Evening star., 1932-03-06

(not much il any less than my tWo) Is unoer-
taken for less than Sc 900, as he informed me.
This information and the report that materials
and workmens wages were low-disposed me to
build houses of better appearance than is neces-
sary perhaps for the primary object which
induced the measure.
But I will suspend any final decision until
see Mr. Blagdens estimate in detail with your
observation thereupon, and what part OF the
work 1 can execute with my own tTadesmen,
thereby reducing the advances. shall only add
that with a high sense of the trouble you have
had in this business and with very great esteem
and regard I am, Gentlemen,
Your most obedient, &C."
THOUGH Washington in his correspondence
apparently throws himself on the mercy of DR..
Thornton, who was one of the Federal Com
missioners as well as the designer of the Capitol.
vet in doing so, he shows an astuteness that
demonstrates he had considerable knowledge
on the subject, we find by his letter OF
October IT, in which he states
your favor Of the 18th enclosing Mr.. Blag-
den's statement relative to my proposed build
ings did not reach my hands until last night.
He has not accompanied this statement with
specific prices, nor has it altered my opinion of
the unreasonableness Of the former estimates
of some of its parts. But being desirous OF
closing the matter with Mr.. Blagden some
way or other, make him the following o1er,
viz:
ITO take the painting, glazing and iron
mongery to myself; and allow him besides,
ten thousand five hundred dollars, in full of
commission and every other charge for COM
pleting the buildings agreeably to the specifiea-
tion which he handed to me, and is now In his
possession.
IF he will agree to this proposal, the con-
tract may be Immediately drawn; and he may
proceed in all the preparatory measures soon
as he pleases Money shall be furnished for
the purpose, and if 1t would be convenient and
advantageous to him to have the whole Of the
scantling and plank provided by a Bill of the
same and he would furnish me Herewith, 7
would Immediately order it from the Eastern
Shore of Maryland.
"On the other hand, If he will not agree to
1t must have recourse to some other mode to
accomplish my object. The final answer Of
Mr.. Blagden must be received without delay,
as the important opportunity of providing ma
terials on good terms may be missed. With
great esteem and regard I am, &c"
A FEW days later he says: . Il have re-
~ solved to agree to Mr.. Blagden's terms:
that is, to give him eleven thousand dollars to
build the two houses, according to the plan
agreed on and agreeably to the specifications
which has been presented to me, and must be
produced and referred to as the criterion by
which the work k to be judged I am taking
upon myself the execution Of the painting and
glazing and furnishing the ronmongery agree
ably to the bill which he exhibited-the guam
tity Of nails not to oveTrn the specification,
that Is, by allowing him the amount of that
item he Is entitled to no further call upon
for an increase
II have never entered into a contract Of
this sort and an, Of course, little skilled in
drawing one, for which reason 1t would be an
act Of kindness II you would cause efhcient
articles to be drawn under your inspection and
direction, the cost Of which am willing to
pay-whatever IL customary on the part Of the
employer I am willing to comply with; MOTH
ing occurs to me as necessary at present ex-
cept defraying the cost, and this I am ready
to do by deposftng the means in the Bank
of Columbia, to be drawn for by gentleman
In the city upon Mr. Blagden's producing bills
of cost of the materials for carrying on the
work and the amount Of workmen's wages every
month fortnight or week, shall be stipu-
lated"
Mr. Blagden also visited Mount Vernon TO
talk matters over with Gen. Washington as
we find by his letter Of October 81, in which
he speaks Of this gentleman, saying:
when Mr.. Blagden came here yesterday
with your favor Of the 25th inst. and the plans
specifications, etc. Of my houses, I was o,rt
on my usual ride about my farms, and when
I returned home found company, which pre-
vented my answering your letter by him.
Later he says: upon conversing more fully
with Mr.. Blagden, upon the frontispiece of the
door. and considering that to make them of
stone instead Of wood will add durability to
the work, have agreed to allow the differ
ence, viz, $50, that they may be erected with
the latter, and IS he represented in strong
terms the wishes Of Mr.. Francis that part Of
the cellars should be vaulted for the benefit of
wine, have agreed to this also He thinks
the additional cost may amount to 500 or
more but having made no estimate thereof,
it shall be charged at what it really stands
him"
EVIDENTLY Nh. Lenthal was in some way
l. interested in the contract for hn,ildipo