Thomas Jefferson to James Breckinridge, 9 December 1821
To James Breckinridge
Monticello Dec. 9. 21.
I thank you, dear Sir, for your kind attention in procuring me Greenlee’s plat. it’s exact conformity with my patent will satisfy my neighbor that his junior one must give way to it. we were sorry we had not the benefit of your assistance at our meeting. on the 1st day only mr Johnson and myself attended. on the 2d day mr Madison and Genl Cocke joined us. you will have learnt the state of the University from our Report, which will be in the papers probably before you recieve this. we suspended a decision on commencing the Library until April when we hope to have a full meeting, and to have observed in the mean time the dispositions of the legislature. we are all decidedly of opinion we ought to begin it if we can be sure of being able to raise the walls and roof them so as to keep them safe. mr Johnson is the only doubtful member on that head, merely from an aversion to bring ourselves into any situation which might oblige us to ask money, in which general sentiment we all concur. I salute you with affectionate friendship & respect.
Th: Jefferson
RC (ViU: TJP); edge torn, with missing text supplied from PoC; at foot of text: “Genl Breckenridge”; endorsed by Breckinridge. PoC (DLC); on verso of a reused address cover from Thomas Appleton to TJ; endorsed by TJ.
Following the 29–30 Nov. meeting of the University of Virginia Board of Visitors, Virginia J. Randolph (Trist) reported to Nicholas P. Trist on 2 Dec. 1821 that James madison, joined by his stepson John Payne Todd, had “been detained here ever since by bad weather; I really expect that poor Mr. Todd will hang him self if it rains again tomorrow” (RC in DLC: NPT).
Index Entries
- Breckinridge (Breckenridge), James; letters to search
- Cocke, John Hartwell (1780–1866); as member of University of Virginia Board of Visitors search
- Greenlee, William; Rockbridge Co. property of search
- Johnson, Chapman; as member of University of Virginia Board of Visitors search
- Madison, James (1751–1836); as member of University of Virginia Board of Visitors search
- Madison, James (1751–1836); visits Monticello search
- Monticello (TJ’s Albemarle Co. estate); Visitors to; Madison, Dolley and James search
- Monticello (TJ’s Albemarle Co. estate); Visitors to; Todd, John Payne search
- Ocheltree, James; Rockbridge Co. land of search
- Todd, John Payne (James Madison’s stepson); visits Monticello search
- Trist, Nicholas Philip; correspondence with V. J. R. Trist search
- Trist, Virginia Jefferson Randolph (TJ’s granddaughter); correspondence with N. P. Trist search
- Virginia, University of; Board of Visitors; and construction of University of Virginia search
- Virginia, University of; Board of Visitors; and loans for University of Virginia search
- Virginia, University of; Board of Visitors; annual reports of search
- Virginia, University of; Board of Visitors; meetings of search
- Virginia, University of; Board of Visitors; members of search
- Virginia, University of; Construction and Grounds; Rotunda (library) search
- Virginia; General Assembly search
- weather; rain search