Thomas Jefferson Papers

Thomas Jefferson to James Madison, 19 February 1819

To James Madison

Monticello Feb. 19. 19.

Dear Sir

Yours of the 12th has been duly recieved, and the pamphlet it covered has been sent to mr Minor. the late day to which the Governor has fixed the 1st meeting of the Visitors of the University (the last Monday in March) renders a meeting of the College visitors immediately necessary, some measures of high importance to the institution not admitting that delay; & the law having authorised us to continue our functions until the actual meeting of the new appointment. General Cocke, who was here about three weeks ago, sensible of the necessity of a meeting agreed to attend on any day I should name, and, in order to alternate with you the journeyings to our meetings I proposed to him to meet at your house, to which he consented. I have now requested his attendance at Montpellier in the forenoon of Friday next (the 26th inst.) as I have also that of mr Watson. mr Cabell cannot attend. the roads being impassable for a carriage, I shall take it on horseback, taking two days. if the weather is good, I may possibly go to Colo Lindsay’s on Wednesday, and be with you the next day. but the weather must govern me in that. my health after which you kindly enquire is tolerably established, leaving me indeed in a state of increased debility, yet not1 so much as to render me unequal to the journey proposed: my grandson Jefferson, of the accident to whom you have probably heard, was brought home two days ago, his wounds, altho’ healing slowly, being in a very satisfactory state. we all join in affectionate2 salutations to mrs Madison and yourself

Th: Jefferson

RC (DLC: Madison Papers); at foot of text: “Mr Madison”; endorsed by Madison. PoC (DLC); on verso of reused address cover of Joseph Jones to TJ, 8 Jan. 1819; torn at seal; endorsed by TJ.

The governor of Virginia was James P. Preston. TJ’s grandson jefferson was Thomas Jefferson Randolph.

1Manuscript: “no.”

2Manuscript: “affetionate.”

Index Entries

  • agriculture; books on search
  • An act for the establishment of an University (1819) search
  • An Addition, of December 1818, to the Memoir, of February and August 1817, on the subject of the cotton culture, the cotton commerce, and the cotton manufacture of the United States (T. Coxe) search
  • Bankhead, Charles Lewis (Ann Cary Randolph Bankhead’s husband); and fight with T. J. Randolph search
  • books; on agriculture search
  • Cabell, Joseph Carrington; as member of Central College Board of Visitors search
  • carriages; mentioned search
  • Central College Board of Visitors; meetings of search
  • Cocke, John Hartwell (1780–1866); and visits to Monticello search
  • Cocke, John Hartwell (1780–1866); as member of Central College Board of Visitors search
  • cotton; books on search
  • Coxe, Tench; An Addition, of December 1818, to the Memoir, of February and August 1817, on the subject of the cotton culture, the cotton commerce, and the cotton manufacture of the United States search
  • Jefferson, Thomas; Books and Library; sends books search
  • Jefferson, Thomas; Health; debility search
  • Jefferson, Thomas; Travels; to Montpellier (Madison family estate) search
  • Jefferson, Thomas; Writings; Bill to Establish a University search
  • Madison, Dolley Payne Todd (James Madison’s wife); TJ sends greetings to search
  • Madison, James (1751–1836); and fight between C. L. Bankhead and T. J. Randolph search
  • Madison, James (1751–1836); and TJ’s health search
  • Madison, James (1751–1836); as member of Central College Board of Visitors search
  • Madison, James (1751–1836); letters to search
  • Minor, Peter; works sent to search
  • Monticello (TJ’s Albemarle Co. estate); Visitors to; Cocke, John H. search
  • Montpellier (Montpelier; J. Madison’s Orange Co. estate); TJ visits search
  • Montpellier (Montpelier; J. Madison’s Orange Co. estate); visitors to search
  • Preston, James Patton; and University of Virginia search
  • Randolph, Thomas Jefferson (TJ’s grandson; Jane Hollins Nicholas Randolph’s husband); and fight with C. L. Bankhead search
  • Randolph, Thomas Jefferson (TJ’s grandson; Jane Hollins Nicholas Randolph’s husband); health of search
  • roads; in Va. search
  • Springfield Farm (R. Lindsay’s Albemarle Co. estate) search
  • Virginia, University of; Board of Visitors; meetings of search
  • Virginia, University of; Establishment; Bill to Establish a University search
  • Virginia; roads in search
  • Watson, David (1773–1830); as member of Central College Board of Visitors search