University of Virginia Library

Thomas Jefferson to Board of Visitors

I have received a proposition from Mr. Perry, the owner of the lands which separate the two
tracts of the University which I think of so much importance to that institution as to
communicate to the visitors by letter in their separate situations. the University tract of 100.
acres is ¾ of a mile distant from that of the Observatory of 153 acres. the water which
supplies the cisterns of the University by pipes arises in the mountain a little without this
last tract, and the pipes pass on Perry's side of the line and thro' his interjacent lands till they
enter the University tract. on his side of the line also is a very bold spring, which might be
brought by a small ditch so near the buildings of the University as to be of common use. it is
in his power at any time to cut off our pipes and deprive us of that indispensable supply of
water. we have always been anxious to purchase this interjacent parcel not only to
consolidate our two tracts but to secure the supply of water; but we have never more than
intimated a willingness to purchase without pressing him, lest it might induce him to ask an
unreasonable price. he is under (as I believe) some pressure which obliges him now to sell
it. he gives us the refusal, which if we do not accept, he will sell in lots as he can readily do.
we gave him about four years ago 45. D. an acre for the 50. acres adjacent to it. since that,
lands around the University have got to 100. & 130. D. the acre. he offered the parcel in
question to the University for 60. D. I refused to treat with him at that, and told him that at
50. D. I would lay it before the Visitors for consideration. he at length agreed, stipulating for
3,000. D. in hand, one half of the balance at the end of one year, and the other half at the end
of the second, with interest from the date. on these terms I cannot but strongly recommend
it's purchase. if once it is sold out in lots we shall never be able to buy again but at
exorbitant rates if at all, and our supply of water will assuredly be cut off from us. what
passes thro' our present pipes with the additional spring will give us the most abundant
supply of that element for ever. that you may judge of our means of paying for it, I send you
a statement of our income and expenditure for the present and the two next years, drawn up
on consultation with mr Brockenbrough.[874] you will perceive that I propose to borrow the
1st. payment of 3,000. D. from the library fund, which can be repaid from our general funds
the next year, in addition to our 2nd payment of 2,067. D. to Perry, and still leaving a
surplus of 2,679. D. for contingencies that year; and that the same funds will make our 3d
and last payment of 2,184. D. in 1827, leaving a contingent surplus for that year of 3,094. D.
the library fund can well spare the money for a while, as we need not use of it for a year or
two more than 40,000. D. leaving 10,000. for mineralogical and geological collections
which may be deferred without inconvenience. my own opinion therefore is that we can
make the purchase without any danger of embarrassment, and that if not made now it will be
for ever lost. the part which I think indispensable contains about 100. acres but it would be
better to take in also the 37. acres as it squares our lines, and the timber on it is worth the
price.

Although the subject is of great and permanent interest to the University, I have not thought
of proposing a meeting on it, of the great inconvenience of which to the gentlemen I am
sensible, and the rather as the sketch of the grounds which I send you, and the prospect of
payment can be considered as well separately as together. the only article in the statement of
our finances which does not rest on certainty is the number of students calculated on for the
next year. for this year I have calculated only on the number now entered 68. and they are
coming in nearly every day, and at the summer vacation of the other schools, when they will
be disengaged we know that a large number will come, and that in the course of the year we
shall be over 100. that we shall have as many the next year as our Dormitories will lodge all
information assures us, and probably as many additional to that as Charlottesville can
accommodate, which is expected to be about 100. and would add 1,500. D. to our income.
as far as we can judge not one will go to Charlottesville as long as a dormitory is to be had.
as yet there has not been a single application to that place altho' several housekeepers there
had prepared themselves to take in boarders. if this purchase is approved by your separate
letters, I will undertake to act on them as if regularly ordered by the board, as you can pass a
vote of confirmation at our first meeting. Perry is pressing (as I believe he is pressed) for an
immediate answer.[875]

All our professors are in place except Mr Tucker, daily expected, and the Professor of law
whom we have yet to name. we await Mr Tucker's arrival to form a board of faculty that the
Professors may enter on their functions of order and discipline which some incipient
irregularities of the students begin to call for. from a view which I took of their ages when
the whole number was 61. I found 6. of 21. and upwards, 9. of 20--23. of 19--10. of 18--10.
of 17--and 3. of 16. two thirds therefore being 19. and upwards we may hope are of
sufficient discretion to govern themselves, and that the younger 3d. by their example as well
as by moderate coercion will not be very difficult to keep in order.

I enclose you a printed copy of our regulations which appear to give satisfaction to both
Professors and Students. Accept the assurance of my great esteem & respect[876]

Th: Jefferson

LS, ViU:Cocke Papers, 3p [2171] with JHC docket "Mr. Jefferson recd. Apl. 29. 25"; LS,
ViU:Cabell Papers [2171] with JCC docket "Thos. Jefferson Apl. 15. 1825."; LS, DLC:JM;
ADftS, DLC:TJ, dated 16 April; printed, Cabell, The Early History of the University of
Virginia, 348-50; extract, in Cocke's "Extracts from TJ's Letters to JHC," ViU:Cocke Papers.
The closings and signatures of the two recipient copies are in TJ's writing, as is the
postscript of the LS sent to Cocke; the ADftS and the LS sent to Cabell lacks the postscript.
TJ apparently sent each Board of Visitors member a copy of this letter with a two-page
estimate of expenditures for the university. A map of the land, in TJ's hand, is in DLC:JM,
as well as Madison's draft of his reply to TJ of 21 April.