Thomas Jefferson Papers

Thomas Jefferson to James Madison, 10 March 1817

To James Madison

Monticello Mar. 10. 17.

Dear Sir

Besey calling on me for some seed allows me just time to write a line, to await your arrival at home, requesting your attendance as a visitor of our proposed college on Tuesday the 8th of April, being the day after our election. you will of course, I am in hopes come here the day or evening before, that we may have some previous consultation on the subject. I shall also request Genl Cocke & mr Watson to make this their head quarters, as I have done mr Cabell. Colo Monroe I suppose will not be in the neighborhood. congratulating you on the riddance of your burthens, I salute you affectionately and respectfully.

Th: Jefferson

RC (ViU: TJP); on one sheet folded to form four pages, including address leaf; addressed: “James Madison late President of the US. Montpelier by mr Besey”; with unrelated notation on verso of letter in an unidentified hand (one word editorially corrected): “Suppose a House Whose roof is 3000 Square feet in surface what space would it be necessary to contain all the Water which might fall during a rain of one Inch dep[t]h?,” and further calculations and diagrams in the same unidentified hand on recto and verso of address leaf. PoC (DLC); on verso of portion of reused address cover to TJ; endorsed by TJ.

besey: Charles Bizet.

Index Entries

  • Bizet, Charles; acquires seed from TJ search
  • Central College, Board of Visitors; meetings of search
  • Monroe, James; letters to search
  • seeds; sent by TJ search