Thomas Jefferson Papers
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Thomas Cooper to Thomas Jefferson, 24 April 1820

From Thomas Cooper

Ap. 24. 1820. Columbia

Dear sir

I received your letter announcing the prejudices excited among the people by the Clergy, without surprize. I have never published any thing on theological subjects in this country, but the Sentiments you may have read in my review of Dr Priestley’s philosophical & metaphysical writings. In England about 35 Years ago, I published something of the same kind, but neither here or there, any thing hostile to the Christian religion, except controverting the doctrine of the Trinity in a few pages of my english tract, & maintaining what is called naturalism, be so considered. But in England and in the state of Massachusets, the Unitarian Christians are by no means unanimous in the double nature of the human being: nor do I believe the existence of a soul separate from the body, is believed by one fourth of the Physicians either of Europe or of this Country.

However, the tone of the Clergy here, as in England is,

Touch not a cobweb in St Pauls
Lest you should shake the dome.

If I am to estimate the value of Xtianity, from the conduct of its teachers, the estimate will be small indeed: for I see the effects of it among them are, “envy, hatred, malice & all uncharitableness.”

I sent you my introductory lecture a short time ago. The trustees here are very willing to engage me upon the same terms, I was to have with you, but the assent of the Legislature is wanting who do not meet till Decr. In mean time the Clergy may be busy here also.

I remain with sincere respect Dr sir Your friend & servant

Thomas Cooper

RC (ViU: TJP); endorsed by TJ as received 6 May 1820 and so recorded in SJL.

Cooper’s work published about 35 years ago, Tracts Ethical, Theological and Political (Warrington, Eng., 1789), concluded with a lengthy section entitled “A Summary of Unitarian Arguments” (pp. 465–526). touch not a cobweb … shake the dome references a 1791 poem by Anna Letitia Barbauld entitled “The Apology of the Bishops, in Answer to ‘Bonner’s Ghost.’” Written in response to a poem by Hannah More, Barbauld’s piece was not published until 1869, but it circulated previously among her friends and these lines were quoted in debate in the British House of Commons (William McCarthy and Elizabeth Kraft, eds., Anna Letitia Barbauld: Selected Poetry & Prose [2002], 127–8; Catherine J. Hamilton, Women Writers: Their Works and Ways [1892–93], 1:79). The litany of The Book of Common Prayer (London, 1662, and other eds.; Sowerby, description begins E. Millicent Sowerby, comp., Catalogue of the Library of Thomas Jefferson, 1952–59, 5 vols. description ends no. 1507; Poor, Jefferson’s Library description begins Nathaniel P. Poor, Catalogue. President Jefferson’s Library, 1829 description ends , 9 [nos. 514–5]) entreats deliverance from envy, hatred, malice & all uncharitableness.

In some unidentified way Cooper had sent TJ his Introductory Lecture, on Chemistry, Delivered at the College of South-Carolina, in Columbia, January, 1820 (Columbia, 1820). He also transmitted a copy to James Madison (Madison, Papers, Retirement Ser., 2:295–6).

Index Entries

  • Barbauld, Anna Letitia; The Apology of the Bishops, in Answer to ‘Bonner’s Ghost’ search
  • Christianity; liturgy search
  • clergy; influence of in colleges search
  • Cooper, Thomas; and J. Priestley’s memoirs search
  • Cooper, Thomas; Introductory Lecture, on Chemistry, Delivered at the College of South-Carolina, in Columbia, January, 1820 search
  • Cooper, Thomas; letters from search
  • Cooper, Thomas; professor at South Carolina College search
  • Cooper, Thomas; religious beliefs of criticized search
  • Cooper, Thomas; Tracts Ethical, Theological and Political search
  • Cooper, Thomas; University of Virginia professorship proposed for search
  • Introductory Lecture, on Chemistry, Delivered at the College of South-Carolina, in Columbia, January, 1820 (T. Cooper) search
  • Jefferson, Thomas; Books & Library; works sent to search
  • Madison, James (1751–1836); works sent to search
  • Memoirs of Dr. Joseph Priestley, to the year 1795, written by himself (J. Priestley) search
  • More, Hannah; works of search
  • philosophy; naturalism search
  • Priestley, Joseph; Memoirs of Dr. Joseph Priestley, to the year 1795, written by himself search
  • religion; and University of Virginia search
  • religion; Unitarianism search
  • Saint Paul’s Cathedral (London) search
  • South Carolina College (later University of South Carolina); influence of clergy at search
  • South Carolina College (later University of South Carolina); trustees of search
  • The Apology of the Bishops, in Answer to ‘Bonner’s Ghost’ (A. L. Barbauld) search
  • The Book of Common Prayer search
  • Tracts Ethical, Theological and Political (T. Cooper) search
  • Unitarianism; works on search
  • Virginia, University of; Faculty and Curriculum; T. Cooper as proposed professor search