James Madison Letter 1827

Access and use

Location of collection:
University of Virginia, Special Collections Dept.
Albert and Shirley Small Special Collections Library
University of Virginia
P.O. Box 400110
160 McCormick Rd
Charlottesville, Virginia 22904-4110
Contact for questions and access:
POC: Brenda Gunn
Phone: (434) 924-1037
Phone: (434) 243-1776
Fax: (434) 924-4968

Summary

Creator:
Language:
English

Background

Scope and content:

This collection consists of an autograph one page letter, August 4, 1827, from James Madison, Rector of the University of Virginia, Montpellier, to Nicholas Philip Trist, Secretary of the Board of Visitors of the University of Virginia, Tufton near Charlottesville, concerning the vacancy that occurred at the University when Thomas Hewitt Key, Professor of Mathematics, returned to England in 1827. Charles Bonnycastle, Professor of Natural Philosophy, filled Key's vacant chair in 1827, and Robert M. Patterson eventually replaced Bonnycastle as Professor of Natural Philosophy.

Madison also apologizes for asking Trist to search the works of Benjamin Franklin at the University Library for a portion that may have been, upon further reflection, omitted by the editors. He refers to the necessity of finding out the amount remaining in the fund formerly administered by the late Mr. Rufus King, U.S. minister to Great Britain, 1825-1826, in order to purchase some needed apparatus for the University. He promises to write to King's executor as soon as he finds the address, and asks Trist to search Thomas Jefferson's correspondence with King for information about the fund. Madison also mentions Mr. Albert Gallatin, U.S. minister to Great Britain, 1826-1827, whose "efforts promise no aid in filling the vacant chair. I shall write him a few lines, intimating the duties assigned & assignable to it; but without any certainty that he will be found in England. Mr. Bonnycastle, in the moment of taking leave of us, dropped an intimation that he had asked of Mr. [Peter] Barlow information as to an attainable & fit successor."

Acquisition information:
This letter was purchased by the University of Virginia Library on September 20, 1995.
Physical location:
Physical description:
1 item