1To Thomas Jefferson from James Madison, 15 January 1823 (Jefferson Papers)
I have duly received yours of the 6 th with the letters of M r Cabell, M r Gerry, and Judge Johnson. The letter from M r C. proposing an Extra Meeting of the Visitors, & referred to in yours was not sent, and of course is not among those returned. The friends of the University in the Assembly seem to have a delicate task on their hands. They have the best means of knowing what is best to be...
2To Thomas Jefferson from James Madison, 19 February 1823 (Jefferson Papers)
The inclosed letters & papers being addressed to you as well as me, I am not at liberty to withhold them. tho’ I know the disrelish you will feel for such appeals. I shall give an answer, in a manner for us both, intimating the propriety of our abstaining from any participation in the electioneering measures on foot. DLC : Papers of James Madison.
3To Thomas Jefferson from James Madison, 19 February 1823 (Jefferson Papers)
I congratulate you on the loan, scanty as it is, for the University; in the confidence that it is a gift masked under that name; and in the hope that it is a pledge for any remnant of aid the Establishment may need in order to be totus teres atque rotundus . Can you not have the hands Set to work without the formality of a previous meeting of the Visitors? I have rec d no notice from Richmond...
4To Thomas Jefferson from James Madison, 21 March 1823 (Jefferson Papers)
I have rec d your two letters of the 12 & 14. inst: You will have inferred my approbation of the course taken in order to avoid a loss of time in executing the Rotunda. I shall be with you at the Meeting of the Visitors if possible. The letter from O. Flaherty with its companions, are herewith inclosed. It is quite presumable that he possesses the technical qualifications for the professorship...
5To Thomas Jefferson from James Madison, 29 April 1823 (Jefferson Papers)
What is the proper quetus for the solicitudes within expressed? DLC : Papers of Thomas Jefferson.
6To Thomas Jefferson from James Madison, 27 June 1823 (Jefferson Papers)
I return the copy of your letter to Judge Johnson inclosed to me in your favor of the instant. your statement relating to the farewell address of Gen l Washington is substantially correct. If there be any circumstantial inaccuracy, it is in imputing to him more agency in composing the document than he probably had. Taking for granted that it was drawn up by Hamilton, the best conjecture is...
7To Thomas Jefferson from James Madison, 6 September 1823 (Jefferson Papers)
I return the two communications from the president inclosed in your letter of Aug. 30. I am afraid the people of Spain as well as of Portugal need still further light & heat too from the American example before they will be a match for the armies, the intrigues & the bribes of their enemies, the treachery of their leaders, and what is most of all to be dreaded, their priests & their...
8To Thomas Jefferson from James Madison, 1 November 1823 (Jefferson Papers)
I return the letter of the President. The correspondence from abroad has gone back to him as you desired. I have expressed to him my concurrence in the policy of meeting the advances of the B. Gov t having an eye to the forms of our Constitution in every step in the road to war—with the British power & navy combined with our own we have nothing to fear from the rest of the world: and in the...
9To Thomas Jefferson from James Madison, 11 November 1823 (Jefferson Papers)
I have rec d yours of the 6 th My preference of F Gilmer for the law professorship, to any other name brought into view, has not changed; & I know of no one better suited for the mission now declined by M r Cabell. It will be well I think to hold out, in the first instance at least, not more than $1500 for the Salary, as the reduction of the number of professors from 10 to 7. may not be...
10To Thomas Jefferson from James Madison, 18 December 1823 (Jefferson Papers)
I return the letter from M r Gilmer. It would have been more agreeable if he had not suspended his decision as to the ulterior object offered him: but he can not be blamed for yielding to the reasons he gives for it. There is weight in what he suggests as to an extension of his research into Germany; and there may be some advantage in the attraction w ch a professor from that quarter might...
11To Thomas Jefferson from James Madison, 14 January 1824 (Jefferson Papers)
I return the letters from Doc r Cooper inclosed in yours of the 7 th It is truly to be lamented that at his stage of life and in the midst of his valuable labours, he should experience the persecutions which torment , and depress him. Should he finally wish to exchange his present birth for one in our University, and make the proposition without any advances on our part, there could be no...
12To Thomas Jefferson from James Madison, 10 April 1824 (Jefferson Papers)
I inclose the letter dated Jan y 24. 1796—referred to in your memorandum. You will observe that it acknowledges two of mine, one of Dec r 27. 1795, the other of Jan y 10. 1796. As these are not among the letters from me to you, which you were so good as to transfer from your files to mine, and as it may be proper for me to examine them, for the reasons you wished a return of the one inclosed,...
13To Thomas Jefferson from James Madison, 16 April 1824 (Jefferson Papers)
Yours of the 9 th was not rec d till the evening before the last, and c d not be sooner answered tha n by the Mail which p asses our Court House today. As it is proper to give as wide an opening to the University as we can, I readily accede to the p rovision of an Anatomical as an 8 th Professor, which you propose as within a f air estimate of its resources. I think how ever that unless a...
14To Thomas Jefferson from James Madison, 20 May 1824 (Jefferson Papers)
I return the letter from M r Cabell with your answer to it inclosed in yours of the 16 th just come to hand. It is not probable that a removal of the College from Williamsburg, will be espoused by a Majority of the Visitors, controuled as they will be by the popular voice in that quarter. If it should, Richmond will not be without competitors. The pretensions of Petersburg have already been...
15To Thomas Jefferson from James Madison, 12 July 1824 (Jefferson Papers)
I have rec d from M r H. Wheeler who is engaged in a Biography of the late W. Pinkney a letter w ch I enclose with my answer. If your recollection or memoranda can confirm or enlarge the information I have given with respect to the origin of the Embargo, be so good as to return my answer that it may be improved: If otherwise, it may be sealed & forwarded; the letter from M r Wheaton to be...
16To Thomas Jefferson from James Madison, 12 August 1824 (Jefferson Papers)
The bearer M r E. Ta y loe, son of Col: Tayloe of Washington is desirous of making a respectful call at Monticello, and I can not refuse to his motive, the gratification of a line presenting him to you. He is at present a resident at Fredericksburg, reading Law with his kinsman M r Lomax; and appears to be quite estimable & amiable. M r T. is so good as to take charge of the 4 last volumes of...
17To Thomas Jefferson from James Madison, 16 August 1824 (Jefferson Papers)
I acknowledged in my last yours of the 8 th and now return the letters of M r Gilmer & M r Rush inclosed in it. It would be matter of much regret if insanity should befall such a man as Ivory; but it is to hoped his condition will be fixed before he leaves Eng d or rather before any engagement of him. I hope M r Gilmer will be able to avoid also men much advanced in life. After a certain age...
18To Thomas Jefferson from James Madison, 10 September 1824 (Jefferson Papers)
On the rec t of yours of Aug. 8. I turned my thoughts to its request on the Subject of a Theological catalogue for the Library of the University: and not being aware that so early an answer was wished, as I now find was the case. I had proceeded very leisurely in noting such authors as seemed proper for the collection. Supposing also, that altho’ Theology was not to be taught in the...
19To Thomas Jefferson from James Madison, 17 September 1824 (Jefferson Papers)
I return M r G Gilmer letter. The uncertainty of his success , and the increase of his expences, give an unwelcome aspect to his mission. It is to be hoped that Scotland will do more for him than Eng d is likely to do. Germany may open a field of choice better in some respects than either: But the alien language, and less affinity of manners are grounds of unfavorable comparison. It w d seem...
20To Thomas Jefferson from James Madison, 28 September 1824 (Jefferson Papers)
The list of books you have made out will do very well as a nest Egg for the Library. May not the high prices of some of them have been occasioned by a scarcity since removed by Editions both better & cheaper. I know nothing of Fayette’s movements but through the newspapers from which it appears that he cannot leave Philad a before the 1 st of October. It becomes questionable I think whether he...
21To Thomas Jefferson from James Madison, 9 October 1824 (Jefferson Papers)
Yours of the 6 th inclosing the letter of M r Gilmer did not reach me till la st evening. The foreign prospect for the University is very gloomy, and the domestic far from bright. We must not however despond. What occurs to me as best on the occasion, is that M r Gilmer pro to exhaust the experiment in G.B. and if necessary then extend it to Ireland. On the ques tion how long he should be...
22To Thomas Jefferson from James Madison, 14 October 1824 (Jefferson Papers)
It is very lucky that Gilmer was so soon able to relieve us from the alarm he had excited. He does not say whether his Mathematician is an Astronomer also; or does he look for one in a professor of Nat: Philo y ? If so, his remaining task will be greater than might be wished. His good spirits however authorize ours. CSmH : Emmet Collection.
23To Thomas Jefferson from James Madison, 22 October 1824 (Jefferson Papers)
I return your letter to Gilmer as fairly copied. Will he understand that he is not to return without a Nat: Philosopher, tho’ bringing the other Professors named, and despairing of that one? There will however be time for final instructions on this point after hearing further from him. ViU .
24To Thomas Jefferson from James Madison, 3 December 1824 (Jefferson Papers)
I return the letters from M r Gilmer enclosed in yours of Nov r 30. His account of the engaged Professors is very encouraging. It is a happy circumstance that none of them are beyond the ages mentioned. They will be the less inflexible in their habits, the more improveable in their qualifications, and will last the longer. It would seem that Gilmer’s mind leans now to the station he declined...
25To Thomas Jefferson from James Madison, 15 December 1824 (Jefferson Papers)
I return M r Gilmers two letters to you & that of M r Emmet to M r Calhoun, inclosed in yours of the 10 th . I have so much confidence in the )pinion of M r Gilmer, & respect for the testimony of the father, with every abatement for partia that I can not doubt the chemical & other mine ascribed to young Emmet. As a letter however such as you propose, would be viewed by him as equivalent nearly...
26To Thomas Jefferson from James Madison, 31 December 1824 (Jefferson Papers)
I have received yours without date inclosing the letter of M r Cabell & your answer. I approve entirely the course you recommend to the friends of the University at Richmond, on the proposed removal of the College at Williamsburg. It would be fortunate if the occasion could be improved for the purpose of filling up the general plan of Education, by the introduction of the grade of Seminaries...
27To Thomas Jefferson from James Madison, 15 January 1825 (Jefferson Papers)
I am sorry M r Tucker requires time for deliberation. It shews the difficulty in our Country of withdrawing talents from rival pursuits into the service of Education. I do not think he will have chosen the best of literary careers, if he devotes himself to Novel writing. The public taste is nearly satiated with the fashionable, perhaps the best species, in which the success of Walter Scott has...
28To Thomas Jefferson from James Madison, 28 January 1825 (Jefferson Papers)
I have rec d yours of the 23 d inclosing a copy of the Bill sent to M r Cabell; but omitting the letter from him. Without that I cannot estimate the reception such a measure will have in the Assembly. The grounds on which the Bill dissolves the Charter of the College , & disposes of its funds are captivating . But there will probably be a powerful opposition to it. The uncertain & scanty...
29To Thomas Jefferson from James Madison, 8 February 1825 (Jefferson Papers)
The letters from M r Cabell are herein returned. I just see that he has succeeded in defeating the project for removing the College from Williamsburg. I hope your concurrence in what I said of M r Barbour will not divert your thoughts from others. It is possible that the drudgery of his profession, the uncertainty of a Judicial appointment acceptable to him, and some attractions at the...
30To Thomas Jefferson from James Madison, 17 February 1825 (Jefferson Papers)
I rec d yesterday your two letters of the 12 & 15 th & return the letter from M r Cabell inclosed in one of them. I approve the course you have in view of obtaining an eventual meeting of the Visitors. The Judicial appointment of M r Barbour will, I understand, be accepted; and as it is in the road to the Court of Appeals, lessens the chance of him for the University. I am sorry you hear...