Joseph C. Cabell to Thomas Jefferson, 22 November 1823
From Joseph C. Cabell
Richmond. 22d Nov. 1823.
Dear Sir,
I arrived at this place on yesterday and to-day shall proceed on my journey to the county of Lancaster, but from my detention in Nelson in consequence of my late purchase it will probably be out of my power to get back to the meeting of the Assembly. Indeed, I fear I shall be compelled to be absent nearly all the month of December, as I shall probably have to return to Nelson. As Genl Breckenridge is in the House, I presume it would be advisable to take time to get our measure through. Col: Randolph & himself & others will be able to chalk out the course most likely to conduct us to a successful issue. I hope I may be able so to arrange my affairs as to retain my seat in the Senate till the end of my term. I shall endeavor to do so, by the employment of the best managers at high wages. Nothing on earth would give me more pleasure than to comply with any wish of yours particularly in regard to the University, but candor requires me to state that such is now the posture of my affairs I shall be unable to leave the country. I will continue my best endeavors to cooperate with you in the State, and for that purpose I hope I shall be able to remain in the Legislature. I enclose you Roscoe’s work, which from my multiplied engagements of late, I have been unable to read; but I am unwilling to keep it from you any longer, and hope you will pardon the delay which has already taken place. I am Dr Sir, faithfully yours
Joseph C. Cabell
RC (ViU: TJP-PC); endorsed by TJ as received 27 Nov. 1823 and so recorded in SJL. Enclosure: William Roscoe, Observations on Penal Jurisprudence, and the Reformation of Criminals. with An Appendix; containing the latest reports of the state-prisons or penitentiaries of Philadelphia, New-York, and Massachusetts; and other documents (London, 1819; Poor, Jefferson’s Library, 11 [no. 631]).
TJ and Cabell sought passage of a measure at the upcoming session of the Virginia General Assembly that would remit the debt that the University of Virginia had contracted through loans from the state Literary Fund.
Index Entries
- Breckinridge (Breckenridge), James; as Va. legislator search
- Cabell, Joseph Carrington; and funding for University of Virginia search
- Cabell, Joseph Carrington; as Va. state senator search
- Cabell, Joseph Carrington; letters from search
- Cabell, Joseph Carrington; purchases land search
- Cabell, Joseph Carrington; sends works to TJ search
- jails and prisons; books on search
- Jefferson, Thomas; Books & Library; works sent to search
- law; books on search
- Literary Fund; and loans for University of Virginia search
- Observations on Penal Jurisprudence, and the Reformation of Criminals (W. Roscoe) search
- Randolph, Thomas Mann (1768–1828) (TJ’s son-in-law; Martha Jefferson Randolph’s husband); and University of Virginia search
- Roscoe, William; Observations on Penal Jurisprudence, and the Reformation of Criminals search
- Virginia, University of; Administration and Financial Affairs; funding for search
- Virginia; General Assembly search
- Virginia; House of Delegates search