Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1826-01-30

university, thence across the Kavenna 70 MS
son.in-law's estate, and then up the mountain
home, every day-indeed his activity is as,o'
nishing. Mrs Randolph, his daughter, the
wife of the ex- governor Of Virginia. who lives
with him, is a very fine woman; she had eleven
children, whom she principally educated her.
self; her eldest daughter, Ellen, is young lady
of remarkable talents and requirements; her &C
ouaintance with history and politics. is great,
and she conversed well on all the subjects which
we're discussed during my Seiour at Monticello
MIR. Jefferson is immersed in schemes Tor pro-
noting the prosperity of the new Virginia uni
yersily, which has been founded by his inhu-
ence, and fostered by his perseverance: and ne
has thus far succeeded to remarkable degree.
MANY persons have taxed him with whimsical
ness in the design and execution OF the buildings,
bu1 if Won were to hear him explain his lnten-
tions in the arrangement he has adopted, you
would think with me, that he has shown more
oood judgement than is usually attributed to him
in this respect will endeavor TO give you the
outline of the plan, though it must be confused,
and not very interesting to you; but as 1t Is the
hobby of one of our greatest men, short des-
cription will not, hope, be entirely unworthy
Of your attention
There are four parallel rows OF buildings; the
two middle rows consist of ten large two-story
edifces, FIVE on each side, called pautkons, for
the residence of the professors and their fami-
lies. situated at the distance of 100 feet from
each other, and connected by blocks OF one-sto-
nv buildings, called dormitories, for the resi-
dence of two students each; there are twenty
seven on each side, making ifty-four in the two
rows, which will lodge lo8 students. The pa
vilions which Immediately front one another
are beautiful buildings, each in different style,
for the purpose of giving the students prac-
tical knowledge ofthe several orderst
They are built in imitation OF some OF the
most perfect specimens of ancient erection
They are all ornamented with porticos, and
some of them with domes, and are intended
for models of the different schools OF celebra-
ted architecture; for example, one OF them is
COPY of Roman temple at Albano, twenty
miles from Rome, as specimen OF the Doric;
for the Ionic, the temple of Fortuna Virilis at
Rome, is copied; for the Corinthian, there is
COPY of the baths Of Dioclesian at Rome;
the seven others are in imitation OF the styles
of Palladie, M Angelo, and other celebrated
architects The dormitories open into col
onnade; which extends the whole length OF the
row, 500 feet and they have q. e. the dormto-
ries) fiat roofs on level with the upper apart
of the first story Of the pavilion; which being
continued through or under the por,icos; fur
nish private walk and communications Tor
the families who inhabt the pavilions. There
are yards and gardens in the rear OF these TWO
ranges; and in the rear Of those fronting out
side, are two other ranges OF buildings, con-
sisting of six hotels; three in each range at in
tervals Of 200 feet, which are TO be let to house
keepers for boarding the students. These IN
,ervals between the hotels are hlled up with
dormitories of the same dimensions as those
Of the two middle ranges, 26 on side. So on
both, which will furnish apartments OF lo4
students; these will also open into arcades,
which will form covered way for shelter dur
ing bad weather. These six hotels are PLAIN
respectable two story buildings, without any
pretension 10 ornament.
Recapitulation The ten pavilions will lodge
ten families, the six hotels six families, and the
lo6 dormitories will accommodate 90 stu
dents the students will be obliged to nhabit
the dormtores or other buildings Of the lnsti-
tuition, blu, they may frequent whichever Of the
hotels they please for eating These four ran
ges of buildings are each 600 feet long, and
may be extended indefinitely according to the
original design, so as to accommodate thou
sands Of students, if necessary There is to
be an astronomical observatory on the noun.
tain, which overlooks the university. The
ground between the two middle rows, is an
open lawn or street 200 feet wide, and 900 feet
long, looking S. S f. so as to continue The
building, if requisite. Atthe north end OF this
lawn is beautiful circular building, the ro-
tunda, II feet in diameter and II feet in height.
crowned by dome Of 100 degrees Of the
sphere the lower floor of this building con-
tains two large eliptical rooms tor chapel,
public examinations, sc. the upper hoo is a
beautiful circular hall like library (RadcliH's)
at Oxford, and, intended for the library of the
university. The front of this building towards
the lawn, has portico the whole height; 1t is
Of. the Corinthian order, after the manner OF
Palladio, and supported by ten columns, with
flight of nine steps; this beautiful edltee re-
minds me of the Pantheon at Rome. The ca
pitfalls of the columns Of this portico, as we'll
as all the other ten porticos of the pavilion,
are of white Italian marble and handsomely
wrought. The rotunda is connected with the
two ranges of pavilions and dormitories, by
terrace on each side, Of the height Of its base
ment, having covered way below for gym
nasium, where the students, during bad wea.
,her. may exercise themselves in athletic a.
musements; these being united with the two
colonnades fronting the two ranges OF the CEN