51To Thomas Jefferson from Thomas Cooper, 2 April 1801 (Jefferson Papers)
Since my last I find that the office which was lately filled by Genl. Millar, is (if report be true) offered to Genl. Muhlenburgh. I hope that your numerous and important avocations have not driven entirely from your recollection the case of Mr Hamilton of Northumberland. But lest it should be so, I write to you again on the Subject, without making to you any apology for reiterating the claims...
52To Thomas Jefferson from Thomas Cooper, 18 May 1825 (Jefferson Papers)
I send you a newspaper paragraph of mine, which I have published with a view to do good. The proceedings of the State of Georgia strike me with horror. My facts, are from a friend & neighbour (Gen l Wade Hampton) who has just arrived from New Orleans through the Creek nation. I cannot doubt your agreeing with my views of this melancholy subject. I have sent copies to heads of Departments at...
53To Thomas Jefferson from Thomas Cooper, 5 February 1809 (Jefferson Papers)
I was extremely glad to see the result of the Meeting in Philadelphia in favour of the measures of the Administration, and I meditated a long meeting of the same kind in this County. I returned from my Circuit yesterday, and in my way I sounded some leading people, and notwithstanding the certain Opposition of Maclay’s friends, whose influence is very considerable here, I had not much doubt of...
54Thomas Cooper to Thomas Jefferson, 24 December 1819 (Jefferson Papers)
I sent you yesterday a Democratic Press containing a view of the Missouri Question. I shall send the Seal &c by M r Stack . I set out to Charleston on Tuesday. By this days post I Send you a pamphlet to amuse you. should any thing occur, pray write to me at Columbia . As I know not whe r I shall be hear here again, I shall leave a draught either in favour of M r
55To Thomas Jefferson from Thomas Cooper, 23 November 1823 (Jefferson Papers)
I sent you a short time ago two pamphlets, both as yet unpublished. That on the Tariff I printed to distribute among our members of the legislature & at Congress. The other I shall be compelled to disseminate with great caution if at all. I have drawn up the Physiological arguments against the common metaphysics. the logical notion of the double nature of the animal Man, but altho’ written...
56To Thomas Jefferson from Thomas Cooper, 16 February 1804 (Jefferson Papers)
Before your Letter arrived Dr Priestley was dead: of which I informed you hastily on the same afternoon. The work you mention of Mr Malthus, I have perused with deep interest and melancholy conviction of the general truth of his Theory, but I cannot help thinking he carries it much too far. Granting the tendency of the procreative passion to increase the human species far beyond the ratio of...
57To Thomas Jefferson from Thomas Cooper, 9 August 1807 (Jefferson Papers)
I received your letter here on my return from the Court of Erors & Appeals at Philadelphia. I send you my Copy of the memoirs, with some [emendations] and marginal notes, which tho they do not ornament the pages, will serve to explain some passages which the errors of the press converted into nonsense. I laboured under a very dangerous, and very painful illness while I composed my part, and I...
58Thomas Cooper to Thomas Jefferson, 6 December 1817 (Jefferson Papers)
Your letter of the 25 Nov. arrived here to day. Your letter mentioning that the apartments and pavilion would be ready so as to enable me to go to Charlottesville by Midsummer, I do not recollect to have received. I understood the apartments for a classical tutor would be ready in the Spring of 1818; but that my services would not be required till the Spring of 1819. My great objection to...
59To Thomas Jefferson from Thomas Cooper, [23 March 1800] (Jefferson Papers)
Mr. Dallas, Mr. Duane and myself met to day, and after canvassing the most expedient method of proceeding on our side, we determined at length on the following. That Mr. Duane shd. write you the Letter which accompanies this , to be presented to the Senate in your official Capacity. That Mr. Duane shd. be in the way at the meeting of the Senate, without formally presenting himself till it...
60To Thomas Jefferson from Thomas Cooper, 18 October 1822 (Jefferson Papers)
I spent the three months of vacation at this College, in an excursion to various parts of the State of Pennsylvania, chiefly for the purpose of attending to some land concerns in which I am interested. I write to you now, for the purpose of giving you some idea of the progress of fanatacism, which I could not have figured to myself if I had not had the advantage of extensive personal...
61To Thomas Jefferson from Thomas Cooper, 23 June 1807 (Jefferson Papers)
From some late circumstances, I have reason to believe that neither Mr Priestley’s directions nor mine to transmit to you a copy of the memoirs of his father’s life have been complied with, though a set was appropriated for you to be sent at the first moment of publication. If you have not received one, be good enough to let me know: it will be a cause of much chagrin to Mr Priestley and...
62To Thomas Jefferson from Thomas Cooper, 15 April 1825 (Jefferson Papers)
I was exceeding glad to receive one more letter from without expecting it, and I rejoice to find that you are yet capable of exertion. I send you my Pamphlet on Consolidation in opposition the prevailing heresy of the General Welfare, & also my petition for the restoration of my fine imposed under the Sedition Law. You are not many years distant from the inevitable separation we must all...
63Thomas Cooper to Thomas Jefferson, 10 May 1810 (Jefferson Papers)
On my coming from England in 1793 I brought with me a very good collection of minerals: the principal part of which were in some manner or other lost at the Custom house so that I never recovered them. The few remaining ores I possessed, I gave to M r Tho s Smith when he and M r Maclure paid me a visit here many years ago. M r Smith , a young man of much promise whom I dare say you knew...
64Thomas Cooper to Thomas Jefferson, 26 August 1818 (Jefferson Papers)
I write now in reply to yours from the warm Springs, of the 7 th Instant . D r Patterson is not chosen Chemical Professor, nor do I think he will be. The election does not take place till the first day of September . The event you shall be informed of, without delay. If I should not succeed (a very possible case) M. Correa , M rs Cooper and myself, set out forthwith for Charlotteville . She is...
65Thomas Cooper to Thomas Jefferson, 23 June 1821 (Jefferson Papers)
I send you the account of our collegiate Studies, which the Trustees have directed to be published. It does not meet my full concurrence, but under all circumstances, it is very well. I much doubt if there is a better appointed Institution in the United States than this. Our mathematical professor , with great modesty, and great industry in teaching, ranks with Bowditch , Audraine & Nulty ;...
66Thomas Cooper to Thomas Jefferson, 24 October 1817 (Jefferson Papers)
I feel myself much flattered by the kind offer of the Visitors of the College near Charlotte’s ville ; and have waited a very few days only to determine what course I ought to pursue. I have also been in pursuit of a M r Slack who was for a short time a classical tutor at Carlisle , and who I find has since been in the same capacity at Lynchburgh . I thought well of him. He was in town a few...
67Thomas Cooper to Thomas Jefferson, 3 October 1818 (Jefferson Papers)
I put in writing what I have to observe, respecting the College at Charlottesville , because I think you will prefer having my remarks so stated, to any recollection of them. I am not at Liberty to consult my Inclination alone: duty to my family, requires that I should attend to their Interest; and to those proposals which are most likely to promote it. I presume, nothing can be permanently...
68Thomas Cooper to Thomas Jefferson, 20 March 1814 (Jefferson Papers)
I am much obliged by your two Letters , and instructed by the legal suggestions they contain. I never knew the origin of Christianity becoming parcel of the Laws of England before. I see the Judges of New York state are determined to engraft the Christian code with their State Code; but I hope some event will take place to bring this imposition into discussion. There is in America a strange...
69Thomas Cooper to Thomas Jefferson, 11 April 1819 (Jefferson Papers)
When you wrote to me concerning the advertisements and the Stoves, I was greatly oppressed with a cold and fever which prevented me from going about to look out for patterns. I put the advertisement three times at a week’s interval in the Democratic Press, and in like manner in Poulson’s daily advertiser. A fortnight ago dating from yesterday, I was attacked with pleurisy which has confined me...
70Thomas Cooper to Thomas Jefferson, 6 October 1818 (Jefferson Papers)
I was a little surprized yesterday, when M. Correa congratulated me on having agreed to come to Charlottesville . This is one of the mistakes so often arising from making a contract, matter of conversation, instead of writing. Therefore, I take the opportunity of the first post-town, to set it right. I was tempted to say, that if the permanent salary were 1500 in lieu of 1000 dollars, I would...
71Thomas Cooper to Thomas Jefferson, 25 July 1812 (Jefferson Papers)
I return you many thanks for your package . Particularly for your Statement of the Batture case, which has settled my Opinion. I understood the question but imperfectly without the assistance of your account of it. Du Ponceau sent me his Argument and Livingston’s virulent pamphlet, which however he by no means approved. I have written to him that you have converted me. I am the more interested...
72Thomas Cooper to Thomas Jefferson, 20 February 1818 (Jefferson Papers)
I feel myself greatly obliged and much gratified by the kind and liberal conduct of the Governors of your Institution in my case. In truth, having from the age of twenty to fifty laboured almost exclusively for the public, I find it absolutely necessary to labour now for my family, which forms if not the only the strongest motive to exertion with me now; and I must for their sake, use the few...
73Thomas Cooper to Thomas Jefferson, 24 April 1820 (Jefferson Papers)
I received your letter announcing the prejudices excited among the people by the Clergy, without surprize. I have never published any thing on theological subjects in this country, but the Sentiments you may have read in my review of D r Priestley ’s philosophical & metaphysical writings. In England about 35 Years ago , I published something of the same kind, but neither here or there, any...
74Thomas Cooper to Thomas Jefferson, 2 February 1819 (Jefferson Papers)
M r Richardson has not yet returned. I received y r friendly letter , but I see by the act , that your limits of permanent Salary, are 1000 Dlrs to each Professor. Had I twenty years of probable exertion before me I would accept the situation at once; but I see clearly, that I shall have to commence a new course of labour for the benefit of those who come after me, and be a loser in a...
75Thomas Cooper to Thomas Jefferson, 12 July 1820 (Jefferson Papers)
I thank you for your kind letter of the 4 th but I can give no decisive answer as to S. Carolina . The Trustees passed an unanimous resolution to apply to the Legislature for a new Professorship with 1000 Dlrs a year, giving me the option of Law or Geology and Mineralogy. I preferred the latter as more immediately connected with Chemistry, & they will apply for it. Whether the Legislature when...
76Thomas Cooper to Thomas Jefferson, 13 [March] 1819 (Jefferson Papers)
I have inserted the advertisement in the Democratic Press, and shall also insert it in Poulson’s paper: one democratic and one federal. I am glad there is to be a meeting of the visitors on the 29 th because it will afford an opportunity of laying before them my views of the situation proposed to me. My receipts here, are a few dollars above 3000 during the last year. The expences of my...
77To Thomas Jefferson from Thomas Cooper, 4 December 1808 (Jefferson Papers)
I have finished a brief account of what has been done on the subject of a Standard for weights and measures, and sent it to Binns, but whether he will deem it sufficiently popular for his paper I know not. It cannot of course be more than an imperfect sketch, depending as I am compelled to do, for information, on the books about me. John Vaughan bought of Mr Hasl ar , an excellent collection...
78Thomas Cooper to Thomas Jefferson, 12 March 1821 (Jefferson Papers)
I am glad to find from M r Eppes ’s information, that the Legislature of Virginia has enabled the Visitors of the University to proceed with their Plan. When I passed by Montecello , it was with a view principally to ascertain whether any strong probability could be counted upon, as to the appointment of Professors; meaning to regulate my conduct here, by the information I could obtain at your...
79Thomas Cooper to Thomas Jefferson, 21 June 1819 (Jefferson Papers)
M r Vaughan has written to you that he will see to the Stoves & have them duly shipped. When I receive the acc t I will pay it. I have had much trouble in fixing on a Minerva. None to be found in Tooke , Spence , or any french Pantheon on authority. I examined Monfaucon , but I could find none worthy of being copied. I found the Minerva of Velletri in the
80Thomas Cooper to Thomas Jefferson, 14 February 1822 (Jefferson Papers)
I send you the history of a College rebellion (an annual case here) which p may be put by among the memoires pour servir à l’histoire du gouvernement academique ; facts that furnish some useful conclusions. You are to consider as true in addition the following facts: viz That the Professors have never been absent from a single recitation, so far as I know, since I have been at this College ....
81Thomas Cooper to Thomas Jefferson, 3 May 1820 (Jefferson Papers)
On monday last 1 st instant , the board of Trustees of south Carolina College , at a regular meeting, (usually held here, during the courts of appeal in Law & Chancery , the Judges being Trustees) unimously unanimously determined That it should be proposed to and urged with the Legislature to appoint a Professorship of Geology and Mineralogy, or else a professorship of Law, with a Salary of...
82Thomas Cooper to Thomas Jefferson, 16 September 1817 (Jefferson Papers)
I have not written to you for a long time, because I am aware of the burthen of your extensive correspondence, from my own experience in a much less degree. At present I have to write on my own affairs, but as they are connected in some measure with your own state, this may furnish an excuse for the trouble I give you. When I quitted Carlisle I came here with a view of being elected Chemical...
83Thomas Cooper to Thomas Jefferson, 8 November 1813 (Jefferson Papers)
I sent you about a twelve month ago, a copy of my edition of Justinian’s institutes , and another copy of my introductory lecture ; I presume you received them as I sent them if I do not mistake under M r Madison’s care. I write at present to say that I have at my disposal D r Priestley’s library and apparatus. The library consists of about 4400 Volumes of all descriptions, some of them very...
84Thomas Cooper to Thomas Jefferson, 19 September 1817 (Jefferson Papers)
I have seen two persons as teachers of the Classics neither of whom will suit. I have twice written to the person at Frankford according to his advertisement as Varro, and as F.G. but I have not seen or heard from him. shall I advertise? With reference for information to myself? I have seen Col: Basset of Williamsburgh to day, and have declined that situation finally. Mr Hare I believe wishes...
85To Thomas Jefferson from Thomas Cooper, 25 October 1802 (Jefferson Papers)
Having finished all that I undertook, as my department of the Wyoming Controversy for Pennsylvania Lands, I have returned hither. Dr Priestley being desirous of communicating to you extracts from Mr Stone’s letter, I have copied it for him. Passages respecting himself which he would probably have omitted, I have sent you without scruple; for I take for granted that every thing relating to his...
86Thomas Cooper to Thomas Jefferson, 1 March 1820 (Jefferson Papers)
I have waited anxiously to hear from you whether I shall certainly be wanted at Charlottesville next Spring. My family are at a loss whe r to prepare for their departure thither, or to this place. I have this day received a letter from Richmond , enclosing the following extract from the Rev. J. H. Rice ’s evangelical Magazine for January last p 49. “ The Visitors of the University have made...
87Thomas Cooper to Thomas Jefferson, 21 August 1818 (Jefferson Papers)
Our election for the chemical chair comes on the first day of September . The issue is uncertain. I think the family influence of M r Rob. Hare is likely to prevail. I have received an invitation from De Witt Clinton , D r Hosack and D r M c Neven
88To Thomas Jefferson from Thomas Cooper, 16 March 1806 (Jefferson Papers)
I did not receive your reply to my note, untill my return from Philadelphia yesterday. I thank you kindly for the Pamphlet you were so good as to send me, which I had heard of when I wrote the essay signed “Vindex”, but which I did not see till my arrival in Philadelphia. It certainly does credit even to Mr Maddison’s pen, but I think the doctrines defended in it, are carried to their very...
89Thomas Cooper to Thomas Jefferson, 19 April 1818 (Jefferson Papers)
I received your letter yesterday. For the present I am bound here. The friends who exert themselves in endeavouring to promote my interest, require of me that the pains they have taken shall not be rendered nugatory. If D r Dorsey be elected in the room of D r Wistar , which is likely: if D r Coxe be elected in the room of D r Dorsey , which also is likely but by no means void of doubt, it...
90Thomas Cooper to Thomas Jefferson, 11 October 1819 (Jefferson Papers)
I wrote to you to Bedford Virginia , and since to Montecello . The castings were shipped about Six weeks ago to by M r John Vaughan who undertook the commission and thought it expedient to wait for a fresh assortment from the Furnace. The Bill will be presented to me and forthwith paid. About three months ago I procured a seal for the University , of which I sent you an impression: I did not...
91Thomas Cooper to Thomas Jefferson, 22 October 1819 (Jefferson Papers)
I received and perused with much surprize and regret, your communication of the 15 th Instant , announcing the Inability of the Visitors of the University of Virginia , to fulfil the proposals made to, and accepted by me. I was aware from what I had lately seen in the newspapers, that the Institution was under pecuniary difficulties, but I could not be aware of their extent, or their bearings....
92Thomas Cooper to Thomas Jefferson, 1 September 1820 (Jefferson Papers)
I wrote hastily yesterday for fear of losing the post. But as I believe I am in time to day, I write to say that I think there is nothing to be apprehended at Columbia in point of health. There is no swamp, no stagnant water near it; the mist of the River grounds, has never been known to cross the main street; and during the three last years, it has not only been healthy, but singularly so....
93Thomas Cooper to Thomas Jefferson, 31 May 1814 (Jefferson Papers)
I say nothing about the affairs of Europe , for they are so clouded that no reasonable conjecture can be afforded by present facts. I am most willing to believe that the progress of knowledge cannot be stopt, and the dark ages renewed, even should the Bourbons again ascend the throne, but there is nothing to be expressed but hope and good wishes. Yet from the beginning of history, it appears...
94Thomas Cooper to Thomas Jefferson, 17 August 1814 (Jefferson Papers)
I am here on business for a few days with more leisure than I usually have, and sitting down to write a few lines to you, my pen begins at once on politics, and the rather perhaps because it is a subject the more irritating as it is the more unpleasant. I brood over the events of Europe , with melancholy forebodings of what may be the case here, and with no violent predilection in favour of...
95Thomas Cooper to Thomas Jefferson, 15 September 1814 (Jefferson Papers)
I reply to your queries, as to the branches of science expedient to be taught in a university. The great difficulties in the outset, are, at what age and with what qualifications should a young man enter a university? How long should he continue in such an institution before he be permitted to take a degree? As to the first question—I would state it as a position which to my mind is supported...
96Thomas Cooper to Thomas Jefferson, 22 September 1814 (Jefferson Papers)
I have carefully considered the plan of University education you se nt me . In addition to my former letter on the same subject , written before I ha d seen yours to M r Carr , I send you the following remarks. I agree, that in a school of the first grade (usually called in this section of the Union a Grammar School) every thing should be taught, that every citizen of whatever class, ought to...