University of Virginia Library

More Proposals

William Hawley, Jr., of Winchester, whose business was "hascepainting glazin and
paperhanging," not knowing the university's "choice of cullers," wrote to give his customary
price, "I have one still for a sollid yaurd which I Beleave is the price in washington citty[.]
my price for glazin and materiale found" is, Hawley stated,

             

Six	By	eight	4	cts
8	By	10	6
10	By	12	8
12	By	16	10
12	By	18	12
12	By	20	16
price of glazin

Hawley promised to bring to "sharlottes Vill" his "first rate worke man he is so called in
winchester."[211] Another painter, Thomas Smith, appealed to William T. Gray of
Fredericksburg for an introduction to Jefferson. Gray declined, not having ever "had that
honour myself," but did say that Smith was a "sober and industrious citizen" of "correct
conduct. He is considered a good painter."[212] E. W. Hudnall of Buckingham County
noticed the advertisement in the Richmond Enquirer and submitted a proposal of 12½ cents
per square yard for each coat of "plain painting" in "girt measure." (Girt measurements take
into account the entire surface of an object, including depressions and projections.) For
fancy painting such as "Mahogany, Marble Satin Woods, Stone colour &c." he charged 75
cents, and venetian blinds depended on the size. Hudnall's price for glazing is as follows:

       

For	Glazing	10.	by	12	for	each	light	10.	Cents
For	Glazing	12	by	14	for	each	light	12½
For	Glazing	14	by	16	for	each	light	17
For	Glazing	16	by	24	for	each	light	25

The Glass must be of the proper sizes or I shall charge 2 Cents for every light I cut & if cut
all round or circular 4 Cents.

"You will please address me at New Canton," Hudnall concluded, "My character as a painter
and Glazier, will if necessary be laid before you by the following Gentlemen (who will
vouch for the neatness of my execution, and the promtitude of my dispatch) Viz. Littlebury
Moon of Scottsville, Charles Irving & George Booker Esqr. of Buckingham, Alexander
Brent of Cumberland, & Wm. Perking Sherriff of Buckingham," who were all prominent
men in central Virginia.[213] Norborne Ratcliffe wanted to undertake the making and laying
of 100,000 brick at $15 per thousand, much higher than the current prices in Richmond
where he had worked for the last two or three years. "or if the bricks is made by a Seperate
Contract & every thing delivered on the Spot," Ratcliffe added, "I will lay them at the Price
of three Dollers Per thousen arches to be a load conciderred a ceperate charge in either of
my Proposals: brick makeing I am well acquanted with & dou a Shore you if I be come and
undertaker of any Part of this work will use every exertion to give Satisfaction to the
Parties."[214]

Former Richmond Mayor John Adams introduced Russell Dudly, who built the Union Hotel
in Richmond, to new university Board of Visitor member General James Breckenridge,
saying the carpenter "is associated in any offers which he may make with Mr. Otis Manson,
who is an Architect of the first order & has designed & executed most of the most elegant
buildings in the lower part of our City."[215] Richard Ware's proposal to undertake "three
portions" of carpenter work already has been mentioned.[216] Although he modified his
initial proposal in early April, James Oldham, who previously worked as a joiner at
Monticello, tendered his "Servises" to undertake the carpentry and joinery for "one or two of
the Buildings" at a 25 percent "advance on the adopted rule, the worke to be performed
agreeable to the Turms specifyed in the Advertisment, but the kilndrying of Plank and
bordes will be charged for."[217] James W. Widderfield, working as a carpenter for
contractor John M. Perry, obligated himself to do the all the woodwork work of a hotel and
its attached dormitories at the "prices heare to fore giveen for work of the same description
done at the University or by M Carrys book of prices printed in Phildelppia in 1812."[218]
But housejoiner and contractor James Dinsmore, nearing completion of Pavilion II,
submitted an informed opinion that he "Should not Consider my Self Justifiable in
undertakeing by the Book mentioned as the Standard at a less advance than the difference of
the Currency between Pensyvania & Virginia." Dinsmore, knowing first hand "the manner in
which the work is Expected to be executed, and the difficultys we Labour under here in
procureing good workmen," offered to undertake the carpentry and joinery work of the Ionic
pavilion with its range of dormitories at 5 percent less the book price, "Provided they get an
experienced Philadelphia measurer to measure the work after it is Executed, which would
Probably be best also for Preventing disputes between the Visitors & undertaker." This last
suggestion later was required by the courts before James Oldham's lawsuit against the
university could be settled (see appendix J).[219]