Thomas Jefferson to Constantine S. Rafinesque, 20 February 1822
To Constantine S. Rafinesque
Monticello Feb. 20. 22.
[S]ir
I recieved yesterday your favor of the 2d. the accompaniments mentioned in it will probably arrive by another mail, and shall be disposed of as you request.1 the prospect of the opening of our University is at present but distant.2 we have incurred a great debt in erecting3 our buildings, on the hypothecation of our funds, to redeem4 which will employ the whole of them for many years, unless relieved by the legislature, of which there is little promise5 at present. in this state of things,6 it would be unjustifiable in me to say any thing which should prevent your accepting any offers which you might be disposed to listen to from other quarters.
Our Visitors do not meet until April next, when I will lay before them your offers of subjects of Natural history, which they will doubtless consider as evidences of particular liberality.
Th: Jefferson
RC (ViU: TJP); edge trimmed. Dft (MHi); on address cover of Rafinesque to TJ, 2 Feb. 1822; unsigned. Tr (MHi); in TJ’s hand; embedded in PoC of TJ to Rafinesque, 9 Oct. 1822; first paragraph only; wording follows RC.
1. Dft: “desire.”
2. Preceding two words interlined in Dft in place of “very unpromising.”
3. Word interlined in Dft.
4. Preceding two words interlined in Dft.
5. Word interlined in Dft in place of “appearance.”
6. Preceding three words interlined in Dft in place of “situation.”
Index Entries
- Rafinesque, Constantine Samuel; letters to search
- Rafinesque, Constantine Samuel; seeks professorship search
- Virginia, University of; Administration and Financial Affairs; funding for search
- Virginia, University of; Board of Visitors; and faculty recruitment search
- Virginia, University of; Board of Visitors; and loans for University of Virginia search
- Virginia, University of; Board of Visitors; meetings of search
- Virginia, University of; Construction and Grounds; building costs search
- Virginia, University of; Establishment; and General Assembly search
- Virginia, University of; Establishment; opening of search
- Virginia; General Assembly search