Thomas Mann Randolph to Thomas Jefferson, 3 January 1822
From Thomas Mann Randolph
Richmond Jany 3. 1822
Dear Sir,
Mr Pendleton a Director of the Literary Fund has within this hour agreed with me to complete the Loan to the University, out of money now in Bank. He authorizes me to assure you of his vote when the Bond arrives, which renders the transaction sure. I need not observe that if Mr Griffins proposition to cancel the debt due from the University should prevail, the loan authorized by the act of Feby 24. 1821 might possibly be included, only as far as made. But the necessities of the Workmen are motive sufficient for dispatch.
Mr Cabell is again here, quite well again, and as zealous as ever. Many members of influence are willing to cancel the University debt on condition of the arrearage due to the schools being given to Academies. That sum is more than 47000$. I have certainly succeeded in silencing the clamour raised, for tw[o] sessions now, against the Board of the L. Fund for having withheld payment of the quotas for past years, not called for in the proper years. On your suggestion before I left Monticello for the Legislature of 1819.20, I moved and succeded in carrying that resolution, as soon as I came into the Board. But I fear the compromise will not take effect, the county interest being much stronger than the Academy, and the money having come now to be considered as belonging to the Counties for any purpose they please.
Jefferson has arrived today. I thank you for the opinion on the land claim in Florida of Mr Hackley between whom and myself there are very strong ties of various kinds. The Girls are all well.
Th M Randolph
RC (DLC); edge chipped; at foot of text: “Th: Jefferson”; endorsed by TJ as received 6 Jan. 1822 and so recorded in SJL.
The act of feby 24. 1821 (“An act concerning the University of Virginia”) authorized a loan up to $60,000 from the Literary Fund to help complete the buildings and get the University of Virginia into operation ( [1820–21 sess.], 15–6).
At their meeting on 22 Dec. 1819, the directors of the Literary Fund passed a resolution that they were “not authorized to pay to the Treasurer of the School Commissioners of any County, City, Corporate town or Borough, in any one year, more than that portion of the sum of forty five thousand dollars appropriated by law for the education of the poor, which may be due to such County, City, Corporate town or Borough, for that year, according to the rule of apportionment prescribed; and that all sums which might have been drawn, for that purpose, in any preceding year, but were not drawn, because not applied for as by law directed, shall remain in the treasury for farther appropriation by the Legislature” (Vi: RG 27, Virginia Literary Fund Minute Book).
Index Entries
- An act concerning the University of Virginia (1821) search
- Cabell, Joseph Carrington; health of search
- Florida; land claims in search
- Griffin, Thomas; and University of Virginia search
- Hackley, Richard Shippey; E. Fla. land claims of search
- Literary Fund; and education of the poor search
- Literary Fund; and General Assembly search
- Literary Fund; and loans for University of Virginia search
- Literary Fund; funds of search
- Literary Fund; resolutions of the president and directors search
- Pendleton, William F.; as director of Va. Literary Fund search
- Randolph, Thomas Jefferson (1792–1875) (TJ’s grandson; Jane Hollins Nicholas Randolph’s husband); visits Richmond search
- Randolph, Thomas Mann (1768–1828) (TJ’s son-in-law; Martha Jefferson Randolph’s husband); children of search
- Randolph, Thomas Mann (1768–1828) (TJ’s son-in-law; Martha Jefferson Randolph’s husband); family of search
- Randolph, Thomas Mann (1768–1828) (TJ’s son-in-law; Martha Jefferson Randolph’s husband); letters from search
- Virginia, University of; Administration and Financial Affairs; funding for search
- Virginia, University of; Construction and Grounds; wages for workmen search
- Virginia; General Assembly search