The Milan exchange. (Milan, Gibson County, Tenn.) 1874-1978, 1875-08-12
"REMINISCENCES OFJEFFERsON.
EARLY Experiences of the University OF
virgfnia-Whst He Thought OF WASH
ington.

hEnlNlDCL LNtES VI u Ell II EhSUNs
EARLY Experiences of the University of
Virginia-Whst He Thought OF WASH
ington.
An interesting letter from Prof. George
Long, of England. was read at the recent
semi-centenniI celebration at the Uni
versity OF Virginia, he having been one of
its earliest instructors. We quote pOr-
ton as follows:
Early in December, 1924, | Travelled
from Washington to fredericksburg,
where | stayed all night. / do not know
how | was known, but gentleman called
on me and asked me to his house, and
spent pleasant evening. | saw some
young Virginia ladies there, and thought
they were very charming. | was amused
at the curiosity which my new friends
showed to hear some news about England.
A gentleman came up 10 me and asked
how | left Mr.. Campbell, the poet. Luck
lily had lately called on him in London
on some business about a relation of his
who thought of emigrating to America,
and | could therefore give a satisfactory
answer. At Fredericksburg first tasted
corn-bread. and used it all the time that
lived In Virginia. wish that | could
have it now. From Fredericksburg had
two days rather unpleasant journey to
Charlottesville in the stage-coach. The
roads were bad, the accommodation not
good, and the company rather Indifferent.
The young men of the present day can
hardly conceive what this road was then,
for | suppose that there is now railroad
the whole distance.
At the University, lived at least two
months in the house which was assigned
to me in great solitude, and during bad
weather il would have been still worse ifI
had not experienced the kindness of the
Proctor, Mr.. Brockenbrougb. whose wife's
sister afterward married. The otherpro-
fess0rs had embarked in an English vess
for Norfolk. and they had a very long
passage. The ship was described to me as
something like an old hay-stack. 1t could
just float and go before the wind. | had
more wisely embarked in one of the New
York American packets from Liverpool.
Since that time the English have learned
to build good hips for the American trade.
When my brother professors arrived at
the University they found me eating corn
bread, and already Virginian in taste and
habits. Things were rather rough, but
have always had and still have the faculty
of making myself happy under any cir
cumstances. A few days after my arrival
at the University, l walked.up to Month
cello to see Mr.. Jefferson. | made myself
known to his servant, and was introduced
into his great room. In few minutes a
tall, dignified old man entered, and, after
looking at me a moment. said: Are you
the new Professor of Ancient Languages ?"
replied that | was. He observed, Y Ou
are very young" to which | observed that
| would grow older. He smiled, and said
that was true. He was evidently some
what startled at my youthful and boyish
appearance, and could plainly see that he
was disappointed. We fell to talking, and
stayed to dine with him. He was grave
and rather cold in his manner, but he was
very polite; and was pleased with his
simple Virginian dress and his converse.
ton, free from all affectation. | remem-
Der this Interview as if it took pace yes
terday.
During my solitary residence before the
University opeI.ed, ] visited Monticello
several times, and occasionally passed the
night there. | thought that Mr.. Jefferson
became better satisfied with the boy pro-
fessor, and we talked on all subjects. He
saw that took great interest in the geo.
graphy of America and i'm the story of the
Revolution, and he told me much about it,
but in a very mOdSt way as to himself
| He showed me the original draft of the
Declara ion of Indep ndence, and he could
| clearly see that | was in habits, "a | have
ALWAYS been and still am, man who pre-
ferred plain republican institutions to the
outward show and splendOr of EurOpe, n
| kingdoms-when | say repub lean insti.
tutionS mean g, nuiEe republican, for a
republic may have the name, and very lit
tie beside that | value
| often saw Mr. Jefferson between this
time and his death When he :ame on his
horse to the University he generally called
on me. His thoughts were ALWAYS about
his new place of education. of which he
was really the founder; and though the
first few years of the University were moi
quite satisfac ory, he confidently looked
forward to the future and to the advantage
which the State would Gerive from the
Young men who were educated in the
University OF Virginia.
remember well long conversation
which once had with Mr.. jefferson on
George Washington. He spoke of him
freely and generously, As man of great
and noble character. Mr.. Tucker, in hi
life of Jefferson, has given the character o
George Washington as Jefferson wrote it.
and it is, perhaps, certain that the charac
ter was written at the time when Mr. JET
ferson spoke of Washington to me, though
he told me something more than the writ
ten character contains. but nothing that il
contradictory to it. The character is ex
ceedingly well written, and it proves as
mere writer Jefferson might have excelleC
most men of his day.
discovered that Mr.. Jefferson was wei
acquainted with Polibius, who is not
good writer, but a man of excellent sense
and the soundest judgment. The las
time that saw Mr.. Jefferson, when h,
was suffering from a complaint whicl
caused his death, he was reading P,iny'
letters, and we had some talk about
passage. A few weeks after, when | wa
at the Sweet Springs during the summer
vacation. heard of his death. There wa
much foolish displav in Virginia, ant
some extravagant bombastic OratiOns
Those who had more sense showed thei
feeling in another way. The man whit
had done so much for Virginia and tn
United States was honored for his serv
ices, for his talents. and for his grand ant
simple character. He ought to be revere,
by all who enjoy the advantage of beini
/, educated in his university, and ever re
, membered as one of the great me-
whom Virginia has produced. His gres
deeds are recorded on the epitaph whic