University of Virginia Library

Rice W. Wood
Certificate

At the Solicitation of Capt Oldham I accompanied him to the office of the Proctor U.Va. for
the purpose of ascertaining his course with respect to the settlement of Capt. Oldhams bills
for work done at the university--upon enquiring of him what course he wished to pursue on
this Subject, after hesitating he replyed that he wished Capt Oldham to leave the bills with
him, that he might run over them, for the purpose of ascertaining what would be the
difference of the estimates made by Capt Oldham and that made by himself--Capt Oldham
then observed that there could be no utility in that as he, the Proctor had already examined
the bills and had made his objections--that he would not be willing to take the prices
according to the Proctors estimate and he Supposed that no utility could be found in the
course Suggested by the Proctor as to leaving the accounts with him, But Mr Oldham
observed that he was willing to let Mr Dawson Copy the accounts at the expence of the
University--Mr Proctor did not Say whether he wished Mr Dawson to take a Copy of the
bills or not--It was then observed by myself that Capt Oldhams object was to ascertain
whether the proctor was willing to have an arbitration of the accounts in pusuance of an
agreement which exhisted between himself and the proctor previous to or on the 25th Jany
last as appears by letter--Mr Brockenbrough remarked that it was understood between
himself and Mr Jefferson that there Should be no arbitration, the question was Several times
repeated as to the arbitration, and he as often confirmed what he first said about the
aribtration--Immediately previous to our leaving the office I was requested by Capt Oldham
to be more explicit in my enquiry with regard to the arbitration and request Capt
Brockenbrough to be more explicit in his answer to my enterrogatory--I think Capt.
Brockenbrough said he was directed not to agree to an arbitration of these differences with
Capt Oldham (not saying who had directed him) but at the same time remarked that Mr
Jefferson had told him to do as he pleased about it--Capt Oldham in the mean time baving
observed that he had not understood from Mr Jefferson that he was opposed to an arbitration
as to a portion of his Bills but that he was willing to a refference of part of his account--

The substance of a Conversation in my presence between Capt Oldham myself and the
Proctor as at present recollected by me

Signed Rice Wood

Copy, document no. 4 of document U in Oldham vs University of Virginia, ViU:UVA
Chronological File; copy, document no. 4 in "Memoriall to the bord of Visitors of the U.Va.
Octobr 3. 1823," ViU:PP; another copy, signed by Wood, Oldham vs University of Virginia,
ViU:PP. The second copy in ViU:PP apparently was made before Brockenbrough filed his
Bill of Exception, 3 January 1831. Wood made a related certificate on 19 November 1823.
See James Oldham, Lawsuit against the University of Virginia, 20 November 1823.