event our funds will be liberated on the 1st day of Jan. next; and we shall then immediately take measures to procure our professors, which can certainly be done by autumn 12 month (1821) and the institution then be opened. if this takes place, which will be known early in the next session, then what I have thought best with respect to the object of our mutual care, Francis, is that he shall employ the intervening time in compleating himself in the antient languages with Stack, and the mathematics with Ragland,* an associate with Stack, & adequate to this object: and he already possesses the modern languages. with these acquisitions, he will enter the University fall 12 month for Astronomy, Natural Philosophy, Chemistry, natural history & Rhetoric, & finish them by the close of 22. this will be as compleat a course of education as the circumstances of our country call for, adding to it after he leaves the University, ethics, history (and Law, if you please,) which can as well be acquired in his closet, as at an University. this is a view of one branch of our dilemma, that which supposes a remission of our debt by the legislature. let us now view the second possibility, that the University is to be locked up until our loan is redeemed by our own funds, which would remove the opening the University until beyond Francis's time. After getting antient languages from Stack, and Mathematics from Ragland, he will want Astronomy, Natural Philosophy, chemistry, nat'l history and Rhetoric. Where must he go for them? on the subject of Eastern seminaries and Eastern character, I concur entirely with you. Francis's honorable mind, his fine disposition and high promise ought not to be exposed to infection from the fanaticism, the hypocrisy, the selfish morals, and crooked politics of the East. nor would the half way science of that quarter be equal to what he can get from a single

* Thomas Ragland, a native of Hanover County, Va., was a young man of much intellectual promise, who had been a cadet at West Point, where he distinguished himself in his studies, more especially in mathematics; but unfortunately, being a youth of high mettle, he had sent a challenge to a fellow-student, and for this he was court-martialed and expelled in 1819. Being a favorite with his classmates, they memorialized Congress in his behalf, but in vain. Coming at this juncture under the notice of Mr. Jefferson, who entertained a high opinion of his abilities, he was induced to associate himself with Mr. Stack, to conduct the department of mathematics in the new academy at Charlottesville. He died there a few years afterward of smallpox.

character who happens to be in the South. for Nat'l philosophy, chemistry, nat'l history, no man in the US. is equal to Cooper,† now professor of the College of Columbia S.C. he has more science in his single head than all the Colleges of New England New Jersey, and I may add Virginia put together. and I doubt not there are other professors there, as adequate as elsewhere to astronomy and Rhetoric, which would not be within Cooper's line. Columbia you know is in the center of S.C. a hilly & healthy country; and the state of society and morals there very much as our own, and much indeed of the society is of our own emigrated countrymen. should therefore the legislature leave our own establishment at a stand, I know no place so worthy of recommendation as Columbia. But there is a 3d possibility which must be thought of also. it is very possible that Stack's school may dissolve itself, by losing it's younger boys, and some even of the larger, who need more discipline than he has nerve to enforce, and who may therefore be withdrawn by their parents. in that case Columbia I think should be our immediate choice. these are my views on the subject of your enquiry, which I submit for your consideration. I will write to Cooper immediately to know the state of the sciences in that college (not within his line) and the terms of tuition & board.

My commitment for Mr. Nicholas is still of uncertain issue. if a compromise, now in negociation, succeeds, of which it is said there is a good prospect, I shall be saved by the time it provides for the disposal of his estate as well as for the preference of bona fide creditors. 3 or 4 of the shavers only have held off, and it is believed they are now disposed to concur. This will be known in a few days. if this compromise fails it is very possible

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Dr. Thomas Cooper (1750-1840). Born in London. man of great genius and learning and an alumnus of Oxford, who afterward studied law, devoting at the same time considerable attention to medicine and the natural sciences. Upon being admitted to the bar, he took an active part in politics. He afterward studied chemistry in France, and in 1795 followed his friend Dr. Joseph Priestly to America, where he practised law in Pennsylvania, and becoming a strong democrat attacked the administration of Adams in 1799. This led to his being tried under the Alien and Sedition Act, and he was sentenced to six months imprisonment with a fine of $400. He held the chair of Chemistry in Dickinson College, 1811 to 1814, and the same in the University of Pennsylvania 1816 to 1819. From 1819 to 1840 he was professor in the College of South Carolina, of which he was president from 1820 to 1834, and on his retirement the revision of the statutes of the State was confided to him.

I may have to advance the money, and not certain that I shall be ever reimbursed. besides this I have considerable debts of my own, which the fall of produce, likely to be permanent, forbids me to count on paying from annual crops. I had therefore proposed to begin to prepare for these cases by selling some lands; having scruples about selling negroes but for delinquency, or on their own request. but your proposition gets me over these scruples as it is in fact to keep them in the family. and on that ground it will be acceptable, and indeed desirable, with some necessary modification. for the negroes here being under engagement for 3 or 4 years to come, the sale must be from those in Bedford only. but there I could not part with 10 men without breaking up my plantations. I would spare 20 negroes in all from those plantations, men, women and children in the usual proportions and I should think it really more advantageous for Francis than all men. I know no error more consuming to an estate than that of stocking farms with men almost exclusively. I consider a woman who brings a child every two years a more profitable than the best man of the farm. What she produces is an addition to the capital, while his labors disappear in mere consumption. the agreement you propose therefore, with this modification would be really accept able to me, and more salutary for my affairs than to sell land only. the selection of the individuals should be made with a fair and favorable eye to the interests of Francis, the valuation left to any good and unconnected judges.

:

With respect to the lands in Bedford,* those designated on a former occasion to you at the South end of the tract, are not of the quality I expected. I had never at that time seen them, and was guided in their allotment by information from others, and the consideration that those given to Mr. Randolph being in the North, it would be better to hold in the middle of the tract those reserved for future appropriation. but having repeated opportunities afterwards of examining the lands I found the quality not what I had supposed. I determined therefore to substi* ( Poplar Forest," Jefferson's estate in Bedford, contained 4,627 acres, 1,000 of which he had conveyed to his son-in-law, Thomas Mann Randolph.

tute a better portion; and on that I have built a house exactly on the plan once thought of for Pantops, † and intended from the beginning for Francis: and I have always purposed, as soon as he should come of age, to put him into possession of the house and a portion of land including it, of which there is a sufficiency of open fields in good heart, and a large body of woodlands adjacent of the best quality and lying well; for some of which two years ago, I was assured I might have 100. D. an acre if I would part with it. this disposition therefore you may consider as fixed, and may accomodate to it the provisions for him you may propose yourself. the beauty and healthiness of that country, his familiarity with it and it's society will I am sure make it an agreeable residence to him. If you should conclude to accede to my proposition, let me hear from you as soon as convenient, and immediately after the meeting of our visitors on the 2d of October, I shall be happy to meet you at Poplar Forest and carry the arrangement into execution.

In your letter of Feb. 6 you were so kind as to propose that we shd remove to Poplar Forest the harpsicord of Millbrook, where you observed it was not in use. it would certainly be a relief to the heavy hours of that place to Martha and the girls. this offer therefore is thankfully accepted on the supposition it is not used where it is, and on the condition that we hold and leave it in it's new position in the hands of Francis, subject to your orders. on this ground I will take some occasion of sending a waggon for it's transportation. In the meantime is it impossible that Mrs Eppes yourself and family should pay a visit to Monticello where we could not be made happier than by seeing you. it is a little over a day's journey whether by New Canton or Buckingham C.H. the former being the best road.

and our University is now so far advanced as to be worth seeing. it exhibits already the appearance of a beautiful Academical village, of the finest models of building and of classical architecture, in the U S. it begins to be much visited by strangers and admired by all,

An estate of 820 acres, on a commanding eminence, across the Rivanna, opposite Monticello.

for the beauty, originality and convenience of the plans. by autumn 3 ranges of buildings will be erected 600 f. long, with colonnades and arcades of the same length in front for communication below, and terrasses of the same extent for communication above and by the fall of the next year, a 4th range will be done, which compleats the whole (the Library excepted) and will form an establishment of 10. Pavilions for professors, 6. hotels or boarding houses, and 100 Dormitories. these will have cost in the whole about 130,000 D. there will remain then nothing to be added at present but a building for the Library of about 40,000. D. cost. all this is surely worth a journey of 50. miles, and requires no effort but to think you can do it, and it is done. think so then, and give that gratification to the sincere affection with which I salute you. TH. JEFFERSON.

JOHN W. EPPES, ESQ.

Doctr. Cooper, himself probably the best classical scholar in the U. S., had from the first proposition of our college, recommended a Mr. Stack as the best classical teacher in America, and worthy of our professorship. It having been found that the University could not be opened for some time yet, I thought it desirable to get a classical school opened immediately in Charlottesville, as a nursery to prepare subjects to be ready to enter into the University, as soon as it commences, and invited Mr. Stack to come on and undertake such an establishment. He is arrived and will open his school immediately (say this week) which will be overflowing. I think there were 20 offered yesterday at our court in the space of a few hours, as it became known in the court-yard. His tuition fees are 30 D. a year, and board may probably be had in Charlottesville at about 120 D. One vacation only in the year, from the middle of December to the end of January. As I believe it impossi

* A great-nephew.

I am just informed by General Cocke that Mr. Stack, a gentleman from Philadelphia, has been induced to come on to Charlottesville to establish a grammarschool in that place. Being anxious to obtain for my son Wilson Miles, the advantage of a teacher, who comes so highly recommended, I lose no time in requesting the favor of you to enter him as a scholar, and to engage board for him, if possible, with Mr. Laporte, in whose family, he will, I hope, have an opportunity of acquiring the French language, while he is carrying on his classical education. I should be highly obliged by a line from you, stating the terms of board and tuition, whether Mr. Stack proposes to add any other branches of education (such as geography and arithmetic) to his classical course, and particularly when the school will commence.

I am dear Sir With the highest respect & regard WILSON J: CARY.]

DEAR SIR

MONTICELLO July 29. 20

"I

In my letter of June 30. I informed you I would write to Dr. Cooper for information as to the state and expences of education at Columbia, S. C. I will quote his answer in his own words. am not fully prepared to answer your queries as to the expence of education at the S. Carolina college, but I have always understood it was very cheap, not exceeding 250.D. for the session of nine months. the particulars I do not know. boarding in college is I believe 3 1/2 D per week paid in advance. There is a tutor in Rhetoric and Metaphysics, one in logic, & ethics, a classical tutor, a teacher of

mathematics, natural philosophy & astronomy, who I belive will be mr Nulty, and a teacher of Chemistry. the principal, Dr. Maxey is dead and I am in hopes mr Stephen Elliott of Charleston will succeed him. if they send for a person from New England, as the fashion is, I shall be strongly inclined to resign. I greatly dislike this combination of character which promises little better than a mixture of cunning, sciolism, canting and bigotry? so far Dr. Cooper. [See also Jefferson to Cooper, August 14, 1820.] Mr. Correa, who is now here, informs me that mr. Elliott (1771-1830) is the first character in the U. S. for botany & Natural history; and I have the best information that Nulty is next to Bowditch as a mathematician. here then is exactly what we want for Francis. Cooper for chemistry & geology, Nulty for nat. philos. astronomy, mathematics, Elliott for Botany & Nat. history, and a school of Rhetoric. there can be nothing equal to this in the U. S. It is believed that Stack will quit in October, and the Columbia session commences I believe in that month. and within a 12 month from that time our university will open, if the legislature does what is expected. the society at Columbia is said to be not numerous, but polite, liberal and good; a mixture of Virginians and S. Carolinians. there is a teacher of languages, mathematics Etc. come to this neighborhood and established half a dozen miles from here. he is from Edinburgh, but as yet I know nothing of him. but Genl. Cocket has established a Seminary at his house opposite New Canton. there he has a professor of classics, Richardson, said to be a good one, a teacher of Mathematics and a 3d. of Modern languages. there can be no doubt it will be correctly conducted under the General's controul, and I think it is probably the best and safest for young pupils, now in the state. it would probably be a desirable one for your younger sons.‡

One of the propositions in your letter of the 8th. inst. is so exactly suited to my

Of the distinguished South Carolina family of that name-a graduate of Yale and father of Stephen Elliott. first Bishop of Georgia.

General John Hartwell Cocke (1780-1866), of "Bremo" on the James in Fluvanna-a very wealthy planter, General in the War of 1812 in command of forces in defence of Richmond, and one of the Poard of Visitors

of the University of Virginia.

Willie Jones and John Wayles Eppes.

situation and feelings on the subject of the negroes for Francis, that I cannot hesitate a moment to accede to it. it is that which proposes to loan me the stock you mean to lay out in this way, to be paid for two years hence in negroes, without having moved them at all from their present settlements. in this way they will continue undisturbed where they have always been, without separation from their families, and pass with the ground they stand on, without being sensible of the transition from one master to another. the benefit of the intermediate loan too will be a present and great relief to me, from the pressure of debts which 2. or 3. years of short crops & short prices have accumulated and for which the distress of the time occasions those to whom they are due to be very importunate. I accept it therefore willingly, and undertake that any sum (as 6000 D. for instance) with it's interest, shall be paid for two years hence in negroes from my Bedford estate, to be fairly chosen and valued by disinterested persons, of men, women & children in the usual proportions, excluding superannuation. I think this much better too for Francis, for were they all to be present laborers, without young ones to come on in succession, he would be apt, as most of us would to look on that as his regular sum of labor and income, and fix his habitual expences by that standard, without considering that his standard would be lessening by the progressing ages and deaths of his laborers, leaving no successors to supply their places. and I have observed that young negroes from 12. or 13. years of age, and women also, are of real value in the farm, where there is abundance to be done of what they can do, and which otherwise would employ men. this arrangement has the further advantage that by two years hence property will have settled down to the value it is to hold hereafter; whereas value at this time is totally unsettled, and so much a matter of guess-work, that no two judgments fix in the same notch, and not often in sight of one another.

I will add an assurance that I shall carry into the execution of this transaction all the disinterested affection and anxiety for Francis, which you could yourself. your answer therefore may close

I send a small cart and box for the books, state papers etc you were so kind as to lend me. I possess the journals of the old Congress; and I have no need of the public accounts mentioned in your list. the information I need is generally from 1789 to 1809. and nothing at all after 1809. I will specify at the end of my letter the particular titles of what I wish to receive as they are expressed in your list; and whatever I receive shall be carefully kept separate from my own and faithfully returned. but altho' I am proposing to myself to enter on this business, I have not much confidence that I shall be permitted to go through with it. age is an obstacle, but not the most formidable one. it is the oppressive corresspondence with which I am so cruelly burthened, a correspondence in no wise concerning myself, or of any interest to me. I had the curiosity a few days ago to count the number of letters I receive in a year, taking one at random. the number was 1267, nearly all requiring answers, and a great part of them elaborate answers & of much research. judge then what time these will allow me for what I propose, and that too in broken scraps, the mere offal of my time. still I try to

do what these will admit.

Your proposition, dear Sir, of an exchange of territories is beyond the powers of my mind or body. it would be an en* Writing his "Biographical Memoir."

terprise too bold and gigantic for one near the entrance of his 80th year. to break up plantations move all hands, bag & baggage, stock and all, to a new & distant settlement, would be like beginning the world anew to one who is just going out of it. I should never live to see things under way again: and in the mean time crops would be lost which I could illy spare. I am without a fear, in the 1st place that you will not live long enough to see your family of age to take care of themselves; & even should Francis's care be necessary for them, the communication between Bedford and Millbrook is so short & good as to make it quite easy. it is not more than 13. or 14. hours drive, say of a day & a piece of a morning or evening, I have conveyed too 1000 a. of my land there in trust to the bank of the US. as a security for my unfortunate engagement for Colo. Nicholas; and altho' I have pretty well founded expectations of being cleared of that, the liability of the land must continue until the actual discharge of the debt.—I shall not be able to pay you your interest, now due, of the 1st year until I get my tobo. down from Bedford which will not be until April. it shall then be paid by an order on Richmond.

I send Mrs Eppes 2. trees of the most beautiful kinds known. the tallest is the silk tree from Asia. it will require housing about 2 years more & will then bear the open air safely. the mother tree growing here, about 15. years old and 25. f. high & still growing vigorously has stood winters which have killed my Azederacs & mulberries. the other is the celebrated Bow wood of louisiana which may be planted in the spring where it is to stand as it bears our climate perfectly. it bears a fruit of the size and appearance of an orange, but not eatable.

Jan. 17. this letter has been written so far, many days, but the severe weather we have had has prevented my sending off the cart until now. with my respects to Mrs Eppes accept my affectionate attachment and respect.

TH. JEFFERSON

Journals of the Senate & H. of R. of the 8th. 9th. & 10th Congress

Public papers laid before the 8th. 9th. & 10th Congress