1To Thomas Jefferson from James Ogilvie, 28 March 1770 (Jefferson Papers)
I am disappointed hitherto in every attempt to get ordained. The Commissary wrote against me in these words. Colo. Mercer saw the letter. “Mr. Ogilvie applied to me last spring for a recommendation to your Lordship for holy Orders. For reasons which then existed I refused him. He has now applied to me a second time, as these reasons are not removed I have denied him again, but he goes home in...
2To Thomas Jefferson from James Ogilvie, 26 April 1771 (Jefferson Papers)
Though I have wrote you and Mr. Walker twice, yet I am at a loss to know whether any of my letters have come to hand or not as I have never heard from Virginia, but once since I left it which was a letter dated last Novr. from my young freind at Belvidere . I have the pleasure however to inform you that I have got into deacon’s Orders by the Bishop of Durham, independant of Horrocks by means...
3To Thomas Jefferson from James Ogilvie, [before 3 July 1795] (Jefferson Papers)
I consider it as one of the characteristic blessings of Republicanism that it disentangles man from that labyrinth of ceremonial and those entrenchments of rank that inoculate and dissever society in countrys where monarchy prevails and opens a free channel to that stream of intercourse and communion from which so much of the improvement and felicity of mankind springs: Tis on this account...
4To James Madison from James Ogilvie, 12 July 1801 (Madison Papers)
I write on the spur of occasion & have only time to request, that you will have the goodness to send me by Captn. Winston a List of such political Essays & publications as shed the clearest light on the sources of public opinion relative to the adoption & construction of the Federal Government & the leading measures of the late Administration. Should any apology be necessary for the Liberty I...
5To Thomas Jefferson from James Ogilvie, 11 April 1802 (Jefferson Papers)
I am this moment apprised that it is probable you will pass thro’ Stevensburg on the 15th. Inst: On that day, my junior pupils will undergo a public examination in the forenoon, & in the afternoon, original orations will be pronounced by the senior students. Indulging a hope, that you may find it convenient to honour the Academy with your presence, I take the liberty to observe, that few...
6To Thomas Jefferson from James Ogilvie, 29 October 1802 (Jefferson Papers)
I take the liberty of requesting your attention to an Address to the Inhabitants of the City of Washington & its Vicinity, which I have transmitted for insertion in the next Intelligencer.—Whilst I disclaim every intention of soliciting any thing at your hands, that requires the preface of an apology & have not the smallest right to expect from you any exertion of the nature of private favour,...
7To James Madison from James Ogilvie, 9 March 1804 (Abstract) (Madison Papers)
9 March 1804, Richmond. “Confidence in your philanthropy, rather than any claim to your consideration founded on private intercourse or friendship, emboldens me to request, for a moment, your attention to a circumstance which altho’ of a personal nature, may not perhaps in your estimation, be altogether unimportant to society. You have probably read or heard some account of the University...
8To Thomas Jefferson from James Ogilvie, 11 March 1804 (Jefferson Papers)
You will not I hope think me chargeable with impertinence or presumption when I take the liberty to request your attention to a subject, which altho’ in a great measure of a personal nature, may not in its consequences be altogether unconnected with social happiness.—You have probably heard of an academical institution , which is about to be organised in S. Carolina.—I have announced myself to...
9To Thomas Jefferson from James Ogilvie, 26 January 1806 (Jefferson Papers)
Every person in Virginia fond of reading, & those, more especially, who have cultivated a taste for miscellaneous research, must frequently experience interruption & disappointment from the difficulty & expense of procuring books.—Few, probably, have felt the disadvantages, arising from this circumstance, more painfully than I have done.—Engaged in a profession, the duties of which call for...
10To Thomas Jefferson from James Ogilvie, 12 August 1807 (Jefferson Papers)
With sentiments of the profoundest deference & respect, I solicit your attention to a few remarks on a subject, in which I cannot but feel the liveliest interest.—You will accept my assurances, that nothing even in my own jugment, could exempt me from the charge of impertinence & presumption, in requesting your attention to any ideas of mine, on a subject interesting to you, did not something...
11To Thomas Jefferson from James Ogilvie, 20 June 1808 (Jefferson Papers)
In the progress of the romantic excursion I have undertaken, the success of my design will be materially promoted by letters of introduction to persons of talents & intelligence in the towns thro’ which I pass.—When I left Virginia I was not so fully aware of the utility of such letters as I have since become. I have recently written to some of my friends in Virginia for the purpose of...
12To James Madison from James Ogilvie, 15 July 1808 (Madison Papers)
It gives me, Sir, peculiar pleasure to embrace the occasion, which accident affords me of introducing to your acquaintance, my friend Doctor William Daingerfield of Alexandria. I am aware that introductory letters are generally written in the spirit formality & civility, & that the courtesies of polite society, allow a latitude of expression, not strictly confined by the principle of sincerity....
13To Thomas Jefferson from James Ogilvie, 5 November 1808 (Jefferson Papers)
Your grandson has arrived in this city whilst I happened to visit it.—will you pardon my presumption, in taking the liberty to suggest, that the study of Chemistry might be very advantageously included in the course of study he proposes to pursue. Woodhouses’ Lectures, illustrated, as they are by a very curious & extensive apparatus, compel nature to reveal many of her most brilliant...
14To James Madison from James Ogilvie, 18 May 1810 (Abstract) (Madison Papers)
18 May 1810, Augusta. Thanks JM for his “friendly letter [not found] … in reply to one which I took the liberty to address to you from Portland.” Plans to spend several months in Kentucky, in “seclusion & solitary study,” to work on a series of orations: “‘The Progress & Prospects of society in the U.S.’—‘The Licentiousness of the Press & the most eligible & probably efficient corrective of...
15James Ogilvie to Thomas Jefferson, 24 May 1811 (Jefferson Papers)
At the time, my dear Sir, when I am about to suspend for many months, the prosecution of the design I have undertaken: for the purpose of more systematic preparation, I cannot deny myself the pleasure of troubling you with a few lines.— During the progress of my rapid and extensive excursion, altho’ the concentrated enthusiasm, which my pursuit excited, necessarily occasioned an almost...
16James Ogilvie to Thomas Jefferson, 24 November 1811 (Jefferson Papers)
I have to thank you for a letter , which had I wanting wanted any additional motives to stimulate my exertions during my temporary seclusion from the world, would have supplied them.—Accept my cordial thanks for the benevolent interest in my future welfare & usefulness you have done me the honour to express, coupled with an assurance, that I shall endeavour to deserve a continuance of your...
17James Ogilvie to Thomas Jefferson, [ca. 5 August 1814] (Jefferson Papers)
This speculation on Neology appears to me equally valuable & new: It perfectly concurs with the opinion I was led to form, when I had occasion to examine this subject several years ago: Language & especially the modern languages of civilised nations are necessarily in a state of incessant mutation & flux: As new discoveries are made new terms must be provided to express designate these...
18James Ogilvie to Thomas Jefferson, November [1814] (Jefferson Papers)
The young gentleman, M r Colin Clark , who will present this letter was formerly a pupil of mine; his academical proficiency & good conduct, gave him a solid claim to my confidence & affection: of the sincerity of these sentiments I afford him an unequivocal evidence, by making him known to you.— I can scarcely indulge the hope of seeing you again, but assuredly, wherever hereafter, my...
19James Ogilvie to Thomas Jefferson, 16 March 1815 (Jefferson Papers)
I take the liberty to enclose a printed paper containing a brief outline of a literary enterprise, on the execution of which I have entered, in the College of Columbia .—It would I trust be quite impertinent to Say how gratifying and acceptable to me, the communication of any idea that may occur to you during its perusal, would will be:—You will particularly oblige me, by mentioning the French...
20To James Madison from James Ogilvie, August 1816 (Madison Papers)
I take the liberty, my dear Sir, to transmit for your perusal a sort of synopsis of a book which will shortly make its appearance. He must have stouter nerves than mine, who in an age like this, can provoke the attention & await the decision of the august & penetrating awarders of literary justice, without apprehension & awe. But I have arrived somewhat abruptly & unpreparedly, at a stage in...
21Enclosure: James Ogilvie to George Ticknor, [ca. 27 April 1819] (Jefferson Papers)
M Blatterman has this day transmitted to you testimonials of his character, & of his capacity to teach the modern languages, which will, I trust, be found satisfactory.— Having lived under his roof for many months & taken lessons from him occasionally in the French & German languages, I am perfectly free to say: that his sobriety, diligence, willingness readiness clearness in communicating...