Thomas Jefferson Papers
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https://founders.archives.gov/documents/Jefferson/03-15-02-0206

Gerard E. Stack to Thomas Jefferson, 24 November 1819

From Gerard E. Stack

Charlottesville Novr 24th 1819.

Dear Sir,

From the enclosed you may infer my fixed opinion on the subject of yesterday’s interview. No interest of mine will be an obstacle either to the welfare of the institution, or the support of a poor man and helpless family. If the enclosed meets approbation, your signature will authorize me to publish it in some news papers. Should the number of students enable us to employ assistants, I think I could add Logic, Belles-lettres, the Italian, Spanish and Hebrew Languages, which would give the school a superior claim to public patronage. But should the views of interested individuals prevail, whose object is lucre or the gratification of prejudice, not the love of Country or posterity, the sooner it meets annihilation the better. Let not meanness or avarice contaminate the precincts of these young men, whose object ought to be humanity, science, untarnished honour and virtue. Such ought these youths be found if their country at a future day call for their assistance.

Believe me with high respect, your humble servant,

G. E. Stack.

RC (MHi); at foot of text: “To Thomas Jefferson Esqr”; endorsed by TJ as received 24 Nov. 1819 and so recorded in SJL. Enclosure not found, but see enclosure to TJ to Stack, 25 Nov. 1819.

The poor man may have been Peter Laporte.

Index Entries

  • belles lettres; study of search
  • Charlottesville Academy; advertisement for search
  • Charlottesville Academy; and G. E. Stack search
  • Hebrew language; study of search
  • Italian language; study of search
  • Laporte, Peter; family of search
  • logic; study of search
  • Spanish language; study of search
  • Stack, Gerard E.; and Charlottesville Academy search
  • Stack, Gerard E.; letters from search
  • Stack, Gerard E.; recommendations of search