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whom nature has given minds of the first order。  Secondly such a

degree of learning given to every member of the society as will

enable him to read; to judge & to vote understandingly on what is

passing。  This would be the object of the township schools。  I

understand from your letter that the first of these only is under

present contemplation。  Let us receive with contentment what the

legislature is now ready to give。  The other branch will be

incorporated into the system at some more favorable moment。




        The first step in this business will be for the legislature to

pass an act of establishment equivalent to a charter。  This should

deal in generals only。  It's provisions should go 1。 to the object of

the institution。  2。 it's location。  3。 it's endowment。  4。 it's

Direction。  On each of these heads I will hazard a first thought or

two。  1。 It's object should be defined only generally for teaching

the useful branches of science; leaving the particulars to the

direction of the day。  Science is progressive。  What was useful two

centuries ago is now become useless; e。g。 one half the professorships

of Wm & Mary。  What is now deemed useful will in some of it's parts

become useless in another century。  The visitors will be the best

qualified to keep their institution up in even pace with the science

of the times。  Every one knows that Oxford; Cambridge; the Sorbonne;

etc。 are now a century or two behind the science of the age。  2。 The

location。  The legislature is the proper judges of a general

position; within certain limits; as for instance the county in which

it shall be。  To fix on the spot identically they would not be so

competent as persons particularly appointed to examine the grounds。

This small degree of liberty in location would place the landholders

in the power of the purchasers: to fix the spot would place the

purchaser in the power of the landholder。  3。 It's endowment。  Bank

stock; or public stock of any kind should be immediately converted

into real estate。  In the form of stock it is a dead fund; it's

depreciation being equal to it's interest。  Every one must see that

money put into our funds when first established (in 1791) with all

its interest from that day would not buy more now than the principal

would then have done。  Mr。 Pitt states to parliament that the

expenses of living in England have; in the last 20 years; increased

50。 percent: that is that money has depreciated that much。  Even the

precious metals depreciate slowly so that in perpetual institutions;

as colleges; that ought to be guarded against。  But in countries

admitting paper; the abusive emissions of that produces two; three or

four courses of depreciation & annihilation in a century。  Lands will

keep _advancing_ nominally so as to keep _even_ really。  Canal shares

are as good as lands; perhaps better: but the whole funds should not

be risked in any one form。  They should be vested in the visitors;

without any power given them to lessen their capital; or even to

_change_ what is real。  4。 The Direction。  This would of course be in

the hands of Visitors。  The legislature would name the first set; &

lay down the laws of their succession。  On death or resignation the

legislature or the Chancellor might name three persons of whom the

visitors should chuse one。  The visitors should be few。  If many;

those half qualified would by their numbers bring every thing down to

the level of their own capacities; by out…voting the few of real

science。  I doubt if they should exceed five。  For this is an office

for which good sense alone does not qualify a man。  To analyse

science into it's different branches; to distribute these into

professorships; to superintend the course practiced by each

professor; he must know what these sciences are and possess their

outlines at least。  Can any state in the union furnish more than 5。

men so qualified as to the whole field of the sciences。  The Visitors

should receive no pay。  Such qualifications are properly rewarded by

honor; not by money。




        The charter being granted & the Visitors named; these become

then the agents as to every thing else。  Their first objects will be

1。 the special location。  2。 the institution of professorships。  3。

the employment of their capital。  4。 the necessary buildings。  A word

on each。  1。 Special location needs no explanation。  2。

Professorships。  They would have to select all the branches of

science deemed useful at this day; & in this country: to groupe as

many of these together as could be taught by one professor and thus

reduce the number of professors to the minimum consistent with the

essential object。  Having for some years entertained the hope that

our country would some day establish an institution on a liberal

scale; I have been taking measures to have in readiness such

materials as would require time to collect。  I have from Dr。

Priestley a designation of the branches of science grouped into

professorships which he furnished at my request。  He was an excellent

judge of what may be called the old studies; of those useful and

those useless。  I have the same thing from Mr。 Dupont; a good judge

of the new branches。  His letter to me is quite a treatise。  I have

the plan of the institutions of Edinburgh; & those of the National

institute of France; and I expect from Mr。 Pictet; one of the most

celebrated professors of Geneva; their plan; in answer to a letter

written some time ago。  From these the Visitors could select the

branches useful for the country & how to groupe them。  A hasty view

of the subject on a former occasion led me to believe 10。

professorships would be necessary; but not all immediately。  Half a

dozen of the most urgent would make a good beginning。  The salaries

of the first professors should be very liberal; that we might draw

the first names of Europe to our institution in order to give it a

celebrity in the outset; which will draw to it the youth of all the

states; and make Virginia their cherished & beloved Alma mater。  I

have good reasons to believe we can command the services of some of

the first men of Europe。  3。 The emploiment of their capital。  On

this subject others are so much better judges than myself that I

shall say nothing。  4。 Buildings。  The greatest danger will be their

over…building themselves; by attempting a large house in the

beginning; sufficient to contain the whole institution。  Large houses

are always ugly; inconvenient; exposed to the accident of fire; and

bad in cases of infection。  A plain small house for the school &

lodging of each professor is best。  These connected by covered ways

out of which the rooms of the students should open would be best。

These may then be built only as they shall be wanting。  In fact an

University should not be an house but a village。  This will much

lessen their first expenses。




        Not having written any three lines of this without interruption

it has been impossible to keep my ideas rallied to the subject。  I

must let these hasty outlines go therefore as they are。  Some are

premature; some probably immature: but make what use you please of

them except letting them get into print。  Should this establishment

take place on a plan worthy of approbation; I shall have a valuable

legacy to leave it; to wit; my library; which certainly has not cost

less than 15;000 Dollars。  But it's value is more in the selection; a

part of which; that which respects America; is the result of my own

personal searches in Paris for 6。 or 7。 years; & of persons employed

by me in England; Holland; Germany and Spain to make similar

searches。  Such a collection on that subject can never again be made。

With my sincere wishes for the success of this measure accept my

salutations & assurances of great esteem & respect。







        THE TWO…TERM PRECEDENT




        _To John Taylor_

        _Washington; Jan。 6; 1805_




        DEAR SIR;  Your fa

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