Thomas Jefferson to Joel Yancey, 25 May 1819
To Joel Yancey
Monticello May 25. 19.
Dear Sir
The sale of my tobo in Richmond has been so miserable (averaging but 5.D) out of which the transportation is yet to be deducted that I do not think what remains on hand (if not already sent) ought to be sent there; and that you had better get what you can for it at Lynchburg where it’s intrinsic character is better known. the proceeds may be paid to mr White in part of his last year’s wages. the loss on the flour is great also that recieved before Christmas averaging but 7.57 and that after christmas only 5.34 and this fall of price on the tobo and on 674. barrels of flour has shortened what the proceeds of my crop, at an usual price would have been, nearly 3000.D. this makes me look wistfully to the accomplishment of the sale of Robertson’s 200. as if it can be done without a sacrifice, say for 50. or 60.D. and indeed if you or mr Radford would give me 100.D. an acre for the 50. as beyond Bear branch on the West side of the road, I believe I should take it, letting my debt to you go in part of the payment. to owe what I cannot pay is a constant torment.—we have now, as a preliminary to the University, procured the best classical teacher I believe in the US. who has just opened his school in Charlottesville. tuition fees will be 30.D. a year and board will be 125.D. a year, one half of both in advance. one vacation only in the year, & that from the middle of Dec. to the last of January. the school is filling fast. if yourself or neighbors wish to send, it should be soon. I salute you with affectionate friendship & respect.
Th: Jefferson
PoC (MHi); on verso of reused address cover of Bernard Peyton to TJ, 21 Jan. 1819; at foot of text: “Mr Yancey”; endorsed by TJ.
For TJ’s ownership of Daniel robertson’s land, see note to TJ’s Conveyance of Bear Branch Land to William Radford and Yancey, 7 Dec. 1811. The classical teacher was Gerard E. Stack.
Index Entries
- Bear Creek plantation (part of TJ’s Poplar Forest estate); land offered for sale at search
- Charlottesville Academy; and G. E. Stack search
- Charlottesville Academy; and school vacations search
- Charlottesville Academy; and University of Virginia search
- Charlottesville Academy; opening of search
- Charlottesville Academy; tuition fees search
- Christmas; mentioned search
- flour; from Poplar Forest search
- flour; price of search
- flour; sale of search
- Jefferson, Thomas; Business and Financial Affairs; debt to J. Yancey search
- Jefferson, Thomas; Business and Financial Affairs; sale of Bedford Co. land proposed search
- Jefferson, Thomas; Business and Financial Affairs; sells flour search
- Jefferson, Thomas; Business and Financial Affairs; sells tobacco search
- Lynchburg, Va.; tobacco prices at search
- Poplar Forest (TJ’s Bedford Co. estate); flour from search
- Poplar Forest (TJ’s Bedford Co. estate); tobacco grown at search
- Radford, William; and Bear Branch land search
- Richmond, Va.; flour prices at search
- Richmond, Va.; TJ’s tobacco sold at search
- Robertson, Daniel; land patented by search
- Stack, Gerard E.; and Charlottesville Academy search
- tobacco; grown at Poplar Forest search
- tobacco; price of in Richmond search
- tobacco; sale of search
- Tomahawk plantation (part of TJ’s Poplar Forest estate); overseer at search
- Virginia, University of; Students; academic preparation for search
- White, Jacob W.; as overseer at Tomahawk plantation search
- Yancey, Joel (d.1833); and Bear Branch land search
- Yancey, Joel (d.1833); and Charlottesville Academy search
- Yancey, Joel (d.1833); as superintendent of Poplar Forest search
- Yancey, Joel (d.1833); letters to search
- Yancey, Joel (d.1833); TJ’s debt to search