Chapter 11
The Final Years: 1826–1828

In every respect, the University of Virginia was the crowning episode in Jefferson's life.

—Lewis Mumford⁽⁷⁴¹⁾

Drainage

When the Board of Visitors met shortly after Jefferson's eighty-third birthday the only resolutions it passed pertaining to construction were those requiring the executive committee "to provide for lighting the University if it can be effectually done at a reasonable expense" and directing the proctor "to keep the drains in the grounds of the University always free from obstruction, and to instruct such others as the Executive committee may direct."⁽⁷⁴²⁾ The subject of the first resolution is an example of one of the many incidentals still awaiting completion at the site in the months before Jefferson's death, but the latter was more necessary for the proper functioning of the site. Two days after the visitors' meeting professor John Patton Emmet wrote the proctor: "As Mr Jefferson is Anxious that the Botanic Garden should be Commenced immediatley I have to request that you will furnish me with hands And one Cart or Waggon at least—The ground is at present so irregular that the mere levelling & clearing away impediments such as the two brick Kilns &c will steadily occupy as many as 5 or 6 hands—Drains must also be cut to clear the low ground & the hills must be terraced—As all these operations will require great labour, the Sooner I get the hands at work, the better."⁽⁷⁴³⁾ The following week John Hartwell Cocke told Jefferson, his aged partner on the committee of superintendence:

Doctor [Robley] Dunglison accompanied the Proctor & myself in viewing the situation of the Eastern Range of Hotels & Dormitories—where it was decided to be necessary, to construct two paved or brick-laid gutters in the rear of two Sections of the Dormitories, with a graduated fall sufficient to take off rapidly, all the falling water:—and, to enlarge a drain passing under the Street, giving it more fall, as well as greater capacity, which in its present State, was thought insufficient for its intended purposes, at Spottswood's Hotel.—This was all the drainage thought necessary at present. I will here suggest, as a precautionary measure against the injurious accumulation of filth in the back yards of the Hotels, that small depots be constructed to receive all their Sweepings, & Kitchen, & wash room offal—to be removed weekly—without some such arrangement of police, as this, I think, there are appearances enough to excite fear for the health of the plan in the course of the Summer.⁽⁷⁴⁴⁾

The matter of an efficient drainage system remained a problem in late summer when Professor Dunglison wrote to the proctor to "beg of You to have proper drains constituted as soon as possible to prevent Sickness in the dormitories which we formerly inspected."⁽⁷⁴⁵⁾

The Dome Leaks

The struggle to overcome an inadequate drainage system probably was exacerbated by the spring rains of 1826, which not only brought water levels back up enough so that the marble bases and capitals could be shipped from Richmond to the university but also revealed leaks in the Rotunda's roof. After visiting the university on 4 May ("my ride yesterday has worsted me so much that I cannot repeat it"), Jefferson determined to confer with John Hartwell Cocke about the best way in which to "remedy" the problem, created he thought, by the "ignorance" of Richmond tinworker Anthony Bargamin, whose permanent absence, of course, made him an easy target for receiving blame. "my own opinion," Jefferson wrote, "is in favor of another cover of tin laid on the old one without disturbing that. but Broke must be employed. we ought not to trust to people of whose skill we know nothing. the ignorance of the Frenchman is what costs us a new roof. As soon as this is done we must cover the ill appearance of the plaistering by a whitewash, either of lime or Spanish white."⁽⁷⁴⁶⁾ A figure of $250 was charged against the university in late May for "Additonal Covering for Dome of the Rotunda,"⁽⁷⁴⁷⁾ and Daniel Warwick on 12 June shipped "10. Boxes Tin plates IX @ $15" by wagoner Christian to the university for the building.⁽⁷⁴⁸⁾ A. H. Brooks wrote Brockenbrough from Staunton on 13 June to let the proctor know that "I received a few lines from you requsting me to let you heare if I Could Come over to doo a Job for you and what I would Charge for it, as to the price of Such work I Can Say nothing becuase I never have done any work of the kind and Could not Say till I See what is to be done. my tooles is nearly 200 miles from this place and I expect a Job at that place in a Short time. but Sopose you have Some if So let me know by next mail by which time I expect to heare from my tooles, I Should think the old Covering must Come off but would be better able to Judg if I Could See it."⁽⁷⁴⁹⁾

Memorandum and Instructions

The unfinished state of the buildings clearly disappointed Jefferson, whose health was failing fast. On 20 May he expressed to John Hartwell Cocke his extreme dissatisfaction with the progress of the work: if it "were it not for my great confidence in the integrity of those we employ, I should be unable to resist the suspicion of a willingness in them to make the job last for life. I am at present suffering under a relapse so serious as to put it out my power to go there as frequently as is requisite." He made a list of notes for "their joint efforts and consultations as soon as your own affairs will permit your coming to us. altho' always injured by the ride there I should be able to accompany you & endeavor to apply a spur to those needing it."⁽⁷⁵⁰⁾ The memorandum gives us an idea of the work still being done at the university:

Notes. the Dome leaks so that not a book can be trusted in it until remedied. this is from the ignorance of the workman employed. how shall it be remedied? my opinion is by a new tin cover put on the present, to be done by Broke of Staunton whose competence to it we know. this will cost us 8. or 900. Dollars. I know nothing else which experience will justify.

2. the wells and water fail there and at Charlottesville; and they are proposing to send our pipe borer, mr Ziegler to the North to learn the art of boring, now in practice there, & then to return and bore for us. but why not in this, as in other cases, employ a man already taught and exercised in his trade? a borer can be had from thence as easily as a bricklayer or carpenter. besides this however the pipes which bring water to our cisterns must be repaired. they have rotted from too shallow covering originally. no log should lie less than 3. feet deep. this will cost more than I should be willing to risk on my own opinion. yet I believe must be done, and immediately.⁽⁷⁵¹⁾

3. the Faculty recommend strongly Gas lights instead of oil lamps on account of economy and brilliancy. I suspend therefore the former until we can consult together on the subject.⁽⁷⁵²⁾

4. Congress have remitted the duties on our marbles. we are now to take measures as to the clock.

5. Dr. Emmett and myself think we have found a piece of ground for the Botanical garden far superior to any other spot we possess. this work should be begun immediately; but I should request your advice in it.

6. but a stimulus must be applied, and very earnestly applied, or consultations and orders are nugatory. come then, dear Sir, to our aid, as soon as possible. our books are in a dangerous state. they cannot be opened until the presses are ready, nor they be got ready, till the Domeroom is rendered dry.

Around this same time the impatient Jefferson made another, more detailed memorandum of the work he hoped to see finished soon:

Instructions to mr Brockenbrough.

1. Engage mr Broke to come immediately & put another cover of tin on the Dome-room of the Rotunda, without disturbing the old one.

2. the inside plaistering will then be to be coloured uniform with Whiting.

3. the finishing the Dome room to be pushed by every possible exertion, as also the Anatomical building by employing all the hands which can be got.

4. Repair the water-pipes from the mountain, & let their ditch be 4. f. deep.

5. ascertain, by a very exact level, the point nearest to the Precincts to which Maury's spring can be brought, leaving the trace pins firmly fixed

6. I shall write to the North to know the terms of boring for water; and to know if a skilful workman can be engaged there.

7. I shall also write to Boston to engage a clock and bell. but I must be furnished immediately with very exact measures of the dimensions of the tympanum of the portico of the Rotunda, that is to say of it's base and perpendicular, to wit the lines a.b. & c.d. also the diameter & depth of the well, for the descent of the weights.⁽⁷⁵³⁾

[drawing]

8. have 200. wooden guns made, with real locks, half barrels of tin and ram rods.

9. a copy of the enactments is to be given to every student now there, and to every one coming hereafter, at his entrance.

10. go on McAdamising in preference to any hauling which can be dispensed with.

11. the botanical garden, after being laid off under the direction of Dr. Emmet, is to be pursued at all spare times.

12. Dr. Emmet will provide the chemical substances necessary to be used in a chemical course, their amount to be paid for by the University.

1[3]. he is to make enquires as to Gas lights. in the mean time suspend makg. the lantherns.⁽⁷⁵⁴⁾

Death of Jefferson

None of the foregoing work would be finished before Jefferson's death, however. In mid-February, six weeks before his painful ride to the university in early May, Jefferson had complained of "a paroxysm of pain, rendering impossible all attention of the mind to any thing but aggravated suffering."⁽⁷⁵⁵⁾ In early March he wistfully invited Robert Mills to return to Virginia: "I wish your travels should some day lead you this way, where from Monto. as your head quarters, you could visit and revist 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."⁽⁷⁵⁶⁾ Throughout the spring his decline was rapid, and he died on 4 July 1826. University bursar Alexander Garrett was at Monticello at the time, and he described the scene in a letter written to his wife Evelina Bolling Garrett several hours after Jefferson's death:

Monticello 5. Oclock 4th. July 1826

My Dear Wife Mr. Jefferson is no more, he breathed his last 10 minutes before 1 Oclock today allmost without a struggle.⁽⁷⁵⁷⁾ no one here but Col. Carr & myself, both of us ignorant of shrouding, neither ever having done it, ourselves or seen it done, we have done the best we could, and I hope all is right. his remains will be buried tomorrow at 5 oclock PM, no visitations will be given, all comeing will be welcome at the grave. I understand Mrs. R: bears the loss as well as could be expected, perhaps better, she has not as yet shed a tear, could she do so it would go better with her, the rest of the family are much distressed I learn, all however is silence about the house.⁽⁷⁵⁸⁾

Workmen Unruly

Immediately upon Jefferson's death the construction workers at the university began to exert their independence in ways that they would not have dared as long as Jefferson lived. A few days after Jefferson's death John Hartwell Cocke sent one of his slaves, Jesse, to deliver a message to Brockenbrough concerning Jefferson's "faithful Servant" Burwell, "said to be a good painter—I wish you to offer him any job in his line at the University, that he would undertake."⁽⁷⁵⁹⁾ Unfortunately Cocke, now the sole member of the committee of superintendence, at the same time felt constrained to include an ultimatum in the letter concerning another favorite of Jefferson, stonemason John Gorman: "If Gorman does not keep sober & otherwise deport himself well, discharge him promptly—for I am sure, You & Zeigler will do better without than with him while drunk or refractory."⁽⁷⁶⁰⁾ Unruly behavior among other workmen seemed to intensify with the summer's heat and at the end of August John Patton Emmet, now the secretary of the faculty, sent John Hartwell Cocke a faculty "Preamble and Resolution" respecting Jefferson's long-pampered master craftsmen, James Dinsmore and John Neilson:

The Faculty, taking into Consideration that Messrs. Dinsmore and Nelson, having, on several occasions, behaved in an extremely offensive manner to them; and, in as much as Whenever it has been necessary for the Faculty, or any of the Professors, to request particular portions of the work to be forwarded, they have met with an opposition from the Individuals in question, and, usually in the most disrespectful manner:—that, on the 28th. of August, Mr. Dinsmore, having been Civilly directed to remove one of the Workmen from the immediate neighbourhood of a Lecture room, where the noise of working prevented the Lecture from being heard, most grossly insulted one of the Professors in the presence of his Class, threatening, with an Oath, to turn the benches out of the room, and, asserting that the Faculty had no business within the Building.—It was therefore Resolved, That it be expressed to the Executive Committee, that the Faculty, whilst they are aware that the Workmen are in no way under their Charge, feel that their authority in the Institution will be greatly lowered if those Workmen are permitted to insult them in this manner, with impunity:—That the Committee be requested to take such steps as may prevent the recurrence of Similar Offences; and, particularly, that the persons in question, may not be employed farther than the nature of their Contracts renders necessary, of which Contracts, in Consequence of the absence of the Proctor, the Faculty have no Knowledge.⁽⁷⁶¹⁾

A few days later professor Robley Dunglison complained to the proctor about Neilson's "want of all spirit of Accommodation" in finishing the upper lecture room at the Anatomical Hall.⁽⁷⁶²⁾ Cocke diplomatically reconciled the faculty members to the more crass ways of the workmen, and the more rapid progress of the latter throughout the rest of the summer helped placate the professors' wounded feelings.

The Visitors Meet without Jefferson

On 7 October 1826 the Board of Visitors prepared its annual report to the president and directors of the Literary Fund of the recent progress of the work and what remained to be done:

the Liberary Room in the Rotunda has been nearly completed, and the books put into it. Two rooms for the Professors of natural Philosophy and Chemistry, and one large lecture room have also been fitted for use. The work of the Anatomical Hall is so far advanced that it may be used early in the next session. The Portico of the Rotunda has been finished, with the exception of the flight of steps and the laying of the marble flags, which have been received and paid for. The work remaining to be done, is the finishing of one large oval room, one small one, and the entrance Hall of the Rotunda with the unfinished parts of the Portico and about one fourth of the Anatomical Hall. Some small additions are also necessary for the better accomodations of the Professors in their Pavilions, and of the students in their Dormitories, and for a few other minor objects.⁽⁷⁶³⁾

Although the books were placed in their cases in the season following the meeting of the visitors, faculty secretary William Wertenbaker on 15 January 1828 sent a faculty resolution of the day previous to the proctor asking him to inform the executive committee that "the Books in the Library especially those in the Gallery are now materially suffering from damp, and that it is impossible for any person to remain in the Library with comfort during the Winter season . . . do also suggest to the Executive Committee to have the lecture rooms furnished with Stoves, the fire places having been found insufficient for warming and drying the apartments, hence they are exceedingly disagreeable and unwholesome especially in the morning."⁽⁷⁶⁴⁾

Repairs Necessary

Over the next few months, progress toward the final completion of the construction at the university nearly halted, owing in part to another Virginia winter and in part to the fact that maintenance of the finished work competed with the priorities of completing that remaining to be done. Brockenbrough's letter to Dinsmore & Neilson, written in the spring of 1827, is a good example of how the workmen were called upon to perform repairs on one building while still engaged in the unfinished work at another. "I am anxious," wrote the proctor, "to have the roof of the Gimnasium put on a proper state to carry off the Water—the longer it remains in its present state the greater the damage and as I look to you to make it good the sooner you attend to it the better—the crackd gutters too in the roof of the Anatomical Hall must be attended to & if necessary other gutters put in their places⁽⁷⁶⁵⁾—no payments for those items can be made untill they are put in the order they should be."⁽⁷⁶⁶⁾

Variety of Small Jobs

With the coming of spring the pace of work once again picked up, however. The proctor, aiming to "finish the little stone work about the Rotunda exclusive of the Front steps," negotiated with John Hartwell Cocke for the hire of one of the latter's "good Stone cutters," at that time working for Alexander Garrett in Charlottesville, and for some men to quarry the stone for the portico steps in case the Board of Visitors sought a contemplated $25,000 loan.⁽⁷⁶⁷⁾ Brockenbrough also presented Cocke with "Another matter for consideration and advise," the placement of a privy for the students residing in the "North Eastern Dormitories near Pav: 2." The proctor complained that "there was one put on the alley (just within Dr Blaettermans garden) leading down by Richesons Hotel but Dr B would not let it be used—at present they are put to much inconvenience." Brockenbrough preferred to dismantle the existing privy and reerect it "at the lower end of garden wall just upon the outside . . . so constructed that no inconvenience can be felt by its location in the dormitories below—I propose constructing so that it may be thoroughly cleansed every day."⁽⁷⁶⁸⁾ Cocke left the difficulty to the proctor's "own discretion," and Brockenbrough presumably followed his own inclinations.⁽⁷⁶⁹⁾

Also in the spring of 1827, the proctor received word from Jefferson's grandson-in-law, Joseph Coolidge, Jr., informing him that the clock and dial plate intended for the Rotunda at long last was finished but still needed to be tested, packed, and shipped to Richmond, where its maker Simon Willard would go to oversee its removal from the vessel.⁽⁷⁷⁰⁾ Coolidge wrote the proctor again on the last day of March saying that the clock and dial had been placed on board the schooner Magnolia and that Willard was scheduled to leave on 3 April.⁽⁷⁷¹⁾ Bernard Peyton notified the proctor on 21 April that the Magnolia was in the James River at Richmond,⁽⁷⁷²⁾ and four days later Peyton wrote saying that wagoner John Keyser would deliver to the university all the "boxes Containing Clocks &c &c & two (iron bound) buckets"⁽⁷⁷³⁾ except for the dial plate which, because of its size, "shall go by first Trusty Boat, to Milton or Shadwell Mills."⁽⁷⁷⁴⁾ Months would pass before the proctor asked Coolidge to procure the accompanying bell for the mechanism, however,⁽⁷⁷⁵⁾ and it was November before the bell was shipped from Boston to Richmond onboard the Levant. The maker, "Mr Holbrook, of Medway," assured Coolidge that its metal "cast is good, and the tine excellent," and warranted the bell for "one year from delivery."⁽⁷⁷⁶⁾

Work on other jobs continued throughout the summer. By August, large "circular tables" designed for the library had been built and set up, and the Rotunda's interior "iron work" was nearly finished. Brockenbrough predicted that the building's unfinished plaster work would be completed before the end of the summer vacation (July to September); and the Anatomical Hall, the proctor also suggested, would be "in readiness" soon. The "Brick making business" had stalled, however, "for the want of boys" to make them.⁽⁷⁷⁷⁾ (Several thousands of bricks were necessary for the building of cisterns.)⁽⁷⁷⁸⁾ The arrival of slate required to finish some small job was delayed too.⁽⁷⁷⁹⁾ About this time Professor Charles Bonnycastle designed a water fountain 16 feet in diameter for the lawn, a 5-feet-deep "brick basin neatly covered with Packer's Cement, & with a stone curb . . . From the height of the headspring the water would be thrown many feet high."⁽⁷⁸⁰⁾

Exterior Railings

With the fall season approaching, Board of Visitors secretary Nicholas P. W. Trist informed Brockenbrough that he had overlooked reporting to him resolutions passed by the visitors earlier in the summer that directed the proctor to "cause a neat iron railing to be placed on the right & left of the Rotunda & adjacent to the same, so as to exclude access for the purpose of walking over the gymnasia."⁽⁷⁸¹⁾ "With regard to the iron railing," Trist wrote, "I would suggest the propriety of conferring with the executive committee, before you place it. Dr Emmet, wishes such a portion only of the gymnasium terrace cut off, as would Shorten the walk by the width of his portico."⁽⁷⁸²⁾ On 7 October the proctor inquired of John Hartwell Cocke whether the railings were "intended to be of wrought or cast iron? and how near to the Portico?"⁽⁷⁸³⁾ After Brockenbrough mentioned the subject again in another letter, Cocke replied that the railings were designed "to prevent too near an approach to the Pavilions contiguous to the terraces of the Rotunda—so as to intrude upon the privacy of the Professors families inhabiting them—if Cast iron railing is cheapest, that ought to be preferr'd as to its position I do not recollect whether it was decided to place it nearest to the Rotunda or the Pavilions—but this difficulty will be solved probably by the record in Mr. Trists possession."⁽⁷⁸⁴⁾ The question of where to place the railings remained unresolved until November, when, after Brockenbrough brought up the subject once again,⁽⁷⁸⁵⁾ Cocke directed him to place them on the Rotunda terrace "as near to the Pavilions as will be consistent with the object for which they are to be erected viz. to secure the privacy of these Buildings."⁽⁷⁸⁶⁾

Discontentment of Professor Emmet

On an early fall day of 1827, the proctor received what must have been a meddlesome letter from Professor John Patton Emmet concerning the unfinished state of Pavilion I and the workmen's indifferent attitude toward finishing the work at the house:

Mr. Antrim informg me that he has never once thought of finishing my Cornice since you and he were together about it—You must be aware that I have no room in my house, except the dining, to receive friends; and I assure you the delay has occasioned the greatest disappointment to the family—The unfinished & filthy state of my Pavilion at the time when I took possession of it, being then occupied by two Societies & some students, has frequently been noticed by me; it has even been stated to the Visitors at their last meeting when applying for permission to make sundry additions to the House, & in Consequence of the Communication money was actually appropriated for the purpose of finishing the Pavilions. I am now prevented from becoming settled from the unfinished & dirty state of my House as well as the indifference of the workmen—Mr. Crawford first admits & then denies that he has any thing to do with the job—Mr. Antrim then Calls with you & apparently undertakes it, and it is not until after a week or two of very inconvenient delay that I learn that he does not intend doing the work—Every thing in the mean time lies in Confusion—I have written to beg for the last time, that steps may be taken to finish my House and the Cornice in particular—If the figures Cannot be made, let all the others be taken down & the plain Cornice painted &c  by doing so you will much oblige.⁽⁷⁸⁷⁾

The poor proctor, forced to attend to the work himself, tried to rob the finished cornice of Pavilion VII of its ornaments in a desperate attempt to pacify Emmet. When he attempted to take down the ornaments, however, the proctor discovered that it could not be done without "breaking them all to pieces as they are not only nailed but stuck on with putty or White lead." Rather than disfiguring the cornice at Pavilion I by taking down the ornaments already fastened in place—as Emmet suggested—Brockenbrough decided to paint those ornaments and to have enough cast in lead to finish out the cornice. "tomorrow I shall procure lead if to [be] had in Charlottesville, to try & get them cast—The other part of your drawing room, that is injured by the cracking of the Wall I directed Brand to repair yesterday, I know of no other finishing that your house wants except the painting of the Portico ceiling which will be done when Mr Vowles can procure paints."⁽⁷⁸⁸⁾ These efforts placated Emmet only until the following summer, however, when he took it upon himself to engage a bricklayer to begin adding a room to the pavilion without informing the proctor.⁽⁷⁸⁹⁾

Water Works and Fire Protection

One matter of consequence remaining to be finished at the university was the introduction to the site of the "water works &c &c"—a water supply system consisting of cisterns, springs, "dry wells," pipes, and engines (see appendix T).⁽⁷⁹⁰⁾ At the beginning of June Brockenbrough boasted that the water pipes had been laid to the "neighbourhood of my stable within a few yards—all the logs we have will be down in two or three days";⁽⁷⁹¹⁾ five weeks later the proctor's workers had prepared another "14 or 1,500 feet of logs" for A. Zigler "the pump man" to install. Brockenbrough's own plan, he informed John Hartwell Cocke, was to place a large cistern "at or near" the proctor's house at a spot considered the "most advantageous situation for it, the situation is higher, by having it 12 or 14 ft deep one half above the present level with a mound around it every drop of water might be drawn from it by the pipes where it might be wanted, whereas if you place it in the Lawn even 10 or 12 feet deep it can only be drawn out by a pump." By keeping the cistern and its connecting pipes "constantly full," Brockenbrough asserted, smaller "cisterns or reservoirs" and pumps would have ready access to water. Fire engines could be linked to the source (i.e., the cistern) in minutes by hoses connected to uprights with "brass swivel" screws strategically located along the water supply route.⁽⁷⁹²⁾ Cocke recognized the sensibleness of Brockenbrough's scheme but rejected it on the basis that it did not conform to a plan previously approved by the Board of Visitors, "decided so fully upon having the large Cistern on the Lawn, at the place I pointed out to you . . . It was at the same time decided that it should be cover'd and not elevated above the surface, with a pump Stock in the center." Cocke concurred with the proctor that the pipes should be "so brought over the hill near your House as to admit of a Cistern there also should it be approved upon future consideration."⁽⁷⁹³⁾

This was not the end of the water matter, however. In the same letter, Brockenbrough told Cocke that he had written to Philadelphia to inquire of "Mr Sellers about a fire Engine." In a reply to the proctor of 11 August 1827, the firm of Sellers & Pennock recommended the "Hydraulion of 16 Man Power as preferable to any other form of Engine within our knowledge it being the most simple Eficient and Economical Araingment of the forcing pump now in use, having a Reel capable of carrying from 800 to 1,000 feet of hose, and costing but 450 Dollars  It will deliver as much water with as good an efect as the Double Chamber Engine which Costs 650 to 700 Dollars." The firm annexed a list of prices and a circular engraving and description of "that Class Hyraulion, with the manner of opperation" (see appendix), and informed Brockenbrough that it was building "One large Hyraulion for the City of Richmond, and two do. for Alexandria in Virginia with 3 to 4,000. feet of hose &c &c—also One 16 man power Hyl. for Washington City . . . owing to the engagements now on hand it is doubtfull wether we could execute an order before the Coming Winter."⁽⁷⁹⁴⁾ The proctor estimated that a suitable fire apparatus for the university would cost $570, $450 for the engine and $120 for 200 feet of hose,⁽⁷⁹⁵⁾ and placed an order for the hydraulion.⁽⁷⁹⁶⁾ Coleman Sellers traveled south to Virginia in January 1828 in anticipation of the arrival of the hydraulion and its hose in Richmond, where he waited more than a month for the schooner Naomi, apparently detained by heavy fogs.⁽⁷⁹⁷⁾ The fire engine and apparatus finally arrived at the university in March 1828.⁽⁷⁹⁸⁾ Upon its arrival, Brockenbrough, after making a "trial of it," informed John Hartwell Cocke that he thought the system "will answer our purposes extremely well, if you can only get a sufficient supply of Water—I plac'd it by the cistern at Mr Longs, and carried the hose on the terras half way between my office & Mr Tuckers from that it projected water to the top of Mr Tuckers house & over the Office . . . I found one pump entirely inadequate to The supply of it, I shall fix a trap door to the cistern that buckets may be used in aid of the pump." Brockenbrough also renewed his plea to locate a cistern on the higher ground near his house, and this time his opinions were reinforced "by a practical & experianced man (C. Sellars)." "the first and most important consideration is a sufficient supply of Water, I have formed my opinion upon that subject, and I yield to The superior wisdom of the visitors reluctantly."⁽⁷⁹⁹⁾

Steps for the Rotunda

Although the emphasis of the work soon would shift entirely toward maintenance and minor innovations, the proctor still had his hands full overseeing uncompleted construction tasks at the site. Anxious to complete the "Steps of the Portico" at the Rotunda, he wrote to Philadelphia in search of a contractor, who, it turned out, wanted "rather more" than the proctor was willing to give; Brockenbrough then sought workmen in Richmond.⁽⁸⁰⁰⁾ The firm of William Mountjoy & Co., "having so much to do we Could not leave here with any sort of Convenience," offered to furnish the stone ("greatly superior quality, to the Albemarle stone"), cut the "moulded or plain Square steps" in Richmond "agreeably to yr directions," and to "deliver them on the spot & put them up in the best manner for the price hereafter to be agreed on."⁽⁸⁰¹⁾ The proctor rejected this offer too, and the Rotunda steps remained unfinished for several more years.⁽⁸⁰²⁾

Smoking Chimneys

The Rotunda's chimneys were causing problems too, to such an extent that "the Rooms on the Western side of the Edifice" were rendered useless.⁽⁸⁰³⁾ Some of the visitors took a look at the tops of the chimneys while at the university for the board's 1827 fall meeting, but, according to Brockenbrough, the visitors "came to no decisive determination what should be done to prevent their smoking."⁽⁸⁰⁴⁾ John Hartwell Cocke recalled the visitors' decision differently, however, saying that the board had decided to "make the Experiment of a Sheet iron Funnel" after Dr. Emmet mentioned "a late improvement in the Construction of these Funnels."⁽⁸⁰⁵⁾ Brockenbrough still was trying to fix the smoking chimneys a full year later, when he reminded the Board of Visitors of the problem.⁽⁸⁰⁶⁾ The visitors then asked Professor Bonnycastle to draw up a plan to solve the problem (see appendix S), and Cocke asked the proctor to consider the viability of Bonnycastle's plan "& make an Estimate of the cost—with the view to trying it—should the result of your calculation recommend it—If we can prevent the smoking—I should like to deferr the disfiguring the Building by running up Chimnie Shafts—and take the risk of guarding against fire, by keeping them clear of Soot."⁽⁸⁰⁷⁾ Meanwhile, Benjamin Blackford of Isabella Furnace furnished "2 Largest Oval Stoves" and 1 Large Phila. Ditto" to the university.⁽⁸⁰⁸⁾

New Buildings Contemplated

The professors also made demands of Brockenbrough. Charles Bonnycastle, anxious to move into Thomas H. Key's pavilion, wanted the interior of the building painted throughout.⁽⁸⁰⁹⁾ Bonnycastle also designed a small building for his "astronomical purposes an octagon of 14 ft in diameter," estimated by the proctor to require 5 to 6,000 bricks and to cost $100 to $150, or perhaps less, if built of bricks that had already been made at the university.⁽⁸¹⁰⁾ William Leitch and Samuel Campbell built the observatory the next spring,⁽⁸¹¹⁾ with the help of plasterers and painters, Lewis S. Carter and John Kennedy.⁽⁸¹²⁾ It contained a 97-square-feet "spherical roof" made out of sheet iron, "cheaper," the proctor said, "than I could have it done in wood & tin cover."⁽⁸¹³⁾ John Patton Emmet handed in a plan for a more substantial building, a "Chemical Lecture room & Laboratory 40 by 60 feet." The proctor did not even bother to calculate the cost of the second structure, "presuming it will not be put up untill after a Meeting of the Visitors."⁽⁸¹⁴⁾ Some alterations were made to Emmet's existing laboratory the next year, however, which "tolerably well pleased" him.⁽⁸¹⁵⁾

Emphasis Shifts to Maintenance

Aside from the tasks such as those related to the lingering details of finishing the Rotunda and the waterworks and satisfying professors, the proctor saw more and more of his time and efforts spent on maintenance and repairs at the site. Two examples will suffice. First, a defect in the skylight of the Rotunda was discovered during the winter of 1827–1828 and counsel was sought from Philadelphian Coleman Sellers, who suggested taking off "all the glass, and have them well cleaned, and Rubed with whiting so as to Remove any grease that might get on by handling &c then take white lead putty, (made with drying Oil and Tapan) and bed each Glass well into it—so as to Cement their edges together—or Rather the surfaces when they over lap each other."⁽⁸¹⁶⁾ As well founded as Sellers' advice was, it proved only a temporarily solution to a perennially vexing problem. Finally, in July 1828 the Board of Visitors authorized the executive committee to tear off part of the "exterior covering from the lower range of dormitories" and appropriated $225 for the purpose.⁽⁸¹⁷⁾ John Hartwell Cocke informed Brockenbrough that the board wanted "to make the Experiment of exposing the rooflets in part on one of blocks of one of the lower Ranges, with the view to ascertain by Comparison, the practical effect of the external plank Covering on the rooflets:—You will therefore proceed forthwith, to take off about half the upper plank covering from one of blocks of Dormitories in Either of the Lower Ranges—Such of the plank as is found to be sound may be used for the Repairs order'd in the residue of this Covering & will consequently diminish the Expence of this item."⁽⁸¹⁸⁾ The proctor, after a two week excurision to Warm Springs, told Cocke that he would proceed to carry out the experiment on "one of the blocks of Dormitories on the East Street and use the plank for the repairs else where—The gutters I think had best be covered by laying a narrow board length ways, to Keep them clear in case of a Sudden Thaw, but not so close as to prevent the rain Water from passing freely in."⁽⁸¹⁹⁾ Cocke considered the proctor's plan to lay a plank over the gutters of the uncovered roofs of the dormitories "essential where the gutters are lined with metal—and even where there is no metal, it may be useful in the way you mention, in case of a sudden thaw."⁽⁸²⁰⁾