Thomas Jefferson Papers
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https://founders.archives.gov/documents/Jefferson/03-15-02-0212

James Breckinridge to Thomas Jefferson, 27 November 1819

From James Breckinridge

Near Fincastle Nov. 27th 1819

Dear Sir

untill within a few days I expected to call upon you on my way to the Legislature. A circumstance has however recently occured which compels me to take another route & I regret it exceedingly, as I had a great desire to see & converse with you on the subject of the university & witness the progress of the buildings, that I might be better enabled to advocate its claims on Legislative patronage. may I venture to ask the favr of you to repair the misfortune by a line of information addressed to me in Richmond? If any friend in the Legislature1 has already been furnished with such information as you think necessary, I beg that you will not put yourself to the trouble of repeating it to me.

Altho I cannot believe that the Legislature will permit an institution commenced under such favorable auspices and which promises so much good, to languish for the want of the aid which they can so conveniently bestow, yet I am persuaded that its friends, & more especially its advocates on the floor of the Legislature, ought to be fully prepared to remove the fears & scruples of honest minds & to combat all the folly & prejudice which its enemies may throw in the way.

Accept assurances of my most cordial esteem &c

James Breckinridge

a wound recd on one of my legs shortly before the2 last meeting of the Visitors prevented my attending

J. Bge

RC (DLC); postscript adjacent to signature; endorsed by TJ as received 10 Dec. 1819 and so recorded in SJL. RC (DLC); address cover only; with PoC of TJ to Arthur S. Brockenbrough, 8 Feb. 1822, on verso; addressed: “Mr Thomas Jefferson late Prest U. States Monticello”; franked; postmarked Fincastle, 29 Nov. 1819.

1Preceding three words interlined.

2Manuscript: “before the before the.”

Index Entries

  • Breckinridge (Breckenridge), James; as member of University of Virginia Board of Visitors search
  • Breckinridge (Breckenridge), James; as Va. legislator search
  • Breckinridge (Breckenridge), James; health of search
  • Breckinridge (Breckenridge), James; letter from search
  • health; wounds search
  • Virginia, University of; Administration and Financial Affairs; funding for search
  • Virginia, University of; Board of Visitors; meetings of search
  • Virginia, University of; Board of Visitors; members of search
  • Virginia; General Assembly search