Thomas Jefferson Papers

James Madison to Thomas Jefferson, 29 November 1817

From James Madison

Montpellier Novr 29. 1817

Dear Sir

I recd some days ago yours of the 15th and shall send my Palladio by the Stage of tuesday. It will probably arrive by the time you get back from Bedford.

I send you the inclosed from Mr Cooper, that in case of the supposed miscarriage of his letter to you, it may enable you to give him the answer for which he is so anxious. I shall inform him that I have done so, without undertaking to decide the question whether he can rely on $1500 for the next year. I hope your estimates will justify an affirmative decision. As he is determined to leave Philada and Williamsburg is no longer a Competitor, it will be hard on both him & the College to fail of his employment. I have not recd a single return of subscriptions from the Counties to which the papers were transmitted. Should the Legislature shut its funds agst us it may be worth while to make renewed efforts. Are you aware that Leslie is unfriendly to the U.S.? Mr E. Coles who had a personal oppy of judging, found him so. His Philosophy may so far prevail over his politics as to make him a safe resort for the selection of a Teacher, but the aid of Dugald Stuart may be preferable if as I presume, his political feelings be not at variance with his philosophical dispositions.

Affectionate respects

James Madison

Be so good as to return to Mr C. the letter to him from the Visitors of W. & M.

RC (DLC: Madison Papers); at foot of text: “Mr Jefferson”; endorsed by TJ as received 23 Dec. 1817 and so recorded in SJL. Enclosure: Thomas Cooper to Madison, Philadelphia, 24 Nov. 1817, enclosing a letter to Cooper from the visitors of the College of William and Mary (not found); repeating much of his letter to TJ of 20 Nov. 1817 but adding that “In mean time for want of my decisive reply I find Mr Hare is elected at Williamsburgh and my option of that Situation is gone”; inquiring about the opportunity to serve as the classical tutor at Central College until a qualified replacement can be found; and updating Madison on the academic progress of his nephew James Edwin Madison (RC in ViU: Madison Papers; addressed: “James Madison Esq Montpelier Orange County Virginia”; franked; postmarked Philadelphia, 25 Nov.).

Index Entries

  • Central College; Central College Subscription List search
  • Central College; professors for search
  • Central College; subscription for search
  • Coles, Edward; on J. Leslie search
  • Cooper, Thomas; academic career of search
  • Cooper, Thomas; and Central College search
  • Hare, Robert; as university professor search
  • Jefferson, Thomas; Books & Library; borrows books search
  • Leslie, Sir John; and Central College search
  • Madison, James (1751–1836); and Central College subscription search
  • Madison, James (1751–1836); and T. Cooper search
  • Madison, James (1751–1836); letters from search
  • Madison, James (1751–1836); TJ borrows books from search
  • Madison, James Edwin; education of search
  • Palladio, Andrea; works of, borrowed by TJ search
  • Stewart, Dugald; and Central College search
  • subscriptions, non-publication; for Central College/ University of Virginia search
  • Virginia; General Assembly search
  • William and Mary, College of; faculty of search