Thomas Jefferson to Robert S. Garnett, 4 April 1819
To Robert S. Garnett
Monticello Apr. 4. 19.
Dear Sir
I recieved in due time your favor of Mar. 20. covering recommendations of Don Marcus Escopinachi as Professor of modern languages. they abundantly establish his qualifications for that office, and your own recommendation of Dr Speed & more particularly of mr Bonfils would be equally sufficient. but the Visitors of the University are of opinion that it’s whole funds should be applied to the provision of buildings for the accomodation of the Professors & Students, before they employ Professors, with the single exception of Dr Cooper who had been appointed for the Central college by their predecessors. I should look with great hope to the success of our institution were the enlightened views you express of it, entertained by our legislature. if it does not recieve considerably more of their immediate patronage, it will be some time before it can commence it’s operations. in the mean time I hope the friends of science & of their country will press on their representatives the duty of forwarding that commencement. I salute you, dear Sir, with great esteem & respect.
Th: Jefferson
RC (ViU: TJP); at foot of text: “Rob. S. Garnett esq.” PoC (DLC); on verso of reused address cover of Daniel Brent to TJ, 5 Dec. 1818; torn at seal, with most missing text rewritten by TJ; endorsed by TJ.
Index Entries
- Bonfils, Sauveur François (Salvatore Bonfiglio); recommended to TJ search
- Central College Board of Visitors; and proposed professorships search
- Cooper, Thomas (1759–1839); University of Virginia professorship proposed for search
- Escopiniche (Escopinichi), Marcus; recommended to TJ search
- Garnett, Robert Selden; letters to search
- Garnett, Robert Selden; recommends language instructors to TJ search
- Speed, Dr.; recommended to TJ search
- Virginia, University of; Administration and Financial Affairs; funding for search
- Virginia, University of; Board of Visitors; and construction of University of Virginia search
- Virginia, University of; Board of Visitors; and faculty recruitment search
- Virginia, University of; Construction and Grounds; dormitory rooms search
- Virginia, University of; Construction and Grounds; pavilions search
- Virginia, University of; Establishment; and General Assembly search
- Virginia, University of; Faculty and Curriculum; modern languages professorship search
- Virginia, University of; Faculty and Curriculum; T. Cooper as proposed professor search
- Virginia; General Assembly search