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Mr. Haywood, Dear Sir, Wednesday
When I left Fayetteville my intent was to go to Virginia & return in about a week, but contrary to my expectation I was there detained so as not return until last night at which time I received two Letters from you relative to the Business of the Presidents House, wherein you requested an answer & an explaination of the propossials left with you; as you have been So kind as to put yourself to the trouble of writing to me with respect to the work I feel a degree of pleasure in sending an express answer, not finding any chance of conveying a Letter without Sending on purpose.
The plan you first gave, I calculated on, as doing the the work in a creditable manner, the way in which I proposed doing the said work I did suppose could not be executed, So as to give ample satisfaction to the employers & gain credit to myself for less than 1,000 pounds; this was the House 36 by 26 with a cellar under the whole of it & the Garret finished off into bedrooms, (perhaps this I did not communicate to you) However after this it was proposed to omit a part of the cellar & the whole of the Garret rooms, ading to the length of the House four feet, this as I observed required an abatement, I then agreed to undertake for [British pound symbol] 950. lastly in case of being underbid I concluded to say 850. which appears to be the proposal you thought was the first I had made
This was truly a mistake but not on my part, you being so full of business at that time & none of the other commissioners present it could not be attended to so strictly as was necessary: Now Sir, the fact is this, the commissioners shod have first made out an exact method in which the work was to be done & have given to each candidate a copy of the form.
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form or mode in which the work was to be done & by that mean each competitor would hav been on an equal footing, my wish & Inclination was to execute the work in an Extraordinary manner, at the time that I said [British pound symbol] 1,000 but having an Idea at the same time of Lucas's way of Business by a parcel of awkward Negroes, who do not deserve?? to ?? wages, I thought it the only way to put myself on an equantity with him to make that last reserve, that in case of the price being much reduced I would do it for [British pound symbol] 850. rather than loose it; Let me instance to you that I could Build a house the same size & of the one for which I charged [British pound symbol] 1,000. for 3/4 of that Sum that might be Sufficiently strong; and have a better bargain that my first design would have have been at this Thousand pounds, & this I concieve is the advantage Mr. Lucas & Mr. Conry has had of ^me^ in counting on an inferior kind of work; In the next place Sir I have to inform you that according to the mode in which Mr. Lucas & Mr. Conroy has calculated on I am willing to do the work in the present plan a few Shillings cheaper than either of them knowing myself able to build it on as good terms as any that offer, & if it is not [redcuc??] lower than [British pound symbol] 725, as you discribed in your letter having no cellar but underpined 4 feet from the surface & you may depend on me to do it: but at the Same time those Gentlemen should not know that I am determined to be below them, for they would perhaps through a malicious principle to me cry it conciderably lower than any person could aford to do it at. & I do assure you upon the honour of a man of truth, there will nothing be made by it more than common law wages at less than [British pound symbol] 800; if the workman is faithful in performing it as he ought. The House I built for Mr. Cain I think
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has not been more work than this, under the present form, & yet he is very confident he has not been out less than [British pound symbol] 1,000 on it. The time which you allow for the finishing this work I have not heard, I hope if you Sir cause to let me take it you will give sufficient to complete it in as the work will be better than when hurried up with green timber, but if you have mentioned to Mr. Lucas & Mr. Congroy when it must be done I will abide by the result.
I think it will be convenient for me to make brick as I intend employing a Bricklayer by the year especially if you allow me the priviledge of a place for I wish to build there on my own Land, this you may prize as your interest as being a means of promoting the place, I hope therefore you will encourage the ?? incline to build there shortly.
If you can give me a final answer in any Short time you may Inform the bearer Frederick Collier, that he may wait for it, if not have directed him to return immediately. In case you should alter the plan you have form an Idea how much Should be added on deducted in proportion to such alteractions
My expectation is, the lowest proposal is not less than [British pound symbol] 750 you are to allow me within a few Shillings of that Sun & at any rate as they are so ??I wish to have it provided they are not apprised of my determination,
I am with much respect, Sir ?? Sam Hopkins
Hilsboro. Jan. 8th 1794
N.B. let me know the result immediately S.H.
Mr. Haywood
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John Haywood Esquire Public Treasurer Fayetteville
Sam. Hopkins
forwarded by [Fre'd??] Collier
[Jan 25, 1794]
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A Home for the President of The University of North Carolina 30 feet long 36 feet wide two Storey high 11 feet between the floor and Ceiling, the upper Storey 9 feet between the floor and Ceiling, with a passage at one end and 10 feet by 36. The Scantling and boards as follows, towit, Side Sills 10 by 12 Inches, and Sills 10 by 15 Inches, ?? and Girders of a proper size ?? post 10 by 15 Inches, principal post 12 by ?? lower Story post and braces for lower story 7 by 5 Inches, post and braces for upper story 6 by 4 Inches, second set of sills 9 by 4 Inches. ?? 12 by 4 Inches, Rafters 8 by 4 Inches at lower end and ?? 4 Inches at upper end Sleepers 10 by 3 Inches, and all other beams by information. Plank for lower floor 1 1/2 Inches at
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