University of Virginia Library

Thomas Jefferson to Robert B. Taylor

We regretted much your absence at the late meeting of the board of Visitors, but did not
doubt it was occasioned by uncontroulable circumstances. as the matters which came before
us were of great importance to the institution, I think it a duty to inform you of them.

You know the sanction of the legislature to our borrowing 60,000. D on the pledge of our
annuity of 15,000. D. the Literary board offered us 40,000. D on that pledge, to be repaid at
five instalments, commencing at the end of the 3d. year from the date of the loan, and
interest to be regularly paid in the mean time. we endeavored to obtain permission to draw
for only 15,000. D. at first, and for 2,000. D. monthly afterwards, to avoid the payment of
dead interest. this they declined, as bound themselves to keep the whole of their capital
always in a course of fructification. we then requested a postponement of instalments to the
4th. instead of the 3d. year, with an additional loan of the further sum of 20,000. D
authorised by the law. to the postponement they acceded and we are assured they will to the
further loan. to explain to them the urgency of this additional year's postponement, a paper
was laid before them of which I inclose you a copy, and on which we are now acting. should
the legislature not help us to the 93,600 D therenoted, the result will be that at the end of the
next year all the buildings will be compleated (the Library excepted) and will then remain
unoccupied 5. years longer,[850] until our funds shall be free for the engagement of
Professors. should they, on the other hand, give this aid, our funds will be free, at the
beginning of the next year and will enable us to take measures for procuring professors in
the course of that summer; and to open the University. we were all of oppinion that we
ought to compleat the buildings for the 10. Professors contemplated, as well as
accomodations for the students, before opening the institution. for were we to stop at any
point short of the full establishment, and open partially, as our funds would thenceforward
be absorbed by the Professors' salaries, we should never be able to advance a step further,
nor to cover the whole field of science contemplated by the law and made the object of our
care and duty. we thought it better therefore to risk a delay of 8. years for a perfect
establishment, than to begin earlier and go on forever with a defective one: and we suppose
it impossible that either the legislature, or their constituents, should not consider an
immediate commencement as worth the sum necessary to procure it. you will observe that in
the estimate inclosed, no account is taken of our subscription monies. they are in fact too
uncertain in their collection to found any necessary contracts; and we thought it better
therefore to reserve them as a contingent fund, and a resource to cover miscalculations and
accidents.

Another subject on this, as on former occasions, gave us embarrasment. you may have heard
of the hue and cry raised from the different pulpits on our appointment of Dr. Cooper, whom
they charge with unitarianism as boldly as if they knew the fact, and as presumptuously as if
it were a crime and one for which, like Servetus, he should be burned: and perhaps you may
have seen the particular attack made on him in the Evangelical magazine. for myself I was
not disposed to regard the denunciations of these satellites of religious inquisition; but our
colleagues, better judges of popular feeling thought that they were not to be altogether
neglected; and that it might be better to relieve Dr. Cooper, ourselves and the institution
from this crusade. I had recieved a letter from him expressing his uneasiness, not only for
himself, but lest this persecution should become embarrassing to the visitors, and injurious
to the institution; with an offer to resign, if we had the same apprehensions. the Visitors
therefore desired the Commee of Superintendance to place him at freedom on this subject,
and to arrange with him a suitable indemnification. I wrote accordingly in answer to his
letter, and a meeting of trustees of the College at Columbia happening to take place soon
after his reciept of my letter, they resolved unanimously that it should be proposed to, and
urged on their legislature to establish a professorship of geology and mineralogy, or a
professorship of law, with a salary of 1,000. D. a year to be given him, in addition to that of
chemistry, which is 2,000. D. a year, and to purchase his collection of minerals; & they have
no doubt of the legislature's compliance. on the subject of indemnification, he is contented
with the balance of the 1,500. D. we had before agreed to give him, and which he says will
not more than cover his actual losses of time and expences. he adds `it is right I should
acknolege the liberality of your board with thanks. I regret the storm that has been raised on
my account; for it has separated me from many fond hopes and wishes. whatever my
religious creed may be, and perhaps I do not exactly know it myself, it is pleasure to reflect
that my conduct has not brought, and is not likely to bring, discredit to my friends. wherever
I have been, it has been my good fortune to meet with or to make ardent and affectionate
friends. I feel persuaded I should have met with the same lot in Virginia had it been my
chance to have settled there, as I had hoped and expected. for I think my course of conduct
is sufficiently habitual to count on it's effects.' I do sincerely lament that untoward
circumstances have brought on the inseparable loss of this professor, whom I have looked to
as the corner stone of our edifice. I know no one who could have aided us so much in
forming the future regulations for our infant institutions: and altho we may perhaps obtain
from Europe equivalent in science, they can never replace the advantages of his experience,
his knolege of the character, habits & manners of our country, his identification with it's
sentiments & principles and the high reputation he has obtained in it generally. In the hope
of meeting you at our fall visitation, and that you will do me the favor of making this your
head quarters, and of coming the day before, at least, that we may prepare our business at
ease, I tender you the assurance of my great esteem & respect.

Th: Jefferson

ALS (polygraph copy), DLC:TJ, 4p, with TJ docket "Taylor Genl. Robert. May 16. 20." At
the bottom of page one TJ wrote "Genl. Taylor Mr. Johnson," and on 17 May TJ wrote
James Madison concerning this letter: "As the measures which were adopted at the last
meeting of our visitors were of a very leading character I have thought it proper to inform
our absent colleagues of them; and have delayed the communication only until I could add
what has been done under the resolutions of the board. as this latter information has not
been received by you, I inclose you my letter to General Taylor for perusal and pray you,
when read, to stick a wafer in it and put it into the post office. you will excuse this economy
of labor, as from the stiffening of my wrist, writing is become slow & painful. I have
moreover such another letter to write to mr. Johnson, and a good part of it to Genl.
Breckenridge. My general health is mended, altho' I do not gain strength. I am obliged to
continue bandages, altho' under their pressure the swelling is kept down, yet it returns on
omitting them" (DLC:JM).