Thomas Jefferson to John Wayles Baker, 19 January 1821
To John Wayles Baker
Monticello Jan. 19. 21.
Dear Wayles
Yours of Dec. 8. came safely to hand and I was glad to learn you were seated at Columbia. that institution will have sustained a great loss in mr Elliot; but I still think you will be better there than1 any where else that I know of. with respect to your pursuits I cannot advise them with precision; because I do not know whether you are so far advanced in classic science as that you may withdraw from that school. I may say however in general that the object of the first importance you have to acquire is the French language, and the 2d Mathematics, Astronomy and Natural philosophy. I do not know how far the rules of your college will permit you to divide your time among the classes which teach these particular articles; but it is so much the right of the parent, and not of the faculty, to say what the student shall learn & what he shall not, that I presume the rules of your college say the same thing. you know my difficulty of writing, and will therefore accept here the assurances of my affectionate attachment
Th: Jefferson
PoC (CSmH: JF); on verso of reused address cover of John Steele to TJ, 3 July 1819; at foot of text: “J. W. Baker”; endorsed by TJ.
South Carolina College (later the University of South Carolina) sustained a great loss when Stephen Elliott resigned its presidency shortly after his election. Thomas Cooper was then chosen as president pro tem, an appointment that later became permanent (New York American, 3 Jan. 1821).
1. Manuscript: “thant.”
Index Entries
- astronomy; collegiate education in search
- Baker, John Wayles (TJ’s grandnephew); education of search
- Baker, John Wayles (TJ’s grandnephew); letter to search
- Baker, John Wayles (TJ’s grandnephew); TJ’s relationship with search
- Cooper, Thomas (1759–1839); president of South Carolina College search
- education, collegiate; TJ on search
- Elliott, Stephen; and South Carolina College search
- French language; collegiate education in search
- Jefferson, Thomas; Correspondence; fatiguing or painful to search
- Jefferson, Thomas; Opinions on; education search
- mathematics; collegiate education in search
- natural philosophy; collegiate education in search
- South Carolina College (later University of South Carolina); and J. W. Baker search
- South Carolina College (later University of South Carolina); president of search