1Joseph C. Cabell to Thomas Jefferson, 14 October 1817 (Jefferson Papers)
I thank you for the use of the enclosed papers, which I have copied, and now commit to the first mail after my return to this place. I shall endeavor to make myself master as well of your plan for schools, as of that for Colleges, before the period at which these subjects will be taken up in the House of Delegates . If you could conveniently spare the time, I think it would be of great benefit...
2Joseph C. Cabell to Thomas Jefferson, 11 February 1822 (Jefferson Papers)
In my last I informed you that we then contemplated the plan of asking the Legislature to give the University the surplus revenue of the Literary Fund to the amount of $7200, which would be equivalent to the release of the debt. M r Johnson & myself had thought by this expedient we should get clear of the commitment of our friends in the House of Delegates against any scheme which would go to...
3Joseph C. Cabell to Thomas Jefferson, 23 January 1814 (Jefferson Papers)
The last mail from Charlottesville brought me your letter of 17 th inst: accompanied by your three letters to m r Eppes on the subject of the ways & means of carrying on the war. Accept, I beseech you, my most sincere thanks for the communication of these papers which from the hasty perusal I have given them already promise me a fund of valuable & highly interesting matter. I shall observe...
4Joseph C. Cabell to Thomas Jefferson, 17 April 1819 (Jefferson Papers)
M r Brokenbrough left this for Gen l Cocke ’s on yesterday morning. It seems that he cannot establish himself at the University until 1 st Aug t ; yet I hope you may be disposed to engage him, as, I think, he will be a source of great comfort & relief to you. I have reflected a good deal on subjects connected with the University since we separated: some thoughts have occurred to me which I beg...
5To Thomas Jefferson from Joseph Carrington Cabell, 20 February 1826 (Jefferson Papers)
On the next page you will find the vote of the Senate on the passage of your bill. Of the four senators who voted against it, two were carried off by their aversion to Lotteries. The Bill was committed at 12. I asked leave for the committee to sit during the session of the house. We reported at 1— & passed the Bill instanter. If the House of Delegates had not adjourned on account of the death...
6Joseph C. Cabell to Thomas Jefferson, 3 January [1822] (Jefferson Papers)
I arrived here on the 30 th ult: and took my seat in the senate on 31 st . My general health is good, & the disease in my ear considerably diminished. I feel myself in a situation to return zealously & vigorously to the duties of my station, and for that purpose have taken up my lodgings at the Eagle Hotel . I trust there will be no relapse in my ear, and as to my general health my morning...
7Joseph C. Cabell to Thomas Jefferson, 31 March 1818 (Jefferson Papers)
I forgot to leave with you, as I intended, a little book, called the Oxford & Cambridge Guide. It may be acceptable to you at the present Crisis. I will thank you for the return of it, when I come up in May, as I shall wish to look over it in the summer. I send it by the stage Driver. RC ( ViU: TJP-PC ); endorsed by TJ as received 1 Apr. 1818 and so recorded in SJL .
8To Thomas Jefferson from Joseph Carrington Cabell, 18 February 1825 (Jefferson Papers)
You have no doubt already been informed of the arrival of the three additional Professors at this place. I have had a short interview, and am much pleased with them. M r Gilmer’s selection thus far gives me great satisfaction. M r Johnson, M r Loyall and myself, in conformity to your instructions, have fixed on a day for a meeting of the Board, and for that purpose have selected the fourth of...
9Joseph C. Cabell to Thomas Jefferson, 21 January 1819 (Jefferson Papers)
On the 19 th ins t the University Bill passed the House of Delegates , only 28 members voting against it. Yesterday I moved its committment in the Senate . The Committee are myself Mess rs Johnson ,
10To Thomas Jefferson from Joseph Carrington Cabell, 21 December 1824 (Jefferson Papers)
Since the date of my last I have been enabled to settle my opinions as to the course which we ought to pursue. My views have undergone a material change. On my first arrival here I was assailed by old & powerful friends of the University, with all the weapons of reason & persuasion: and wishing to avoid the appearance of illiberality I for a short time contemplated a compromise, and proposed...
11To Thomas Jefferson from Joseph Carrington Cabell, 8 February 1826 (Jefferson Papers)
Your favor of 4th ins t has arrived, and has been read with the greatest interest by myself & the friends to whom I have shewn it. M r Garland’s scheme of 24 Colleges in my view is pregnant with mischief. The only way to defeat it, is to present to the house a better plan in lieu of it. My mind has been on the wing for some days, and a view of this most important subject has occurred to me,...
12Joseph C. Cabell to Thomas Jefferson, 19 October 1814 (Jefferson Papers)
Your favor of 23 d Sep r reached me before I left home: that of 30 th since I came to this place. I have already given & shall continue to give to those letters the fullest consideration in my power. We have as yet settled upon no plan of finance or defence: & are waiting to hear the plans of congress . Our difficulties are great & encreasing. Your idea of issuing state certificates ought, & I...
13To Thomas Jefferson from Joseph Carrington Cabell, 26 January 1824 (Jefferson Papers)
I thank you sincerely for your three letters of 19 th 22 d & 23 d ins t all of which I have shewn to our friends in the senate. The University Bill is now before the Senate & will be acted on in a day or two. I confess I differ with you as to its importance & character. We do not here care in the least for the Proviso giving to the Gen l Assembly the power of revocation. You know the...
14To Thomas Jefferson from Joseph Carrington Cabell, 1 April 1824 (Jefferson Papers)
My plan was to leave the City to-day, so as to get to Monticello on saturday. But finding I cannot reach the point I desired in time to do so, I must now defer my departure till saturday or sunday, when I expect to set out on my return, and taking the monday’s stage from Fredericksburg, arrive at Monticello on tuesday. Should I not come myself, you may expect to receive a letter from me. But...
15Joseph C. Cabell to Thomas Jefferson, 7 January 1819 (Jefferson Papers)
Your favor of 1 st ins t has been duly received, and I thank you for the information it contains. I also thank you for the copy of Tracy ’s work, which I received in a few days from the time it left you, but have heretofore omitted to mention. In my last I gave you an account of our declining & gloomy prospects respecting the University . Just about Christmas , & from that period to the 1 st...
16Joseph C. Cabell to Thomas Jefferson, 17 September 1814 (Jefferson Papers)
The dangers of our country will be my apology for troubling you with this letter. I wish to draw your attention to the important subject of our financial difficulties, & particularly those which will present themselves to the Gen l Assembly at its next session: and to sollicit the favor of you to put me in possession of any hints, or plans which you may think adapted to the crisis. I went to...
17Joseph C. Cabell to Thomas Jefferson, 27 December 1814 (Jefferson Papers)
The enclosed letter, which I received under cover of your favor of 16 th Oct. having remained a sufficient length of time in my hands, I now return it agreeably to your desire, & beg you to receive my sincere thanks for the communication. I have taken the liberty to keep a copy of it, for my own gratification & instruction & for the occasional perusal of such friends as may be desirous to...
18To Thomas Jefferson from Joseph Carrington Cabell, 16 January 1825 (Jefferson Papers)
I thank you sincerely for your favor of 11. inst. I have but little time now to answer you. I am sorry to inform you that the party in favor of the removal of the College have gained ground very much since the date of my last: insomuch that I now have the greatest apprehensions of their success. The combined intrigues of Richmond and the federal party seem too strong for the country. The...
19Joseph C. Cabell to Thomas Jefferson, 6 March 1822 (Jefferson Papers)
I returned on 3 d ins t to my family at this place , after having experienced the mortification of losing all our propositions in favor of the University . Shortly after the date of my last letter to you, I determined to give my assent to the restriction, in regard to the Library House Rotunda , insisted on by M r
20To Thomas Jefferson from Joseph Carrington Cabell, 7 March 1824 (Jefferson Papers)
I presume you have already been informed by Col: Randolph of the result of our long continued struggles for the Bonus of the Farmer’s Bank. We have been compelled to relinquish it to the Improvement Fund, and to accept an equivalent out of the Balance of the debt due from the General Government. Never have I known so obstinate a struggle between the two Houses of Assembly. M r Johnson has...
21To Thomas Jefferson from Joseph Carrington Cabell, 11 February 1825 (Jefferson Papers)
Your favor of 3 d ins t has been duly received, and your requests attended to. Both the letter and the enclosed resolutions have been shewn to M r Loyall, and to him alone. He will unite in supporting the resolution relative to the text books on government. It would be very agreeable to us to know the time of our next meeting; but I suppose it is impossible to place it on a footing of greater...
22Joseph C. Cabell to Thomas Jefferson, 1 February 1818 (second letter) (Jefferson Papers)
Since I last wrote you the enclosed substitutes to for M r Scott ’s, or the Committee’s bill, have been offered in the House of Delegates . M r Taylor of Chesterfield , a member of good talents and standing in that House
23To Thomas Jefferson from Joseph Carrington Cabell, 6 January 1825 (Jefferson Papers)
The inclosed letter from M r Tucker in reply to mine of which you have a copy, I send for the purusal of yourself & M r Madison alone. I can see no objection to its communication thus far, altho’ I expect M r Tucker wrote it with an expectation that it would not go beyond me. I expected he would hesitate about accepting a situation which would cut him off from all prospect of future promotion....
24To Thomas Jefferson from Joseph Carrington Cabell, 21 February 1825 (Jefferson Papers)
In adverting in a late letter to M r Gilmer’s determination not to accept the Law–Chair, I requested you to make inquiries relative to Gen l Tucker, of whose Lectures at Winchester I had received so favorable an account as to induce me to think he would be a suitable and popular appointment. It is incumbent on me now to withdraw the suggestion, as Judge Tucker to whom I wrote on the subject,...
25Joseph C. Cabell to Thomas Jefferson, 18 January 1821 (Jefferson Papers)
I am sorry to inform you that it seems to be the general impression here that we shall be able to effect nothing for the University during the present session. It is with the most heartfelt grief that I acknowledge this to be my own impression. The Reports relative to the Literary Fund are not yet before us, and this delay operates against us. The Governor has done all in his power, but the...
26Joseph C. Cabell to Thomas Jefferson, 8 March 1819 (Jefferson Papers)
I am happy to inform you that, since I last wrote you , the Legislature has de repealed the additional appropriation of $20,000, to the education of the poor . The question came up again by an amendment in the Senate to the Revised Bill respecting the Literary Fund; it passed the Senate una ni mously, and the House of Delegates by a majority of 18. We are thus happily extricated from an...
27To Thomas Jefferson from Joseph Carrington Cabell, 20 March 1826 (Jefferson Papers)
I have got thus far on my way home & to the meeting of the Visitors, with the further view of returning afterwards on business to the lower country, & of coming up again with my family early in May. Events crouded so rapidly in the latter part of the session as to deprive me of the power of writing you an account of our proceedings on the subject of the College Bill. I will now give you a...
28To Thomas Jefferson from Joseph Carrington Cabell, 6 August 1823 (Jefferson Papers)
On sunday evening preceding our last Court, I rode up to Lovingston to meet the undertakers from the University, & to select a suitable site for our new Jail. I found there M r Corby from Staunton, & M r Phillips, M r Perry, & M r Crawford from the University. During that evening & the next morning, I marked out the site; with enclosures taking in our old Jail as a suitable House & kitchen for...
29To Thomas Jefferson from Chapman Johnson, 26 January 1826 (Jefferson Papers)
Your circular, on the subject of the law professor has been received, and we have had a meeting to consider what ought to be done. The continued ill health of M r Gilmer is very much to be lamented, and we deeply deplore the prospect of his loss, in the University and his country— We are very sensible of the importance of filling the vacant chair, as soon as possible, but think that a meeting...
30Joseph C. Cabell to Thomas Jefferson, 7 October 1817 (Jefferson Papers)
Your note of this morning has this moment been received by Gen l Cocke & myself. The association for an Agricultural Society , adjourned yesterday evening to 10’ 11’ O’clock this day. The Judge Stewart has been engaged to give an opportunity to the members of the Bar to attend. If we let slip this op- occasion, perhaps, it will be impossible to bring the gentlemen together a second time. Will...
31To Thomas Jefferson from Joseph Carrington Cabell, 26 February 1823 (Jefferson Papers)
The Legislature being on the eve of adjournment, & all the business of my district, & indeed of the state in general, being compleated, or so nearly so, as to admit of my departure, I left town on the 23 d inst & arrived here on the evening of the same day. During the latter part of the session we provided by law that visitors of the University should not lose their seats by the mere fact of...
32To Thomas Jefferson from Joseph Carrington Cabell, 28 January 1825 (Jefferson Papers)
Yours of 22 d covering your bill is received, & I beg you to accept my most heartfelt thanks. I have held a conference on it with some of our friends, and I think it will be a powerful instrument in our hands. Our friends in the other house were committed to the Williamsburg party to vote in the first instance , for the postponement. Then they will be free. If that question should not be...
33Joseph C. Cabell to Thomas Jefferson, 20 February 1821 (Jefferson Papers)
I return you the enclosed paper calling a meeting of the Visitors of the University , having procured the signatures of M r Johnson & Gen l Taylor , and annexed my own, as requested in your favor of 30 ult . I have also shewn the paper to Governor Randolph , & the course pursued is satisfactory to him & the Executive . A Bill in favor of the University
34Joseph C. Cabell to Thomas Jefferson, 30 March 1817 (Jefferson Papers)
I have had a good hunt for among my papers for Main ’s recipe for the preparation of Haws: and at length, after almost despairing, have found it in the midst of a small volume of extracts from Brown ’s Rural Affairs. I now send it to you, agreeably to your desire. I am, dear sir, very respectfully & truly yours RC ( ViU: TJP-PC ); endorsed by TJ as received 8 Apr. 1817 and so recorded in...
35Joseph C. Cabell to Thomas Jefferson, 17 December 1818 (first letter) (Jefferson Papers)
The select committee of the House of Delegates on the subject of the university has just had a third meeting. 13 members attended. On the question whether the bill should be reported with a blank as to the scite, it was decided to fill in the negative by the casting vote of the Chairman . The Central College was selected as the scite, and the bill
36Joseph C. Cabell to Thomas Jefferson, 4 January 1821 (Jefferson Papers)
I thank you sincerely for your letter of Dec: 25 th which I found here on my arrival on 30 th . Indisposition confined me in Williamsburg rather longer than I expected when I last wrote you . Since my arrival I have been incessantly engaged on the subject of the University . We have a powerful combination to oppose, & the result is extremely doubtful. If you will examine the enclosed...
37Joseph C. Cabell to Thomas Jefferson, 10 February 1818 (Jefferson Papers)
I now do myself the pleasure to enclose you a printed copy of your bill, the printer having just sent the copies to the House . The subject will be agitated in the House of Delegates on tomorrow or the next day. I have no reasons to change my anticipations as to the result of the measures respecting the Literary fund stated in my former Letters to you. Yet I have thought it my duty still to...
38Joseph C. Cabell to Thomas Jefferson, 21 January 1822 (Jefferson Papers)
I thank you for your favor of 14 th ins t which arrived to-day, & has been shewn to M r Johnson . The plan of suspending the interest would be practicable, if the income of the fund were not too low even to satisfy existing appropriations. The accountant ’s estimate makes the appropr revenue more than $62,000: but the stocks are ascertained to be so unproductive, as to bring the income for...
39To Thomas Jefferson from Joseph Carrington Cabell, 29 December 1823 (Jefferson Papers)
I reached this on 2 6 th ins t & have got into lodgings, and am entering into communications with our friends on the subject of the University. Col: Randolph has probably shewn you the enclosed documents, but least he may have forgotten them, I send you the enclosed copies. I fear this Bill is all we can get. Hearing that the surplus was ample, I did till to-day eulogize our friends on the...
40To Thomas Jefferson from Joseph Carrington Cabell, 19 February 1824 (Jefferson Papers)
I received in due time by the mail your favor of the 3 d ins t I have not written in reply, because I have been absorbed in the discharge of my duties at this place. From the first moment I heard of the bill to recharter the Farmer’s Bank, I fixed upon it as furnishing a good opportunity to provide the fifty thousand dollars for our Library & Apparatus. I mentioned my views to M r Garrett when...
41To Thomas Jefferson from Joseph Carrington Cabell, 19 August 1825 (Jefferson Papers)
Your favor of 4 th ins t reached me by the mail of last week. Shortly after it came to hand I was called to Bremo on business, where I authorised Gen l Cocke, if he should reach Monticello before my regular written reply, to inform you that I should vote for the immediate appointment of M r Gilmer, as the Professor of Law. I am confident he would be appointed at the meeting in October, and the...
42Joseph C. Cabell to Thomas Jefferson, 17 February 1820 (Jefferson Papers)
The result of all my enquiries convinced me that the only course left us was to aim to get the present & future surpluses of the Literary fund, & to amend the Bill lying on the table of the Senate & giving the counties the right of drawing out their arrears. m r Johnson & myself concerted measures: & with the aid of m r Hay in the debate, carried the Amendment unanimously thro’ the Senate ,...
43Joseph C. Cabell to Thomas Jefferson, 17 February 1813 (Jefferson Papers)
I have been prevented by business of late, from writing you respecting the fate of the Bill founded on the petition of the Rivanna River company . The Bill as it came up to the Senate contained merely a proviso saving private rights. M r Johnson drafted two amendments, one requiring that the tolls should be collected at the Locks, & only on what passed should pass thro’ them, so long as the...
44Joseph C. Cabell to Thomas Jefferson, 4 July 1816 (Jefferson Papers)
I saw General Cocke on his way to Norfolk , early in June, and had a conversation with him on the subject of Hedges: in the course of which he informed me that you were under the impression that Maine ’s method of preparing Haws, so as to make them vegetate quickly, had died with him. It affords me pleasure to furnish you with it, in an extract of a Letter written by Maine to M r James...
45To Thomas Jefferson from Joseph Carrington Cabell, 8 April 1824 (Jefferson Papers)
This will be delivered to you by my servant Archer, who comes down with the Horse you were so good as to lend me. I took the liberty to keep him longer than I promised, because on getting to Col. John Cole’s, I found both himself & his brother Tucker, together with their families, were setting out to see Lady Skipwith, & all their riding Horses, seemed to be in requisition. I shall remain at...
46Joseph C. Cabell to Thomas Jefferson, 22 December 1820 (Jefferson Papers)
On consultation with Gen l Breckenridge & others it was decided that we should bring forward nothing in regard to the University till after Christmas. I got leave of absence till 29 th and left town on 20 th . The evening before my departure I was informed that M r Griffin of York
47To Thomas Jefferson from Joseph Carrington Cabell, 5 May 1824 (Jefferson Papers)
A scheme is in now in agitation at this place the object of which is to remove the college of William and Mary to the city of Richmond. All the Professors of the college, except the Professor of Law, are decidedly in favor of it. Chancellor Brown, & others, of the Board of Visitors, will give it their support. What number of the Visitors will come into it I am not informed; but the friends of...
48Joseph C. Cabell to Thomas Jefferson, 29 December 1817 (Jefferson Papers)
I arrived in town last evening, and received this morning at the post office your two letters of 18. & 19. inst , which now lie before me. Before I reply to them, I will go back to circumstances that preceded their arrival. I presume you have reached Monticello , and have received my last letter from this place, touching our prospects with the Cincinnati and the General Assembly . Shortly...
49To Thomas Jefferson from Joseph Carrington Cabell, 23 December 1822 (Jefferson Papers)
M r Gordon & M r Rives left this for Albemarle on yesterday and will not probably return for eight or ten days. The latter went for his family, & the former to visit M rs Gordon in her distress for the loss of a child. I am very sorry that they were obliged to leave town, as we want the aid of all our friends at this time. M r Gordon shewed me on saturday, a letter which he had just received...
50Joseph C. Cabell to Thomas Jefferson, 7 January 1822 (Jefferson Papers)
I have just received your favor of 3 d ins t and have shewn it to M r Johnson . Should the case occur for which it was intended to provide, it shall be used. For the present M r Johnson & myself think it best not to exhibit it generally, as it might be the means of throwing still farther from us the gentleman to whom it was addressed. What course he will ultimately pursue, no one seems to...