CONTENTS

CHAPTER I

THOMAS JEFFerson-StudenTS' BENEFACTOR AND EXEMPLAR

Early knowledge of him and that gained through various conversa-

tions with Mr. Wertenbaker, who remembered him well, as he

did his younger friend Edgar Allan Poe; personal character-

istics of Mr. Jefferson as outlined by Randall, Webster, Ran-

dolph, Smith, and himself; estate-depreciation of; hospitality,

financial troubles. Students' surprise and appreciation; his

principles and epigrams, etc.

CHAPTER II

THOMAS JEFFERSON-AMBITIOUS YOUNG MAN AND STATESMAN

Father's characteristics and prominence; his own early life, educa-

tion, experience at William and Mary College; personal sorrows;

lawyer, member of the House of Burgesses, Continental Congress,

and Congress; Shadwell destroyed; marriage; death of Dabney

Carr and its episode; Patrick Henry's great speech; John Adams'

eulogy; Declaration of Independence-when, where, and how

composed; religious liberty, public reforms; diffusion of knowl-

edge; Governor, Northwestern Territory; Minister to France,

Secretary of State, etc.

CHAPTER III

THOMAS JEFFERSON-IDEAL Parent and PRESIDENT

Retires to Monticello; daughter Martha-Mrs. Thomas Mann Ran-

dolph-becomes its mistress; Rochefoucauld-Liancourt's visit;

Excise Law, revolts in Pennsylvania; Curtius and Camillus; Jay

Treaty; Vice-President, Talleyrand, Alien and Sedition Acts;

President-Burr Vice-President; inauguration, address, princi-

ples; death of daughter Mary; Judge Samuel Chase, John Ran-

dolph; Embargo Act; administrations compared; retirement,

declines public reception; reconciliation with Adams; employ-

ment, advocate and user of machinery; correspondence, etc.

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CHAPTER IV

THOMAS JEFFErson—Advocate of Knowledge and EducatiON

University of Virginia-interest in "Diffusion of Knowledge"; his

educational plan, bills incorporating same; Quesnay French Acad-

emy; Swiss College of Geneva; correspondence with Joseph

Priestley; Mons. Dupont de Nemours; National University at

Washington; Professor Pictet; Joseph C. Cabell, Dr. Thomas

Cooper, Samuel Knox; sold library to Congress; letters to Dr.

Jones, Adams, Burwell; Lieutenant Hall's visit to Monticello;

educational plan submitted to Peter Carr; Albemarle Academy:

Central College-first Board of Visitors; Charles Fenton Mer-

cer's plan; Governor Nicholas' report, etc.

CHAPTER V

THOMAS JEFFERSON-FATHER OF THE UNIVERSITY OF VIRGINIA

The Mercer bill vs. Mr. Jefferson's; Mercer in Congress; Mr. Jef-

ferson's Educational Bill of 1817-1818; first report of Central

College proposing its conversion into the University of Virginia;

Mr. Jefferson's final draft and trial; dreams realized; difficulty

over location; Rockfish Commission—its report to Legislature;

final contest, Mr. Baldwin of Augusta; First Board of Visitors;

Mr. Jefferson chosen Rector; University's architecture, plans, con-

struction; Dr. Thomas Cooper's opposition, religious apprehen-

sions; selection of Ticknor and Bowditch; buildings advanced;

monetary difficulties; religious doctrines; Father of our Navy, etc.

CHAPTER VI

PAGE

THOMAS JEFFERSON-CHAMPION OF FREE-RELIGION AND GOVERNMENT

Letters to Dr. Cooper and James Smith-religious conditions and

ideas; student discipline; denominational schools near the Uni-

versity; letter to Gallatin, ambition for the University-remitting

her debts, financial difficulties disappearing; correspondence with

Cabell; rotunda begun; letter to Judge Johnson defining object

of the Federalists; letter to Cartwright explaining State and

Federal powers; letter to Adams concerning health and_the

University; letter to President Monroe about "Monroe Doc-

trine"; letters to Lafayette, Cabell, Jared Sparks and Van Buren;

Gilmer seeking professors abroad; buildings completed and

described; English professors arrive; University opened March

7, 1825.

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CHAPTER VII

THOMAS JEFFErson-DefendeR OF "EQUAL RIGHTS TO ALL MEN

Mr. Jefferson's letter to Giles; defense against letter in Enquirer, by

American Citizen"; letter to Madison concerning financial

embarrassment; Cabell's continued efforts in the Legislature for

education; Mr. Jefferson's letter to the President, John Quincy

Adams; last visit to the University; letter to Weightman; final

week, and death; Madison's letter of condolence; funeral and

burial; Andrew K. Smith's letter recounting his student days

and recollection of Mr. Jefferson's sickness and interment; re-

flections upon Mr. Jefferson's life and abilities.

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CHAPTER VIII

CONDITIONS DOMINATING THE SELECTION OF THE UNIVERSITY

Luther M. Reynolds-academic and professional education-Pro-

fessors Allen, Horsford, Norton, Porter; his trip to Pennsylvania

and Kentucky, where he frequently saw and heard Henry Clay

make impressive speeches; other experiences related and person-

ages encountered that enthused my youthful mind; his high appre-

ciation of college training, and estimate of various institutions,

including the University of Virginia; factors that led me to select

that University, etc.

154

CHAPTER IX

MAIDEN TRIP TO WASHINGTON AND VIRGINIA

Leaving home for the University; visit in Baltimore at my uncle's;

short stop in Washington; first inspection of the Capitol; view

of the White House, Arlington; made a friend of the brakeman;

Alexandria-its seeming antiquated appearance; Orange and

Alexandria Railroad; Henry Knox, the courteous and obliging

brakeman; Fairfax, Bull Run, Manassas-Confederate cemetery

-Bristoe, Catletts, Warrenton Junction (Calverton), Bealeton,

Rappahannock, Brandy, Culpeper, Rapidan, Mitchell, Cedar

Mountain, Orange, Madison (Montpelier), Gordonsville, etc. . 173

CHAPTER X

ARRIVAL AT THE UNIVERSITY-MR. JEFFERSON'S CHILD AND PET

Last twenty-one miles-Gordonsville to Charlottesville; Lindseys,

Keswick, Rivanna River, Shadwell-Mr. Jefferson's birthplace-

Monticello, his home and place of burial; Charlottesville-

friendly greeting of students; arrival at the University; meeting

the Proctor, Major Peyton, and the Chairman, Colonel Venable,

with whom I dined; letter from Colonel Charles Marshall; select-

ing room; passing of the first few days; first letter home; Uni-

versity work selected and begun-its character; meeting students;

mass meeting in the Court House, etc..

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CHAPTER XI

FIRST VISIT TO MONTICELLO-MR. JEFFERSON'S HOME AND GRAVE

Monticello-visit to Lawrenceville and Princeton; Aaron Burr's

grave and tomb contrasted with those of Mr. Jefferson's; pilgrim

students journeying on foot to his home and tomb; description

and dilapidation of both; now happily restored—the one by

Jefferson M. Levy, the other by act of Congress; his tomb in-

scription, also that of Dabney Carr; home-letter to grandmother;

secret fraternities; literary societies-Jeff and Wash; method of

electing officers, etc.

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CHAPTER XII

LITERARY SOCIETIES; DEBATES AND CELEBRATIONS

Became a member of the Jeff; recorded many of the debates, excerpts

from a few-Wickes, Saunders, Smith, Herron, Brent, Green,

Clark, etc.; trip home at Christmas; excerpts from diary; sick-

ness and death of Professor McGuffey; accident to room-mate-

Pearce; closing weeks of the session; remained for Commence-

ment; sermon by Rev. J. William Jones; Wash Celebration-

Richard H. Maury, John W. Stephenson, Fergus R. Graham;

Jeff Celebration-B. Chambers Wickes, William R. Alexander,

John Sharp Williams, etc.

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CHAPTER XIII

COMMENCEMENT-ADDRESSES AND BANQUET-SESSION 1872-73

Commencement of 1873 continued; memorial address on Professor

Gessner Harrison, by Rev. John A. Broadus; Joint Celebration

-Hon. Thomas F. Bayard; Commencement or Final Day-

alumni address by Ex-Governor Thomas Swann; alumni ban-

quet-to which a few of us students were invited to enjoy the

good things and speeches; escorted two of the honored guests,

Senator Bayard and Ex-Governor Swann, to Professor Venable's

home; death and funeral of Mr. Swann, etc.

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CHAPTER XIV

INCIDENTS AND COMMENCEMENT OF SESSION 1873-74

Session of 1873-74; democratic set of students; Professor Noah K.

Davis; excerpts from home-letters; Gen. Wade Hampton's lec-

ture; death of Mrs. Venable, also Dr. Henry Howard; Jeff and

Wash interests; Episcopal Convention; Commencement-sermons

by Revs. T. D. Witherspoon and James A. Duncan; Wash

Celebration-T. L. Raymond, R. A. Saulsbury, J. St. Clair

Brookes; Jeff Celebration-F. F. Reese, M. W. Ransom, Jr.,

J. A. Powell; Joint Celebration-Hon. John Goode, Gen. Jubal A.

Early; alumni address-Judge J. H. Kennard; session 1874-75;

Semi-centennial; Bayard Taylor, Daniel B. Lucas; Jeff and

Wash changes; Rev. Dr. Steel's marriage; Mrs. Cabell's death,

etc.

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CHAPTER XV

INCIDENTS AND COMMENCEMENT OF SESSION 1874-75

Session 1874-75 continued. Address of Rev. Dr. Randolph H. McKim;

Selection of Jeff. and Wash, officers. Sermon by Rev. Dr. Robert

L. Dabney. Sermon by Rev. Dr. R. N. Sledd. Typhoid_epi-

demic; Baseball games. Commencement-Semi-Centennial Cele-

bration: Sermon by Rev. Dr. W. T. Brantly; Wash. Celebra-

tion-Geo. Ben. Johnston, Henry C. Stuart, Charles E. Nicol;

Jeff. Celebration-Benj. Fitzpatrick, A. M. Robinson, Leo N.

Levi. Alumni Celebration-Daniel B. Lucas, Gen. Jubal A.

Early, Robert M. T. Hunter; Commencement Day-Gen. John S.

Preston; Alumni Banquet; Final Ball, etc.

288

CHAPTER XVI

INCIDENTS AND COMMENCEMENT OF SESSION 1875-76

Session 1875-76: Sickness, death and funeral of Thomas Jefferson

Randolph. Home-letters-another visit to Monticello; failure

of the Charlottesville National Bank; Bible classes. Former and

present_chaplains; Davis becomes business editor of the Maga-

zine. Professor Thornton succeeds Professor Boeck. Election;

Christmas; Earthquake; social pleasures, dancing. Edward H.

Squibb Gymnasium. Literary Societies. Davis-Sunday School

Supt. at Chapel. Visit to Rev. John T. Randolph's. Religious

meetings. John Jasper's sermon; Commencement—Ralph Waldo

Emerson, etc.

308

CHAPTER XVII

INCIDENTS AND PLEASURES OF SESSION 1876-77

Session 1876-77; Professor Gildersleeve missed. Sons of Confucius.

Tilden and Hayes campaign-dangers experienced. Dr. Dame's

sermon. Students' Minstrel Troup. Christmas, Dr. Wither-

spoon's sermon. Literary Societies. Boat Club. Trip to Staun-

ton. Baseball with Washington and Lee. Lexington as a seat of

learning-visit thereto; her noted personages, living and dead.

Observance in Baltimore of Gen. Lee's death and burial-our

regrets that he and Jackson had not been connected with the

University; Jackson's ambition to succeed Professor Courtenay

in mathematics, etc.

329