Jefferson, Thomas, third President

Autograph letter signed twice ("Th: Jefferson"; once in the heading), 1 1/2 pages (10 x 7 3/4 in.; 255 x 196 mm) on a sheet of wove paper, [Monticello,] 2 January 1818, being a general letter headed "Th: Jefferson to his colleagues Visitors of the Central College; some light soiling at top margin, neatly laid down on tissue. Half green morocco slipcase, russet morocco spine labels.

Opening the University of Virginia. Jefferson here writes a circular letter to other founding members of the school's Board of Visitors, outlining plans for hiring faculty, securing funding from the state legislature, and negotiating with the laborers building the University's facilities.

"A report to the Governor having been agreed on at our last meeting, and it's materials being chiefly in my possession, I have presumed to make a draught, and now send it for your consideration. if approved as it is, be so good as to sign it; if any material alteration be thought necessary, if such as not to deface the paper be so good as to make it & sign, if it deface the paper I must request a return of it, and I will make out another fair copy and send it round again for subscription.

"Dr. Cooper accepts the Physiological professorship on the condition we ensure him 1,500. D a year, i.e. his salary of 1,000 D and that the tuition fees shall make up 500. more, and he offers further to take care of our classical school until we can get a professor, this I think we should agree to, because it ensures the addition of 500. D. and because it gives us time to see what the legislature will do, for on that depends whether we are to ask from Edinburg one, two, or ten professors. but on this I ask you to send me your opinions before I write to mr Cooper.

"I think we should each of us write immediately to the gentlemen to whom we addressed subscription papers, pressing their immediate return that we may know how far we may engage for the next season. the bricklayers in Lynchbg asked me 15 D. a thousand for the brickwork, which I refused, I made however a provisional bargain with one of the best of them, to give what shall be given in Lynchbg the ensuing season. the employers there expect to reduce the price to 13 D. I reserved time to consult you, & in the mean time wrote to mr Cabell to see whether we can get as good workmen & better terms from Richmond. if the workmen will not come to our terms, we must go to theirs I suppose for the work must be done.

"Should the absence of either of you oblige the bearer to leave this letter, I must request it's being immediately returned to me by express that I may get it's signature compleated as I think every day important to have it before the legislature before they take up the general subject of education." In a postscript Jefferson cautions that "the estimate on a separate paper is intended for your own perusal & satisfaction, not to be sent to the Govr."

The Dr. Cooper that Jefferson refers to is Thomas Cooper, the son-in-law of Joseph Priestley, who emigrated to the United States in 1794. He became a close confidant of Jefferson and they corresponded about education throughout the entire period of Jefferson's planning of the University of Virginia. The professorship mentioned here was the first faculty appointment of the University of Virginia. But when classes at Mr. Jefferson's University finally convened in March 1825, Professor Cooper was not there. Before he taught a single class, he was forced to resign following a bitter dispute with Virginia clergymen over his agnosticism and other less than orthodox religious views. Cooper did teach at several American schools, including Dickinson College, the University of Pennsylvania, and South Carolina College.