Appendix I
Sully, Cosway, Peale, and Mills

Dear Sir Monticello Mar. 28. 21.

The bearer mr Sully, a celebrated Portrait painter of Philadelphia calls to see the University, and as he is a judge, and will be questioned about it on his return I will request you to shew it to him advantageously.

I am endeavoring to make as exact an estimate as possible of our past and future expences, beginning with April last when our previous funds had been used, we were in debt 10,000. D. & had not yet entered on the 60,000. for this I wish to know what a Tuscan base and cap costs you?

What the Doric bases & capitels cost? and what the Ionic & Corinthian bases cost? as nearly as you can estimate them.

I should be glad too to know what your exact estimate of the Library is as nearly as you can come, I mean the exact sum, not a round one; because we had better add a round allowance for errors on the whole, than for each article by itself. if you can note these things readily while mr Sully walks about to amuse himself I would be glad to recieve them by him. if not, I will send for it tomorrow. I shall be with you the first quite warm day. friendly salutations

Th: Jefferson

ALS, ViU:PP, 1p [1852] with address "Mr. Brockenbrough University" and ASB dockets "Mr Jef: Mar: 28. '21" and "Cost Caps bases &c sent to Mr Jefferson" and "Perry Ware Dinsmore Spooner." ASB's estimate of stonework on the verso of TJ's letter reads:

An Estimate of the cost of Stone work--

cost of Tuscan base--Quarrying $1.60

Waggonage .42

Cuting It 6.44 8.46

Tuscan Cap Quarrying .84

Waggonage .32

Cuting 5.17 6.23

$14.79

Ionic Base Quarryig $10.75

Wag: 1.67

Work 29.00 $41.48

Doric Base Quar: 12.80

Wag: 1.67

Work 31.50 45:97

Doric cap Quar 11.20

Wag 1.67

Work 26.50 39.37

Corinthian Base Quarry 10.50

Wag: 1.67

Work 27.50 39.67

11 Front doorsills

23 back do

268 steps

22 cellar window Sills

Monticello Oct. 24. 22.

I duly recieved, my dear friend, your favor of July 10. and made it my first duty to forward the letter you inclosed to your brother and to request him to make me the channel of your hearing from him. I now inclose you his letter, and with it the assurance that he is much respected in Washington, and, since the death of Latrobe, our first Architect. I consider him as standing foremost in the correct principles of that art. I believe he is doing well, but would he push himself more, he would do better.

I learn with great pleasure that however short of expectation mr Cosway's affairs left you, they are still sufficient to place you in comfort. and this will be much improved by the change of your residence from the eternal clouds and rains of England, to the genial sun & bright skies of Lodi. I was in that place in 1786. with a good friend, the Count del Verme of Milan, and past a whole day, from sunrise to sunset, in a dairy there, to see the process of making the Parmesan cheese. it's situation is truly mutilated of your choice.

The sympathies of our earlier days harmonise, it seems in age also. you retire to your College of Lodi, and nourish the natural benevolence of your excellent heart by communicating your own virtues to the young of your sex who may hereafter load with blessings the memory of her to whom they will owe so much. I am laying the foundation of an University in my native state, which I hope will repay the liberalities of it's legislature by improving the virtue and science of their country, already blest with a soil and climate emulating those of your favorite Lodi. I have been myself the Architect of the plan of it's buildings, and of it's system of instruction. four years have been employed in the former, and I assure you it would be thought a handsome & Classical thing in Italy. I have preferred the plan of an Academical village rather than that of a single, massive structure. the diversified forms which this admitted in the different Pavilions, and varieties of the finest samples of architecture, has made of it a model of beauty original and unique. it is within view too of Monticello, So it's most splendid object, and a constant gratification to my sight. we have still one building to erect, which will be on the principle of your Pantheon a Rotunda like that, but of half it's diameter and height only. I wish indeed you could recall some of your by-past years, and seal it with your approbation. you have two friends here, still living, Trumbull & myself to whom such a visit would be real beatitude.

I enjoy good health, altho now octogenary; but am too weak to walk further than my garden; yet I ride daily and without fatigue. my elder daughter, mrs Randolph, is well and greets you kindly. she has given me 11. grand-children, of whom 4. live with me, and all make me contented in the prospect of their worth and good qualifications. my happiness is greatly increased too by the prosperity of our country, and it's exemption from the oppressions & eternal wars of Europe. that you days may pass in peace, in health and comfort, are the fervent prayers of your sincere & constant friend.

Th: Jefferson

ALS (polygraph copy), DLC:TJ, 2p, with TJ docket "Cosway Maria. Oct. 24. 22." Jefferson made this copy on a coversheet addressed to "Thomas Jefferson esqr Monticello."

Jefferson wrote Albert Gallatin on 29 October, asking him to forward this letter to Lodi, Italy, and informing Gallatin of the status of the university buildings: "Our University of Virginia my present hobby, has been at a stand for a twelve month past, for want of funds. our last legislature refused every thing. the late elections give better hopes of the next. the institution is so far advanced that it will force itself through. so little is now wanting that the first liberal legislature will give it it's last lift. the buildings are in a style of purely classical architecture, and, altho' not yet finished, are become an object of visit to all strangers. our intention is that it's professors shall be of the first order in their respective lines which can be procured on either side of the Atlantic. sameness of language will probably direct our applications chiefly to Edinburgh. I place some letters under the protection of your cover. you will be so good as to judge whether that addressed to Lodi will go more safely thro' the public mail, or by any of the diplomatic couriers, liable to the curiosity & carelessness of public offices" (DLC:TJ). This letter to Gallatin itself was sent to Daniel Brent of the state department on 31 October to be transmitted to Paris "by the first safe conveyance, with your official dispatches to him" (DLC:TJ), and Brent informed Jefferson on 7 November that he would "take great Pleasure in forwarding" the letters to Gallatin (DLC:TJ).

Concerning the university, Jefferson wrote similarly to Henry A. S. Dearborne on 31 October, saying that "Our Virginia University is now my sole occupation. it is within sight of Monticello, and the buildings nearly finished; and we shall endeavor, by the best Professors either side of the Atlantic can furnish to make it worthy of the public notice" (DLC:TJ).

Dear Sir Monto. Jan. 19. 24.

I recd yesterday your favor of Jan. 8. on the subject of the portrait of Gen. Washn. on which you are engaged. from the circumstances of the corrections needed by all those which have been heretofore taken, and the views you give of them, I have no doubt you will produce one peculiarly worthy of the original. the visit you flatter me with would indeed be a most welcome one. I should hope to shew you in turn something in the fine arts not unworthy of being seen. I mean our University, under view from this place, which exhibits some very chaste models of Grecian architecture, and an arrangement exhibiting them to good advantage, but that you should take the trouble of bringing the portrait with you, is scarcely admissible; and the less as it could answer no useful purpose to yourself.⁽⁸⁵¹⁾ in the case of historical paintings which few in this country have had oppties of being familiar with, their judgment may be influenced by that of others. but in that of portraits, every one judges for himself, is positive in his judgment and yields nothing to that of another. my opinion of it therefore were I to presume to offer it, could be of no weight with others. I believe you are right in proposing to go to Europe for the exercise of your art. this is certainly not a country for a fine artist. we have genius among us but no unemployed wealth to reward it. the numerous families of our country prevent accumulation,⁽⁸⁵²⁾ and turn whatever we can get into the channel of provision for them. be so good as to present me affectionately to your father & to accept my best wishes for your success and welfare.

Th: J.

ADftS, DLC:TJ, 1p, with TJ docket "Peale Rembrandt. Jan. 19. 24." Jefferson made this draft on a coverhseet addressed to "Mr. Jefferson Monticello Charlottesville" and postmarked in March in Richmond.

Dear Sir Monticello, [3] Mar. [1826]

I have duly recd. your favor of Feb. 15. and with it your beautiful map of S.C. which I place among the many other testimonies of your frdshp and with the acceptableness they ever ensure. your general plan will constitute a valble work. even indpdtly of the Statistic adjunct you propose.--⁽⁸⁵³⁾your idea of the Obelisk monument is a very fine one.⁽⁸⁵⁴⁾ I think small temples would also furnish good monumental designs, and would admit of great variety. and on a particular occn I recommended for Genl. Washington's that commonly called the Lanthern of Demosthenes of which you once sent me a drawing handsomely done by yourself. I wish your travels should some day lead you this way, where from Monto. as your head quarters, you could visit and revisit our Univty. 4. miles distant only the plan has the two advantages of exhibiting a specimen of every fine model of every order of Architecture purely correct, and yet presenting a whole entirely new and unique. I hear with particular pleasure that your family enjoys health in a climate not generally believed to be friendly to it and that mrs Mills and your bror do me the favor of thinking kindly of me.⁽⁸⁵⁵⁾ my own health is quite broken down. for the last 10. mo. I have been mostly confined to the house, and now nearly ending my 83d. years, my faculties, sight excepted are very much impaired. the dislocn of both my wrists has so far injured the use of my hands that I can write but slowly & laboriously. the less so however when I have occn to assure you of my great esteem & respect

Th: J.

ADftS, DLC:TJ, 1p, with TJ docket "Mills Robert. Mar. 3. 26."; printed, Washington, D.C., Daily National Intelligencer, Wednesday, 25 October 1826. The printed copy is headed "Extracts of a letter from Mr. Jefferson to Mr. Robert Mills, of South Carolina," and is accompanied by a letter to the editor that reads: "Gentlemen: As the following letter from Mr. Jefferson to one of his confidential friends, accepting of a splendid work of the State of South Carolina, may, at this time, be acceptable to the friends of that great man, it is perfectly at your service for publication. M."