Thomas Jefferson Papers
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https://founders.archives.gov/documents/Jefferson/03-09-02-0070

Thomas Jefferson to Charles Yancey, 15 October 1815

To Charles Yancey

Monticello Oct. 15. 15.

Dear Sir

A long absence from home must apologise for this late acknolegement of your favor of Sep. 26.—I was desired by the late mr Peter Carr and some of the Commissioners for the academy proposed to be established in Albemarle to furnish them with a plan for the institution. I accordingly communicated to them the best I could devise, after an enquiry of many years into the nature of similar establishments, and forming from the whole what I thought adapted to our situation. I also prepared a petition for them to the general assembly and the form of such an act as I thought should be past. these papers I gave to mr Carr, and have never seen them since, nor do I know in whose hands they are. indeed I had apprehended that the proposition was not attended to since his death, until I saw an advertisment that a petition would be presented to the assembly to authorize the purchase of a house for it in Charlottesville. [If] this has been authorised by the board of Commissioners, it is more [th]an I know; and if not authorised by them it is a predetermination of a question which in my judgment decides for ever the fate of the institution.—Capt Joseph Miller, a resident of Norfolk, but who has staid a good deal in this county, and with me particularly, & who I believe is known to you, will have a petition before the assembly for carrying into effect the will of his brother, which we hope will meet with your patronage. Accept the assurance of my esteem and respect.

Th: Jefferson

PoC (DLC); on verso of a reused address cover from Joseph Milligan to TJ; torn at seal; at foot of text: “Colo Charles Yancey”; endorsed by TJ.

TJ included his plan for the Albemarle Academy in a 7 Sept. 1814 letter to Peter Carr. For the petition he prepared, see Minutes of the Albemarle Academy Board of Trustees, 25 Mar. 1814, with editorial headnote on The Founding of the University of Virginia: Albemarle Academy, 1803–1816. His draft of an act is printed above at 18 Nov. 1814.

An advertisment in the Richmond Enquirer, 19 Aug. 1815, gave notice that a petition would be presented to the Virginia General Assembly requesting a law authorizing Triplett T. Estes to hold a lottery and dedicate its proceeds to the purchase of his own house and lot in Charlottesville for use as an academy. Joseph Miller’s brother was Thomas Reed.

Index Entries

  • Albemarle Academy; lottery for search
  • Albemarle Academy; petition of search
  • Carr, Peter (1770–1815) (TJ’s nephew); and Albemarle Academy search
  • Central College; Draft Bill to Create Central College and Amend the1796Public Schools Act search
  • Estes, Triplett T.; and Albemarle Academy search
  • Jefferson, Thomas; Public Service; as Albemarle Academy trustee search
  • Jefferson, Thomas; Writings; Draft Bill to Create Central College and Amend the1796Public Schools Act search
  • lotteries; for Albemarle Academy search
  • Miller, Joseph; petition to General Assembly search
  • Reed, Thomas (brother of Joseph Miller); estate of search
  • Virginia; General Assembly search
  • Yancey, Charles; and Central College search
  • Yancey, Charles; letters to search