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Washington D.C. March 17th 1860
For The Right Reverend Hervey Otey D.D. & L.L.D. Bishop of Tennessee Memphis
Right Revd Sir
A younger son of mine, an [unclear] residing at Montgomery Ala. has informed me, by letter that you contemplate having erected an Episcopal college on an extensive scale. As I have had experience in such buildings as well as the laying out of the grounds, may I respectfully tender my professional services? My knowledge is derived from the circumstance of having received my professional education in Europe, although being an American citizen and my family connections in the Southern States. That the first public premium I won was for a British college in the year 1828 and that I have ever since been extensively engaged in the erection of public buildings of magnitude and on the most approved [premises], both in Europe and America, certificates of which I hold, many from high church dignitaries, as I have been extensively engaged in ecclesiastical works With many
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with many other friends of public establishments, the design for the U.S. Capitol extension included. I am privileged to refer you to the Revd Dr. Pinckney Rector of the Church of the Ascension here, and to the Hon. Jesse D. Bright U.S. Senator and Chairman of the Committee on Buildings, in proof of my assertions. I assure you Right Revd Sir, that you may defend you will find in me a man that will make no mistakes in scientific architecture and an sophisticated practical builder and civil engineer, having studied under first masters in Europe with a large professional reputation in that country as well as here, where my designs have won numerous public premiums. I will also be able to prove to your satisfaction that I am an honest, straightforward man, thay may be safely depended on and a thorough master of all the mechanical arts applied to the erection of buildings --- I am now engaged in settling my accounts with the government and in obtaining a patent for the construction of fire proof buildings, which invention I should suppose will be of vital importance to your intended building, as it does not increase the expense, renders the structure almost imperishable, proof against vermin, water proof and fire proof and can be adapted to any style of architecture.
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These matters I expect will be disposed of before the first of next monyh, when I would be able (God willing) to attend to your business by first visiting the site, receiving your instructions as to the extent of the accommodation required and the style of architecture you would wish to adopt or that would suit the locality and the available materials, and then prepare the design. And least you may suppose me capable of taking advantage, I shall charge you nothing for my plans (merely my travelling expenses) in the event of my not being able to meet your views and establish what I have states Asking the favor of a reply, I have the honor to the Right Revd Sir Most Respectfully Your humble servant [unclear] Fred Anderson
P.S. You will find me thoroughly conversant with the arrangement and the architecture adopted in the principal British colleges; of coures, any such arrangement will have to be made subservient to our climate. My method for ventilating and cooling down the atmosphere in public buildings is highly approved of.