Thomas Jefferson to Robert Brent, 14 August 1805
To Robert Brent
Monticello Aug. 14. 05.
Sir
A considerable journey Southwardly from this has prevented my sooner acknoleging letters from yourself, from mr Gardiner and mr S. H. Smith, announcing that I had been elected by the city council a trustee for the public schools to be established at Washington & by the trustees to preside at their board. I recieve with due sensibility these proofs of confidence from the city council & the board of trustees, & ask the favor of you to tender them my just acknolegements. sincerely believing that knolege promotes the happiness of man, I shall ever be disposed to contribute my endeavors towards it’s extension, and in the instance under consideration will willingly undertake the duties proposed to me, so far as others of paramount obligation will permit my attention to them.
I pray you to accept my friendly salutations & assurances of great respect & esteem.
Th: Jefferson
PoC (DLC); at foot of text: “Robt. Brent esq.” FC (Lb in DLC: District of Columbia Papers).
For TJ’s election as a trustee for the public schools, see letters from John Gardiner, 22 July; Samuel Harrison Smith, 23 July; and Brent, 6 Aug. TJ was reelected as president of the board and served for three years, although he never presided in person (Wilhelmus B. Bryan, A History of the National Capital from Its Foundation through the Period of the Adoption of the Organic Act, 2 vols. [New York, 1914-16], 1:480).