and observations on it.  He was too well acquainted with the merit of that building, to find himself restrained by my injunctions not to depart from his model.  In one instance, only, he persuaded me to admit of this.  That was, to make the portico two columns deep only, instead of three, as the original is.  His reason was, that this latter depth would too much darken the apartments.  Economy might be added, as a second reason.  I consented to it, to satisfy him, and the plans are so drawn.  I knew that it would still be easy to execute the building with a depth of three columns, and it is what I would certainly recommend.  We know that the Maison Quarree has pleased, universally, for near two thousand years.  By leaving out a column, the proportions will be changed, and perhaps the effect may be injured more than is expected.  What is good, is often spoiled by trying to make it better.

The present is the first opportunity which has occurred of sending the plans.  You will, accordingly, receive herewith the ground plan, the elevation of the front, and the elevation of the side.  The architect having been much busied, and knowing that this was all which would be necessary in the beginning, has not yet finished the sections of the building.  They must go by some future occasion, as well as the models of the front and side, which are making in plaster of Paris.  These were absolutely necessary for the guide of workmen, not very expert in their art.  It will add considerably to the expense, and I would not have incurred it, but that I was sensible of its necessity.  The price of the model will be fifteen guineas. 1 shall know, in a few days, the cost of the drawings, which probably will be the triple of the model:  however, this is but conjecture.  I will make it as small as possible, pay it, and render you an account in my next letter.  You will find, on examination, that the body of this building covers an area but two fifths of that which is proposed and begun; of course, it will take but about one half the bricks; and, of course, this circumstance will enlist all the workmen, and people of the art, against the plan.  Again, the building begun is to have four porticoes; this but one.  It is true that this will be deeper than those were probably proposed, but even if it be made three columns deep, it will not take half the number of columns.  The beauty of this is insured by experience, and by the suffrage of the whole world:  the beauty of that is problematical, as is every drawing, however well it looks on paper, till it be actually executed:  and though I suppose there is more room in the plan begun, than in that now sent, yet there is enough in this for all the three branches of government, and more than enough is not wanted.  This contains sixteen rooms; to wit, four on the first floor, for the General Court, Delegates, lobby, and conference.  Eight on the second floor, for the Executive, the Senate, and six rooms for committees and juries:  and over four