Thomas Jefferson Papers
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https://founders.archives.gov/documents/Jefferson/03-17-02-0192

Thomas Jefferson to John Patterson, 15 May 1821

To John Patterson

Monticello May 15. 21.

Dear Sir

Your favor of the 3d has been duly recieved with the check which it covered for 500.D. your subscription for the Central College. this has been delivered to the Bursar and I inclose his reciept. it might seem primâ facie an act of mendicity to recieve any thing from you since your removal. but the value of institutions like these is not limited by geogr[a]phical lines, and it’s benefits belong as much to the student of Montgomery or Prince George, as of Fairfax or Stafford, and are more accessible to the counties of Baltimore & Ann-Arund[el] than of Lee in Virginia. our buildings are going on with great spirit, and all those of accomodation will be finishe[d] this year, and the Library will be begun soon. [. . .] have foun[d] it best to send to Italy for our Corinthian and Ionic capitels, finding they would cost in marble there not a third of what they would in stone here. our buildings will leave us with a debt of 120,000.D. but being due to a public fund, we count on it[’s] remission by the legislature. when that is pronounced we sha[ll] require one year to open the institution. we look too fo[r] other aid, with great confidence, to the result of the proposition from Maryland to claim from the General government an appropriation of lands for science in the East, equal to that made for the West. it is impossible to produce a reason again[st] it, and we shall join you in insisting on it. I congratulate you on the insurrection of Italy, which ensures a revolution in the condition of man thro’ the civilised world, and places us at the head of it. come and see our university and chuse a lot in time for yourself to live on. Affectionately yours

Th: Jefferson

PoC (DLC); on verso of reused address cover of Peter Poinsot to TJ, 24 June 1820; edge trimmed; mutilated at seal; at foot of text: “John Patterson esq.”; endorsed by TJ. Enclosure not found.

Index Entries

  • building materials; marble search
  • Central College; subscription for search
  • education; federal appropriations for search
  • Garrett, Alexander; as University of Virginia bursar search
  • Italy; and revolution in Naples search
  • Italy; marble from search
  • Louisiana Territory; claims related to U.S. purchase of search
  • marble; for University of Virginia search
  • Maryland; and education search
  • Maryland; legislature of search
  • Maryland; Report with Sundry Resolutions relative to Appropriations of Public Land for the Purposes of Education, to the Senate of Maryland. January 30, 1821 search
  • Naples, kingdom of (later Kingdom of the Two Sicilies); revolution in search
  • Patterson, John; and Central College–University of Virginia subscription search
  • Patterson, John; and University of Virginia search
  • Patterson, John; letters to search
  • Report with Sundry Resolutions relative to Appropriations of Public Land for the Purposes of Education, to the Senate of Maryland. January 30, 1821 search
  • United States; and public education search
  • Virginia, University of; Administration and Financial Affairs; funding for search
  • Virginia, University of; Books and Library; plans for search
  • Virginia, University of; Construction and Grounds; capitals for search
  • Virginia, University of; Construction and Grounds; progress of search
  • Virginia, University of; Construction and Grounds; Rotunda (library) search
  • Virginia, University of; Construction and Grounds; visitors to search
  • Virginia, University of; Establishment; and General Assembly search
  • Virginia, University of; Establishment; opening of search
  • Virginia; and education search
  • Virginia; General Assembly search