The bill lying on the table of the senate, “an Act to amend an act, entitled, an act to reduce into one act the several acts concerning the Literary Fund,” was introduced into the Senate of Virginia from the House of Delegates on 12 Jan. 1820 and sent to committee the following day (JSV description begins Journal of the Senate of Virginia description ends [1819–20 sess.], 47–8). As reported subsequently in the House of Delegates, the amendment introduced by the Senate directed that surplus assets of the Literary Fund up to $80,000 be given to the University of Virginia to complete construction, and it also authorized the directors of the Literary Fund to negotiate a bank loan as needed to advance this money (JHD description begins Journal of the House of Delegates of the Commonwealth of Virginia description ends [1819–20 sess.], 199 [21 Feb. 1820]). On 15 Feb. 1820 the Senate approved the bill with this amendment, despite George I. Davisson’s (davidson’s) opposition (JSV description begins Journal of the Senate of Virginia description ends [1819–20 sess.], 130).

Probably in relation to the Senate amendment, Cabell drafted an estimate of University of Virginia building expenses that used figures from Arthur S. Brockenbrough’s Cost Estimates for University of Virginia Building Construction, 1 Oct. 1819, printed above at 4 Oct. 1819, and concluded that, owing to a shortfall in the collection of promised subscriptions, the University of Virginia would need $80,000 to complete construction (MS in ViU: TJP-PC; in Cabell’s hand; undated; with 7 Feb. 1820 note on verso in Cabell’s hand, signed and dated by Alexander Garrett as bursar: “Being requested to state my impressions as to the probable amount of receipts, in the course of the year 1820. on account of subscriptions to the Central College, I declare it to be my opinion, founded as well on my knowledge of the manner in which the subscription-monies have heretofore come in, as on what is generally known of the pressure of the times, that not more than $8,800,02. will be obtained from that quarter, in aid of the funds of the University, previous to the 1st January 1821”).

Once the bill returned to the House of Delegates on 16 Feb. 1820, it was laid on the table while that body considered a separate report and resolution by its Committee of Schools and Colleges that recommended allotting the existing surplus of the Literary Fund to the University of Virginia, with an annual sum thereafter to go to the College of William and Mary (JHD description begins Journal of the House of Delegates of the Commonwealth of Virginia description ends [1819–20 sess.], 188, 191, 195 [17, 18 Feb. 1820]). For the annual report and documents of the Literary Fund, see note to Cabell to TJ, 3 Feb. 1820. genl b.: James Breckinridge.

The james river & kanhawa bill passed by the Virginia General Assembly on this day was “An act to amend the act, entitled ‘an act for clearing and improving the navigation of James river,’ and for uniting the eastern and western waters, by the James and Kanawha rivers.” This law created a partnership between the state of Virginia and the James River Company in order to connect the Ohio and James rivers (Acts of Assembly description begins Acts of the General Assembly of Virginia (cited by session; title varies over time) description ends [1819–20 sess.], 39–47).

The report and resolution in favor of the University of Virginia by the Committee of Schools and Colleges of the House of Delegates was read and tabled on 18 Feb. 1820 (tomorrow). When it was debated on the following day, an amendment was proposed to provide for the education of the poor and then disburse leftover money to the University of Virginia. A rival amendment was introduced to pay for the construction of the University of Virginia out of the Literary Fund and afterwards provide annual payments to the College of William and Mary, Washington College (later Washington and Lee University), and Hampden-Sydney College. Although the first of these amendments was approved, the report and resolution were then tabled until after the session’s close (JHD description begins Journal of the House of Delegates of the Commonwealth of Virginia description ends [1819–20 sess.], 195, 197–8).