Thomas Cooper to Thomas Jefferson, 20 November 1817
From Thomas Cooper
nov. 20. 1817 Philadelphia
Dear Sir
I suspect my letters have been strangely delayed. I wrote at least three weeks ago about Mr Slack of Lynchburgh. I wrote about ten days ago, saying that the Visitors at Williamsburgh wished me to go there either next spring; or next fall, at my Option: this I heard from Mr Brown of that place, in a letter stating it: he requests an early reply,
I shall leave this place; for a proposition among the Trustees here, to permit the Students to attend either Dr Coxe or myself Was negatived last Tuesday, by the influence of Dr Coxe’s friends.
I do not want to go to Williamsburgh. But my philosophical expences nearly equal my philosophical receipts, and I maintain my family on my own funds. I cannot afford this. Is it possible to find me the means of earning a tolerable maintenance at your College from April next to April twelvemonth? If so, I will go there. The Williamsburgh situation is worth, as I am given officially to understand, 3000 Dlrs. If I can earn half the Sum at your place this next year, I will go. But the reply must be immediate, or Mr Hare will be appointed at Williamsburgh.1 I cannot write more, for I have an inflammation in my arm. Believe me always with great respect
Dear Sir Yr friend.
Thomas Cooper
RC (ViU: TJP); endorsed by TJ as received 23 Dec. 1817 and so recorded in SJL. RC (DLC); address cover only; with PoC of TJ to Richard Bache, 17 Jan. 1818, on verso; addressed: “Thomas Jefferson Esq Montecello Virginia 20 nov. 1817”; stamp canceled; franked; postmarked Philadelphia, 20 Nov.
mr slack: Gerard E. Stack.
1. Preceding two words interlined.
Index Entries
- Browne, William; and College of William and Mary search
- Central College; professors for search
- Cooper, Thomas; academic career of search
- Cooper, Thomas; and Central College search
- Cooper, Thomas; health of search
- Cooper, Thomas; letters from search
- Coxe, John Redman; as university professor search
- Hare, Robert; as university professor search
- health; inflammation search
- Pennsylvania, University of search
- schools and colleges; University of Pennsylvania search
- Stack, Gerard E.; as classical tutor search
- William and Mary, College of; faculty of search