To James Madison from Alexander Garrett, 24 June 1817
From Alexander Garrett
Charlottesville 24th. June 1817.
Sir.
After you left this, a difficulty occured in obtaining the title to the lands purchased for the Central College, that difficulty was not removed untill yesterday, when a title was obtained;1 the prospect of raising a considerable sum by individual donations to the College is now truly flattering.
I am advised to (and now with great diffidence & due deference) inclose you a copy of the subscriptions paper,2 and ask of you to put it into such hands in your county as would likely be most zealous in promoting the interest of the College. I have the honor to be Sir Your Mo. Obt. Humble Servt.
Alex Garrett
RC (DLC). Docketed by JM.
1. The indenture, dated 23 June 1817, provided for the sale of two parcels of land—one of forty-three and three-fourths acres and the other of one hundred and fifty-three acres—by John M. and Frances T. Perry for the sum of $1,421.25 (ViU).
2. Document not found. A typescript of “Subscriptions to Central College,” taken from a copy owned by John Coles, is held in Special Collections, University of Virginia Library (UVa Chron. box 1, folder 1818 Apr. 1, accession no. 11850).