1Thomas Cooper to Thomas Jefferson, 10 May 1810 (Jefferson Papers)
On my coming from England in 1793 I brought with me a very good collection of minerals: the principal part of which were in some manner or other lost at the Custom house so that I never recovered them. The few remaining ores I possessed, I gave to M r Tho s Smith when he and M r Maclure paid me a visit here many years ago. M r Smith , a young man of much promise whom I dare say you knew...
2Thomas Cooper to Thomas Jefferson, 14 September 1810 (Jefferson Papers)
I acknowledge with many thanks your kind letter giving me an account of your application to Mr Cabell . I shall be able in a year or two to form a very interesting collection of American ores and minerals, which I shall so form and arrange as to be an elementary collection for the use of Tyro’s in my part of the back Country, rather than a curious collection for the amusements amusement of...
3Thomas Cooper to Thomas Jefferson, 25 July 1812 (Jefferson Papers)
I return you many thanks for your package . Particularly for your Statement of the Batture case, which has settled my Opinion. I understood the question but imperfectly without the assistance of your account of it. Du Ponceau sent me his Argument and Livingston’s virulent pamphlet, which however he by no means approved. I have written to him that you have converted me. I am the more interested...
4Thomas Cooper to Thomas Jefferson, 8 November 1813 (Jefferson Papers)
I sent you about a twelve month ago, a copy of my edition of Justinian’s institutes , and another copy of my introductory lecture ; I presume you received them as I sent them if I do not mistake under M r Madison’s care. I write at present to say that I have at my disposal D r Priestley’s library and apparatus. The library consists of about 4400 Volumes of all descriptions, some of them very...
5Thomas Cooper to Thomas Jefferson, 20 March 1814 (Jefferson Papers)
I am much obliged by your two Letters , and instructed by the legal suggestions they contain. I never knew the origin of Christianity becoming parcel of the Laws of England before. I see the Judges of New York state are determined to engraft the Christian code with their State Code; but I hope some event will take place to bring this imposition into discussion. There is in America a strange...
6Thomas Cooper to Thomas Jefferson, 31 May 1814 (Jefferson Papers)
I say nothing about the affairs of Europe , for they are so clouded that no reasonable conjecture can be afforded by present facts. I am most willing to believe that the progress of knowledge cannot be stopt, and the dark ages renewed, even should the Bourbons again ascend the throne, but there is nothing to be expressed but hope and good wishes. Yet from the beginning of history, it appears...
7Thomas Cooper to Thomas Jefferson, 17 August 1814 (Jefferson Papers)
I am here on business for a few days with more leisure than I usually have, and sitting down to write a few lines to you, my pen begins at once on politics, and the rather perhaps because it is a subject the more irritating as it is the more unpleasant. I brood over the events of Europe , with melancholy forebodings of what may be the case here, and with no violent predilection in favour of...
8Thomas Cooper to Thomas Jefferson, [ca. 15 September 1814] (Jefferson Papers)
Some time ago I promised the Editor of the Port folio a paper on education, but I neglected it till your letter came. If the inclosed sh d be worth publication, I will send it for that work. Pray oblige me by any remarks that occur to you, so that I may make it as useful as I can; and return it to me. I presume your purpose will be answered by that mode of communication. RC ( MHi ); undated;...
9Thomas Cooper to Thomas Jefferson, 15 September 1814 (Jefferson Papers)
I reply to your queries, as to the branches of science expedient to be taught in a university. The great difficulties in the outset, are, at what age and with what qualifications should a young man enter a university? How long should he continue in such an institution before he be permitted to take a degree? As to the first question—I would state it as a position which to my mind is supported...
10Thomas Cooper’s Notes on University Curricula, [ca. 15–22 September 1814] (Jefferson Papers)
It appears to me desireable, that in an University, should be taught 1 Languages } antient. Latin. Greek modern. French. 2 { Mathematics. Plane and Sp h erical Trigonometry. Algebra. Fluxions. Nat. Philosophy }
11Thomas Cooper to Thomas Jefferson, 21 September 1814 (Jefferson Papers)
I send you remarks on your letter to Mr Carr: not much differing from the spirit and substance of my former letter . I do not disagree with you in the least as to the measure of national happiness in the two countries, but the worst government in other respects is certainly the most powerful. Your plan of a Militia, I and Gen l John Steele took pains to recommend about the year 1802–3 but he...
12Thomas Cooper to Thomas Jefferson, 22 September 1814 (Jefferson Papers)
I have carefully considered the plan of University education you se nt me . In addition to my former letter on the same subject , written before I ha d seen yours to M r Carr , I send you the following remarks. I agree, that in a school of the first grade (usually called in this section of the Union a Grammar School) every thing should be taught, that every citizen of whatever class, ought to...
13Thomas Cooper to Thomas Jefferson, 16 September 1817 (Jefferson Papers)
I have not written to you for a long time, because I am aware of the burthen of your extensive correspondence, from my own experience in a much less degree. At present I have to write on my own affairs, but as they are connected in some measure with your own state, this may furnish an excuse for the trouble I give you. When I quitted Carlisle I came here with a view of being elected Chemical...
14Thomas Cooper to Thomas Jefferson, 17 September 1817 (Jefferson Papers)
my letter to you respecting Williamsburgh was put in the post before I rec d yours . The Professorship which you do me the honour to propose is yet in the distance. I long to be settled somewhere, almost any where, provided I move to pecuniary advantage; for having the common motive of a family to provide for, I must act on that motive. I have written to Varro at Frankfort . When I am prepared...
15Thomas Cooper to Thomas Jefferson, 19 September 1817 (Jefferson Papers)
I have seen two persons as teachers of the Classics neither of whom will suit. I have twice written to the person at Frankford according to his advertisement as Varro, and as F.G. but I have not seen or heard from him. shall I advertise? With reference for information to myself? I have seen Col: Basset of Williamsburgh to day, and have declined that situation finally. Mr Hare I believe wishes...
16Thomas Cooper to Thomas Jefferson, 30 September 1817 (Jefferson Papers)
I regret that it is not in my power to visit you this Season. I am not only busy preparing for my lectures ( a course of mineralogy and another of Chemistry) but I have undertaken to correct the press for M r Wirt ’s life of Patr. Henry of which about 100 pages are printed. M r Sanders of Williamsburgh called on a friend of mine here, wishing to see me on the Subject of the Coll e ge
17Thomas Cooper to Thomas Jefferson, 24 October 1817 (Jefferson Papers)
I feel myself much flattered by the kind offer of the Visitors of the College near Charlotte’s ville ; and have waited a very few days only to determine what course I ought to pursue. I have also been in pursuit of a M r Slack who was for a short time a classical tutor at Carlisle , and who I find has since been in the same capacity at Lynchburgh . I thought well of him. He was in town a few...
18Thomas Cooper to Thomas Jefferson, 10 November 1817 (Jefferson Papers)
I have been in daily expectation of a letter from you, but I presume the necessity of previously sending to Lynchburgh has occasioned the delay. About a week ago, I received a letter from M r Brown of Williamsburgh stating that the Trustees there, w d be Willing to renew their offer of a Professorship, if I w d engage to go either the beginning of the ensuing spring, or at next November. I...
19Thomas Cooper to Thomas Jefferson, 20 November 1817 (Jefferson Papers)
I suspect my letters have been strangely delayed. I wrote at least three weeks ago about M r Slack of Lynchburgh . I wrote about ten days ago , saying that the Visitors at Williamsburgh wished me to go there either next spring; or next fall, at my Option: this I heard from Mr Brown of that place, in a letter stating it: he requests an early reply, I shall leave this
20Thomas Cooper to Thomas Jefferson, 6 December 1817 (Jefferson Papers)
Your letter of the 25 Nov. arrived here to day. Your letter mentioning that the apartments and pavilion would be ready so as to enable me to go to Charlottesville by Midsummer, I do not recollect to have received. I understood the apartments for a classical tutor would be ready in the Spring of 1818; but that my services would not be required till the Spring of 1819. My great objection to...
21Thomas Cooper to Thomas Jefferson, 7 December 1817 (Jefferson Papers)
I have written to you to Poplar Grove , stating my acceptance of the Chairs of Chemistry & its attendant branches, & of Law, at Central College ; and my readiness to remove thither about Midsummer next, 1818. I wish I had known before, that the Institution w d accept of my services so early as that period; y r letter stating this , has not been received. I write this lest there should be delay...
22Thomas Cooper to Thomas Jefferson, 23 January 1818 (Jefferson Papers)
Last night at 8 o’Clock died our friend D r Caspar Wistar aged 56. The vacancy occasioned by his death, may make a vacancy in the chemical Chair here: for I suspect either D r Physick or D r Dorsey the one professor of Surgery, the other a surgeon and professor of materia medica already, will succeed. Ine
23Thomas Cooper to Thomas Jefferson, 20 February 1818 (Jefferson Papers)
I feel myself greatly obliged and much gratified by the kind and liberal conduct of the Governors of your Institution in my case. In truth, having from the age of twenty to fifty laboured almost exclusively for the public, I find it absolutely necessary to labour now for my family, which forms if not the only the strongest motive to exertion with me now; and I must for their sake, use the few...
24Thomas Cooper to Thomas Jefferson, 19 April 1818 (Jefferson Papers)
I received your letter yesterday. For the present I am bound here. The friends who exert themselves in endeavouring to promote my interest, require of me that the pains they have taken shall not be rendered nugatory. If D r Dorsey be elected in the room of D r Wistar , which is likely: if D r Coxe be elected in the room of D r Dorsey , which also is likely but by no means void of doubt, it...
25Thomas Cooper to Thomas Jefferson, 24 June 1818 (Jefferson Papers)
D r Coxe ’s election comes on the first Tuesday of next month. They talk of deferring the election for chemical professor to the first Tuesday in September. I am not sufficiently instructed to know the causes of this inconvenient determination. I send you, ad interim , a Syllabus of lectures of which I have delivered two courses. They have produced very complimentary letters of approbation...
26Enclosure: Thomas Cooper’s Geology Syllabus [ca. 24 June 1818] (Jefferson Papers)
SYLLABUS Of the Lectures of Thomas Cooper , Esq. M. D. as Professor of Geology and Mineralogy in the University of Pennsylvania . Of the characters of mineral substances, as distinguished by the sight, the touch, the taste, the smell, the hearing. Of the means of distinguishing mineral substances artificially; by the file, the knife, the blow-pipe, the mineral acids: by their crystallization...
27Thomas Cooper to Thomas Jefferson, 21 August 1818 (Jefferson Papers)
Our election for the chemical chair comes on the first day of September . The issue is uncertain. I think the family influence of M r Rob. Hare is likely to prevail. I have received an invitation from De Witt Clinton , D r Hosack and D r M c Neven
28Thomas Cooper to Thomas Jefferson, 26 August 1818 (Jefferson Papers)
I write now in reply to yours from the warm Springs, of the 7 th Instant . D r Patterson is not chosen Chemical Professor, nor do I think he will be. The election does not take place till the first day of September . The event you shall be informed of, without delay. If I should not succeed (a very possible case) M. Correa , M rs Cooper and myself, set out forthwith for Charlotteville . She is...
29Thomas Cooper to Thomas Jefferson, 1 September 1818 (Jefferson Papers)
M r Hare was elected to the chemical Chair of this University to day: Hare 10. Cooper 7. Patterson 3. On a second vote the three for D r Patterson came over to Hare . I have therefore lost no reputation, it being generally understood that the family influence of M
30Thomas Cooper to Thomas Jefferson, 2 September 1818 (Jefferson Papers)
W d it not be well to get some thing like the inclosed inserted in the papers of Virginia , Kentucky , & Carolina , with a set of queries whe r this is not the time to ascertain if students cannot be taught medecine in Virginia by Virginians, as well as in Phila a by Virginians? Whe r the morals as well as the studies, and the expences also, of the sons of virginia planters, could not be as...