Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1873-09-14
THOMAS JEFFERSON.

Last, Dut uOb loaSt, we give COp1 vi
letter from Thomas Jefferson, of the year
1910, frsnked to "Mr. Hugh L. White,
Knoxville, ,Tennissee," and addressed to a
committee of gentlemen engaged in inau-
gurating the East Tennessee University.
Judging from the water-mark, the paper on
which it is written seems to be English i'm
ported. Although unruled, the writing is
remarkably even and regular, rather small
round hand. Like Mr.. Clsy's letter, it is
we'll punctuated, although for the truth OF
history we must confess that Mr.. Jefferson
seems to have depended on periods alone
to separate his sentences, as be seldom uses
capital letters to Indicate their commence
ment. The views embodied, concerning
lotteries and the college system, are as read
able now as the day that Hugh l.. White
received them:
MONTICELLO, May 6, '10.-Gentlemen: |
received some time ago your letter Of Feb.
2S, covering printed scheme of lottery
for the benefit of the East Tennissee Col
lege, and proposin to send tickets to me TO
be disposed Of Ii would be i'm possible for
them to come to more ineffi cient hand.
rarely 90 from home and consequently see
but few neighbors and friends who occa-
sionally call on me; and having myself made
it rule never to engage in lottery or any
other adventure of mere chance, l can
with the less candor or effect urge it on
others, however laudable and desirable its
object may be. No one moe sincerely
wishes the spread Of information among
mankind THAI do, and none has greater
confidence N its effects towards supporting
free and good government. am sincerely
reioced the, efo to find that SO excellent
fund has been provided for this noble
purpose in Tennessee. $4,000 Dollars
placed in safe bank VIII give
1000 ID year, and even without
other aid must soon accomplish buildings
sufficient for the object in its early stage. 1
consider the common plan, followed in this
country, but not in others, of making one
large and expensive building, as unfortu-
nately erroneous. 1t is infinitely better to
erect small and separate lodge for each
professorship, with only q hall below for his
class and two chambers above for himself;
joining these lodges by barracks for certain
portion of the students, opening into COW
cred way to give Ury communication be-
tween all the schools. The whole of these
arranged around an open square of grass
and trees would make it, that it should be
in fact an academi al village, instead of
large and common den of noise, of filth,
and of f It'd air. 1t would afford that quiet
retirement so friendly to study, and lessen
the dangers of fire, Infection and tumult.
Every professor would be the police officer
of the students adjacent to his own lodge,
which should include those of his own class
of preference, and might be at
the head of their table if, as
suppose, it can be reconciled with the ne
cessary economy to dine them il small and
separate parties, rather than in large and
common mess. These separate buildings,
too, might Ue erected successfully and occa-
sionslly, as the number of professorships
and Students should be increased, or the
funds become competent.
pray you to pardon me, i'll have stepped
aside into the province of counsel, but much
observation and reflection on these institu-
tions have long convinced me that the large
and crowded buildings in which youths are
pent up, are equally uufriendly to health,
to study, to manners, morals and order;
and believing the plan suggest to be more
promotive of these, and peculiarly adapted to
the slender beginnings and progressive growth
of our institutions, l hoped you would
pardon the presumption in considerati u
of the motive, which was suggested by the
difficulty expressed in your letter of procur-
ing funds for erecting the building. But
on whatever plan you proceed, l wish it
every possible success and to yourselves the
reward of esteem, respect and gratitude due
to those who devote their time and efforts
10 render the youths of every successive age
fit governors for the next. To these, &C
cept in addition the assurances Of mine.
tn: JEFFERSON.
Beyond the word "Tennissee," (the
spelling of which was not perhaps fully es-
tablished in l810,) we have not found q
single mis-spelt word in these old docu-
cannot be said of nine-tenths
Of modern manuscripts that come to our
band. The old schools, whatever their
faults, were certainly thorough in some i'm
portant respects.