About half the company was assembled when I arrived. The President himself received me, as the Secretary was not on hand, and introduced me to Mrs. Madison, and Mrs. Madison introduced me to Miss Coles, her niece. This is the only introduction, I am told, that is given on these occasions. The company amounted to about twenty. There were two or three officers of the army with double epaulets...
2To James Madison from George Ticknor, 29 March 1825 (Madison Papers)
Ever since Mrs. Ticknor & myself reached home about a month ago, we have been desirous to send yourself and Mrs. Madison some expression of our gratitude for the kindness you showed us, while we were in Virginia. Different circumstances have prevented us from doing this earlier; but, chiefly because I have not earlier obtained a copy of a remarkably happy engraving of General Lafayette, which...
3To James Madison from George Ticknor, 14 April 1825 (Madison Papers)
Mr. Ticknor presents his respectful compliments to Mr. Madison & sends him a second copy of the Outlines of the Life of Lafayette having recently learnt by his very kind letter of April 6. that the first copy had not reached its address. RC ( DLC ). Docketed by JM . Year not indicated; conjectural year assigned based on JM to Ticknor, 6 Apr. 1825 .
4To James Madison from George Ticknor, 21 November 1825 (Madison Papers)
I take the liberty to send you with this a pamphlet I have lately published on the changes now begun in Harvard College. They are, however, but a beginning; and will I trust, be followed up by other changes which will gradually bring our college nearer to an University, accessible to all on the easiest terms and offering to all the ample means of instruction it has long possessed & is now...
5To James Madison from George Ticknor, 9 November 1827 (Madison Papers)
I have received a letter from J. Burton Harrison Esq. of Lynchburg, informing me, that Prof. Long is about to resign his place in the University of Virginia, and that, in such an event, he himself wishes to be considered a candidate for the Office and is willing to study in Europe, at his own expense, in order to qualify himself better to fulfil its duties. He adds a wish, that I would write...
6John Adams to Thomas Jefferson, 20 December 1814 (Jefferson Papers)
The most exalted of our young Genius’s in Boston have an Ambition to See Montecello , its Library and its Sage. I lately gave a Line of Introduction to M r Everett , our most celebrated Youth: But his Calls at home, forced him back from Washington . George Ticknor Esquire who will have the Honour to present this to you, has a reputation here, equal to the Character given him in the enclosed...
7George Ticknor’s Account of a Visit to Monticello, [4–7 February 1815] (Jefferson Papers)
We left Charlottesville on Saturday morning, the 4th of February, for Mr. Jefferson ’s. He lives, you know, on a mountain, which he has named Monticello , and which, perhaps you do not know, is a synonyme for Carter’s mountain . The ascent of this steep, savage hill, was as pensive and slow as Satan’s ascent to Paradise. We were obliged to wind two thirds round its sides before we reached the...
8Caspar Wistar to Thomas Jefferson, [received 4 February 1815] (Jefferson Papers)
In a day or two I shall reply to your very interesting letter . The object of this note is to present to you the Bearer, M r Ticknor of Boston , a young gentleman who intends to visit Europe for the purpose of in acquiring information. Before he leaves his native Country he wishes to See Some of the States to the South of this, & to pay his respects to you— In a letter from D r Warren
9George Ticknor to Thomas Jefferson, 6 March 1815 (Jefferson Papers)
In consequence of letters, which I have this morning and, in fact, this moment received from Boston , giving me notice of the intention of several of my nearest friends to embark for Europe in some of the earliest vessels, I have determined to hasten home & avail myself of an opportunity, which, on every account will be so grateful to me. I take, therefore, the liberty you allowed me, of...
10George Ticknor to Thomas Jefferson, 21 March 1815 (Jefferson Papers)
I reached home yesterday morning , after a tedious and indeed a perilous journey, and found that your kindness had anticipated the request I sent you from Philadelphia . I need not tell you how much I am indebted to you for the signal favour you have done me by me giving me the means of becoming acquainted with men so distinguished and so entirely of the class I should be most ambitious to...
11George Ticknor to Thomas Jefferson, 18 June 1815 (Jefferson Papers)
The great revolution in France , and the war growing out of it, which have changed the face of every thing in Europe , have compelled me, as you may have, perhaps, imagined, to make some change in my plans, of which it may be useful for you to be advised, as you proposed to employ me in purchasing your books in France , It is now no longer possible to go there directly or safe to take the...
12George Ticknor to Thomas Jefferson, 14 October 1815 (Jefferson Papers)
I had yesterday the pleasure of receiving a line from you dated Aug. 6. enclosg enclosing the copy of a letter of credit on Paris for 350.D. and containing an intimation of a previous letter of July 4. covering your catalogue which my father informs me he has sent for greater safety through the hands of my banker in London , & which I may, there fore, expect to recieve receive
13George Ticknor to Thomas Jefferson, 25 November 1815 (Jefferson Papers)
Besides the letter , which I had the honour of sending you by our commissioner Mr. Clay from London , I wrote you a long one from this place Oct. 14 giving you the reasons which induce me to spend the winter here and some slight notices of German literature— and Oct. 30. on hearing of the emigration of your friend Mons. Dupont de Nemours to the U.S. I enclosed to you the letter of introduction...
14George Ticknor to Thomas Jefferson, 15 March 1816 (Jefferson Papers)
I have already in my letters from London , and in the letters I have written you from here Oct. 14. Oct. 30. and Novem. 25. told you of so many changes in my plans, that, if I were not sure that you will appreciate my reasons, I should be almost ashamed to write you now to tell you of another. The truth, however is, that I find Göttingen so entirely suited to my purposes—the opportunities and...
15George Ticknor to Thomas Jefferson, 23 April 1816 (Jefferson Papers)
Four days ago, I received your favor of Feb. 8. from which I am led to hope that I may soon receive from you another letter which you wrote Jan. 31. and which as it comes through France must probably be somewhat longer on the way. My own letters to you as well as to my friends generally have not been fortunate, and as my last con tained some facts, which it may be important for you to know, I...
16George Ticknor to Thomas Jefferson, 10 July 1816 (Jefferson Papers)
The vessel , which carries this to my father , carries him also for you the following books— Homerus Heyne 8. 8vo. Virgilius Heyne 4. 8vo. Æschylus Schultz 3. 8vo. Juvenalis
17George Ticknor to Thomas Jefferson, 22 December 1816 (Jefferson Papers)
Since I had the pleasure of writing you in April and July , I have not heard from you.— By a letter from Mr. Warden , however, I am extremely glad to hear he was able to purchase your Books in Paris for about the amount of your bill—and by a letter yesterday from Hamburg , that the vessel in which I forwarded you a few last August has safely arrived in Boston . I now write to you, to say...
18George Ticknor to Thomas Jefferson, 14 August 1817 (Jefferson Papers)
Your favour of June 6 reached me July 29 and contained—what I had long desired—the very welcome intelligence, that the Books Mr. Warden shipped from Havre and those I sent from Hamburg had reached you in good condition and met your approbation. Yesterday your duplicate of the same letter arrived, together with your order to the Messrs. De Bure . In this order I made but two alterations— one...
19George Ticknor to Thomas Jefferson, 10 August 1818 (Jefferson Papers)
Your very kind letter inclosing an introduction to mr. Erving reached me in Italy just as I was beginning my journey to this country and I should have answered it immediately on my arrival here if I had not at that moment heard you had forwarded through my father another for Cardinal Cardinal Dugnani of which I also wished to give you news. For this, however, I have waited in vain, and after...
20Thomas Jefferson to Richard Rush, 25 October 1818 (Jefferson Papers)
This letter will be presented you by mr George Ticknor , a gentleman from Massachusets whose father is of distinguished standing in that state. this gentleman has been 4. years travelling and and sojourning in the different countries of Europe for the purposes of instruction, and with the same views will pass the approaching winter in Edinburg , Oxford , Cambridge and London
21George Ticknor to Thomas Jefferson, 13 February 1819 (Jefferson Papers)
I received a few days since in London your letter of Oct. 25 , with some later from my friends in Massachusetts , which relieved me from the apprehensions respecting your health with which I had been filled by one of the publick papers. A letter from General Lafayette noticing one received from yourself which you wrote subsequently to your illness has confirmed me in the belief, that I may, if...
22George Ticknor to Thomas Jefferson, 27 May 1819 (Jefferson Papers)
As I again approach my native country, I cannot choose but recollect all the kindness you have shown me during my long and dreary absence from it, and as it comes up before me, I grow doubly anxious to do something which shall show you, that I am not insensible to it, though I cannot hope to return it. Your last letters to me have informed me, how deeply you are interested in the extensive...
23George Ticknor to Thomas Jefferson, 10 February 1820 (Jefferson Papers)
Your very kind letter of Dec. 26 did not reach me, from some inexplicable accident, until a full month after its date;—but, still, notwithstanding this, I should have sent you my acknowledgements for it much sooner, if I had not been prevented by an indisposition, which has for some time been troubling me, and which, at last, I have been obliged to respect so far as to diminish my occupations....
24George Ticknor to Thomas Jefferson, 1 September 1821 (Jefferson Papers)
It is so long since I have had the pleasure of hearing directly from yourself, that I should hardly venture now to address you, unless I had business of some consequence, as an apology for my intrusion. The present occasion, however, and the instances of some of my friends seem to justify me in again coming before you; and, I trust, I need not say, that I am happy in having an opportunity that...
25Enclosure: Memorial of Learned Institutions to Congress, [before 1 December 1821] (Jefferson Papers)
to the HONORABLE THE SENATE AND HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE UNITED STATES . The Memorial of divers Colleges , Academies , and literary and scientific Societies within the United States humbly shows , T hat the several Institutions, who, by their respective presiding officers, have subscribed this Memorial, are deeply interested in the progress of good knowledge; and regret to find from...
26George Ticknor to Thomas Jefferson, 8 December 1821 (Jefferson Papers)
Your favour’s of Sep. 28 th with an enclosure and Oct. 24 , introducing two young gentlemen, came in due season. The latter, I have acknowledged in the way you desired, by offering the persons you presented me such assistance as they needed, & having found them lodgings they liked and suitable instructers, they are, I believe, as well off as their friends could have reasonably anticipated, and...
27To Thomas Jefferson from George Ticknor, 16 June 1823 (Jefferson Papers)
It is very rarely that I venture to address a letter to you; because I am quite aware how constantly you are exposed to the solicitations of correspondence and, how they must, in a situation like your’s, resemble persecution. But, I wish now to send you a copy of the Syllabus I have prepared for my course of Lectures on Spanish Literary History & Criticism, and should be sorry to have it go...
28To Thomas Jefferson from George Ticknor, 25 December 1823 (Jefferson Papers)
I have been hoping every week since I received your very kind and valuable letter last summer, that I should be able to answer it in a manner, that would at the same time gratify you and be pleasant to myself;—but, I have, until within a few days, been constantly disappointed, I refer now entirely to your requests for a copy or account of the regulations for the management of our College. Ever...
29To Thomas Jefferson from George Ticknor, 27 March 1824 (Jefferson Papers)
Allow me to ask your kindness and hospitality for Joseph Coolidge Esq. He is a young gentleman of Education & Fortune a native of this town, who is well known to all of us for his amiable & excellent character; and who, by a residence of several years in Europe, has recently completed the course of instruction, he had so well begun at home I think, you will be pleased to show him the kindness...
30To Thomas Jefferson from George Ticknor, 28 March 1825 (Jefferson Papers)
Ever since my return from the South, I have borne in mind your desire to have a list of the principal German works in literary History and of the best of their belles-lettres writers. The lists were easily made out; but there was some difficulty in obtaining the prices of each. This difficulty, however, I have at last overcome, & I now inclose the two lists, with, I believe, the exact cost of...
31To Thomas Jefferson from George Ticknor, 4 April 1825 (Jefferson Papers)
I take the liberty to commend to your kindness Mr. B. A. Gould of this city. He has been for ten years at the head of our publick latin school, & has made it the most valuable means for promoting the Knowledge of ancient literature, that yet exists in N. England. But in doing this, he has impaired his health and is now at the South seeking its restoration. One object will much attract his...
32To Thomas Jefferson from George Ticknor, 10 May 1825 (Jefferson Papers)
Mr. Samuel H. Walley, who signs the instrument of May seventh, as security to the Rector & Visitors of the University of Virginia, in conjunction with William Hilliard, Bookseller, is well known to us as a Merchant of this city and we deem his security for fifteen thousand dollars as therein set forth, to be good & sufficient. CSmH .
33To Thomas Jefferson from George Ticknor, 21 November 1825 (Jefferson Papers)
I take the liberty of sending you with this a copy of a pamphlet, I have recently had occasion to publish on the changes undertaken in the college with which I am connected. I commend it to your kindness as a little work written, at least, in no illiberal spirit, and with views in relation to education, which I hope you will not disapprove— Mrs. Ticknor desires to be respectfully remembered to...
34To Thomas Jefferson from George Ticknor, 7 February 1826 (Jefferson Papers)
I have the pleasure to send you with this a copy of the Baron de Stael’s Letters upon England, which I recently received from him with a request, that I would present it to you in his name, with the expression of his entire respect. It gives me great satisfaction to do so; and, I hope I am not mistaken in sending to you through the Post, under the impression, that your Frank will entirely...