had now drifted far away from his alma mater. His private secretary, Col. Isaac A. Coles, wrote to Cabell, expressing, naturally, Jefferson's own views, and making this important suggestion: "If the amelioration of education and the diffusion of knowledge be the favorite objects of your life, avail yourself of the favorable dispositions of your country. men, and consent to go into our legislative body. Instead of wasting your time in attempting to patch up a decaying institution, direct your efforts to a higher and more valuable object. Found a new one which shall be worthy of the first State in the Union. This may, this certainly will one day be done, and why not now? You may not succeed in one session, or in two, but you will succeed at last." Thus, in 1807, from Jefferson's own secretary came to Cabell a Declaration of Independence in the matter of higher education for Virginia. It was at once the assertion of a new line of educational policy, and a practical suggestion to an ambitious young man, able and willing to carry the university idea into the Virginia Legislature.

Following the advice of his friend, Cabell went into Virginia politics. He became a member of the House of Delegates in 1809, and two years later was elected to the State Senate, where he remained until the year 1829, the most efficient champion of Jefferson's three great ideas,-local government, popular education, and a State university. It is the simple truth to say that, without Joseph Carrington Cabell's persistent labors in the Legislature, his self-sacrifice and indomitable courage, his wonderful political tact and unfailing diplomacy, Jefferson's university ideal would never have been realized, at least in his life-time. It was once publicly stated in the Virginia Senate, in 1828, that in promoting "that monument of wisdom," the university, Cabell was "second only to Jefferson.”

In visiting the library of the University of Virginia, all men gaze with interest upon the statue of Jefferson, standing there under the stately dome which he so nobly planned. Few strangers, however, seek out that interesting portrait of Cabell which hangs upon the library wall. A thoughtful, kindly, yet determined face has this Virginia scholar, who, by good politics, founded and sustained a great university. Through that one man's energy Jefferson succeeded in achieving the independence of higher education in Virginia, and in uniting men of all sects in the support of a State university.

CHAPTER IV.

ALBEMARLE ACADEMY AND CENTRAL COLLEGE.

JEFFERSON'S NEW PROJECT.

In the possession of Miss Sarah N. Randolph, of Baltimore, is an original letter by Jefferson, dated at Annapolis, December 31, 1783, and containing the first intimation of an attempt to establish an institute for liberal education in the vicinity of his own home. There is no address upon the letter, but it was evidently written to some gentleman in Albemarle County. A copy has been kindly made for insertion here:

"DEAR SIR: Just before I left Albemarle a proposition was started for establishing there a grammar school. You were so kind as to tell me you would write me the progress of the proposition. On my part I was to inquire for a tutor. To this I have not been inattentive. I inquired at Princeton of Dr. Witherspoon, but he informed me that that college was but just getting together again, and that no such person could of course be had there. I inquired at Philadelphia for some literary character of the Irish nation in that city. There was none such, and in the course of my inquiries I was informed that learning is but little cultivated there, and that few persons have ever been known to come from that nation as tutors. I concluded on the whole, then, if the scheme should be carried on, and fixed on so firm a basis as that we might on its faith venture to bring a man from his native country, it would be best for me to interest some person in Scotland to engage a good one. From that country we are sure of having sober, attentive men. However, this must await your information.

"We learn with certainty that a war in Europe is unavoidable-the two empires on one side and the Turks on the other. It is probable France and Prussia will aid the Turks; Great Britain is likely to be employed by Ireland. The Dutch are engaged in civil commotions, the object of which is the reduction of the power of the stadtholder. We have yet but seven States in Congress, and nine are required to ratify the treaty. As the ratification should be exchanged in Paris by the 3d of March, this gives us great uneasiness. I am, with much esteem, Dear Sir, "Your friend and servant, TH. JEFFERSON."

Thus, in the greatest diplomatic crisis in our nation's history, and in the midst of world-moving events, Jefferson found time to think of the

higher educational interests of his native county. The letter is most remarkable, not only as illustrating the condition of higher education in America at the close of the Revolution, but as clearly foreshadowing that broad educational policy which Jefferson afterwards adopted for the University of Virginia in securing its first professors from Europe. The project for an academy in Albemarle County slumbered until 1803, when the institution was chartered by the Legislature; but it remained on paper only, until after Mr. Jefferson's election to the board of trustees, March 23, 1814. From that election dates the beginning of the actual development process of the Albemarle Academy into the University of Virginia. After long years of inquiry and reflection, Jef ferson had evolved in his own mind a system of higher education, of which William and Mary College had supplied the original germ. That system was now to be grafted upon Albemarle Academy and made to flourish under Jefferson's own eye.

He was present at the next meeting of the board of trustees. Peter Carr was chosen president, and Mr. Jefferson was made chairman of a committee to report a plan for raising funds. The committee reported within ten days; subscriptions were recommended, a lottery was proposed, and Jefferson was made chairman of a committee to petition the Legislature for the proceeds of the sale of certain glebe lands in Albe. marle County. A committee was soon appointed to select a site for the academy, who reported August 19, 1814, in favor of placing the academy in the vicinity of the town of Charlottesville, and presented a plan for improving the site. In all probability this plan was drawn by Jefferson, who certainly prepared the ground-plan of Central College, which became the University of Virginia. Albemarle Academy, although it existed only on paper, is important historically, for it was the legal foundation of those two higher institutions, and the immediate occasion of the educational correspondence with Dr. Thomas Cooper and Peter Carr.

DR. THOMAS COOPER.

Dr. Thomas Cooper was an Englishman by birth and the son-in-law of Dr. Priestley, the English philosopher. With him Cooper came out to America, and found refuge from political and religious persecution in the State of Pennsylvania. Both were liberals in politics and in religion. Cooper edited his father-in-law's writings and acquired the reputation of being a Unitarian, which greatly impeded his scientific career in this country. The man was well versed in the natural sciences, particularly in chemistry, physics, and physiology. To all the excellence of scientific training and a well-rounded university cult

1 Jefferson mentions Priestley and Cooper in a letter to Tench Coxe, dated Monticello, May 1, 1794: "I am sorry Mr. Cooper and Priestley did not take a more general survey of our country before they fixed themselves. I think they might have promoted their own advantage by it, and have aided the introduction of improvement where it is more wanting."