51Thomas Jefferson to Thomas Cooper, 16 January 1814 (Jefferson Papers)
Your favor of Nov. 8. if it was rightly dated, did not come to hand till Dec. 13. and being absent on a long journey it has remained unanswered till now. the copy of your introductory lecture was recieved & acknoleged in my letter of July 12. 1812 . with which I sent you Tracy ’s 1 st vol on Logic. your Justinian came safely also, and I have been constantly meaning to acknolege it, but I...
52Thomas Jefferson to Thomas Cooper, 10 February 1814 (Jefferson Papers)
In my letter of Jan. 16. I promised you a sample from my Commonplace book , of the pious disposition of the English judges to connive at the frauds of the clergy, a disposition which has even rendered them faithful allies in practice. when I was a student of the law, now half a century ago, after getting thro Coke Littleton, whose matter cannot be abridged, I was in the habit of abridging and...
53Thomas 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...
54Thomas 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...
55Thomas 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...
56Thomas Jefferson to Thomas Cooper, 25 August 1814 (Jefferson Papers)
In my letter of Jan. 16. I mentioned to you that it had long been in contemplation to get an University established in this state, in which all the branches of science useful to us , and at this day , should be taught in their highest degree; and that this institution should be incorporated with the college and funds of W m & Mary . but what are the sciences useful to us, and at this day...
57Thomas Jefferson to Thomas Cooper, 10 September 1814 (Jefferson Papers)
I regret much that I was so late in consulting you on the subject of the academy we wish to establish here. the progress of that business has obliged me to prepare and address to the President of the board of trustees , a plan for it’s organisation. I send you a copy of it with a broad margin, that, if your answer to mine of Aug. 25. be not on the way, you may be so good as to write your...
58Thomas 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 }
59Thomas 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;...
60Thomas 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...