Thomas Jefferson to Wilson J. Cary, 4 May 1819
To Wilson J. Cary
Monticello May1 4. 19.
Dear Sir
Doctr Cooper, himself probably the best classical scholar in the US. had from the first proposition of our college recommended a mr Stack as the best classical teacher in America, and worthy of our professorship. it having been found that the University could not be opened for some time yet, I thought it desirable to get a classical school opened immediately in Charlottesville as a nursery to prepare subjects to be ready to enter into the University as soon as it commences, and invited mr Stack to come on & undertake such an establishment. he is arrived and will open his school immediately (say this week) which will soon be full to overflowing. I think there were 20. offered yesterday at our court in the space of a few hours as it became known in the court yard. his tuition fees are 30.D. a year, & board may probably b[e] had in Charlottesville at about 120.D. one vacation only in the year from the middle of December to the end of January. as I believe it impossible to place Wilson so advantageously in the US. I wished to give you notice of it & not to lose a day in bringing him on, as his school will be filled at once. I salute mrs Cary & yourself with sincere affection
Th: Jefferson
PoC (ViU: TJP-CC); on verso of reused address cover of Francis W. Gilmer to TJ, 26 Nov. 1818; mutilated at seal; at foot of text: “Mr Cary”; endorsed by TJ.
1. Reworked from “Ap.”
Index Entries
- Albemarle County Court, Va. search
- Cary, Virginia Randolph (Wilson J. Cary’s wife); TJ sends greetings to search
- Cary, Wilson Jefferson; and W. M. Cary’s education search
- Cary, Wilson Jefferson; letters to search
- Cary, Wilson Miles (1806–77); education of search
- Charlottesville Academy; and G. E. Stack search
- Charlottesville Academy; and school vacations search
- Charlottesville Academy; and University of Virginia search
- Charlottesville Academy; tuition fees search
- Cooper, Thomas (1759–1839); and G. E. Stack search
- Cooper, Thomas (1759–1839); TJ on search
- Stack, Gerard E.; and Charlottesville Academy search
- Stack, Gerard E.; as classical tutor search
- Virginia, University of; Establishment; opening of search
- Virginia, University of; Students; academic preparation for search