 | Documentary History of the Construction of the Buildings at the University
of Virginia, 1817-1828 |  |
Thomas Jefferson to Thomas Carstairs
After a separation of near 20. years I avail myself of the occasion of recalling myself to your
recollection which is furnished by the necessity of asking information from you in the line
of your business, and which I trust you will have the goodness to give me. we are here
engaged in the erection of a college called the Central college. we have agreed to give our
Carpenters & housejoiners the prices stated in the last Philadelphia Builder's Price book
with whatever percent on them is habitually now allowed there as the advance of prices
since the date of that book. will you be so good as to inform me what is the advance now
habitually allowed there [on] those printed prices? and will you moreover be so good as to
indicate to mr Matthew Carey the genuine edition of that book (for I am told there is a
spurious one) who on your shewing him this letter, will I am sure be so kind as to procure
and send me the book by mail: the cost of which shall be remitted to him separately or await
on account for a considerable supply of books for which I shall apply to him within 2. or 3.
weeks. I take this occasion with pleasure of assuring you of my continued esteem & respect.
Th: Jefferson
ALS (polygraph copy), DLC:TJ, 1p, with TJ docket "Carstairs Thos. Nov. 1. 17." TJ made
this copy on a coversheet addressed to "Thomas Jefferson Esqr Monticello near Milton."
TJ's copying machine failed to make the letters in square brackets. Thomas Carstairs was a
"practical contractor" who worked with TJ, William Thornton, Stephen Hallet, and James
Hoban on the Capitol building in Washington in the 1790s (see John Dos Passos, "Builders
for a Golden Age," American Heritage, 76). TJ wrote to Carstairs again on 16 January and
Carstairs replied to TJ on 26 January 1818.
| Documentary History of the Construction of the Buildings at the University
of Virginia, 1817-1828 | |