51To James Madison from Thomas Jefferson, 19 February 1819 (Madison Papers)
Yours of the 12th. has been duly recieved, and the pamphlet it covered has been sent to mr. Minor. The late day to which the Governor has fixed the 1st. meeting of the Visitors of the University (the last Monday in March) renders a meeting of the College visitors immediately necessary, some measures of high importance to the institution not admitting that delay; & the Law having authorised us...
52To James Madison from Thomas Jefferson, 29 March 1825 (Madison Papers)
Not knowing whether you may have obtained mr. Barber’s acceptance in the visit you proposed, I have thought of a proposition which it has been suggested to me would reconcile him to our offer. If therefore he has not accepted that of joining us at the end of his first circuit, and you would approve of giving him a year on his assurance that he will then accept, be so good as to forward him the...
53To James Madison from Thomas Jefferson, 29 November 1820 (Madison Papers)
The inclosed letter from our antient friend Tenche Coxe came unfortunately to Monticello after I had left it and has had a dilatory passage to this place where I recieved it yesterday and obey it’s injunction of immediate transmission to you. We should have recognised the stile even without a signature, and altho so written as to be much of it indecypherable. This is a sample of the effects we...
54To James Madison from Thomas Jefferson, 10 December 1824 (Madison Papers)
I send you the sequel of Gilmer’s letters recd. since my last to you. Torrey you will see does not accept. I had before recd. from the Secy. at War the inclosed letter to him from mr. Emmet the father recommending his son Doctr. John Patton Emmet, for Professor of Chemistry. Considering that branch as expected by Doctr. Dunglison I had given an answer that the place was filled. But learning...
55To James Madison from Thomas Jefferson, 10 September 1825 (Madison Papers)
Circular The state of my health renders it perfectly certain that I shall not be able to attend the next meeting of visitors (Oct. 3) at the University. Yet I think there is no one but myself to whom the matters to be acted on are sufficiently known for communication to them. This adds a reason the more for inducing the members to meet at Monticello the day before, which has been heretofore...
56Thomas Jefferson to James Madison, 11 March 1819 (Jefferson Papers)
I inclose you a letter recieved last night from mr Cabell containing inter e sting information as to our University as well as something further with respect to D r Cooper . be so good as to return it with those formerly sent you. I recieved by the same mai l a commis s
57To James Madison from Thomas Jefferson, 4 August 1825 (Madison Papers)
Circular Chancellor Tucker, Mr Barbour, Judge Carr, as you know had declined accepting the law chair of the University, and yesterday I received a letter from Judge Dade finally declining also; Mr Gilmer, our first choice had declined on account of his health, very much deranged by his voyage to Europe. That is now in a great degree reestablished, and he is willing to accept. What shall we do?...
58To James Madison from Thomas Jefferson, 22 February 1825 (Madison Papers)
Our Colleagues on the legislature have called a meeting of the Visitors for the 4th. of March. I presume they have notified you of it by mail, but lest they should not have done so I have thot it safe to inform you. Our newly arrived Professors will come up in the stage of the day after tomorrow. Mr. Cabell writes me that they were much pleased with them in Richmd. We are much so with the two...
59From Thomas Jefferson to James Madison, 1 February 1825 (Jefferson Papers)
I concur with you in the favorable opinion of mr Barber; and altho’ I should prefer Preston, as rather of a more acadamical cast, yet I could readily give a first vote to Barber. his reputn in Congress would be of service. In most public seminaries a text-book is prescribed to the several schools as the Norma docendi in them; and this is frequently done by the Trustees. I should not propose...
60To James Madison from Thomas Jefferson, 18 October 1819 (Madison Papers)
By this day’s mail I forward you ⅓ of a parcel of seeds of the Sea-Kale sent here by Genl. Cock for you, mr. Divers & myself. I feared to await a private conveyance because they lose their vegetative power if not planted soon. The day after you left us I was taken with a cholic which attended with a stricture on the upper bowels brought me into great pain & immediate danger. The obstacle was...
61To James Madison from Thomas Jefferson, 23 July 1817 (Madison Papers)
The promptitude & success of our subscription paper, now amounting to upwards of 20,000. D. with a prospect much beyond that renders the decision immediately necessary of some important questions which I had thought might have laid over to our periodical meeting the last of September. Having an opportunity of writing to Genl. Cocke, I invited him to join me in a visit to you on Friday the...
62From Thomas Jefferson to James Madison, 11 October 1824 (Jefferson Papers)
The reciept of the inclosed letter did not give me more pleasure than I feel in communicating it to you. it dispelled the gloom which that from Edinbg had produced and gives me hopes that all will end well. with a good Professor of mod. lang. assured, a good one of ant t languages in view, a prime Mathematician engaged we want really nothing essential but an able Nat. Phil. and that he cannot...
63From Thomas Jefferson to James Madison, 24 March 1823 (Jefferson Papers)
M r Dodge, our Consul at Marseilles, wishing to pay his respects to you on his way to Richm d and apprehending that altho presented to you some half dozen years ago, you may not now recollect him, requests me to give him a line of re-introduction. you will find him a person of very general information and good sense, and particularly familiar with the affairs of Southern Europe. We shall hope...
64To James Madison from Thomas Jefferson, 8 March 1819 (Madison Papers)
I now return you the letter from mr. Watson whom I met with on the road as mentioned in mine of the 3d. In consequence of the doubts discovered on the subject of Cooper, I wrote to mr. Cabell, to Correa, and to Cooper himself, and inclose you copies of my letters for perusal that you may see on what ground I place the matter with each. To Cooper I barely hold up the possibility of new views...
65To James Madison from Thomas Jefferson, 26 December 1824 (Madison Papers)
I inclose you a long letter from mr. Cabell and a long answer from myself, not much worth reading, but that it is well you should know every thing. No letter from Gilmer since my last, but he is believed to be now in Richmond. Long and Blaettermann are here located in their pavilions as drawn by lot. The former is a fine young man and well qualified. The latter rather a rough looking German,...
66From Thomas Jefferson to James Madison, 30 April 1823 (Jefferson Papers)
The anxieties expressed in the inclosed letter are pointed to 3. articles. 1. the size of the lecturing rooms. 2. depositories for the Apparatuses. 3. the arrangement of the seats for the Students. 1. if we could have foretold what number of students would come to our University, and what proportion of them would be in attendance on any one Professor at one time, lecturing rooms might have...
67From Thomas Jefferson to James Madison, 6 November 1823 (Jefferson Papers)
The belief is so universal that the ensuing legislature will dispose in some way of the University debt, & liberate our funds, as that we ought to save what time we can by provisional preparations. we have all, I believe, agreed that an Agent to Gr. Britain will be necessary to procure Professors; & I have heretofore mentioned to you that mr Cabell was disposed to undertake the business. but...
68To James Madison from Thomas Jefferson, 3 March 1819 (Madison Papers)
I promised your gardener some seeds which I put under a separate cover and address to you by mail. I also inclose you a letter from mr. Cabell which will shew you that the “sour grapes” of Wm. & Mary are spreading; but certainly not to the “enlightened part of society” as the letter supposes. I have sent him a transcript from our journals that he may see how far we are under engagements to Dr....
69To James Madison from Thomas Jefferson, 11 March 1819 (Madison Papers)
I inclose you a letter received last night from mr. Cabell containing interesting information as to our University as well as something further with respect to Dr. Cooper. Be so good as to return it with those formerly sent you. I recieved by the same mail a commission as visitor, and an authentic appointment of the last Monday of this month for our first meeting at the University. I have...
70To James Madison from Thomas Jefferson, 24 March 1823 (Madison Papers)
Mr. Dodge, our Consul at Marseilles, wishing to pay his respects to you on his way to Richmd. and apprehending that altho presented to you some half dozen years ago, you may not now recollect him, requests me to give him a line of re-introduction. You will find him a person of very general information and good sense, and particularly familiar with the affairs of Southern Europe. We shall hope...
71Thomas Jefferson to James Madison, 28 January 1821 (Jefferson Papers)
My neighbor, friend and physician, Doct r Watkins , being called to Philadelphia , is desirous to pay his respects to you en passant , and asks me, by a line to you, to lessen his scruples on doing so. you will find my justification in his character when known to you. his understanding is excellent, well informed, of pleasant conversation and of great worth. as a Physician I should trust...
72To James Madison from Thomas Jefferson, 10 March 1825 (Madison Papers)
Considering Chr. Tucker’s acceptance as absolutely desperate, the reasons he assigned being of an immovable character, and the hopeless state in which we should be if Barber also declined I took advge. of his being at our court to ask him to call on me. He did so. I entered with him on the subject of his undertaking our chair of Law. He stiffly maintained at first the preference of his present...
73Roberts to James Madison, 1 September 1822, with Postscript to Thomas Jefferson (Jefferson Papers)
[ Ed. Note : “ Roberts ,” who wrote under an apparent pseudonym and claimed to be a Revolutionary War veteran, composed a letter to former president James Madison dated Pennsylvania , 1 Sept. 1822. Although Madison ’s copy has not been found, a transcription of it was later sent to TJ. In a five-page document received at Monticello in the summer of 1824, the author blamed Madison for both the...
74From Thomas Jefferson to James Madison, 13 June 1823 (Jefferson Papers)
I communicated to you a former part of a correspondence between Judge Johnson of Charleston and my self, chiefly on the practice of caucusing opinions which is that of the supreme court of the US. but on some other matters also, particularly his history of parties. in a late letter he asks me to give him my idea of the precise principles & views of the Republicans in their oppositions to the...
75From Thomas Jefferson to James Madison, 1 November 1824 (Jefferson Papers)
I recieved yesterday from La Fayette a letter confirming his movements as stated in the Enquirer of Friday last. he says he will be here on Thursday next, and expresses his hope to meet you here. I presume you also have heard from him, but hope, at any rate, this will reach you in time to be with us on Wednesday. if mrs Madison will accompany you it will be the more welcome to us all. there is...
76From Thomas Jefferson to James Madison, 23 January 1825 (Jefferson Papers)
I inclose you a letter from mr Cabell and a copy of the bill I prepared and sent him as he requested. I send you also a letter from mr Gilmer, by which he seems determ d not to undertake our professorship. what are we to do? I abhor the idea of a mere Gothic lawyer who has no idea beyond his Coke Littleton, who could not associate in conversation with his Colleagues, nor utter a single...
77To James Madison from Thomas Jefferson, 6 November 1823 (Madison Papers)
The belief is so universal that the ensuing legislature will dispose in some way of the University debt, & liberate our funds, as that we ought to save what time we can by provisional preparations. We have all, I believe, agreed that an Agent to Gr. Britain will be necessary to procure Professors; & I have heretofore mentioned to you that mr. Cabell was disposed to undertake the business. But...
78To James Madison from Thomas Jefferson, 15 April 1817 (Madison Papers)
I sincerely congratulate you on your release from incessant labors, corroding anxieties, active enemies & interested friends, & on your return to your books & farm, to tranquility & independance. A day of these is worth ages of the former, but all this you know. Yours of the 10th. was delivered to me yesterday. Mine of the 13th. had been sent off the moment it was written. We are made happy by...
79From Thomas Jefferson to James Madison, 3 May 1826 (Jefferson Papers)
I have percieved in some of our Professors a disinclination to the preparing themselves for entering on the branches of science with which they are charged additionally to their principal one. I took occasion therefore lately to urge one of them (D r Emmet) to begin preparations for his Botanical school, for which the previous works necessary furnished unoffensive ground. his answer confirming...
80From Thomas Jefferson to James Madison, 14 July 1824 (Jefferson Papers)
I have attentively read your letter to mr Wheaton on the question whether at the date of the message to Congress, recommending the embargo of 1807 we had knolege of the order of council of Nov. 11. and according to your request I have resorted to my papers, as well as to my memory, for the testimony these might afford, additional to yours. there is no fact in the course of my life which I...
81To James Madison from Thomas Jefferson, 11 April 1820 (Madison Papers)
Our brewing for the use of the present year has been some time over. About the last of Oct. or beginning of Nov. we begin for the ensuing year, and malt and brew 3. 60 galln casks successively , which will give so many successive lessons to the person you send. On his return he can try his hand with you in order to discover what parts of the processes he will have learnt imperfectly, and come...
82To James Madison from Thomas Jefferson, 28 January 1821 (Madison Papers)
My neighbor, friend and physician, Doctr. Watkins, being called to Philadelphia, is desirous to pay his respects to you en passant, and asks me, by a line to you, to lessen his scruples on doing so. You will find my justification in his character when known to you. His understanding is excellent, well informed, of pleasant conversation and of great worth. As a Physician I should trust myself...
83From Thomas Jefferson to James Madison, 20 November 1824 (Jefferson Papers)
Gilmer is arrived in N. York sick of a fever which he has had thro’ the whole voyage of 35. days and likely to remain there some time in the hands of the Doctors. he has engaged 5. Professors to wit George Long, Antient languages. George Blaetterman. Modern d o Tho s H. Key. Mathematics. Charles Bonnycastle (son of the Mathematician) Nat. Philos. Robley Dunglison Anatomy E t c this last wishes...
84From Thomas Jefferson to James Madison, 24 February 1823 (Jefferson Papers)
I have read mr Cox’s letters and some of his papers, which I now return you. it is impossible for me to write to him. with two crippled hands I abandon writing but from the most urgent necessities; and above all things I should not meddle in a Presidential election, nor even express a sentiment on the subject of the Candidates. as you propose to write to him, will you be so good as to add a...
85To James Madison from Thomas Jefferson, 13 June 1823 (Madison Papers)
I communicated to you a former part of a correspondence between Judge Johnson of Charleston and myself, chiefly on the practice of caucusing opinions which is that of the supreme court of the US. but on some other matters also, particularly his history of parties. In a late letter he asks me to give him my idea of the precise principles & views of the Republicans in their oppositions to the...
86To James Madison from Thomas Jefferson, 3 May 1826 (Madison Papers)
I have percieved in some of our Professors a disinclination to the preparing themselves for entering on the branches of science with which they are charged additionally to their principal one. I took occasion therefore lately to urge one of them (Dr. Emmet) to begin preparations for his Botanical school, for which the previous works necessary furnished unoffensive ground. His answer confirming...
87To James Madison from Thomas Jefferson, 25 February 1822 (Madison Papers)
I have no doubt you have recieved, as I have done, a letter from Dr. Morse with a printed pamphlet, proposing to us a place in a self constituted society for the civilisation of the Indians &c. I am anxious to know your thoughts on the subject because they would affect my confidence in my own. I disapprove the proposition altogether. I acknolege the right of voluntary associations for laudable...
88Thomas Jefferson to James Madison, 30 November 1819 (Jefferson Papers)
A visit of the ladies of our family to mrs Madison gives me an opportunity of sending you our correspondence with D r Cooper & of recieving it back again safely. it is neces sar y to observe that our first letter & his first crossed each other on the road, so that each party had expressed their mind before knowing that of the other. on the whole this embarrassed transaction ends well enough,...
89To James Madison from Thomas Jefferson, 15 November 1817 (Madison Papers)
We are sadly at a loss here for a Palladio. I had three different editions, but they are at Washington, and nobody in this part of the country has one unless you have. If you have you will greatly aid us by letting us have the use of it for a year to come. It will come safely by the stage, and may be left at the stage office of either Milton or Charlottesville, & either postmaster will pay the...
90Thomas Jefferson to James Madison, 12 May 1822 (Jefferson Papers)
I thank you for the communication of mr Rush ’s letter which I now return. mr Bentham ’s character of Alexander is I believe just and that worse traits might still be added to it equally just. he is now certainly become the watchman of tyranny for Europe , as dear to it’s oppressors as detestable to the oppressed. if however he should engage in war with the Turks, as I expect, his employment...
91Thomas Jefferson to James Madison, 18 October 1819 (Jefferson Papers)
By this day’s mail I forward you ⅓ of a parcel of seeds of the Sea-Kale sent here by Gen l Cock for you, mr Divers & myself. I feared to await a private conveyance because they lose their vegetative power if not planted soon. The day after you left us I was taken with a cholic which attended with a stricture on the upper bowels brought me into great pain & immediate danger. the obstacle was at...
92From Thomas Jefferson to James Madison, 7 January 1824 (Jefferson Papers)
I send you two letters of D r Cooper for perusal. altho’ the trustees of that College and the Legislature have supported him most triumphantly against his clerical persecutors, yet it is evident he does not feel himself secure. I think you will see from these letters that he keeps us in his eye. and altho’ I doubt, were he now offered a place here, whether he would think he could accept it...
93From Thomas Jefferson to James Madison, 15 November 1823 (Jefferson Papers)
I return your letter to the President, and that of mr Rush to you, with thanks for the communication. the matters which mr Rush states as under consideration with the British government are very interesting. but that about the navigation of the S t Laurence and the Missisipi, I would rather they would let alone. the navigation of the former, since the N.Y. canal, is of too little interest to...
94To James Madison from Thomas Jefferson, 20 November 1824 (Madison Papers)
Gilmer is arrived in N. York sick of a fever which he has had thro’ the whole voyage of 35. days and likely to remain there some time in the hands of the Doctors. He has engaged 5. Professors to wit George Long, Antient languages. George Blaetterman, Modern do. Thos. H. Key, Mathematics. Charles Bonnycastle (son of the Mathematician) Nat. Philos. Robley Dunglison Anatomy &c. This last wishes...
95To James Madison from Thomas Jefferson, 23 January 1825 (Madison Papers)
I inclose you a letter from mr. Cabell and a copy of the bill I prepared and sent him as he requested. I send you also a letter from mr. Gilmer, by which he seems determd. not to undertake our professorship. What are we to do? I abhor the idea of a mere Gothic lawyer who has no idea beyond his Coke Littleton, who could not associate in conversation with his Colleagues, nor utter a single...
96From Thomas Jefferson to James Madison, 24 October 1823 (Jefferson Papers)
I forward you two most imporant letters sent to me by the President and add his letter to me by which you will percieve his primâ facie views. this you will be so good as to return to me, and forward the others to him I have recieved Trumbull’s print of the Decln of Independance, & turning to his letter am able to inform you more certainly than I could by memory that the print costs 20. D. &...
97From Thomas Jefferson to James Madison, 6 January 1823 (Jefferson Papers)
I send you a mass of reading, and so rapidly does my hand fail me in writing that I can give but very briefly the necessary explanations. 1. mr Cabell’s letter to me & mine to him which passed each other on the road will give you the state of things respecting the University, and I am happy to add that letters recieved from Appleton give us reason to expect our capitels by the first vessel...
98To James Madison from Thomas Jefferson, 30 October 1821 (Madison Papers)
I heard in Bedford that you were attaked with the prevailing fever, and with great joy on my return that you were recovered from it. In the strange state of the health of our country every fever gives alarm. I got home from Bedford on the 27th. and am obliged to return there within 3. or 4. days, having an appointment at the Natural bridge on the 11th. prox. As our proposed petition to...
99From Thomas Jefferson to James Madison, 16 February 1823 (Jefferson Papers)
You already know that the legislature has authorised the literary board to lend us another 60,000 D. it is necessary we should act on this immediately so far as to accept the loan, that we may engage our workmen before they enter into other undertakings for the season. but the badness of the roads, the uncertainty of the weather, and the personal inconvenience of a journey to the members of...
100To James Madison from Thomas Jefferson, 18 October 1825 (Madison Papers)
Every thing is going on smoothly at the University. The Students are attending their schools more assiduously, and looking to their Professors with more respect. The authority of the latter is visibly strengthened, as is the confidence of those who visit the place, and the effect, on the whole, has been visibly salutary. The Professors are all lecturing, the two Cantabs however somewhat in the...