1Thomas Jefferson to Joseph C. Cabell, 9 September 1817 (Jefferson Papers)
I promised you that I would put into the form of a bill my plan of establishing the elementary schools , without taking a cent from the literary fund. I have had leisure at this place to do this, & now send you the result. if 12. or 1500. schools are to be placed under one general administration, an attention so divided will amount to a dereliction of them to themselves. it is surely better...
2Thomas Jefferson to Joseph C. Cabell, 10 September 1817 (Jefferson Papers)
I omitted in my letter of yesterday to return Barrois ’ catalogue with thanks for the use of it. I omitted also to observe that it would be better that the bill for the elementary schools should not be known as coming from me. not knowing the present pulse of the public, should there be any thing unpalatable in it, it may injure our college as coming from one of it’s visitors. I wish it to be...
3Thomas Jefferson to Joseph C. Cabell, John H. Cocke, and David Watson, 7 October 1817 (Jefferson Papers)
letters recieved last night from mr Cooper render a meeting of the visitors immediately indispensable, or all done yesterday comes to nothing. if you will be so good as to be at Monticello by ten aclock I will endeavor to detain mr Madison till that hour & to get Colo Monroe to meet you there as a halfway house. Accept my friendly & respectful salutations. RC (
4Thomas Jefferson to Joseph C. Cabell, 24 October 1817 (Jefferson Papers)
Yours of the 14 th came to hand two days ago. soon after you left us I recieved the pamphlet you were so kind as to have directed to me, containing several papers on the establishment of a system of education. a serious perusal of the bill for that purpose convinced me that unless something less extravagant could be devised the whole undertaking must fail. the primary schools alone on that...
5Thomas Jefferson to Joseph C. Cabell, 18 December 1817 (Jefferson Papers)
I have been detained a month by my affairs here, but shall depart in three days & eat my Christmas dinner at Monticello . I expect to find there the returns of our subscription papers , and I hope, the donation of the Cincinnati . these will enable me to make the report to the Governor which our board determined on. it will have to go the rounds of their residences for their amendments &...
6Thomas Jefferson to Joseph C. Cabell, 19 December 1817 (Jefferson Papers)
I wrote to you yesterday morning & put the letter myself into the Post office of Lynchburg to which place I went to endeavor to engage bricklayers for our work the next season. I could not do it. they asked 15.D. a thousand for place brick & sand-stock brick work and the double for the oil-stock brick. they rose from 12.D. to 15.D. on the extraordinary price of corn a year or two past, and...
7Thomas Jefferson to Joseph C. Cabell, 31 December 1817 (Jefferson Papers)
Our friend Gen l Kosciuzko has warmly solicited my attention to the case of M. Poinsot des Essarts , stated in the inclosed papers. he wishes to be informed of the situation of the lands therein described, their quality & value, and whether any and what taxes are due on them. I suppose they must be in what is now Harrison county . having no acquaintance in that part of the country, and...
8Thomas Jefferson to Joseph C. Cabell, 6 January 1818 (Jefferson Papers)
I recieved last night your favor of Dec. 29. the prospect it offers as to the general system of education is not very flattering. indeed I do not wonder at the confusion of opinion prevailing among the members of the legislature . a good system of education in the abstract is among the most difficult of problems, and this difficulty is infinitely increased when the system is to be modified and...
9Thomas Jefferson to Joseph C. Cabell, 14 January 1818 (Jefferson Papers)
When, on the 6 th instant , I was answering yours of Dec. 29. I was so overwhelmed with letters to be answered , that I could not take time to notice the objection stated that ‘neither the people, nor their representatives, would agree to the plan of assessment on the wards for the expences of the ward-schools.’ I suppose that by this is meant the ‘pecuniary expence of wages to the tutor.’...
10Thomas Jefferson to Joseph C. Cabell, 15 January 1818 (Jefferson Papers)
The messenger who carried mine of yesterday brought me in return your’s of the 5 th . I shall be anxious to hear from you after our report of the 6 th shall have been laid before the legislature , & to learn what impression it makes. because that shews how near we are to the accomplishment of a good College, one that cannot but be thought of some value to the state, and the urgency of their...
11Thomas Jefferson to Joseph C. Cabell, 16 February 1818 (Jefferson Papers)
A resolution which I saw in the papers for the adjournment of the legislature the day before yesterday prevented my writing to you in the belief it could would not find you in Richmond . M r Summers now tells me he thinks you will set into the next week. the obj after acknoleging the reciept, since
12Thomas Jefferson to Joseph C. Cabell, 26 February 1818 (Jefferson Papers)
Your two favors of the 20. & 22. came to hand last night. I congratulate you sincerely on having something begun on the subject of education. whatever be it’s faults, they will lead to correction. you seem to doubt whether mr Madison would serve if named a Commissioner for the location E t c of the University? but there can be no doubt that he would, & it is most important that he should. as...
13Thomas Jefferson to Joseph C. Cabell, 20 November 1818 (Jefferson Papers)
I very much lament the cause which has deprived us of the pleasure of seeing mrs Cabell and yourself at Monticello on your way to Richmond . I now commit to your care a letter to be delivered to the Speaker of the Senate , which contains the Report of the Commissioners who met at Rockfish gap . having been written in great haste, and by several hands, dividing the work in order to expedite...
14Thomas Jefferson to Joseph C. Cabell, 1 January 1819 (Jefferson Papers)
Altho’ my revolt against letter writing has not permitted me to acknolege separately your several favors of Dec. 8. 14. 17. 24. as I recieved them, I am not the less thankful for their information. I take up my pen now on the subject of my estimate of the center of white population . you say it is objected that the commencement at the mouth of the Chesapeake is nearer the Southern than...
15Thomas Jefferson to Joseph C. Cabell, 28 January 1819 (Jefferson Papers)
I join with you in joy on the passage of the University bill , and it is necessary you should send me a copy of it without delay, that the visitors may have a meeting to see and to do what it permits them to do for the furtherance of the work, as the season for engagements is rapidly passing off. but we shall fall miserably short in the execution of the large plan displayed to the world, with...
16Thomas Jefferson to Joseph C. Cabell, 19 February 1819 (Jefferson Papers)
Your favor of the 15 th was rec d yesterday. the appointment of Visitors of the University is entirely unexceptionable; the only fear is that the distance of Gen l Breckenridge & mr Taylor will render their attendances uncertain. I should have been sorry indeed if either yourself or Gen l Cocke had been left out:
17Thomas Jefferson to Joseph C. Cabell, [ca. 26 February 1819] (Jefferson Papers)
M r Cabell is requested to lay the inclosed proceedings of his Collegues before the Governor & Council for the exercise of their power of Controul, should they consider any part of them as requiring. RC ( Vi : RG 79, House of Delegates, Speaker, Executive Communications); undated. Tr (
18Thomas Jefferson to Joseph C. Cabell, 1 March 1819 (Jefferson Papers)
On my return yesterday from our Visitorial call I found here your favor of Feb. 22. and I now inclose you a copy of our proceedings with the request of our collegues to lay them before the Gov r & Council . for altho’ their assent is not by the law necessari necessary to give them validity, yet they have a right to negative which makes it a duty to communicate them that they may have an...
19Thomas Jefferson to Joseph C. Cabell, 6 March 1819 (Jefferson Papers)
Will you be so good as to have the inclosed inserted immediately in the e Enquirer , and to place the expence to account of your next instalment? affectionate salutations. RC ( ViU: TJP ); dateline at foot of text; addressed: “ Joseph C. Cabell esq. of the Senate of Virginia now in Richmond ”; franked; endorsed by Cabell
20Thomas Jefferson to Joseph C. Cabell, 22 January 1820 (Jefferson Papers)
I send you the inclosed as an exhibit to our enemies as well as friends. Kentucky , our daughter, planted since Virginia was a distinguished state, has an University , with 14. professors & upwards of 200 students. while we, with a fund of a million & a half of Dollars, ready raised and appropriated, are higgling without the heart to let it go to it’s use. if our legislature does not heartily...
21Thomas Jefferson to Joseph C. Cabell, 28 November 1820 (Jefferson Papers)
I sent in due time the Report of the Visitors to the Governor , with a request that he would endeavor to convene the Literary board in time to lay it before the legislature on the 2 d day of their session. it was inclosed in a letter which will explain itself to you. if delivered before the croud of other business presses on them, they may act on it immediately, and before there will have been...
22Thomas Jefferson to Joseph C. Cabell, 25 December 1820 (Jefferson Papers)
Your letter of the 20 th was the first intimation that I had omitted to inclose, with the documents of our Report , the first half year’s account of the Bursar , which had been duly rendered in April and filed away. I now correct that error by inclosing it to the Governor with a letter of explanation , to be communicated to the legislature . You may have observed an apparent difference of...
23Thomas Jefferson to Joseph C. Cabell, 30 January 1821 (Jefferson Papers)
You will recollect that at the meeting of the Visitors of the University on the 4 th of Oct. last , mr Johnson being disabled by sickness to attend and having been prevented at the April meeting by bad weather we were we were apprehensive his commission might be vacated by a failure to act for one the space of one year , and I was requested to apply to the Governor for a renewal of the...
24Thomas Jefferson to Joseph C. Cabell, 31 January 1821 (Jefferson Papers)
Your favors of the 18 th and 25 th came together three days ago. they fill me with gloom as to the dispositions of our legislature towards the University . I percieve that I am not to live to see it opened. as to what had better be done within the limits of their will, I trust with entire confidence to what yourself, Gen l Breckenridge and mr Johnson shall think best. you will see what is...
25Thomas Jefferson to Joseph C. Cabell, 15 February 1821 (Jefferson Papers)
I address this day to Gen l Breckenridge a letter as you desired ; to be shewn if it is thought expedient within the circle of discretion. I doubt much myself whether it’s exhibition to members independant in their purposes, & jealous of that independance may not do more harm than good. on this I put myself into the hands of my friends. I am sure you will see the propriety of letting no copy...
26Thomas Jefferson to Joseph C. Cabell, 22 February 1821 (Jefferson Papers)
I some time ago put into your hands a pamphlet proving indirectly that the Coll. of W m & Mary was intended to be a seminary for the church of England . it had been so long since I had read their printed statutes that I had forgotten them. looking lately into them, I find they declare that the 3. fundamental objects of the institution are 1. learning & morals. 2. to prepare ministers for the...
27Thomas Jefferson and John H. Cocke to James Breckinridge, Joseph C. Cabell, Chapman Johnson, James Madison, and Robert … (Jefferson Papers)
In obedience to the resolution of the visitors of the university at their last session, the Proctor has been constantly employed in ‘ascertaining the state of accounts under contracts already made, and the expence of compleating the buildings begun and contemplated’: and we have consequently suspended, according to instructions, ‘the entering into any contracts for the Library until we see...
28Thomas Jefferson’s View of the Expenses and Funds of the University of Virginia, [ca. 28 September 1821] (Jefferson Papers)
A view of the whole expences & of the Funds of the University Actual cost estimated d o Averages D D D Pavilions. N o 3. & 7. undertaken in 1817.18. 19,149. 81 9,574. 90 N
29Thomas Jefferson to University of Virginia Board of Visitors, 30 September 1821 (Jefferson Papers)
M r Brockenbrough has been closely engaged, since our last meeting in settling the cost of the buildings finished at the University , that we might obtain a more correct view of the state of our funds, and see whether a competency will remain for the Library. he has settled for 6. Pavilions, 1. Hotel, and 35. Dormitories, and will proceed with the rest; so that I hope, by our next meeting, the...
30Thomas Jefferson to Joseph C. Cabell, 3 January 1822 (Jefferson Papers)
I have recieved a letter from M r Griffin a member of the legislature on the subject of the University , to which I have this day given an answer . not knowing to what purpose it may be used I inclose the letter and a copy of the answer for the information of mr Johnson and yourself, to enable you to meet any quotation which might be made otherwise than in the genuine terms & spirit of the...
31Thomas Jefferson to Joseph C. Cabell, 5 January 1822 (Jefferson Papers)
The inclosed was omitted in my letter of yesterday . frdly salutns. perhaps some other paper was inadvertly put in it’s place. if so be so good as to return it by mail. RC ( ViU: TJP ); dateline above postscript, which was added separately; addressed: “ Joseph C. Cabell esquire or in his absence Chapman Johnson esquire both of the Senate of Virginia now in Richmond ”; franked; postmarked
32Thomas Jefferson to Joseph C. Cabell, 14 January 1822 (Jefferson Papers)
I have duly recieved your two favors of the 3 d & 7 th and in them the proof of your continued zeal for the object of our joint labors. of the course most prudently to be pursued mr Johnson & yourself are best judges. you alone are in a situation to know the state of the pulse of the body on which our institution depends for life or death; and to you I leave it entirely. silence and...
33Thomas Jefferson to Joseph C. Cabell, 25 January 1822 (Jefferson Papers)
In a conversation with mr Garrett after his return from Richmond a few days ago he mentioned to me that the general opinion in the circles there in which he was, seemed to be that we could not expect within any moderate time more than 100. students at our university . this wonderful error proceeds from a want of information even as to our own state . my position with respect to that...
34From Thomas Jefferson to Joseph Carrington Cabell, 28 December 1822 (Jefferson Papers)
Yours of the 19 th was recieved some days ago, those of the 23 d the day before yesterday. at the same time with the former I recieved one of the same date from mr Rives, proposing a question to me, which, as he is absent, I will answer to you. it was, If the remission of the principal debt, and an accomodation of the cost of the library cannot both be obtained, what would be most desirable?...
35From Thomas Jefferson to Joseph Carrington Cabell, 13 January 1823 (Jefferson Papers)
Your’s of the 9 th is quite reviving. you say that as soon as the bill has past, yourself and colleagues will come up to a special meeting. this will be indispensable, because our workmen will be obliged to be looking out for other work for the ensuing season, if their employment here is not soon decided on. but observe that to make a special call legal, reasonable notice must be given to all...
36From Thomas Jefferson to Joseph Carrington Cabell, 28 January 1823 (Jefferson Papers)
I have recieved your favor of the 23 d and it has entirely converted me to your opinion that we should let the primary schools lie for the present, avail ourselves of their temporary discredit, and of the breeze in our favor, until the University is entirely secured in the completion of it’s buildings and remission of it’s debt; and then to come forward heartily as the patrons of the Primaries...
37From Thomas Jefferson to Joseph Carrington Cabell, 4 February 1823 (Jefferson Papers)
M r Brockenbrough has shewn me a letter, written anonimously, charging him with the grossest frauds and malversation in the office of Proctor of the University, and addressed to M r Griffin a member of the legislature. I know the hand writing of the letter as well as I do my own, and possess many samples from the same pen. it is from James Oldham one of our undertakers. I have known him 15. or...
38From Thomas Jefferson to Joseph Carrington Cabell, 12 March 1823 (Jefferson Papers)
Having received from all our brethren approbations of the loan, I authorised M r Brockenbrough to engage the work of the Rotunda, and have it commenced immediately. we had only two bricklayers and two carpenters capable of executing it with solidity and correctness; these had not capital sufficient for so great an undertaking, nor would they have risked their little all but for a great advance...
39From Thomas Jefferson to Joseph Carrington Cabell, 4 July 1823 (Jefferson Papers)
About a month before the reciept of your favor of June 24. I had been requested to draw the plan of a jail for the county of Cumberland adapted to the requisitions of the late law. I send you a copy of it, with estimates of the cost. some articles of it are left blank, because I had no ready means of coming at their value; but this may be as well obtained with you as here. there is only one...
40From Thomas Jefferson to Joseph Carrington Cabell, 13 November 1823 (Jefferson Papers)
I rec d with real regret your’s of Oct. 27. the necessity of looking out for a substitute obliged me to act immediately. I consulted mr Madison, but it is of great importance to see you. pray therefore call on me as you go down. affectionate salutations ViU .
41From Thomas Jefferson to Joseph Carrington Cabell, 19 January 1824 (Jefferson Papers)
I percieve that to the bill concerning the University an amendmt is proposed for suspending interest a certain number of years. you are sensible we could not propose to persons in foreign countries to break up, and abandon their prospects there and come here on compensations of temporary continuance only, which at the expiration of the suspension of interest would leave them without resource...
42From Thomas Jefferson to Joseph Carrington Cabell, 22 January 1824 (Jefferson Papers)
After sending off my letter of the 19 th it occurred to me that I should have sent also the distribution of the sciences as I should propose them on the scale of 8. Professors. the inclosed is copied from the 1 st page of the Code of regulations which I have been preparing for the consideration of the Visitors. you will see by that that the Professors are already overcharged, and consequently...
43From Thomas Jefferson to Joseph Carrington Cabell, 23 January 1824 (Jefferson Papers)
When I wrote my letter of yesterday I had not seen the Enquirer of the 17 th I recieved it in the evening & did not close my eyes thro’ the night but to dream of the Scotch gift presented us by the University bill with it’s amendatory Provisos. for thus they make it stand. ‘Be it enacted that the 15,000. D. annual endowment given to the University shall stand discharged of all liability for...
44From Thomas Jefferson to Joseph Carrington Cabell, 3 February 1824 (Jefferson Papers)
I am favored with your two letters of Jan. 26. and 29. I am glad that yourself and the friends of the University are so well satisfied that the provisos amendatory of the University act are mere nullities. I had not been able to put out of my head the Algebraical equation which was among the first of my College lessons that a-a=0. yet I cheerfully arrange myself to your opinions. I did not...
45From Thomas Jefferson to Joseph Carrington Cabell, 16 May 1824 (Jefferson Papers)
Your favor of the 5 th from Williamsburg has been duly received, and presents to us a case of pregnant character, admitting important issues, and requiring serious consideration and conduct. yet I am more inclined to view it with hope than dismay. it involves two questions. 1. shall the College of Wm. & Mary be removed? 2. to what place? as to the first I never doubted the lawful authority of...
46From Thomas Jefferson to Joseph Carrington Cabell, 22 December 1824 (Jefferson Papers)
Let the contents of this letter be known to you & my self only. we want a Professor of Ethics. mr Madison and myself think with predilection of George Tucker, our member of Congress. you know him however better then we do. can we get a better? will he serve? you know the emoluments, and that the tenure is in fact for life, the lodgings comfortable, the society select E t c. if you approve of...
47From Thomas Jefferson to Joseph Carrington Cabell, 22 December 1824 (Jefferson Papers)
The proposition to remove W m & Mary College to Richmond with all it’s present funds, and to add to it a medical school, is nothing more nor less than to remove the University also to that place. because if both remain there will not be students enough to make either worthy of acceptance of men of the first order of science. they must each fall down to the level of our present academies, under...
48From Thomas Jefferson to Joseph Carrington Cabell, 11 January 1825 (Jefferson Papers)
We are dreadfully non-plussed here by the non-arrival of our three Professors. we apprehend that the idea of our opening on the 1 st of Feb. prevails so much abroad (altho’ we have always mentioned it doubtfully) as that Students will assemble on that day, without awaiting the further notice promised. to send them back will be discouraging, and to open an University without Mathematics or...
49From Thomas Jefferson to Joseph Carrington Cabell, 19 January 1825 (Jefferson Papers)
You know that the arrearages of our subscriptions were appropriated particularly to the works of the Rotunda. but they come in most tardily: and will never be recieved but on suits, which we determine to commence against every man in arrears in time for the March courts. but this will be a chase of a couple of years, and in the mean time mr Brockenbrough is in the utmost distress for about...
50From Thomas Jefferson to Joseph Carrington Cabell, 22 January 1825 (Jefferson Papers)
I recieved your favor of the 16 th yesterday at noon and immediately turned in on the task it prescribed to me, in order that I might get it into the mail which is made up this evening. I am so worn down by the drudgery that I can write little now: the bill is most hastily drawn and will need your severe amendmt. I have said nothing of the manner of obtaining an account of the funds of the...