attention to the importance of these institutions of America, and stated that they were worthy of the profound consideration of all men animated by a wish to promote the welfare of their nation.

What were Jefferson's views respecting the practicability of illiterate nations satisfactorily governing themselves? To state in a condensed form his conclusions, he believed as will be seen in a letter dated Jan. 16th, 1816, which will be more fully quoted in the next division of this volume, that, "If a nation expects to be ignorant and free in a state of civilization, it expects what never was and never will be." He believed, as has been seen in one of his letters to Lafayette, that, “Ignorance and bigotry, like other insanities, are incapable of self-government.'

Believing as Jefferson did, it was natural for him to write-as it has already been seen that he wrote from Paris, under date of Jan. 4th, 1786, to Washington, who himself proposed to found some schools,-as follows: "It is an axiom in my mind, that our liberty can never be safe but in the hands of the people themselves, and that too, of the people with a certain degree of instruction. This it is the business of the State to effect, and on a general plan." In his book entitled "Notes on Virginia "—which Baron Humboldt characterized as a "classical work,"after describing the school system which it was proposed to establish in Virginia, Jefferson states that, “Of the views of this law none is more legitimate, than that of rendering the people the safe, as they are the only legiti mate guardians of their liberty." In a letter dated Nov. 29th, 1821, as will be seen in due time-Jefferson drew attention to the innumerable blessings which nations reap from supporting in a worthy manner institutions of learning. He then said that "experience experience *** teaches the awful lesson, that no nation is permitted to

36 AN ADMONITION TO FRIENDS OF CIVIL LIBERTY

live in ignorance with impunity." It may be proper to here again notice Jefferson's reasoning as contained in his bill "For the Better Diffusion of Knowledge," of 1779. It may in part be condensed thus: For various very weighty reasons the "public happiness" demands that a people who wish to enjoy the blessings of good government should be possessed of a very considerable amount of knowledge. If they are not, then men who are at once wicked and ambitious will impose upon their credulity and step by step steal from them their rights. "But," Jefferson adds, "the indigence of the greater number disabling them from so educating, at their own expense, those of their children, whom nature hath fully formed and disposed to become useful instruments of the public, it is better that such should be sought for and educated at the common expense of all, than that the happiness of all should be confided to the weak and wicked."

* " Early History of the University of Virginia," J. W. Randolph, Richmond, Va., 1856, p. 470.

II.

A STATE SHOULD HAVE A UNIVERSITY.

IT was a cherished conviction of Thomas Jefferson's that in a Commonwealth provision should be made for universities wisely suited to modern times, no less truly than for primary schools. As President of the United States he signed bills making large appropriations of land for the exclusive benefit of academies, seminaries and colleges. To Washington, who had in view the devoting of a quite large amount of money to the founding, or to the support of, institutions of learning, Jefferson wrote a letter on Feb. 23rd, 1795, in which he laid before him a plan for the transferring of a great European college to the national Capital. All the professors of the celebrated College of Geneva-an institution which after exerting a wide influence in Europe was temporarily suppressed during the French Revolution-wished to transplant the college to America. In this letter* Jefferson characterized the College of Geneva as one of the eyes of Europe, the University of Edinburgh being the other.

In the year 1783, Jefferson, although bowed with grief owing to the recent death of his wife, had with others endeavored to established a grammar school in Albemarle county, Virginia. A charter was obtained for this academy, in the year 1803, but it can hardly be said to have been fairly founded until the year 1814. In that year

*"Washington's Works," vol. xi., p. 473.

friends of education held a meeting and Jefferson, who was present, was elected one of the trustees of "Albemarle academy." At another meeting Jefferson was appointed a member of a committee to draught a petition to the Assembly of Virginia requesting that Virginia appropriate certain public lands in Albemarle county for the support of the institution. This he accordingly did, and also prayed the Legislature of Virginia to make a yearly appropriation of money for the support of this proposed seat of learning. He also requested that the institution should be allowed to call itself "Central College." The Assembly of Virginia granted only a part of the petition; but, Central College came into life with a Board of Managers which included James Monroe, who was at the time President of the United States, ExPresidents Jefferson and Madison, and Joseph C. Cabell who when Governor of Virginia-as Monroe when Governor before him had done-had encouraged the people to establish a good school system for the State. Jefferson and Madison and Monroe, although they could very ill afford to do so, gave each a thousand dollars to the infant institution. Six other gentlemen gave each a thousand dollars to the college and other friends gave smaller amounts. Towards the college thirty-five thousand dollars was subscribed and money was raised by other means than by subscription.

In a communication to the Legislature of Virginia, dated Jan. 6th, 1818,—written by Jefferson and signed by Madison and Monroe and Cabell and by Jefferson and two other officers of Central College,-the college was offered as a gift to the State of Virginia, providing the State would convert the college into a university. In this communication Jefferson pointed out that to found a university would require "funds far beyond what can be

expected from individual contributions: "-funds for which, he added, "the revenues at the command of the Legislature would alone be adequate." He then continued: "And we are happy to see, that among the cares for the general good, which their station and the confidence of their fellow-citizens have made incumbent on them, this great political and moral want has not been overlooked. By a bill of the last session, passed by one branch, and printed by the other for public consideration, a disposition appears to go into a system of general education, of which a single University for the use of the whole State is to be a component part. A purpose so auspicious to the future destinies of our country, which would bring such a mass of mind into activity for its welfare, cannot be contemplated without kindling the warmest affection for the land of our birth, with an animating prospect into its future history. Well directed education improves the morals, enlarges the minds, enlightens the councils, instructs the industry, and advances the power, the prosperity, and the happiness of the nation. But it is not for us to suggest the high considerations, which their peculiar situation will naturally present to the minds of our law-givers, encouraging a pursuit of such incalculable effect; nor would it be within the limits of our dutiful respect to them to add reasonings or inducements to their better understanding of what will be wise and profitable to our country."* The suggestion of the aged Jefferson and of his distinguished colleagues was adopted by the Legislature and thus was born" The University of Virginia." The Assembly did not act, however, before engaging in an earnest debate. It appointed Jefferson and Madison, and some other gentlemen, members of a Commission to report to

* " Early History of the University of Virginia." J. W. Randolph, Richmond, Va., 1856, pp. 402-3.