8751. UNIVERSITY OF VIRGINIA, Personal sacrifices for.—
I know well your devotion to your country, and your foresight
of the awful scenes coming on her, sooner or
later. With this foresight, what service can we
ever render her equal to this? [Support of the
University of Virginia.] What object of our
lives can we propose so important? What interest
of our own which ought not to be postponed
to this? Health, time, labor, on what in
the single life which nature has given us, can
these be better bestowed than on this immortal
boon to our country? The exertions and the
mortifications are temporary; the benefit eternal.
If any member of our college of visitors could
justifiably withdraw from this sacred duty, it
would be myself, * * * but I will die
in the last ditch, and so, I hope, you will, my
friend, as well as our firm-breasted brothers
and colleagues, Mr. Johnson and General Breckenridge.
Nature will not give you a second life
wherein to atone for the omissions of this.
Pray then, dear and very dear Sir, do not think
of deserting us, but view the sacrifices which
seem to stand in your way, as the lesser duties,
and such as ought to be postponed to this, the
greatest of all. Continue with us in these holy
labors, until having seen their accomplishment,
we may say with old Simeon, “nunc dimittas,
Domine”.—
To Joseph C. Cabell. Washington ed. vii, 202.
(M.
1821)
