1From Thomas Jefferson to James Madison, 3 May 1826 (Jefferson Papers)
I have percieved in some of our Professors a disinclination to the preparing themselves for entering on the branches of science with which they are charged additionally to their principal one. I took occasion therefore lately to urge one of them (D r Emmet) to begin preparations for his Botanical school, for which the previous works necessary furnished unoffensive ground. his answer confirming...
2From Thomas Jefferson to James Madison, 17 February 1826 (Jefferson Papers)
My Circular was answered by Gen l Breckenridge, approving, as we had done, of the immediate appointment of Terril to the chair of Law, but our 4. colleagues, who were together in Richmond, concluded not to appoint until our meeting in April. in the mean time the term of the present lamented incumbent draws near to a close. about 150. Students have already entered, many of those who engaged for...
3From Thomas Jefferson to James Madison, 2 January 1826 (Jefferson Papers)
I now return you Ritchie’s letter and your answer. I have read the latter with entire approbation and adoption of it’s views. when my paper was written, all was gloom, and the question of roads and canals was thought desperate at Washington, after the President’s message. since that however have appeared the S.C. resolutions, Van Buren’s motion, and, above all, Baylie’s proposition for...
4From Thomas Jefferson to James Madison, 24 December 1825 (Jefferson Papers)
I have for some time considered the question of Internal improvemt as desparate. the torrent of general opinion sets so strongly in favor of it as to be irresistable. and I suppose that even the opposition in Congress will hereafter be merely formal, unless something can be done which may give a gleam of encoragement to our friends, or alarm their opponents in their fancied security. I learn...
5From Thomas Jefferson to James Madison, 18 October 1825 (Jefferson Papers)
Every thing is going on smoothly at the University. the Students are attending their schools more assiduously, and looking to their Professors with more respect. the authority of the latter is visibly strengthened, as is the confidence of those who visit the place, and the effect, on the whole, has been visibly salutary. the Professors are all lecturing, the two Cantabs however somewhat in the...
6From Thomas Jefferson to James Madison, 29 March 1825 (Jefferson Papers)
Not knowing whether you may have obtained mr Barber’s acceptance in the visit you proposed, I have thought of a proposition which it has been suggested to me would reconcile him to our offer. if therefore he has not accepted that of joining us at the end of his first circuit, and you would approve of giving him a year on his assurance that he will then accept, be so good as to forward him the...
7From Thomas Jefferson to James Madison, 22 March 1825 (Jefferson Papers)
George Tucker accepts, as you know, and will be in place early in April. Emmet accepts and will be here about the same time. Henry S t George Tucker declines, expressly on the grounds of the local attachments of his family, with abundance of thanks E t c to the Visitors; Barbour throws a greedy grapple at both places. I inclose you his letter and my answer. I have still some hope that when he...
8From Thomas Jefferson to James Madison, 10 March 1825 (Jefferson Papers)
Considering Ch r Tucker’s acceptance as absolutely desperate, the reasons he assigned being of an immoveable character, and the hopeless state in which we should be if Barber also declined I took advge of his being at our court to ask him to call on me. he did so. I entered with him on the subject of his undertaking our chair of Law . he stiffly maintained at first the preference of his...
9From Thomas Jefferson to James Madison, 22 February 1825 (Jefferson Papers)
Our Colleagues on the legislature have called a meeting of the Visitors for the 4 th of March. I presume they have notified you of it by mail; but lest they should not have done so, I have thought it safe to inform you. Our newly arrived Professors will come up in our Thursday’s stage. mr Cabell writes me that they were much pleased with them in Richmond. we are equally so with the two here. I...
10From Thomas Jefferson to James Madison, 15 February 1825 (Jefferson Papers)
M r Cabell’s last letter to me of Feb. 11. says that if the Professors do not arrive before the assembly rises, they (the Visitors there) shall disperse and a regular call will be necessary; but if they arrive, he and mr Loyall will come up, from that place, by way of New Canton, and probably in Friday’s stage. should the former be the case, I should propose, if you approve of it, that as soon...