Thomas Jefferson Papers
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https://founders.archives.gov/documents/Jefferson/03-13-02-0203

Thomas Jefferson to Thomas Cooper, 7 August 1818

To Thomas Cooper

Warm springs of Virginia Aug. 7. 18.

Dear Sir

A meeting of Commrs to agree on & recommend to the legislature a site for their University was held at Rockfish gap on the 1st inst. where we agreed, 16. to 5. that it should be at our Central College; and from thence I came here to remove some Rheumatic affections1 which have long incommoded me occasionally. my stay here will be of about a fortnight or 3 weeks, so that I may not get back to Monticello till the 1st week of Sep. I have heard that Dr Patterson has succeeded to the Chemical chair of the Coll. of Philada in which case you will be free to come on to us, and, if so, I expect you will have written to me & that your letter will remain unanswered at Monticello till I return. all this I write merely to explain in that event any delay which may take place in your recieving an answer from me.

Our 1st pavilion has been much retarded by the disappointments of workmen. I think it may2 be ready to recieve you within 3. months from this time, and that within that time one wing of 9. dormitories may be ready, and in the course of the season another pavilion & 2. more wings of dormitories. the moment we announce the opening of our Latin & Greek school, we shall be overwhelmed with pupils, more I fear than3 Charlottesville is prepared4 to board.

The report of the Commrs proposes to the legislature the site, the plan of buildings, the sciences necessary to be taught, the No of professors (10) necessary Etc.

hoping, when I get home, to recieve a letter from you announcing your readiness to come on I salute you with constant frdshp & esteem.

Th:J.

P.S. if mr Correa should be at Philadelphia pray communicate to him my movements as I shall hope to see him at Monto early in Sep.

Dft (DLC); on verso of Chapman Johnson to TJ, [5 Aug. 1818?]; at foot of text: “Dr Cooper”; endorsed by TJ. Enclosed in TJ to Martha Jefferson Randolph, 7 Aug. 1818.

1Word interlined in place of “complaints.”

2Word interlined in place of “would.”

3Manuscript: “then.”

4Preceding two words interlined in place of “may be prevailed on.”

Index Entries

  • Central College; construction of search
  • Central College; dormitory rooms at search
  • Central College; pavilions at search
  • Cooper, Thomas; academic career of search
  • Cooper, Thomas; and Central College search
  • Cooper, Thomas; letters to search
  • Cooper, Thomas; University of Virginia professorship proposed for search
  • Corrêa da Serra, José; proposed visit of search
  • Greek language; collegiate education in search
  • Jefferson, Thomas; Health; rheumatism search
  • Jefferson, Thomas; Travels; to Rockfish Gap search
  • Jefferson, Thomas; Travels; to Warm Springs search
  • Latin language; collegiate education in search
  • Patterson, Robert Maskell; professorship of search
  • Pennsylvania, University of search
  • rheumatism; TJ’s search
  • schools and colleges; University of Pennsylvania search
  • Virginia, University of; Establishment; commissioners’ meeting at Rockfish Gap search
  • Virginia, University of; Establishment; commissioners’ report search
  • Virginia, University of; Faculty and Curriculum; T. Cooper as proposed professor search
  • Virginia; General Assembly search