Appendix D
Extracts from David Watson's Miscellaneous Memoranda

[18-29 March 1819]

1819 Mar: 18th.  About the 1st inst: I was at the site of the University of Virga. The hands (negros) were then engaged in leveling the ground. Two pavillions (as Mr. Jefferson calls them) are raised & covered in, with an extensive range of dormitories between them, intended to be covered with flat roofs--The site is beautiful; but the buildings appear to me to too small. The pavillions, two stories high, are not sufficiently roomy for the convenient accommodation of a genteel family, & no plan yet of attaching gardens or back grounds to them. The dormitories are to small for convenience, & being on a level with the street in front, & a fine footway, under the projection of the terrace or flat roof of dormitories, will be too publick for study. I saw no convenient place for keeping wood, & the plan of erecting boardinghouses was not decided on, & appeared to me to attended with many difficulties. The lod[g]ings for the students being all on the ground, will require the buildings to be spread over too extensive a Surfice, & so much roof in proportion to the room, will be very expensive--The lowness of the windows in the dormitories, will re[n]der the rooms both publick & unsafe--

Our assembly broke up the 13th. inst: Satur: after a Sessn. of 98 days having gone thro' the revision of our laws.

29th. Mar:  This the day for visitors of the University to meet; Virg: Mr. Jefferson--Mr. Brackenridge--Genl. Taylor, Mr. Madison J. C. Cabell & Genl. Cocke--Bank Stock, U.S. got up to 118 after having been below par. It is supposed by many that the report of the Comee. of Cong: was more unfavorable to the directors than was just--

AD (extract), ViU:Watson Family Papers, Miscelleanous Memoranda, 17.

[c. 1 April 1821]

1821.  An Act was passed, by our Assembly with much difficulty, authorising the rector & visitors of the University of Virga. to borrow $60 thousand dollars to finish the buildings, & put the University into operation.

In Jan: 1819 the law past establishing the University at the site of the centl. College, in Albemarle, near Charlottesville, with an endowment from the literary fund of 15 thousand $ Annum--At the last session of our Assemby, the University was suthoris'd to borrow $60 thousand; estimated then to be sufficient to finish the buildings; & upon the application for more money, at this session, much discontent was manifested by the Members--the bill was rejected by one vote; & passed, on reconsideration, next day.

AD (extract), ViU:Watson Family Papers, Miscelleanous Memoranda, 32).

1821

An Act was passed by our Assembly, with much difficulty, authorising the rector & visitors of the University of Virga. to borrow $60 thousand dollars to finish the buildings, & put the University into operation.

In Jan: 1819 the law past establishing the Univeristy at the site of the centl. College, in Albemarle, near Charlottesville, with an endowment from the literary fund of 15 thousand $ Annum--At the last session of our Assemby., the University was authoris'd to borrow $60 thousand; estimated then to be sufficient to finish the buildings; & upon the application for more money, at this session, much discontent was manifested by the Members--the bill was rejected by one Vote; & passed, on reconsideration, next day.

AD (extract), ViU:Watson Family Papers, Miscelleanous Memoranda, 32.