Documentary History of the Construction of the Buildings at the University of Virginia, 1817-1828

The only other matters pertaining to the construction process at the university during the fall
and ensuing winter were the difficulties that Bernard Peyton faced in Richmond as he tried
to find river captains willing to transport the Carrara marble bases and capitals up the James
River from Rocketts to Scottsville, and from Scottsville to Shadwell Mills on the Rivanna
River. The marble, which had been ordered in October 1823, arrived at Boston from
Leghorn in August 1825, 31 bases and 37 cases of paving squares on board the ship
Caroline, and 24 capitals on board the brig Tamworth. It was then transported from Boston
to New York City, where the bases were placed on board the sloop Eliza and the capitals on
the schooner General Jackson, for their voyage south.[737] Once at Richmond, however,
boat captains in the area steadfastly refused to take on board any of the pieces because of
their weight, estimated by Peyton at 3 to 5 tons each.[738] Neither would any of the
numerous Augusta County wagoners dragging between Richmond and the Shenandoah
Valley take on the marble, not being fixed for hauling blocks of such massive size. Even
after boat captains were found who were willing to freight the marble, low water in the fall
and ice in the winter prevented its shipment until spring 1826, and the last piece was not
shipped from Richmond until the third of May.[739] It should be noted that bricklayer
William B. Phillips could not begin building the portico's brick columns until after the
marble bases had been delivered and set in place by stoneworker John Gorman. Once
Phillips finished his work, Joseph Antrim plastered the columns, and John Gorman fixed the
capitals upon them.[740]

[737]

737. See Henry A. S. Dearborn to TJ, 6 September, in ViU:TJ, and 20 September, in
DLC:TJ, and Jonathan Thompson to TJ, 9 September, and 3 October 1825, in ViU:PP.

[738]

738. In fact two vessels refused to transport the marble from Leghorn (see TJ to
Brockenbrough, 13 September 1825, in ViU:PP).

[739]

739. For the transportation and payment of the marble capitals from Leghorn to the
university, including Peyton's efforts, see Thomas Appleton to TJ, 4-12 May, in DLC:TJ,
Appleton's Account for Marble Capitals, 4 May, in ViU:PP, Appleton's Bill for Marble
Columns, 22 June, in DLC:TJ, TJ to Brockenbrough, 24 July, 30 August, in ViU:PP, TJ to
Thomas Appleton, 10 August, ViU:TJ, Bernard Peyton to Brockenbrough, 3 September, 8,
17, 19, 26 October, 12 November 1825, 10, 24 March, 8, 19, 22 April, 3 May 1826, in
ViU:PP; Henry A. S. Dearborn to TJ, 6 September, in ViU:TJ, 20 September 1825, 25 April,
21 June 1826, in DLC:TJ, 22 September, 21 October 1825, in ViU:PP; TJ to Dearborn, 12
September 1825, in ViU:TJ, 3 May 1826, in DLC:TJ; Dearborn to Brockenbrough, 17 July
1826, in ViU:PP; Brockenbrough to Dearborn, 10 July 1826, in ViU:#9927; Jonathan
Thompson to TJ, 9 September, 3 October, 17 November 1825, in ViU:PP; TJ to
Brockenbrough, 13 September, 9 October 1825, 2, 5 May 1826, in ViU:PP, 8 November
1825, in DLC:TJ; TJ to William Cabell Rives and Littleton Waller Tazewell, 25 November
1825, in DLC:TJ; TJ to Rives, 22 April 1826, in DLC:TJ; Rives to TJ, 30 November 1825,
in DLC:TJ, 13 March, 13 May 1826, in ViU:TJ; Board of Visitors Minutes, 7 April 1826, in
PPAmP:UVA Minutes; John Patton Emmet to Brockenbrough, 2 May 1826, in ViU:PP; John
Brockenbrough to Brockenbrough, 9 May 1826, in ViU:PP; TJ to John Hartwell Cocke, 20
May 1826, in ViU:JHC; Cocke and Alexander Garrett, Demands of the Resources of the
University, 31 May 1826, in DLC:TJ.

[740]

740. See John Hartwell Cocke and Alexander Garrett, Demands of the Resources of the
University, 31 May 1826, in DLC:TJ, which lists figures against the university of $120 for
William B. Phillips' bricklaying account for "Portico Columns," $500 for Joseph Antrim's
"finishing" of the same, and $100 for John Gorman "Setting Bases & Capitals."

University of Virginia Library

Marble at Richmond