![JEFFERSON, Thomas, President. Autograph letter signed ("Th:Jefferson") to Dr.Andrew Kain [Kean], "near Yanceyville" [Pennsylvania]; Monticello, 11 November 1818. 2 full pages, 4to, overall age-toning, faint stains, slight paper repair along two folds, half blue morocco folding slipcase, gilt spine.](https://www.christies.com/img/LotImages/1999/NYR/1999_NYR_09178_0212_000(115057).jpg?w=1)
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JEFFERSON, Thomas, President. Autograph letter signed ("Th:Jefferson") to Dr.Andrew Kain [Kean], "near Yanceyville" [Pennsylvania]; Monticello, 11 November 1818. 2 full pages, 4to, overall age-toning, faint stains, slight paper repair along two folds, half blue morocco folding slipcase, gilt spine.
CREATING THE UNIVERSITY OF VIRGINIA: "TO PLACE THE INSTITUTION...ON SUCH EMINENCE AS TO FEAR NO COMPETITION"
A superb, lengthy letter concerning the establishment of the University of Virginia, to which goal Jefferson dedicated himself tirelessly in the latter years of his life. During his presidency, Jefferson had hoped to establish a national university, but after 1809, had sought to create such an institution for his home state, where Virginians would be educated in Virginia, not by "foreigners" as at Princeton, or at home by "beggars," i.e., wandering tutors. Here, Jefferson personally invites an eminent physician, Dr. Andew Kain, to join the faculty of the new institution:
"Although strangers personally, we are not in character, and on this ground I take the liberty of addressing you on a subject interesting to both. With great confidence in the aids of medicine as far as experience has approved its processes, I have in absolute abhorrence the fanciful and ephemeral theories under which dashing practitioners are so wantonly sporting with human life. Our country is overrun with lads from the Philadelphia school [the Pennsylvania Hospital], who with their mercury & lancet in hand are vying with the sword of Bonaparte which shall have shed most human blood. In such circumstances...how desirable it must be for us to get established in our neighborhood a Physician of experience, and of sober cautious practice; that when afflicted with the diseases incident to our nature, we may have a resource in which we have confidence...The character of your practice has been long known to me, and is the motive of the present application...You have heard of the College proposed to be established within a mile of Charlottesville, and now likely to be adopted by the legislature for the University of the State. They have already endowed their University with 15,000 D. a year...10 professors will be requisite, and it is proposed to procure these of the first abilities which America or Europe can furnish, so as to place the institution at once on such eminence as to fear no competition. And so great is the want of such an institution, and such the confidence anticipated in this that we think we may safely count on 5 or 6 pupils from each of the hundred counties in the state, and we are well informed that all the states West and South of this are looking to it as their best resource, and, together, will furnish as many students as our own state. We suppose then we may count on 1000 students coming in as fast as we can provide accomodations...Charlottesville contains about 500 inhabitants, so that a position halfway between that & the College would place you within half a mile of...1500 inhabitants, besides a thickly settled neighborhood. Not but that there are boy-doctors enough at hand, but they would disappear in the presence of an experienced physician as mists before the sun...Think then, good Sir, of this proposition, & weigh well the comfort & advantage of an abundant and easy practice, especially when ease, with advancing years, shall have become more and more desirable...If you are disposed...to come and examine the ground proposed to you, do me the favor to make this [Monticello] your headquarters, as being at hand for the enquiry and information you may wish. Within the course of the next month the legislature will probably decide upon the location reported...I pray you to be assured of my best wishes & services, as well of my great esteem & respect."
The General Assembly of Virginia enacted the legislation creating the University of Virginia in January 1819, and made a small appropriation. Jefferson, who had lobbied for the act for years, was named a member of the Board of Visitors (as was former President Madison), and immediately began planning for the site, the design of the buildings and the hiring of the faculty. Jefferson's letter to Kain predates the Assembly resolution; in fact, neither facilities nor funds for the payment of faculty salaries would become available for many months. At the first meeting of the Board, in March 1819, Jefferson was named Rector. His enthusiastic efforts to secure the services of Dr. Kain apparently proved unsuccessful and it was not until 1825 that a Scot, Robley Dunglison, became the University's first professor of anatomy and medicine. The University opened its doors in March 1825, with a first class of 40 students.
CREATING THE UNIVERSITY OF VIRGINIA: "TO PLACE THE INSTITUTION...ON SUCH EMINENCE AS TO FEAR NO COMPETITION"
A superb, lengthy letter concerning the establishment of the University of Virginia, to which goal Jefferson dedicated himself tirelessly in the latter years of his life. During his presidency, Jefferson had hoped to establish a national university, but after 1809, had sought to create such an institution for his home state, where Virginians would be educated in Virginia, not by "foreigners" as at Princeton, or at home by "beggars," i.e., wandering tutors. Here, Jefferson personally invites an eminent physician, Dr. Andew Kain, to join the faculty of the new institution:
"Although strangers personally, we are not in character, and on this ground I take the liberty of addressing you on a subject interesting to both. With great confidence in the aids of medicine as far as experience has approved its processes, I have in absolute abhorrence the fanciful and ephemeral theories under which dashing practitioners are so wantonly sporting with human life. Our country is overrun with lads from the Philadelphia school [the Pennsylvania Hospital], who with their mercury & lancet in hand are vying with the sword of Bonaparte which shall have shed most human blood. In such circumstances...how desirable it must be for us to get established in our neighborhood a Physician of experience, and of sober cautious practice; that when afflicted with the diseases incident to our nature, we may have a resource in which we have confidence...The character of your practice has been long known to me, and is the motive of the present application...You have heard of the College proposed to be established within a mile of Charlottesville, and now likely to be adopted by the legislature for the University of the State. They have already endowed their University with 15,000 D. a year...10 professors will be requisite, and it is proposed to procure these of the first abilities which America or Europe can furnish, so as to place the institution at once on such eminence as to fear no competition. And so great is the want of such an institution, and such the confidence anticipated in this that we think we may safely count on 5 or 6 pupils from each of the hundred counties in the state, and we are well informed that all the states West and South of this are looking to it as their best resource, and, together, will furnish as many students as our own state. We suppose then we may count on 1000 students coming in as fast as we can provide accomodations...Charlottesville contains about 500 inhabitants, so that a position halfway between that & the College would place you within half a mile of...1500 inhabitants, besides a thickly settled neighborhood. Not but that there are boy-doctors enough at hand, but they would disappear in the presence of an experienced physician as mists before the sun...Think then, good Sir, of this proposition, & weigh well the comfort & advantage of an abundant and easy practice, especially when ease, with advancing years, shall have become more and more desirable...If you are disposed...to come and examine the ground proposed to you, do me the favor to make this [Monticello] your headquarters, as being at hand for the enquiry and information you may wish. Within the course of the next month the legislature will probably decide upon the location reported...I pray you to be assured of my best wishes & services, as well of my great esteem & respect."
The General Assembly of Virginia enacted the legislation creating the University of Virginia in January 1819, and made a small appropriation. Jefferson, who had lobbied for the act for years, was named a member of the Board of Visitors (as was former President Madison), and immediately began planning for the site, the design of the buildings and the hiring of the faculty. Jefferson's letter to Kain predates the Assembly resolution; in fact, neither facilities nor funds for the payment of faculty salaries would become available for many months. At the first meeting of the Board, in March 1819, Jefferson was named Rector. His enthusiastic efforts to secure the services of Dr. Kain apparently proved unsuccessful and it was not until 1825 that a Scot, Robley Dunglison, became the University's first professor of anatomy and medicine. The University opened its doors in March 1825, with a first class of 40 students.