19051Thomas 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...
19052Thomas Jefferson to Joseph C. Cabell, 2 February 1816 (Jefferson Papers)
Your favors of the 23 d & 24 th ult. were a week coming to us. I instantly inclosed to you the deeds of Cap t Miller ; but I understand that the Post-master, having locked his mail before they got to the office, would not unlock it to give them a passage. Having been prevented from retaining my collection of the acts & Journals of our legislature by the lumping manner in which the Committee of...
19053From 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...
19054Thomas 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:
19055Thomas 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.’...
19056Thomas 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...
19057Thomas 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...
19058Thomas Jefferson to Joseph C. 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...
19059Thomas 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...
19060Thomas 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...
19061Thomas 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...
19062Thomas 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...
19063From 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...
19064From 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...
19065Thomas Jefferson to Joseph C. Cabell, 1 January 1817 (Jefferson Papers)
A member of a family to which I have been much attached by long intimacies sollicits my asking the notice attention of some of my friends to his petition before the legislature . he is the Viscount Barziza , youngest of two sons of Count Barziza of Venice by the only daughter & heiress of the late mrs Paradise , who was the daughter of Col o
19066From 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...
19067Thomas 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...
19068Thomas 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...
19069Thomas Jefferson to Joseph C. Cabell, 14 July 1816 (Jefferson Papers)
You have sometimes thought my political ramblings worth the time and trouble of reading. I inclose you one a letter lately written on a subject now much agitated in our state . I will ask the favor of it’s early return by mail as I have no other copy. I salute you with friendship & respect. RC ( ViU: TJP ); dateline at foot of text; addressed: “ Joseph C. Cabell esq. Warminster ”; franked;...
19070Thomas Jefferson to Joseph C. Cabell, 5 January 1813 (Jefferson Papers)
I learn by the newspapers that a petition has been presented to the legislature by the Rivanna company praying an enlargement of their powers. as these are to be executed wholly within my lands, and almost solely over my property, and have not hitherto been exercised by with much forbearance as to the injury to which they expose me, it becomes necessary for me while they ask for power, for me...
19071From 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...
19072From Thomas Jefferson to Joseph Carrington Cabell, 14 February 1826 (Jefferson Papers)
Your two favors of the 8 th and 10 th were recieved yesterday, and I will endeavor to get this into the mail which is to be closed this evening. if they have not cheered me in all things they greatly do it in the prospect they hold up of succeeding in our intermediate plan of schools. but I am sorry you waited a moment to consult me, on the subject, and the more so as it finds me under a...
19073Thomas Jefferson to Joseph C. Cabell, 28 February 1816 (Jefferson Papers)
You enquire whether Say has ever been translated into English? I am certain he never has in America , nor do I believe he has in England . I have never seen his work named in their catalogues or advertisements nor do I believe it has been noticed by the Edinburgh reviewers. nor have they noticed the Review of Montesquieu , altho Duane sent them a copy. you will render this country a great...
19074Thomas 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...
19075Thomas Jefferson to Joseph C. 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....
19076Thomas 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...
19077Thomas 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...
19078Thomas 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...
19079Thomas Jefferson to Joseph C. Cabell, 31 January 1814 (Jefferson Papers)
Your favor of the 23 d is recieved. Say had come to hand safely. but I regretted having asked the return of him ; for I did not find in him one new idea on the subject I had been contemplating; nothing more than a succinct, judicious digest of the tedious pages of Smith . You ask my opinion on the question whether the states can add any qualifications to those which the Constitution has...
19080Thomas 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...
19081Thomas 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...
19082Thomas 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
19083Thomas 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...
19084From Thomas Jefferson to Joseph Carrington Cabell, 4 February 1826 (Jefferson Papers)
I recieved yesterday the joint letter of our colleagues of Jan. 26. and your separate one of the 30 th . the vote of the house of delegate was too decisive to leave any further expectations from that quarter, or doubt of the necessity of winding up our affairs and ascertaining their ground. I went immediately to the University and advised the Proctor, to engage in no new matter which could be...
19085From Thomas Jefferson to Joseph Carrington Cabell, 3 February 1825 (Jefferson Papers)
Altho our Professors were on the 5 th of Dec. still in an English port, that they were safe raises me from the dead: for I was almost ready to give up the ship. that was 8. weeks ago, and they may therefore be daily expected. In most public seminaries Text-book s are prescribed to each of the several schools as the norma docendi in that school; and this is generally done by authority of the...
19086From Thomas Jefferson to Joseph Carrington Cabell, 20 January 1826 (Jefferson Papers)
Under a different cover I send a Circular on the subject of our Law Professor; and to save writing, which is laborious to me, I must pray my Colleagues on the Assembly to consider the single copy as addressed equally to all My grandson Tho s J. Randolph attends the legislature on a subject of ultimate importance to my future happiness. My own debts were considerable, and a loss was added to...
19087From Thomas Jefferson to Joseph Carrington Cabell, 7 February 1826 (Jefferson Papers)
I recieved yesterday your kind letter of the 2 d and am truly sensible of the interest you are so good as to take in my affairs. I had hoped the length and character of my services might have prevented the fear in the legislature of the indulgence asked being quoted as a precedent in future cases. but I find no fault with their strict adherence to a rule generally useful, altho’ relaxable in...
19088Thomas Jefferson to Joseph C. Cabell, 23 December 1815 (Jefferson Papers)
A petition has been presented to our present legislature by a Cap t Joseph Miller , praying a confirmation of the will of his half brother Thomas Reed who died not long since at Norfolk possessed of lands and slaves which he devised to his half brothers and sisters then living in England . this one bought up the shares of the whole and came over to reside here as a citizen. he arrived after...
19089Thomas 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 (
19090From Thomas Jefferson to Samuel J. Cabell, 25 April 1803 (Jefferson Papers)
I have have been instrumental Randolph my son in law, with you, . I assure you on my honour it is without foundation. the first idea I ever had of his offering himself was on my arrival at his house the 11th. of March, when he had already been acting some days in it, & when probably it was known to yourself, and the only conversation I ever had with him on the subject was one in which I...
19091From George Washington to Major Samuel Jordan Cabell, 26 August 1779 (Washington Papers)
Mr Harrison has laid before me Two Letters, which he had received from you, and also a Certificate signed by Colo. Davies and Generals Muhlenburg and Woodford respecting your right to promotion to a Lieutenant colonelcy. I have considered the matter, and, from the high opinion I have of your merit and services, I am sorry to find there are difficulties in your case; and that the principles &...
19092From James Madison to William Cabell, 22 April 1807 (Madison Papers)
Agreeably to an Act of Congress, entitled An Act for the more general promulgation of the Laws of the United States, passed 3d. March 1795, and the Acts in addition thereto, passed on the 2d. March 1799 and on the 27 March 1804, I have transmitted to the Collector of the Customs at Baltimore 1254 copies of the Laws of the United States 1st. Session 9th. Congress, being the proportion for the...
19093From James Madison to William Cabell, 4 April 1808 (Madison Papers)
Agreeably to an Act of Congress entitled "An Act for the more general promulgation of the laws of the United States " passed 3d. March 1795 and the acts in addition thereto passed 2d. March 1799 and on the 27th. March 1804, I have transmitted to the Collector of the Customs at Alexandria 1254 Copies of the laws of the UStates 2d. Session 9th. Congress being the proportion for the State of...
19094From Thomas Jefferson to Thomas McKean, 24 December 1806 (Jefferson Papers)
The National legislature, by an Act, at their last session, for laying out & making a road from Cumberland, in Maryland to the State of Ohio, Authorised the President to appoint Commissioners for laying it out in such direction as they should judge proper, & he should approve: & the President, after obtaining the consent of the States through which it should be laid out, was authorised to take...
19095From James Madison to William Cabell, 2 July 1807 (Madison Papers)
I have the honor to inclose by direction of the President, a Proclamation issued by him, of this date, and to remain with great consideration and respect, Your Most Obt: Servt: Vi .
19096From Thomas Jefferson to William Cabell, 3 September 1772 (Jefferson Papers)
Inclosed is a copy of Dickie’s bill against you. You will be pleased to send me a state of the case as it is to be set forth in your answer. In this you should take care to answer every allegation and interrogatory. As soon as I recieve this I shall put it into the form of an answer and return it to you to be sworn to. I am Sir Your humble sert., RC ( ViU : Cabell Deposit). On the back are...
19097From Thomas Jefferson to William H. Cabell, 13 March 1808 (Jefferson Papers)
I recieved last night your favor of the 10th. there can certainly be no present objection to the forwarding the letters therein mentioned, according to their address. We have nothing new of importance, except that at the last reading of an Amendatory bill a few days ago, the H. of R. were surprised into the insertion of an insidious clause permitting any merchant having property abroad, on...
19098From Thomas Jefferson to William H. Cabell, 13 November 1808 (Jefferson Papers)
Between 3 & 4. years ago I recieved the inclosed petitions praying for the pardon or the enlargement of Thomas Logwood, then & still confined in the Penitentiary of Richmond for counterfieting the bank notes of the US. I consulted Govr. Page on the subject who, after conferring with his council, informed me that tho’ he was for a pardon himself he found a division of opinion on the question, &...
19099From Thomas Jefferson to William H. Cabell, 9 August 1807 (Jefferson Papers)
In my letter of the 7th. I informed you that on consultation at Washington it had been concluded best to commit the whole business of flags to Capt Decatur. I now find that I had not recollected our conclusion correctly, and that it had been understood that the commanding officers, by land & water should have equal authority to license the sending & recieving flags: which is not only proper,...
19100From Thomas Jefferson to William H. Cabell, 16 July 1807 (Jefferson Papers)
Your letter of the 10th. has been recieved, and I note what is said on the provision which ought to be made by us for the militia in the field. an arrangement by the Secretary at war to meet certain other persons at N. York to concert a plan of defence for that place has occasioned necessarily his temporary absence from this place, and there is no person sufficiently informed to take the...