:114).
On 31 Oct. 1801, Robert Smith authorized a $500 payment to Charles McNantz for Carpenter work done on the new barracks (DNA: RG 45, MLS).