1Constantine S. Rafinesque to Thomas Jefferson, 16 September 1819 (Jefferson Papers)
I hope that no apology will be needful, for taking the liberty of adressing you in the character of one of the Trustees of the Central University of Virginia . If any was requisite I would endeavour to bring to your recollection, the interview I had with you, at Washington City in 1804, when I was introduced to you by Gen l Dearborn , & the kind invitation you proferred to visit you at...
2Thomas Jefferson to Constantine S. Rafinesque, 7 November 1819 (Jefferson Papers)
A long and severe illness, from which I am but now recovering must apologise for this late acknolegement of your letter of Sep. 16. recieved on the 6 th of Oct. the Visitors of the University having determined to employ all their funds in providing for the accomodation of Professors and students until these are compleated, there is of course an entire suspension of the appointment of...
3Constantine S. Rafinesque to Thomas Jefferson, 1 August 1820 (Jefferson Papers)
The attention of many of our enlightened writers, as well as historical antiquarian societies, has lately been directed towards the interesting investigation of the numberless and astonishing monuments of remote origin scattered through the western states. Of the utmost simplicity of structure and materials, they afford, nevertheless, the greatest variety of forms and dimensions, with evident...
4Constantine S. Rafinesque to Thomas Jefferson, 7 August 1820 (Jefferson Papers)
Within a few miles of Mountsterling , the county seat of Montgomery county , which lays 33 miles east from Lexington , there are a great number of earthen inclosures and mounds which I have lately visited & surveyed. Many of them are rapidly sinking under the plough, and some have even totally disappeared. This is more or less the case throughout the country, and it is therefore highly...
5Constantine S. Rafinesque to Thomas Jefferson, 10 August 1820 (Jefferson Papers)
I propose to describe in this last letter some remarkable remains of sculpture, &c. belonging to or performed by the Alleghawians, which have lately fallen under my notice. They consist in 16 specimens. No. 1. Is the head of an Idol, about one inch in diameter. It is made of a soft white stone, a real pagodite or graphic Talc (Bildstein of the Germans) which may be easily carved with iron or...
6Constantine S. Rafinesque to Thomas Jefferson, 18 October 1820 (Jefferson Papers)
I lately took the liberty to address you three Letters on American or rather Alleghawee Antiquities, which were published in the Kentucky Reporter I now transmit you Prospectus of a new literary undertaking, with some details of its future contents, (in a number of the Reporter). I will be the principal Editor of this Journal, to which many eminent Individuals will contribute. We solicit your...
7Thomas Jefferson to Constantine S. Rafinesque, 6 November [1820] (Jefferson Papers)
Your favor of Oct. 18. was recieved yesterday. the three letters on Alleganian antiquities have not yet come to hand. for the 1 st n o of your annals of nature I have still to thank you. they have not been before acknoleged because the inexorable laws of old age and ill health have withdrawn me from the labors of the writing table to which I am no longer competent. writing is become slow,...
8Constantine S. Rafinesque to Thomas Jefferson, 25 January 1821 (Jefferson Papers)
I have delayed answering your last favor until I could send you my Ichthyology of the Ohio , and the Western Minerva . The former I have now the pleasure to forward you, and shall be glad to know your opinion on it. But I cannot send you the Western Minerva , although the first number is printed , because this Journal is not to be published at present . It has been condamned before its...
9Constantine S. Rafinesque to Thomas Jefferson, 3 April 1821 (Jefferson Papers)
I have lately done myself the pleasure to forward you a Copy of my Ichthyologia Ohiensis, and of the Catalogue of our University . I have Since Seen in the Richmond Enquirer that the Legislature of Virginia have provided for the complement of the buildings of the University of Virginia , and it is expected that the Institution will go into operation on the 1 st January next . If this is really...
10Constantine S. Rafinesque to Thomas Jefferson, 2 February 1822 (Jefferson Papers)
I take the liberty to send you the Kentucky Gazette containing the first number of a series of Essays under the name of the Cosmonist , and shall regularly send you the other numbers, hoping that they will afford you some interest gratification.— I am rather anxious to hear something precise concerning the University of Virginia , and my prospects relating thereto, since I have some...