Thomas Jefferson Papers
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https://founders.archives.gov/documents/Jefferson/03-15-02-0371

Thomas Jefferson to James Madison, 16 February 1820

To James Madison

Monticello Feb. 16. 20.

Dear Sir

With this letter I commit for you to the mail a bundle of seeds, one parcel of which was sent by you to mr Randolph for inspection. the other is seakale seed lodged here for you by Genl Cocke. have I returned your Vetruvius to you? I am in great tribulation about it. I keep my borrowed books on a particular shelf that they may neither be forgotten nor confounded with my own. it is not on that shelf, nor can I find it. I know that I meant to return it to you on reciept of a copy of it among some books which came to hand from Paris 3. weeks ago: but not recollecting the act of returning I am uneasy & wish to know from you.

the finances of the University are in a most painful state. the donation of 1820. is recieved & paid away, and we still owe 15,000 for work already done. in our reports we have always calculated on a punctual payment of the subscriptions, and were they so paid we should be perfectly at ease. but 8000.D. are in arrear on the instalments of 18.19. and of that of 11,000 for 20. payable Apr. 1. little is expected to be recieved. to us, visitors, who stand so engaged on our personal honor that Dr Cooper’s draught in Apr. or May shall be1 paid, it is important to give a preference to that draught, and there is no chance of doing it from the general collection. I have notified the Proctor therefore to appropriate to that the instalments of half a dozen by name whose punctuality can be counted on, to wit, the 4. visitors subscribers, mr Divers & Colo Lindsay. this is our only security for keeping faith and honor with Cooper.—my health is as usual: no pain, but low, weak, able to walk little, and venturing to ride little on account of suspicious symptoms in my legs which Dr Watkins flatters himself will disappear in the spring. I salute you with constant affection & respect.

Th: Jefferson

RC (DLC: Madison Papers); at foot of text: “Mr Madison”; endorsed by Madison. PoC (DLC); on verso of reused address cover of John Adams to TJ, 29 Jan. 1819; edge trimmed; endorsed by TJ.

The 4. visitors subscribers were TJ, Madison, Joseph C. Cabell, and John H. Cocke.

In a letter dated Farmington, 25 Feb. 1820, Elizabeth Trist wrote Nicholas P. Trist that she had “heard that Mr Jefferson enjoys tolerable health but his ancles swell so much that the Doctor has advised the tight bandage I am told that Doct Watkins is apprehensive of his being dropsical” (DLC: NPT).

1Manuscript: “be be.”

Index Entries

  • Cabell, Joseph Carrington; and Central College–University of Virginia subscription search
  • Central College; subscription for search
  • Cocke, John Hartwell (1780–1866); and Central College–University of Virginia subscription search
  • Cocke, John Hartwell (1780–1866); and seeds search
  • Cooper, Thomas; University of Virginia professorship proposed for search
  • Divers, George; and Central College–University of Virginia subscription search
  • Jefferson, Thomas; Books & Library; borrows books search
  • Jefferson, Thomas; Business & Financial Affairs; Central College–University of Virginia subscription search
  • Jefferson, Thomas; Health; legs swollen search
  • kale; sea search
  • Lindsay, Reuben; and Central College–University of Virginia subscription search
  • Madison, James (1751–1836); and Central College–University of Virginia subscription search
  • Madison, James (1751–1836); and seeds search
  • Madison, James (1751–1836); letters to search
  • Madison, James (1751–1836); TJ borrows books from search
  • medicine; bandages search
  • Randolph, Thomas Mann (1768–1828) (TJ’s son-in-law; Martha Jefferson Randolph’s husband); and seeds search
  • seeds; kale, sea search
  • seeds; sent by TJ search
  • subscriptions, nonpublication; for Central College–University of Virginia search
  • Trist, Elizabeth House; and TJ’s health search
  • Virginia, University of; Administration and Financial Affairs; funding for search
  • Virginia, University of; Faculty and Curriculum; faculty compensation search
  • Virginia, University of; Faculty and Curriculum; T. Cooper as proposed professor search
  • Vitruvius; writings of search
  • Watkins, Thomas G.; as physician search