Thomas Jefferson Papers

Thomas Jefferson to John H. Cocke, 22 April 1823

To John H. Cocke

Monto Apr. 22. 23.

Dear Sir

I am first to thank you for the shads you were so kind as to send us. they were the first and only ones we have seen this season.

The visitors at their late meeting being requested by mr Brockenbro’ to enquire into the charges brought against him by Oldam, came to a resolution that their Exve commee should first enquire of Oldam whether he avowed the anonymous lre to mr Griffin, and would furnish evidence of the charges: & in that case that we should have the deposns taken and report them to the next meeting. I wrote to Oldam accdly. he neither acknoleged nor denied the letter, but, gave me the charges in a distinct form, and undertakes to furnish proofs. I have informed both parties that on my return from Bedford measures will be taken for recieving the evidence. I do not know that we need attend1 in person, both or either. indeed I am not able. I suppose it will be best for us to employ a lawyer to interrogate & take the deposns. I shall be glad of your opinion on this subject and will act conformably with it on my return.

The view of our finances presented at the late meeting was as follows. our debts were estimated in October by mr Dawson at 27,000.D. since which the annuity of this year 7800.D. has been recieved & chiefly applied to them;

so that mr Br. now estimates them at 20,000.
of the 18,343.D. arrears of sbscrption our Collector thinks we shall lose about 4000.D. but that we may count on about 14,000, for most of which he has recent assumpsits to pay this season, say 14,000
Jan. 1. we shall recieve of next year’s annuity clear of interest 6,300  20,300.

so that the 4. rows & all expences of land Etc will be compleated without taking a dollar from the last loan, which it is the opinion of mr Br. Dinsmore Etc will be quite sufficient to compleat the Rotunda. still we think it prudent to contract only for a part at a time, so as never to go beyond our funds. the contracts now made are for the hull, floors, stairs, doors & windows.2 but as neither the arrears of sbscrptn nor next year’s annuity are in hand we must borrow 20,000 D. from the last loan, to pay off our debts to be repd from the proper3 funds when recieved. a considble sum will be immediately wanting too to lay in lumber for the whole building and for current payments to the work men.4

May 4. 23. I had written thus far at the date of this letter; but having on the 8th of Apr. communicated a proposn of the Visitors to the literary board to let us draw our money by instalments, & expecting daily an answer; I laid by my letter till now to add the result. but no answer being yet recieved I close it with the assurance of my great frdshp and respect

Th:J

Dft (DLC); on reused address cover to TJ; endorsed by TJ as a letter of 4 May 1823 to “Cocke John H.” and so recorded in SJL.

our collector: John L. Thomas.

1Remainder of sentence interlined, with superfluous period editorially omitted.

2Sentence added in margin and interlined.

3Word interlined in place of “old.”

4Recto ends here.

Index Entries

  • Brockenbrough, Arthur Spicer; as University of Virginia proctor search
  • Central College; subscription for search
  • Cocke, John Hartwell (1780–1866); and fish for TJ search
  • Cocke, John Hartwell (1780–1866); as member of University of Virginia Board of Visitors search
  • Cocke, John Hartwell (1780–1866); letters to search
  • Dawson, Martin; as accountant for University of Virginia search
  • Dinsmore, James; as builder for Central College–University of Virginia search
  • fish; shad search
  • food; shad search
  • Griffin, Thomas; and University of Virginia search
  • Literary Fund; and annuity for University of Virginia search
  • Literary Fund; and loans for University of Virginia search
  • Oldham, James; complaint against A. S. Brockenbrough search
  • Poplar Forest (TJ’s Bedford Co. estate); TJ plans visits to search
  • shad; given to TJ search
  • Thomas, John L.; as collector for University of Virginia search
  • Virginia, University of; Administration and Financial Affairs; accounts of search
  • Virginia, University of; Administration and Financial Affairs; funding for search
  • Virginia, University of; Board of Visitors; and construction of University of Virginia 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 materials for search
  • Virginia, University of; Construction and Grounds; disputes with workmen search
  • Virginia, University of; Construction and Grounds; Rotunda (library) search