 | Documentary History of the Construction of the Buildings at the University
of Virginia, 1817-1828 |  |
Appendix I
Sully, Cosway, Peale, and Mills
Thomas Jefferson to Arthur Spicer Brockenbrough
The bearer mr Sully, a celebrated Portrait painter of Philadelphia calls to see the University,
and as he is a judge, and will be questioned about it on his return I will request you to shew
it to him advantageously.
I am endeavoring to make as exact an estimate as possible of our past and future expences,
beginning with April last when our previous funds had been used, we were in debt 10,000.
D. & had not yet entered on the 60,000. for this I wish to know what a Tuscan base and cap
costs you?
What the Doric bases & capitels cost? and what the Ionic & Corinthian bases cost? as nearly
as you can estimate them.
I should be glad too to know what your exact estimate of the Library is as nearly as you can
come, I mean the exact sum, not a round one; because we had better add a round allowance
for errors on the whole, than for each article by itself. if you can note these things readily
while mr Sully walks about to amuse himself I would be glad to recieve them by him. if not,
I will send for it tomorrow. I shall be with you the first quite warm day. friendly salutations
Th: Jefferson
ALS, ViU:PP, 1p [1852] with address "Mr. Brockenbrough University" and ASB dockets
"Mr Jef: Mar: 28. '21" and "Cost Caps bases &c sent to Mr Jefferson" and "Perry Ware
Dinsmore Spooner." ASB's estimate of stonework on the verso of TJ's letter reads:
An Estimate of the cost of Stone work--
cost of Tuscan base--Quarrying
$1.60
Waggonage
.42
Cuting It
6.44
8.46
Tuscan Cap Quarrying
.84
Waggonage
.32
Cuting
5.17
6.23
$14.79
Ionic Base Quarryig
$10.75
Wag:
1.67
Work
29.00
$41.48
Doric Base Quar:
12.80
Wag:
1.67
Work
31.50
45:97
Doric cap Quar
11.20
Wag
1.67
Work
26.50
39.37
Corinthian Base Quarry
10.50
Wag:
1.67
Work
27.50
39.67
11 Front doorsills
23 back do
268 steps
22 cellar window Sills
Thomas Jefferson to Maria Hadfield Cosway
I duly recieved, my dear friend, your favor of July 10. and made it my first duty to forward
the letter you inclosed to your brother and to request him to make me the channel of your
hearing from him. I now inclose you his letter, and with it the assurance that he is much
respected in Washington, and, since the death of Latrobe, our first Architect. I consider him
as standing foremost in the correct principles of that art. I believe he is doing well, but
would he push himself more, he would do better.
I learn with great pleasure that however short of expectation mr Cosway's affairs left you,
they are still sufficient to place you in comfort. and this will be much improved by the
change of your residence from the eternal clouds and rains of England, to the genial sun &
bright skies of Lodi. I was in that place in 1786. with a good friend, the Count del Verme of
Milan, and past a whole day, from sunrise to sunset, in a dairy there, to see the process of
making the Parmesan cheese. it's situation is truly mutilated of your choice.
The sympathies of our earlier days harmonise, it seems in age also. you retire to your
College of Lodi, and nourish the natural benevolence of your excellent heart by
communicating your own virtues to the young of your sex who may hereafter load with
blessings the memory of her to whom they will owe so much. I am laying the foundation of
an University in my native state, which I hope will repay the liberalities of it's legislature by
improving the virtue and science of their country, already blest with a soil and climate
emulating those of your favorite Lodi. I have been myself the Architect of the plan of it's
buildings, and of it's system of instruction. four years have been employed in the former,
and I assure you it would be thought a handsome & Classical thing in Italy. I have preferred
the plan of an Academical village rather than that of a single, massive structure. the
diversified forms which this admitted in the different Pavilions, and varieties of the finest
samples of architecture, has made of it a model of beauty original and unique. it is within
view too of Monticello, So it's most splendid object, and a constant gratification to my sight.
we have still one building to erect, which will be on the principle of your Pantheon a
Rotunda like that, but of half it's diameter and height only. I wish indeed you could recall
some of your by-past years, and seal it with your approbation. you have two friends here,
still living, Trumbull & myself to whom such a visit would be real beatitude.
I enjoy good health, altho now octogenary; but am too weak to walk further than my garden;
yet I ride daily and without fatigue. my elder daughter, mrs Randolph, is well and greets you
kindly. she has given me 11. grand-children, of whom 4. live with me, and all make me
contented in the prospect of their worth and good qualifications. my happiness is greatly
increased too by the prosperity of our country, and it's exemption from the oppressions &
eternal wars of Europe. that you days may pass in peace, in health and comfort, are the
fervent prayers of your sincere & constant friend.
Th: Jefferson
ALS (polygraph copy), DLC:TJ, 2p, with TJ docket "Cosway Maria. Oct. 24. 22." Jefferson
made this copy on a coversheet addressed to "Thomas Jefferson esqr Monticello."
Jefferson wrote Albert Gallatin on 29 October, asking him to forward this letter to Lodi,
Italy, and informing Gallatin of the status of the university buildings: "Our University of
Virginia my present hobby, has been at a stand for a twelve month past, for want of funds.
our last legislature refused every thing. the late elections give better hopes of the next. the
institution is so far advanced that it will force itself through. so little is now wanting that the
first liberal legislature will give it it's last lift. the buildings are in a style of purely classical
architecture, and, altho' not yet finished, are become an object of visit to all strangers. our
intention is that it's professors shall be of the first order in their respective lines which can be
procured on either side of the Atlantic. sameness of language will probably direct our
applications chiefly to Edinburgh. I place some letters under the protection of your cover.
you will be so good as to judge whether that addressed to Lodi will go more safely thro' the
public mail, or by any of the diplomatic couriers, liable to the curiosity & carelessness of
public offices" (DLC:TJ). This letter to Gallatin itself was sent to Daniel Brent of the state
department on 31 October to be transmitted to Paris "by the first safe conveyance, with your
official dispatches to him" (DLC:TJ), and Brent informed Jefferson on 7 November that he
would "take great Pleasure in forwarding" the letters to Gallatin (DLC:TJ).
Concerning the university, Jefferson wrote similarly to Henry A. S. Dearborne on 31
October, saying that "Our Virginia University is now my sole occupation. it is within sight
of Monticello, and the buildings nearly finished; and we shall endeavor, by the best
Professors either side of the Atlantic can furnish to make it worthy of the public notice"
(DLC:TJ).
Thomas Jefferson to Rembrandt Peale
I recd yesterday your favor of Jan. 8. on the subject of the portrait of Gen. Washn. on which
you are engaged. from the circumstances of the corrections needed by all those which have
been heretofore taken, and the views you give of them, I have no doubt you will produce
one peculiarly worthy of the original. the visit you flatter me with would indeed be a most
welcome one. I should hope to shew you in turn something in the fine arts not unworthy of
being seen. I mean our University, under view from this place, which exhibits some very
chaste models of Grecian architecture, and an arrangement exhibiting them to good
advantage, but that you should take the trouble of bringing the portrait with you, is scarcely
admissible; and the less as it could answer no useful purpose to yourself.[851] in the case of
historical paintings which few in this country have had oppties of being familiar with, their
judgment may be influenced by that of others. but in that of portraits, every one judges for
himself, is positive in his judgment and yields nothing to that of another. my opinion of it
therefore were I to presume to offer it, could be of no weight with others. I believe you are
right in proposing to go to Europe for the exercise of your art. this is certainly not a country
for a fine artist. we have genius among us but no unemployed wealth to reward it. the
numerous families of our country prevent accumulation,[852] and turn whatever we can get
into the channel of provision for them. be so good as to present me affectionately to your
father & to accept my best wishes for your success and welfare.
Th: J.
ADftS, DLC:TJ, 1p, with TJ docket "Peale Rembrandt. Jan. 19. 24." Jefferson made this
draft on a coverhseet addressed to "Mr. Jefferson Monticello Charlottesville" and
postmarked in March in Richmond.
851. TJ wrote Rembrant Peale's father, Charles Willson Peale on 15 February, reiterating his
concerns about the artist bringing the painting to Monticello. "I expressed the cordial
welcome with which I should recieve himself," writes TJ about Rembrant. "I besought him
not to think of bringing the painting. this would be attended with difficulty, trouble, expence
& danger of injury to the thing itself, too great to be risked. . . . but tell him what he might
bring on much more acceptably to wit yourself. I shd. be delighted to shew you both our
rising University because you have eyes and taste to judge it. greater works may be seen in
the US. & in Europe. but you know the difference between magnitude and beauty. in the
chastity of it's architecture it's variety, symmetry, lightness & originality you will acknolege
it's preeminence. it has some things objectionable, which imperious regards to utility forced
us to admit. such a journey in the pleasant days of the spring would reanimate more than
fatigue you. come then and bask awhile with us in our genial sun" (DLC:TJ).
Thomas Jefferson to Robert Mills
I have duly recd. your favor of Feb. 15. and with it your beautiful map of S.C. which I place
among the many other testimonies of your frdshp and with the acceptableness they ever
ensure. your general plan will constitute a valble work. even indpdtly of the Statistic adjunct
you propose.--[853]your idea of the Obelisk monument is a very fine one.[854] I think small
temples would also furnish good monumental designs, and would admit of great variety. and
on a particular occn I recommended for Genl. Washington's that commonly called the
Lanthern of Demosthenes of which you once sent me a drawing handsomely done by
yourself. I wish your travels should some day lead you this way, where from Monto. as your
head quarters, you could visit and revisit our Univty. 4. miles distant only the plan has the
two advantages of exhibiting a specimen of every fine model of every order of Architecture
purely correct, and yet presenting a whole entirely new and unique. I hear with particular
pleasure that your family enjoys health in a climate not generally believed to be friendly to it
and that mrs Mills and your bror do me the favor of thinking kindly of me.[855] my own
health is quite broken down. for the last 10. mo. I have been mostly confined to the house,
and now nearly ending my 83d. years, my faculties, sight excepted are very much impaired.
the dislocn of both my wrists has so far injured the use of my hands that I can write but
slowly & laboriously. the less so however when I have occn to assure you of my great
esteem & respect
Th: J.
ADftS, DLC:TJ, 1p, with TJ docket "Mills Robert. Mar. 3. 26."; printed, Washington, D.C.,
Daily National Intelligencer, Wednesday, 25 October 1826. The printed copy is headed
"Extracts of a letter from Mr. Jefferson to Mr. Robert Mills, of South Carolina," and is
accompanied by a letter to the editor that reads: "Gentlemen: As the following letter from
Mr. Jefferson to one of his confidential friends, accepting of a splendid work of the State of
South Carolina, may, at this time, be acceptable to the friends of that great man, it is
perfectly at your service for publication. M."
853. Following this material in the draft TJ struck out phrases that reads: "an Atlas which
should give each county or other district on a distinct 4to sheet would be very convent. our
state has been at the expence of a general map and I wished much they would have had
whole sheet maps of every county on the same scale. but could not prevail. every man wd.
have bought the sheet of his own county, and many of the adjacent counties who has no
place on his walls large enough for the general one."
| Documentary History of the Construction of the Buildings at the University
of Virginia, 1817-1828 | |