Thomas Jefferson Papers

Thomas Jefferson to Joseph C. Cabell, 20 November 1818

To Joseph C. Cabell

Monticello Nov. 20. 18.

Dear Sir

I very much lament the cause which has deprived us of the pleasure of seeing mrs Cabell and yourself at Monticello on your way to Richmond. I now commit to your care a letter to be delivered to the Speaker of the Senate, which contains the Report of the Commissioners who met at Rockfish gap. having been written in great haste, and by several hands, dividing the work in order to expedite their departure, it is very imperfectly legible: and as it is important that it should be printed correctly, I inclose you the original draught also, made literally conformable to the authenticated one, and which I would wish you to put into the hands of the printer. being much more legible, he will be less liable to commit mistakes. it will serve for your own information in the mean time, which the Commissioners thought would be proper, while they deemed it disrespectful to the legislature, and otherwise inexpedient that it’s contents should be communicated but to particular persons before delivery. it was their opinion that it should be delivered to each Speaker, in the chair, on the second morning of the session.

Colo Coles will explain to you what has past on the subject of the proposed voyage, which I consider as requiring indispensably a special agent, & in which Genl Cocke concurred, without a doubt of the unanimous approbation of our Colleagues. with sincere wishes for the reestablishment of your health I salute you affectionately

Th: Jefferson

RC (ViU: TJP); at foot of text: “Joseph C. Cabell esq.”; endorsed by Cabell. PoC (DLC); on verso of reused address cover of one of the two letters from Patrick Gibson to TJ of 27 July 1818; endorsed by TJ. Enclosures: TJ to Linn Banks and Edward Watts, 20 Nov. 1818 (the RC to Watts), and enclosures, with a second copy of the 4 Aug. 1818 Rockfish Gap Report of the University of Virginia Commissioners.

The printer of the University of Virginia Commissioners’ Report was Thomas Ritchie.

Index Entries

  • Cabell, Joseph Carrington; and establishment of University of Virginia search
  • Cabell, Joseph Carrington; and recruitment of University of Virginia faculty search
  • Cabell, Joseph Carrington; health of search
  • Cabell, Joseph Carrington; letters to search
  • Cabell, Mary Walker Carter (Joseph C. Cabell’s wife); travels of search
  • Central College Board of Visitors; and recruitment of faculty search
  • Central College Board of Visitors; members of search
  • Jefferson, Thomas; Writings; Proceedings and Report of the Commissioners for the University of Virginia search
  • Jefferson, Thomas; Writings; Rockfish Gap Report of the University of Virginia Commissioners search
  • Proceedings and Report of the Commissioners for the University of Virginia (Thomas Jefferson); printed search
  • Ritchie, Thomas; prints works for Va. General Assembly search
  • Virginia, University of; Establishment; and General Assembly search
  • Virginia, University of; Establishment; commissioners’ report search
  • Virginia, University of; Faculty and Curriculum; recruitment of faculty from Europe search
  • Virginia; General Assembly search
  • Watts, Edward; as Speaker of Va. Senate search