Your favor of the 16th I recd last night. The first house I attempted to build in pisé work was commenced in September 1810 when we had the art to learn, & I accomplished it, that is the walls were completed, in a day less than a month, without allowing for interruptions on account of bad weather. I undertook it with my Carpenters, say about six in number, & I am nearly certain that we had not more than that number on an average during the time that we were engaged in the work. The dimensions of the house 40 feet long, 25 wide and 8 above the underpinning which was of Stone—The thickness throughout 18 inches. The earth was not such as I could have wished being a cold clay very little if any mixed with Sand. Supposing it to be impossible that dirt altogether dry would adhere sufficiently to form a firm wall, I imprudently sprinkled a round or two with a small portion of water, which produced some cracks, but of no great consequence. The error was soon corrected by experience, & upon the whole the building is an excellent one. It remained exposed to the wet & the frosts of the winter without exhibiting any appearance of deterioration, & was not rough cast until the succeeding autumn.

     I have since built two Porter's lodges and an ice house (above ground) of earth more mixed with Sand, which are without objection. no moisture whatever was artificially given to the dirt, and the walls are now as firm & apparently as hard as if they were composed of stone.

     In the latter house above mentioned, the ice does not appear to have sunk at all, whilst in another I have below ground, the very reverse is the case.

     As to the comparative cost of these buildings with brick & Stone I know not how to form a Judgment. The walls, (the underpinning excepted) cost me nothing but the labour of my own hands and this for a very short time— The lodges, 12 or 14 feet square & ten high, were each finished in about 8 days with the number of hands above mentioned. I am so perfectly satisfied with the cheapness, the Strength & durability of these buildings, that I shall, as soon as the weather will permit, commence a large two story dwelling house for one of my nephews on the west of the blue ridge provided I can ascertain with any degree of certainty the fitness of the dirt to be obtained there. Nothing but the expence of the underpinning, (and yet I have an abundance of Stone here easily quarried) will, if any thing can, prevent me from enclosing my grounds near the house with pisé walls.

     Wishing you very great success in your undertaking I am Dear Sir very respectfully & sincerely yrs