Thomas Cooper to Thomas Jefferson, 31 August 1820
From Thomas Cooper
Aug. 31. 1820
Dr sir
When I can be at Monticello I cannot yet determine. I attend to your movements. I write to say, that Columbia is situated on a Sand bank. One mile from the River, & 200 feet above it. I believe it to be as healthy, as any place in the Union, if I can judge from what I have seen of the place, & the uniform testimony of its most respectable Inhabitants.
The situation impressed me with the common opinion concerning it, or I wd never have consented to remove my family there.
I believe you may rely on this general acct of the place. With affectionate esteem
Thos Cooper
RC (MHi); endorsed by TJ as received 24 (reworked from 20) Sept. 1820 from Philadelphia and so recorded in SJL. RC (DLC); address cover only; with PoC of TJ to James Hamilton (1786–1857), 9 Sept. 1821, on verso; addressed: “Thomas Jefferson Esq Montecello Virginia”; franked; postmarked Philadelphia, 31 Aug.