1Thomas Jefferson to Thomas Carstairs, 1 November 1817 (Jefferson Papers)
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...
2Thomas Jefferson to Thomas Carstairs, 16 January 1818 (Jefferson Papers)
Availing myself of the circumstance of our former acquaintance, I took the liberty on the 1 st of November of requesting your information on the subject of Philadelphia prices for builders, for our government in a College we are building here : and M r Carey in a letter since that informed me you had been so kind as to call on him, and to recieve for me a copy of the Philadelphia Builder’s...