Thomas Jefferson to Arthur S. Brockenbrough, 20 April 1821
To Arthur S. Brockenbrough
Monticello Apr. 20. 21.
Dear Sir
It is near 2. months since I made a remittance for some Roman cement to mr Coffee, supposing him to be in N.Y. but recieving no answer I presume he has left it on a very long journey he intended to take. we cannot therefore look to that place. I recieved last night the inclosed letter from mr Andrew Smith on the subject of this cement. as his is imported from England, we have as good a chance of getting it genuine from him as from any one. I would therefore recommend your application to him.
I think too it is not right for us to use English window glass when as good, if not better is made in our own country; and I question whether your glazier does not take such a profit on the English glass he uses as to make it as dear as that of Boston. as it is frequent for the employer to find the glass, I leave to yourself, either to go on as we have done, or to procure glass of our own manufactory from mr Smith. I set out for Bedford tomorrow or next day and salute you with friendly respect.
Th: Jefferson
RC (ViU: TJP); chipped at crease, with missing letter supplied from PoC; endorsed by Brockenbrough, in part, as “on Roman cement & Boston Glass.” PoC (DLC); on verso of reused address cover to TJ; endorsed by TJ. Enclosure: Andrew Smith to TJ, 16 Apr. 1821.
Index Entries
- Boston, Mass.; glass from search
- Brockenbrough, Arthur Spicer; and cement search
- Brockenbrough, Arthur Spicer; as University of Virginia proctor search
- Brockenbrough, Arthur Spicer; letters to search
- building materials; cement, Roman search
- building materials; window glass search
- cement; Roman search
- Coffee, William John; and cement for TJ search
- glass, window; for University of Virginia search
- Poplar Forest (TJ’s Bedford Co. estate); TJ plans visits to search
- Smith, Andrew; and cement search
- Smith, Andrew; as Boston Glass Manufactory agent search
- Virginia, University of; Construction and Grounds; building materials for search
- Virginia, University of; Construction and Grounds; painters and glaziers search