Jefferson, Thomas, third President

Autograph letter signed ("Th: Jefferson"), 1 page (9 7/8 x 8 in.; 252 x 202 mm), written on the recto of an address leaf directed to Jefferson, Monticello, 15 January 1818, to Matthew Brown, docketed by Jefferson on verso; seal tear and loss, neatly laid down on tissue. Half green morocco folding-case, red morocco spine labels.

Jefferson concludes a contract for the brickwork on one of the first buildings of the University of Virginia. "The Visitors of the Central College living at a distance apart in the counties round about, and one of them being on the assembly at Richmond, it was not till yesterday I could get a letter from him. this enables me to close the contract of brickwork for that college with you on the terms of your letter of Dec. 20. and altho you do not in that bind yourself to finish half the work by the 1st. of July as I had proposed, yet it's importance to us that it should be done obliges me to press it on you with great urgency, as we are to open our school on that day. I hope also that you will engage Knight for the front-work. be so good as to drop me a line immediately acknoleging the reciept of this, that I may be sure it is recieved. I salute you with my best wishes & respect."