Thomas Addis Emmet to Thomas Jefferson, 8 March 1824
From Thomas Addis Emmet
Washington March 8th 1824
Sir
If I were not about to address you on a subject, in which I am persuaded you feel a very considerable interest, I should scarcely know how to apologise for the liberty I am taking—But the advancement of Education & literature in this country has always been an object near your heart; which I understand is at present very much engaged in the organisation & establishment of the state-college in your neighbourhood. Allow me then to present to your notice, as a Candidate for the Professorship of Humanity, a Gentleman whom I believe extremely well calculated to promote the prosperity of your favorite Institution. Mr Rowland Reynolds, to whom I allude1 is a Graduate of the University of Trinity College Dublin. The course of classical studies in that Seminary is as extensive as any in Europe; requiring 12 or 13 years from their commencement at School to their completion at college—And a Batchellor’s or Master’s Degree from thence admits ad eundem in the Universities of Oxford & Cambridge. It was Mr Reynolds’s good fortune to go through that course with very great reputation, & among other rewards & proofs of his attainments, to obtain a scholarship there on the foundation. That is only conferred on a few out of many competitors, & after a very long & strict examination entirely confined to the classics—My knowledge of Mr Reynolds & my confidence in his character, capacity & attainments would induce me to say much more in his favor, if enlarging on the topic could strengthen my recommendation—I shall however not trespass more on your valuable time, than to mention that he now is & for some years has been a resident in your State. He resides at Norfolk, & is occupied in the classical instruction of Youth—& I doubt not but that any enquiries you may think fit to institute respecting him, will have a favorable result.
As my occasions for addressing you are so few & far between,2 I cannot lose the present opportunity of expressing the pleasure I feel that a life, which in its course has been so important & serviceable to this country & to the World, has been prolonged above the common lot of man, with so little of the infirmity of age, & so much remaining vigor of mind & body—
Believe me, Sir, with sentiments of the highest respect
Thos Addis Emmet
RC (DLC); addressed: “Thomas Jefferson Esqr &c &c &c Monticello”; endorsed by TJ as received 24 Aug. 1824 and so recorded in SJL. Tr (ViU: JHC); at foot of text: “To this letter an answer was returned by Mr Jefferson stating that measures had already been taken for engaging several professors in Great Britain and among them one of the Classical Languages which left them no longer at liberty to apply elsewhere.” Enclosed in a missing letter dated 15 Aug. 1824 from Rowland Reynolds to TJ (see note to TJ to Reynolds, 27 Aug. 1824).
1. Tr here adds “a native born citizen of the United States.”
2. Preceding four words enclosed in quotation marks in Tr.
Index Entries
- Cambridge University search
- classics; collegiate education in search
- classics; education in search
- education; classical search
- Emmet, Thomas Addis; letters from search
- Emmet, Thomas Addis; reference for R. Reynolds search
- Great Britain; and recruitment of faculty for University of Virginia search
- Oxford, University of search
- Reynolds, Rowland; and Trinity College (Dublin) search
- Reynolds, Rowland; seeks position at University of Virginia search
- schools and colleges; Cambridge University search
- schools and colleges; Trinity College (Dublin) search
- schools and colleges; University of Oxford search
- Trinity College (Dublin) search
- Virginia, University of; Faculty and Curriculum; classics professorship search
- Virginia, University of; Faculty and Curriculum; faculty applicants search
- Virginia, University of; Faculty and Curriculum; recruitment of faculty search