The National University; Wm. and Mary Qrtly., Vol. 9, No. 2 Transcribed by Kathy Merrill for the USGenWeb Archives Special Collections Project ************************************************************************ USGENWEB ARCHIVES NOTICE: These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit or presentation by any other organization or persons. Persons or organizations desiring to use this material, must obtain the written consent of the contributor, or the legal representative of the submitter, and contact the listed USGenWeb archivist with proof of this consent. The submitter has given permission to the USGenWeb Archives to store the file permanently for free access. http://www.usgwarchives.net *********************************************************************** The National University William and Mary College Quarterly Historical Magazine, Vol. 9, No. 2. (Oct., 1900), pp. 133-134. THE NATIONAL UNIVERSITY. Among the most original characters of the Revolutionary period was James Madison, President of William and Mary College (1777-1812) and first bishop of the Protestant Episcopal Church of Virginia. The following letter* from him is interesting as containing a recommendation for the site of the National University proposed by Washington, the es- tablishment of which is now being agitated in Congress: To Edmund Randolph. Dear Sir If Mrs R----shd not write by this Post, then I have ye Pleasure of informing you that your family are all well. This is what you are most anxious to know, & therefore I begin with it. But, I observe that ye President (attended by his aids) has delivered a Speech, in wch he suggests ye good Policy of instituting a national University. As it appears not imporbable, but that such an Institution may take Place, might it not be adviseable to recommend WilliamsB as the most suitable situation in wh it could be fixed. -- It is suffy, central -- has Buildings, especially if ye old Capitol be added, and other advantages wh no other __________________________________________________________ *The copy was kindly communicated by Mr. Gaillard Hunt, of the State Department, Washington. Page 134. Place can enjoy in a greater Degree -- The seat of science shd be remote from those busy scenes, wh dissipate ye attention of youth - & this surely is suffy retired. -- If Virginia shd not enjoy ye advantages expected from having ye seat of Govt. in her Territory, perhaps she may be indulged in this object, as some compensation for ye Disappointments. At all events, it worth [sic] trying ye Experiment -- Suppose you were to have a Conversation with ye Presidt. &c upon ye subject. I think you wd find many arguments to recommend the Plan I have mentioned, & wh probably has already presented itself to you-- We have ye Ct. of Admiralty here. It has been sitting three Days, & is to sit another. A Deal of good company &c. is ye consequence. I have attended punctually to your commissions and doubt not upon your Return, to satisfy you that, if I have done so well with a few talents, I shall be worthy of being entrusted with a far greater number -- I hope your episcopal feelings have been fully gratified -- Some of them however, you had better keep in Reserve till your Return -- You desired me to write you a good Letter. I hope you will consider this as such, & believe me to be Most sincerely, Yrs J. Madison Jany 31, 1790 Poor Beal is in a deplorable way. By a Letter recd from Davies last post, he wants to leave to your Decision, what Deduction shd. be made for a Deficiency in ye Books -- I do not believe any such Deficiency existed at ye Time they were delivered to his Agent in Richd -- & therefore beg ye Favr. of you to take a Draft for ye full amount of his note, less one year's interest, wch. I am willing to allow -- He offers a Draft upon ye Govr. of Virga. shd. you stay any Time in N Y -- or so long there that you will not return before ye last of March, be so good as to inform me of Davies's conduct.