To James Rawlings
Mount Vernon 8 Augt 1815
Sir
One of your agents is now employed in revaluing my buildings at this place insured in your office. Since the former valuation, I have made the following buildings viz. a wooden Rabbit house 11 feet from the Smoke house L—one dirt house covered with wood used for boiling food for Cows 25 feet from Carriage house N—one dirt ice house covered d[itt]o 11 feet & one dirt Barn covered with d[itt]o 35 feet from Stable P—one dirt Greenhouse not yet finished covered with wood about 3 feet from Negro quarter H or I—one wood Summer house 75 yards from Dwelling house A & two brick houses one covered with wood & one partly with glass & partly with wood about one from Negro quarter H or I.
Will you be so good as to inform me what will be the rate of premium upon such of these buildings as may exceed $100 in value. The two first are much below that value & of course not insurable. I have some notion of insuring the others. I am Sir respectfully yr Hl. Servt
Bush. Washington
Turn over.
P.S. I have made a calculation of the fee which the Special Agent will be entitled to for revaluing my property &c. which of course did not employ him more than a few hours, & I make it amount to about $40— Can it be possible that he is entitled to so extravagant a reward for so little labor? I presume there must be some law of the Society which I have not seen.
Source Note
ALS, CSmH: Brock Collection. The cover was addressed to "James Rawlings Esq. P. Agent of the Mutual Assurance Co. City of Richmond Virginia." A notation on the cover reads, "Recvd & Answered 14th August 1815."
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