1Thomas Cooper to Thomas Jefferson, 10 May 1810 (Jefferson Papers)
On my coming from England in 1793 I brought with me a very good collection of minerals: the principal part of which were in some manner or other lost at the Custom house so that I never recovered them. The few remaining ores I possessed, I gave to M r Tho s Smith when he and M r Maclure paid me a visit here many years ago. M r Smith , a young man of much promise whom I dare say you knew...
2To James Madison from Thomas Cooper, 9 July 1810 (Madison Papers)
Col. Patten of the post office here, was so good as to hand me your obliging letter relating to my opinion on an Insurance Case. I hasten to acknowledge the receipt of your favour, and to express my high satisfaction at the approbation you have thought fit to bestow. It is approbation of the only kind worth having; laudari a laudato viro. I remain with sentiments of great respect Sir Your...
3To James Madison from Thomas Cooper, 19 August 1810 (Madison Papers)
The liberty I am now about to take, I take on reflection; persuaded that if I am mistaken in my notions of propriety, you will attribute the present request to a good motive. Since my arrival in this Country in 1793 the whole Science of Mineralogy in Europe has been new modelled. When my friend Mr Kirwan first published his elements of Mineralogy in 1784, it was the stock book : it is now...
4To James Madison from Thomas Cooper, 14 September 1810 (Madison Papers)
I feel myself much indebted to your kindness in sending for the books mentioned in my letter. I had omitted to mention a treatise on the manufacture of Glass by M. Bois D’Antic, but Mr Warden in making general Enquiries, will not fail to have this work also suggested to him. In England there is not one treatise on the Subject, and the doors of every manufactory are closed upon a stranger, so...
5Thomas Cooper to Thomas Jefferson, 14 September 1810 (Jefferson Papers)
I acknowledge with many thanks your kind letter giving me an account of your application to Mr Cabell . I shall be able in a year or two to form a very interesting collection of American ores and minerals, which I shall so form and arrange as to be an elementary collection for the use of Tyro’s in my part of the back Country, rather than a curious collection for the amusements amusement of...
6To James Madison from Thomas Cooper, 4 October 1811 (Madison Papers)
About two years ago, I requested you to procure for me, by means of Gen. Armstrong, or Mr Warden, some books on Chemistry and Mineralogy, which the irregularity of intercourse between this Country and France, prevented me from obtaining. You were so kind as to write on the subject to Paris and directed the amount of what the books might cost, to be paid by one or other of those Gentlemen on...
7Thomas Cooper to Thomas Jefferson, 25 July 1812 (Jefferson Papers)
I return you many thanks for your package . Particularly for your Statement of the Batture case, which has settled my Opinion. I understood the question but imperfectly without the assistance of your account of it. Du Ponceau sent me his Argument and Livingston’s virulent pamphlet, which however he by no means approved. I have written to him that you have converted me. I am the more interested...
8To James Madison from Thomas Cooper, 18 February 1813 (Madison Papers)
I write to you briefly, because you have little time for long discussions. I understand some privateer has brought in, an english vessel laden with Congreve Rockets, shrapnall shells and other similar machines: would it not be adviseable to distribute a dozen for analysis and imitation, to a committee of two or three men of science in Boston New York and Philadelphia? An idea has occurred to...
9To James Madison from Thomas Cooper, 22 May 1813 (Madison Papers)
I received yesterday, the specimen of composition of the Congreve Rocket. I have not yet accurately analysed it, because it appeared to me from its obvious properties, that I could make a composition sufficiently similar. I have not returned it to you, because I take for granted you have reserved some of it: if not, as I have used very little of the lump you sent me, it can be returned. The...
10To James Madison from Thomas Cooper, 3 September 1813 (Madison Papers)
The trustees of the College here, can afford to purchase but the one half of my time. It is an object of consequence with me to employ the rest beneficially for my family. Can you give me the collection of a district for the assessed taxes of which Cumberland County is a part? This did not occur to me when I wrote to you last, but as I promised nothing more than a mere testimonial, I find...
11Thomas Cooper to Thomas Jefferson, 8 November 1813 (Jefferson Papers)
I sent you about a twelve month ago, a copy of my edition of Justinian’s institutes , and another copy of my introductory lecture ; I presume you received them as I sent them if I do not mistake under M r Madison’s care. I write at present to say that I have at my disposal D r Priestley’s library and apparatus. The library consists of about 4400 Volumes of all descriptions, some of them very...
12Thomas Cooper to Thomas Jefferson, 20 March 1814 (Jefferson Papers)
I am much obliged by your two Letters , and instructed by the legal suggestions they contain. I never knew the origin of Christianity becoming parcel of the Laws of England before. I see the Judges of New York state are determined to engraft the Christian code with their State Code; but I hope some event will take place to bring this imposition into discussion. There is in America a strange...
13Thomas Cooper to Thomas Jefferson, 31 May 1814 (Jefferson Papers)
I say nothing about the affairs of Europe , for they are so clouded that no reasonable conjecture can be afforded by present facts. I am most willing to believe that the progress of knowledge cannot be stopt, and the dark ages renewed, even should the Bourbons again ascend the throne, but there is nothing to be expressed but hope and good wishes. Yet from the beginning of history, it appears...
14Thomas Cooper to Thomas Jefferson, 17 August 1814 (Jefferson Papers)
I am here on business for a few days with more leisure than I usually have, and sitting down to write a few lines to you, my pen begins at once on politics, and the rather perhaps because it is a subject the more irritating as it is the more unpleasant. I brood over the events of Europe , with melancholy forebodings of what may be the case here, and with no violent predilection in favour of...
15Thomas Cooper’s Notes on University Curricula, [ca. 15–22 September 1814] (Jefferson Papers)
It appears to me desireable, that in an University, should be taught 1 Languages } antient. Latin. Greek modern. French. 2 { Mathematics. Plane and Sp h erical Trigonometry. Algebra. Fluxions. Nat. Philosophy }
16Thomas Cooper to Thomas Jefferson, [ca. 15 September 1814] (Jefferson Papers)
Some time ago I promised the Editor of the Port folio a paper on education, but I neglected it till your letter came. If the inclosed sh d be worth publication, I will send it for that work. Pray oblige me by any remarks that occur to you, so that I may make it as useful as I can; and return it to me. I presume your purpose will be answered by that mode of communication. RC ( MHi ); undated;...
17Thomas Cooper to Thomas Jefferson, 15 September 1814 (Jefferson Papers)
I reply to your queries, as to the branches of science expedient to be taught in a university. The great difficulties in the outset, are, at what age and with what qualifications should a young man enter a university? How long should he continue in such an institution before he be permitted to take a degree? As to the first question—I would state it as a position which to my mind is supported...
18Thomas Cooper to Thomas Jefferson, 21 September 1814 (Jefferson Papers)
I send you remarks on your letter to Mr Carr: not much differing from the spirit and substance of my former letter . I do not disagree with you in the least as to the measure of national happiness in the two countries, but the worst government in other respects is certainly the most powerful. Your plan of a Militia, I and Gen l John Steele took pains to recommend about the year 1802–3 but he...
19Thomas Cooper to Thomas Jefferson, 22 September 1814 (Jefferson Papers)
I have carefully considered the plan of University education you se nt me . In addition to my former letter on the same subject , written before I ha d seen yours to M r Carr , I send you the following remarks. I agree, that in a school of the first grade (usually called in this section of the Union a Grammar School) every thing should be taught, that every citizen of whatever class, ought to...
20To James Madison from Thomas Cooper, 16 November 1814 (Madison Papers)
Your nephew is much better, but far from well: an obstinate feverish tendency still oppresses him: he is better here however than in Philadelphia, because with equally good advice, and more at ease. You were so good as to procure for me some books in France which I fancy are still at L’Orient. My Emporium is suspended, owing to the difficulties of the times, but I keep in view its...
21To James Madison from Thomas Cooper, Ca. 22 December 1814 (letter not found) (Madison Papers)
¶ From Thomas Cooper. Letter not found. Ca. 22 December 1814. Enclosed in Cooper to Alexander J. Dallas, ca. 22 Dec. 1814 (1 p.; DLC ; undated; addressed to Dallas as secretary of the Treasury at Washington and postmarked 22 Dec.; dated 1 Sept. 1813 in the Index to the James Madison Papers ), in which Cooper states, “I have written by same post to the President, or on consideration I inclose...
22To James Madison from Thomas Cooper, 8 August 1815 (Madison Papers)
Your nephew will soon set out from this place, and probably not return. His studies have been greatly interrupted by a very long illness, but since he has been able to read, he has red with good effect. He has however more talent than Industry; but there is no reason to complain on the whole. His health is better: but I am not sorry to hear he is destined for new orleans; for I am persuaded he...
23To James Madison from Thomas Cooper, 24 December 1816 (Abstract) (Madison Papers)
§ From Thomas Cooper. 24 December 1816. “Mr. Cooper presents his respects to the President of the United States & will have the honor to dine with him on Thursday next.” RC ( ViU ). 1 p. Federalist Thomas Cooper represented Delaware in the Thirteenth and Fourteenth Congresses.
24To James Madison from Thomas Cooper, 17 January 1817 (Madison Papers)
Mr Dallas is dead. Gout, brought on by professional fatigue, attacking alternately his Kidneys, his Stomach and his head, proved at length incureable. He had been attacked with it at Trenton about ten days before his death. I say nothing about the loss his friends sustain by this event: the loss is more to the public. He is dead, and cannot now say to you, what he intended to say, and probably...