1To 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...
2To Thomas Jefferson from James Madison, 13 April 1825 (Jefferson Papers)
When I suggested, some time ago, Judge Carr for the Law Chair in the University, I did not know that he had been taken into view by any other member of our Board; and inferring from the silent reception given to my letter, and the attractions of the place he now holds. that I ought not to persist in the idea of his appointment, my thoughts were turned altogether to other chances. By a letter...
3To 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...
4To Thomas Jefferson from James Madison, 14 October 1825 (Jefferson Papers)
M r Browere (pronounced Brower) is so anxious to pay his respects to you that I can not refuse him a line of introduction His object is to take your likeness in plaster, much desired it appears by patrons of a Public Gallery. His success as an Artist is very highly attested. His bust of Gen l Lafayette is pronounced by other imitation Artists as a conspicuous proof of his talent. The little...
5To 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...
6To 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...
7To Thomas Jefferson from James Madison, 10 August 1825 (Jefferson Papers)
Your Circular of the 4 th instant did not come to hand till yesterday. In the present attitude of things the reappointment of M r Gilmer to the Law Professorship seems a matter of course: though I am sorry to learn that there is some ground to apprehend that his qualifications are not as well understood & as highly estimated as they deserve to b DLC : Papers of James Madison.
8To 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...
9To 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...
10To 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...
11To 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...
12To 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...
13To Thomas Jefferson from James Madison, 24 February 1826 (Jefferson Papers)
Yours of the 17 th was duly rec d . The awkward state of the Law professorship is truly distressing, but seems to be without immediate remedy. Considering the hopeless condition of M r Gilmour, a temporary appointment, if an acceptable successor were at hand, whilst not indelicate towards the worthy moribund incumbent, might be regarded as equivalent to a permanent one. And if the hesitation...
14To Thomas Jefferson from James Madison, 26 March 1825 (Jefferson Papers)
I rec d some days ago yours of Mar. 10. The last mail brought me that of Mar 22. inclosing the letter of Col. Barbour & your answer, both of which I return. If you have not satisfied him of the value of your proposition, he must at least be convinced of the unreasonableness of his own. I have not yet seen him since I rec d your letter requesting me to do so, having been confined by a very bad...
15To Thomas Jefferson from James Madison, 21 April 1825 (Jefferson Papers)
I have rec d yours of the 15 th relating to a purchase of the parcels of land offered for sale by M r Perry. and very chearfully concur in your proposition for making it. The advantage of thus connecting the separate parcels of the University. and securing the sources and ducts which are to supply it with water, seems well to justify the measure on the terms & in the mode explained by you....
16To 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...
17To Thomas Jefferson from James Madison, 28 March 1825 (Jefferson Papers)
I saw Col. Barbour yesterday, as I intended. He remains decided ag st relinquishing his Judgeship without a previous experiment of the chair in the University. He feels evidently a strong attraction towards it; and I think a growing one. It is quite possible that the experiment he is making of his Judicial duties, carrying him as they will beyond the Mountains, will diminish his preference of...
18To 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.
19To 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...
20To 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...
21To 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.
22To 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...
23To 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,...
24To 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...
25To 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...
26To Thomas Jefferson from James Madison, 12 April 1825 (Jefferson Papers)
The letter for Judge Barbour inclosed in your last to me, did not reach him, till his return on saturday evening from his visit to Culpeper. Yesterday he called on me on his way to his Court in this County. I found that he adhered to his purpose last communicated, and that such would be his answer to you. There can be no chance therefore of obtaining him for the University, unless the vacancy...
27To Thomas Jefferson from James Madison, 7 January 1826 (Jefferson Papers)
I return D r Emmet’s letter as requested. Wall’s qualifications as a Drawing Master, are sufficiently authenticated to make his connection with the University very desirable. But there seems little ground for hope, that he will exchange for it his present advantages in New York. The only material attraction, beyond the fees, is that of a Pavilion. rent free; of which his tenure would be of...
28To 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...
29To Thomas Jefferson from James Madison, 19 May 1825 (Jefferson Papers)
I did not receive yours of the 12 th in time to be answered by the last mail. My thoughts, as heretofore intimated, had been turned to Judge Dade for the Law Chair; and with the recommendatory opinions which you enumerate, I cannot hesitate to concur in the offer of it as proposed. I concur also in the issuing of a Commission on the written sanctions of the Visitors without the formality of a...
30To 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...