1To James Madison from Nicholas P. Trist, 16 September 1826 (Madison Papers)
Our friend Mr Terrell is now among us, on a farewell visit, preparatory to his removal to New orleans, whither he goes in the fall. During this visit, he desires much to put into execution his long deferred pilgrimage to Montpellier; and, in compliance with this wish, I shall take the liberty of guiding his footsteps thither some time before the close of the month. During Mr Jefferson’s life,...
2To James Madison from Nicholas P. Trist, [5] October 1826 (Madison Papers)
With a caution that my slowness and total inexperience in the duties of which the board of Visitors tender me the discharge, will probably call for a full measure of indulgence; and with the grateful feelings which the mark of confidence is calculated to inspire, I accept the opportunity of trying myself in the office of their Secretary. In relation to the catalogue, as my motive in...
3To James Madison from Nicholas P. Trist, 28 October 1826 (Madison Papers)
Your letter found me engaged with the papers relating to Mr Jefferson’s memoir. As I could not therefore immediately attend to it without pretermitting these; and as the time for communicating the report was distant enough to admit of a little delay, I contented myself with sending you word, through Mrs Randolph, that it had come to hand & should receive the earliest attention in my power to...
4To James Madison from Nicholas P. Trist, 18 November 1826 (Madison Papers)
You should have heard from me some time since, but for the prospect held out by the arrival of the measurer from Philadelphia, of an early completion of the business in which he was to be engaged, and consequently of the information that I was to communicate. As the enclosed note from the proctor will show, the delay has been without the fruit I expected. It is in answer to one from me...
5Nicholas P. Trist’s Memorandum on the University of Virginia, [ante 14 December 1826] (Madison Papers)
One of the most prominent evils in the academic institutions of the U. S.—an evil which has already assumed a very serious attitude in the University of Virginia—is the unnecessary expense indulged in by the students. Without entering into a detailed review of the consequences of this practice they may be briefly considered under two heads: either of them sufficing to show that it ought, if...
6To James Madison from Nicholas P. Trist, 30 December 1826 (Madison Papers)
The first thing to be done after the adjournment of the Board, was to make up the record & copy off all those long enactments of Mr Johnson. This I commenced on the succeeding day, & was occupied by, pretty closely, till the Thursday ensuing. Then I went immediately, to the university, where Mr Lomax & myself commenced our joint labours of digesting the enactments, which we got through by...
7To James Madison from Nicholas P. Trist, 8 January 1827 (Madison Papers)
My indisposition was of short duration: Dr Dunglison’s prescription dispelling the fever & other unpleasant circumstances with which it was attended, in three or four days. So that on the thursday succeeding, the weather having moderated, I was enabled to go out. The printing, I am sorry to say however, goes on not very rapidly; at least had not done so last week. Mr McKennie told me that he...
8To James Madison from Nicholas P. Trist, 9 January 1827 (Madison Papers)
When I came to make a copy of the report, I was stopped at the first step, by the want of a caption. How was this difficulty to be got over? I could not communicate with you on the subject, without a loss of time that might add still more to the delay of the report. I have determined therefore on the following course. To transpose a portion of body upon the shoulders—thus making a head of...
9To James Madison from Nicholas P. Trist, 25 January 1827 (Madison Papers)
This mail conveys to you two copies of the enactments, which have been delayed so long. You will be surprised to learn that I have taken upon myself to send on the report without them; this went by last Sunday’s mail. On meeting Genl. Cocke early in the week of the sale, he immediately enquired about the report, & expressed great surprise & concern at the answer. “What! Not yet. Bless my...
10To James Madison from Nicholas P. Trist, 31 January 1827 (Madison Papers)
I send, with the request that they be returned when you shall have done with them, a couple of Harmony papers, containing some articles on the subject of gymnastics. The flattering reports brought up by Genl. Cocke on the prospects of further assistance from the legislature, and the consequent probability that it will be in the power of the Bd. to do something on the subject, has revived my...
11To James Madison from Nicholas P. Trist, 1 February 1827 (Madison Papers)
I have determined to send you also a No of the Westminster, containing another article on gymnastics which tends to convey an idea of the importance which the subject had, at that date, already acquired in England. In my note of yesterday evening, I forgot to mention, as it had been my intention to do, that several circumstances have reduced to an almost certainty in my mind the fixed design...
12To James Madison from Nicholas P. Trist, 21 February 1827 (Madison Papers)
I now return you the paper containing Mr Hassler’s publication, which, so very slight was my previous knowledge of him, has given me more insight into his character than I before possessed. It breathes, I think, the tone of worth and of true science; but the wide difference must not be lost sight of, between a skilful, and perfectly scientific astronomer , and a good mathematician ; nor that...
13To James Madison from Nicholas P. Trist, 25 March 1827 (Madison Papers)
I owe you many apologies for so late an acknowledgment of your kind favor of the 2 inst.; but it was postponed some days unavoidably; and then, by the daily expectation of learning Mr Key’s final decision, which to the very last, I entertained some hope would be such as I wished. There is considerable intimacy subsisting between Mrs D. & Mrs K, by means of which I had derived some knowledge of...
14To James Madison from Nicholas P. Trist, 3 April 1827 (Madison Papers)
Intending to answer your favor of the 27th. by that mail, I went up on saturday afternoon, to the University. But Mr Brockenbrough could nowhere be found, to get from him the key of the apartment where the papers were locked up. I was near being equally unfortunate yesterday; for one of the members of the Jefferson society to whom I traced the key, had gone out & did not return till the...
15To James Madison from Nicholas P. Trist, [3 April 1827] (Madison Papers)
Stepping into the post-office to put my letter in, I am pleased to find the enclosed left here for distribution. It so happened that it was my intention to say Something in my letter, on this very subject, in connexion with one of the transactions at the last meeting, and an account I have since heard of Mr Maxwell’s Speech at Hampden Sydney, in which he triumphantly foretold that they (the...
16To James Madison from Nicholas P. Trist, 26 April 1827 (Madison Papers)
Calling by here in haste this morning, I am met by Mr Brockenbrough who calls me into his office, to show me the enclosed. They are on a Subject of such deep interest, that I have asked his permission to send to you the letter addressed to himself. It may turn out a God send. You will judge of the expediency of obtaining the opinions of Bowditch & of Farrar; and of using every effort to close...
17To James Madison from Nicholas P. Trist, 6 May 1827 (Madison Papers)
I owe many apologies for this tardy acknowledgment of your favor of last month. Several causes have contributed to this remissness, but the chief of these is the paradoxical one of that extreme punctuality which you persist in observing towards me, which has been the cause of a compunctious visitation every time that it has been displayed, and which therefore, honestly and sincerely, I do not...
18To James Madison from Nicholas P. Trist, 18 May 1827 (Madison Papers)
Mr Willard of Roxbury near Boston, who has come on to the University with the large clock of which he is maker, is desirous on his return, to avail himself of the first and last opportunity that will ever offer for paying his respects to you; and I accordingly take the liberty of giving him this introduction. With profound respect Your obedt. Servt. RC ( ViHi : Nicholas P. Trist Album Book)....
19To James Madison from Nicholas P. Trist, 30 July 1827 (Madison Papers)
My delay in writing has been greater than you probably expected when we parted or than I intended; but I am not altogether without apology for it. In the first place, making up the record took me three days. A fourth was entirely taken up by some business which did not admit of postponement; and subsequently, three others by an indisposition somewhat of the nature of that from which you are...
20To James Madison from Nicholas P. Trist, [September 1827] (Madison Papers)
You will find in No. 3 (as marked by me) some new details respecting your early career, as well as that of Mr Jefferson. I send Nos 1. & 2. as introductory: The letters from R.D.O., I mean—which are marked with //. You will perceive that the clergy are seriously—many of them conscientiously —bent on organizing a “christian Party in politics.” We may yet be destined in this country to a fearful...
21To James Madison from Nicholas P. Trist, 28 October 1827 (Madison Papers)
Your favor of the 23d. was not received until last night. I had been thinking some time, that I ought to have long ago written to you on the subject; and now feel ashamed that a letter from you should have found the design yet unaccomplished. The matter shall, however, be immediately attended to: that is, as soon as little piece of business which the same mail brought from Mr Coolidge on...
22To James Madison from Nicholas P. Trist, 8 November 1827 (Madison Papers)
Owing to my not attending Court on Monday I did not receive your favor of the 3d. till the next day. Nothing has reached me concerning the papers you enquire after. I think it not unlikely, however, that Mr Sparks may have entrusted them to Mr Hilliard of Boston, who set out thence some weeks since, & has been daily looked for for a good while. When he arrives, I shall ask if nothing was put...
23To James Madison from Nicholas P. Trist, 19 November 1827 (Madison Papers)
Much occupation of one kind or another, together with the knowledge that all you desired was to send in the report in time for the meeting of the legislature, have caused me to postpone taking up the subject until today. On doing so, I found so many points on which it seemed necessary to touch, that it became obvious it would give you less trouble to frame a report yourself, than to correct...
24To James Madison from Nicholas P. Trist, 6 December 1827 (Madison Papers)
The enclosed letter, I received yesterday evening and hasten to forward to you, as well as my reply, which is subjoined. From these data, you will be able to judge what will be the intentions of the members in Richmond after the receipt of my letter, as they will have it in their power to judge of your probable decision under all the circumstances which have occurred. “At the momt. of writing...
25To James Madison from Nicholas P. Trist, 13 December 1827 (Madison Papers)
In the expectation of finding there a letter from Mr Coolidge, I rode to the post-office yesterday, and was not disappointed. From this, I give you the following extracts. Speaking of Mr W. he says “he is, I have no doubt, fitted for the place, though I should not suppose him equal at present to Bonnycastle or Key.” “If Jones does not accept, or leaves you, I should recommend to appoint W. He...
26To James Madison from Nicholas P. Trist, 11 January 1828 (Madison Papers)
My conscience has been reproaching me for some time past with my remissness towards you; and yet something has occurred every day to protract it until this late date. My expectation, when I last wrote, of hearing again from Mr Coolidge within a post or two, was not realised; and I left home on some business at Powhatan court house without doing so. On my return, I was still disappointed; & the...
27To James Madison from Nicholas P. Trist, 18 January 1828 (Madison Papers)
I am utterly ashamed of myself for having kept you waiting so long for letters which you have, doubtlessly, been impatient to receive; and this shame is the greater from the delicacy which has prevented your jogging my memory on the subject. The only excuse I have to offer, is the procrastination forced on me by the multiplicity of agenda constantly before my eyes; & the forgetfulness which...
28To James Madison from Nicholas P. Trist, [18 January 1828] (Madison Papers)
You will perceive in the accompanying paper, one of your ideas thrown into print. The origin of this piece was as follows. Being in Charlottesville on business, I was asked by Mr Wood of that place to dinner; & found there, among others, Mr Bonnycastle & Mr Davis the Editor. Among other things, the advocate’s attack on Mr Rush was brought upon the carpet; and Mr B., qui se mêle d’économie...
29To James Madison from Nicholas P. Trist, 29 January 1828 (Madison Papers)
I have been expecting by every mail for a week past, an answer to a letter I wrote you on the 18th instant; and I begin to fear that it has either miscarried, or found you unwell. It was to apologise for my long neglict of your wishes on the subject of the remaining letters from you to Mr Jefferson, & to apprise you that they were at length separated from the books in which they had been sewn,...
30To James Madison from Nicholas P. Trist, 30 January 1828 (Madison Papers)
To my great mortification, I learn this evening that Mr Randolph left Edge-hill after dinner, for Montpellier. His intention to spend the night with Dr Page, gives me hopes however, that a messenger setting out before day may reach there before he sets out, & retrieve the opportunity. With a view to multiply the chances in their favor, I have made copies of two of your letters which, from...