Beschreibung:

JEFFERSON, Thomas, President . Autograph letter signed ("Th:Jefferson") as President, TO JAMES DINSMORE Jefferson's overseer at Monticello; Washington, D.C., 10 June 1801. 1 page, 4to. Fine condition. COMPLETING THE ROTUNDA OF MONTICELLO "Architecture is my delight," Jefferson wrote a friend, "and putting up and pulling down is one of my favorite amusements." In 1795, having resigned as Secretary of State, Jefferson had undertaken an extensive redesign and enlargement of his beloved Monticello, according to new plans which he had taken at least a decade to formulate. The central feature of the new design was a lofty, ample rotunda, reminiscent of that of the Halle aux Bleds which Jefferson had admired when in Paris. Here, a scant three months into his first term as President, Jefferson gives detailed instructions to Dinsmore, his manager at Monticello, regarding various construction projects, including the rotunda, which were in progress at Monticello in its owner's absence: "I wonder the copper sheets had not got to hand, as it is very long since they left Philadelphia. The steps, or plinths for the dome must be got from Fluvanna. As there seems to be too little dependence on Reuben Perry [a craftsman employed at Monticello] to let the whole work of the housejoiner and the plaisterer depend on him alone, I will pray you to engage some other person to go on with the floors. Then if Mr. Perry choses to do a part, he can do it separately; if not, we shall still get the work done. It is very important that it be ready for the plaisterers by the last of July, that they may work while I am there [to supervise]." "The skylight of the dome is to be a single plate. Mr. Oldham's order shall be paid. It was not convenient for me to remit the 400 D[ollars] to your brother till the 1st of this month, and when I came to look at for the little memorandum of his address...I had mislaid it. If I had been sure you had but one brother in Philadelphia I should have had the paiment made through Mr. Trump, who I presumed would know him. However Mr. Barnes has written to Mr. Trump...and...if he should inform us there is but one, the money will be instantly put into his hands..." One of the few Jefferson letters with direct reference to Monticello's celebrated rotunda. For all Jefferson's continuing activity as a builder, "he never really did finish Monticello; that seems never to have been his intention. There were always piles of wood and treacherous catwalks...; the thrill of building always satisfied him more than the result" (W.S. Randall, Thomas Jefferson , p.586).