University of Virginia Library

Thomas Jefferson to C. P. McKennie

The case of Capt. Oldham is this, he charges the Proctor of the University with malpractices
in his office. the board of Visitors, who employ the Proctor, is the tribunal having authority
to enquire into this. they authorised their Exve commee (Genl. Cocke & myself) to do this. I
gave notice in a lre to Capt Oldham in April last that we would proceed to the enquiry
whenever he should be ready with his testimony. he has never signified his readiness, and
the enquiry waits only for him to do so. instead of this he proposes to transfer the discussion
into your paper. the suitors in every cause on the docket of Albemarle court might as sell
spread their cases before the public in the same way, and thus turn your paper into a vehicle
of personal squabbles and vituperns, set the nbhood together by the ears, and break up it's
peace and happiness. whether you will make this change in the character and object of your
paper is a question for your own discretion, whether the paper so changed would continue to
be taken would become a question with the subscribers.

I return you the Rockfish Report. it consists of 2. sheets making 16. leaves. the parts to be
left out of the new impression amount to 7. leaves, so that the remaining 9. with 1. for the
act of ass. would make 10. leaves or 1¼ sheets. and as 2 sheets on like paper were for 400
copies to cost 50. D. 1¼ should of course be furnished for 31¼ D. to the 400. copies for the
University I would request you to add 25. more for myself which would make the whole
425 copies cost 33¼ D. you are perfectly welcome to print the Report in your paper; but the
only part interesting to the publick is that which I note for the new impression. Accept
assurances of my esteem and respect

Th: J.

ADftS, DLC:TJ, 1p, with TJ docket "McKinnie C. P. Nov. 25. 23." Jefferson made this draft
on a coversheet with a mutilated address.