Thomas Jefferson Papers
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Thomas Jefferson to Louis H. Girardin, 8 April 1821

To Louis H. Girardin

Monticello Apr. 8. 21.

Dear Sir

Your favor of the 1st is recieved and I am happy to learn that you are settled so much to your satisfaction, and I hope that your institution will feel the good effects of your superintendance. I know of no collection of papers relative to our University in 8vo as you describe. some years ago there was a small pamphlet of some early projects on that subject. a few of these only were published for the use of the members, and are hardly to be got now.

Of daughters left by Lucius Junius Brutus I think history makes no mention. you know, it is made a question in Plutarch whether he had any issue other than the two sons whom he executed. and consequently whether the claim was not spurious by the latter Bruti of a descent from him. the father of him who killed Caesar had two daughters. one of these, Junia, married Cassius and is mentioned Tac. Ann. III.76. & Cicero de Oratore II.55. the figures therefore introduced by David into his painting of L. J. Brutus are fictions probably of the painter to strengthen the effects of his piece.

I will place on the next page the catalogue of the optima editions within my knolege, and here add my friendly & respectfl salutns.

Th: Jefferson

RC (PPAmP: Thomas Jefferson Papers); with MS of enclosure on verso; addressed: “Mr L. H. Girardin Principal of the College of Baltimore”; franked; postmarked Charlottesville, 10 Apr. PoC (MHi); on right half of address cover of Joseph C. Cabell to TJ, 20 Dec. 1820; with PoC of enclosure on verso; endorsed by TJ.

The small pamphlet was probably the Proceedings and Report of the Commissioners for the University of Virginia. Presented December 8, 1818 (Richmond, 1818; Poor, Jefferson’s Library description begins Nathaniel P. Poor, Catalogue. President Jefferson’s Library, 1829 description ends , 6 [no. 233]).

plutarch described the lineage of Lucius Junius Brutus in his chapter on Marcus Junius Brutus (the Younger): “as to the lineage of Brutus by his father’s side, those who display great hatred and malevolence towards him because of the murder of Caesar deny that it goes back to that Brutus who expelled the Tarquins, since no offspring was left to him when he had slain his sons” (Plutarch, Brutus, 1.6, in Plutarch’s Lives, trans. Bernadotte Perrin, Loeb Classical Library [1914–26; undated reprint], 6:129). The father of him who killed caesar was Marcus Junius Brutus (the Elder).

Index Entries

  • Annals (Tacitus) search
  • Baltimore College search
  • books; TJ recommends to L. H. Girardin search
  • Brutus, Lucius Junius; family of search
  • Brutus, Lucius Junius; Les Licteurs Rapportent à Brutus les Corps de Ses Fils search
  • Brutus, Marcus Junius (the Elder); family of search
  • Brutus, Marcus Junius (the Younger); family of search
  • Caesar, Julius; death of search
  • Caesar, Julius; mentioned search
  • Cassius, Junia (Gaius Cassius Longinus’s wife) search
  • Cassius Longinus, Gaius search
  • Cicero; De Oratore search
  • David, Jacques Louis; Les Licteurs Rapportent à Brutus les Corps de Ses Fils search
  • De Oratore (Cicero) search
  • Girardin, Louis Hue; and Baltimore College search
  • Girardin, Louis Hue; and University of Virginia search
  • Girardin, Louis Hue; letters to search
  • Girardin, Louis Hue; TJ recommends books to search
  • Jefferson, Thomas; Writings; Proceedings and Report of the Commissioners for the University of Virginia search
  • Les Licteurs Rapportent à Brutus les Corps de Ses Fils (J. L. David) search
  • Lives (Plutarch) search
  • Plutarch; Lives search
  • Proceedings and Report of the Commissioners for the University of Virginia (Thomas Jefferson); copies of requested search
  • schools and colleges; Baltimore College search
  • Tacitus, Cornelius; Annals search
  • Virginia, University of; Establishment; commissioners’ report search