1Enclosure: Report on Thomas Cooper’s Collection of Minerals, 9 July 1819 (Jefferson Papers)
At the request of Professor Cooper , we have examined a Collection of Minerals, selected for the College of Charlottsville , and find them to consist of— 1st. Specimens of all the Rocks constituting the Primitive, Transition, Secondary and Flötz Formations. The specimens are large, and chiefly American. They fully illustrate the Geology of the United States , as far as it is at present known....
2To Thomas Jefferson from Thomas Cooper, 16 February 1804 (Jefferson Papers)
Before your Letter arrived Dr Priestley was dead: of which I informed you hastily on the same afternoon. The work you mention of Mr Malthus, I have perused with deep interest and melancholy conviction of the general truth of his Theory, but I cannot help thinking he carries it much too far. Granting the tendency of the procreative passion to increase the human species far beyond the ratio of...
3To Thomas Jefferson from Thomas Cooper, 9 August 1807 (Jefferson Papers)
I received your letter here on my return from the Court of Erors & Appeals at Philadelphia. I send you my Copy of the memoirs, with some [emendations] and marginal notes, which tho they do not ornament the pages, will serve to explain some passages which the errors of the press converted into nonsense. I laboured under a very dangerous, and very painful illness while I composed my part, and I...
4Thomas Cooper to Thomas Jefferson, 15 April 1819 (Jefferson Papers)
M. Leshot found me yet confined to my bed; he gave me 125 Dlrs, and by the time he returns from New York , I shall in all probability be enabled to procure the Stoves. Mr Slack goes tomorrow to Norfolk & thence to Charlottesville . As to the Seal, I must wait till I can get up, and procure a classic drawing of the Peplon. The Peace Minerva, I believe has wings to her helmet. I know of no...
5Thomas Cooper to Thomas Jefferson, 13 September 1819 (Jefferson Papers)
I wrote to you at the Bedford Springs of this State , supposing from what I saw in the newspapers, you might be there. The castings are at last furnished. J. Vaughan has undertaken to forward them according to your directions. The seal is done; & the impression sent to you, which as soon as it receives your approbation I will pay for, as I shall for the castings, when the account is sent to...
6Thomas Cooper to Thomas Jefferson, 6 December 1817 (Jefferson Papers)
Your letter of the 25 Nov. arrived here to day. Your letter mentioning that the apartments and pavilion would be ready so as to enable me to go to Charlottesville by Midsummer, I do not recollect to have received. I understood the apartments for a classical tutor would be ready in the Spring of 1818; but that my services would not be required till the Spring of 1819. My great objection to...
7To Thomas Jefferson from Thomas Cooper, 15 March 1804 (Jefferson Papers)
Your letter of Ap: 9: 1803 to Dr Priestley and the copy of yr Letter to Dr Rush with a copy of your Syllabus have been preserved by Dr Priestley; but Mr Priestley requests me to say that no public use shall be made of them, or any private Communication by which they can be known beyond the circle of your known and immediate friends: indeed even this is not in any way contemplated, nor do I...
8Thomas 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;...
9To Thomas Jefferson from Thomas Cooper, 20 November 1822 (Jefferson Papers)
I am much obliged to you for your letter. Our town here is crouded with Presbyterian parsons; they are a systematic and persevering sect, and while they have the address to cajole the people out of their money, their power will encrease. he who has any regard for the peace of himself & his family can venture to stem this tide of fanaticism? About 20 Years hence the prevailing sect among the...
10To Thomas Jefferson from Thomas Cooper, [23 March 1800] (Jefferson Papers)
Mr. Dallas, Mr. Duane and myself met to day, and after canvassing the most expedient method of proceeding on our side, we determined at length on the following. That Mr. Duane shd. write you the Letter which accompanies this , to be presented to the Senate in your official Capacity. That Mr. Duane shd. be in the way at the meeting of the Senate, without formally presenting himself till it...
11To Thomas Jefferson from Thomas Cooper, 18 October 1822 (Jefferson Papers)
I spent the three months of vacation at this College, in an excursion to various parts of the State of Pennsylvania, chiefly for the purpose of attending to some land concerns in which I am interested. I write to you now, for the purpose of giving you some idea of the progress of fanatacism, which I could not have figured to myself if I had not had the advantage of extensive personal...
12Thomas 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...
13Thomas Cooper to Thomas Jefferson, 18 April 1819 (Jefferson Papers)
M r Ware is absent from Philadelphia I find, in order to take the benefit of the Insolvent Law in Delaware State . A respectable looking Quaker, a M r James has been twice with me, and appears to be a relation much interested in Ware ’s welfare. The result of the conversations is as follows. Ware will thankfully accept the terms you propose as to prices, which he considers as liberal. There...
14Thomas Cooper to Thomas Jefferson, 24 June 1818 (Jefferson Papers)
D r Coxe ’s election comes on the first Tuesday of next month. They talk of deferring the election for chemical professor to the first Tuesday in September. I am not sufficiently instructed to know the causes of this inconvenient determination. I send you, ad interim , a Syllabus of lectures of which I have delivered two courses. They have produced very complimentary letters of approbation...
15From Thomas Cooper to John Adams, 15 April 1800 (Adams Papers)
Mr Cooper wishes Subpoenas to be made out & served on the following Gentlemen— The President of the United States Timothy Pickering Jacob Wagner (in Mr Pickerings Office) John Davenport Member of Congress DNA : RG 21--Records of District Courts of the United States.
16Thomas 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 }
17To Thomas Jefferson from Thomas Cooper, 18 May 1826 (Jefferson Papers)
I congratulate you, on the proper feeling for your long life of meritorious service that seems to pervade every part of our country, and I anticipate from it, in every way, a result such as your friends would wish, and ought to expect. May the attachment of your fellow citizens render the close of your useful life, equally comfortable and honourable. I should not trouble you now with a letter,...
18To Thomas Jefferson from Thomas Cooper, 23 June 1807 (Jefferson Papers)
From some late circumstances, I have reason to believe that neither Mr Priestley’s directions nor mine to transmit to you a copy of the memoirs of his father’s life have been complied with, though a set was appropriated for you to be sent at the first moment of publication. If you have not received one, be good enough to let me know: it will be a cause of much chagrin to Mr Priestley and...
19To 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...
20To Thomas Jefferson from Thomas Cooper, 12 March 1823 (Jefferson Papers)
I sent you last winter two printed copies of the report of the legislative committee on the affairs of the College, unanimously adopted by the house. I sent them, because every public testimony in my favour, tends to justify your former kind recommendation of me to the Visitors of your University. I hope that report will serve as sufficient proof that you were not mistaken, the clergy...
21To Thomas Jefferson from Thomas Cooper, 15 April 1825 (Jefferson Papers)
I was exceeding glad to receive one more letter from without expecting it, and I rejoice to find that you are yet capable of exertion. I send you my Pamphlet on Consolidation in opposition the prevailing heresy of the General Welfare, & also my petition for the restoration of my fine imposed under the Sedition Law. You are not many years distant from the inevitable separation we must all...
22Thomas Cooper to Thomas Jefferson, 10 February 1820 (Jefferson Papers)
M rs Cooper writes to me that no letter has been received from you since my departure from Philadelphia , and desires to know whether she is to set out with her family to Virginia in the beginning of the Summer or sooner. My first course here, will end in June. my second will occupy four months of the next winter, when I shall quit this situation for Charlotte’sville If I am wanted there....
23To Thomas Jefferson from Thomas Cooper, 17 March 1824 (Jefferson Papers)
I hope you have received about this time, a copy of my tract on Materialism which I ordered to be sent to you when printed from Philadelphia. I sent you some time ago a third edition of my tract on The Tariff. I see with infinite regret the ignorance or the cowardice of each of the Presidential Candidates on this Question: not one of them dares come out boldly on the one side or on the other...
24Thomas 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...
25Thomas Cooper to Thomas Jefferson, 17 September 1817 (Jefferson Papers)
my letter to you respecting Williamsburgh was put in the post before I rec d yours . The Professorship which you do me the honour to propose is yet in the distance. I long to be settled somewhere, almost any where, provided I move to pecuniary advantage; for having the common motive of a family to provide for, I must act on that motive. I have written to Varro at Frankfort . When I am prepared...
26Thomas Cooper to Thomas Jefferson, 18 September 1818 (Jefferson Papers)
I am very sorry to hear of your weak state of health, but I hope to find you better by the comforts of home and rest. M. Correa ’s carriage has undergone repairs, and will not be fit for use till Sunday morning when we propose to set out. I suppose it will require seven days to bring us to Montecello . M rs Cooper declines being of the Party. I defer all further communication, till I have the...
27To James Madison from Thomas Cooper, 12 March 1821 (Madison Papers)
When I first engaged to act as chemical Professor at the south Carolina College, I refused to contract for a longer period than a twelve month, expressly on account of my engagement in Virginia. At my departure from this place last autumn, I refused making any promise to return here on a permanent engagement, untill I had an opportunity of ascertaining the prospects of the Charlottesville...
28To 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...
29To 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...
30Thomas 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...