Richmond, January 26, 1823. GENTLEMEN-I have received your circular address in behalf of the Juvenile Library Company, of the city of Richmond, with a card annexed in which you do me the honour to associate me with gentlemen of the first literary character in our country, whose views you solicit on the subject of education. I am truly flattered by this distinction, and should feel great pleasure in complying with your request, could I persuade myself that it is in my power to say any thing new or valuable on this interesting topic. But I have been accustomed to take only general views of the subject; and it is too vast and complex to be properly treated by one whose attention has not, heretofore, been particularly directed towards it, and who is now too much occupied by arduous public duties, as well as private business, to give it the consideration it deserves. Your fellow-citizens are greatly indebted to you for the enlightened zeal with which you have engaged in an undertaking of the deepest interest to the community. To establish a good system for the education of youth, is certainly among the most meritorious efforts of patriotism; but it is an object which, I fear and believe, the legislative power alone can accomplish. Our eastern brethren have engrafted the principle of general instruction on their original establishments. It has grown with their growth, and is incorporated with the very essence of their political existence. Public opinion co-operates with law to cherish their institutions. I would hope that the experiment might be equally successful in Virginia were similar means employed. Should your commencement seem to give this direction to public sentiment, you will receive a rich reward in the consciousness of having rendered much real good to your country. With great respect, I am, gentlemen, your obedient servant, J. MARSHALL. MESSRS. ROBERT MAYO, &c. Richmond. Richmond, May 26, 1823. GENTLEMEN-I received your address on the subject of Juvenile Library Associations, and seize the first leisure moment to thank you for it. I beg leave to present through you to the Juvenile Library Society of Richmond, the books which accompany this note, and regret that it is not in my power at present to make a donation of more value. The plan which you propose, is admirably calculated to attain the great objects you have in view, and to enlist in its support every friend to social and political happiness. Of the advantages of knowledge and education it is unnecessary to speak. They are now justly regarded as the great securities of individual happiness and national prosperity, and their importance seems to be impressed on every mind. In arbitrary governments, where the people neither make the law nor choose those who legislate, the more ignorance the more peace; but in a country like ours, where political morality is as essential to the character of a citizen as private morality is to that of an individual, and where the people fill all the branches of sovereignty, knowledge is the life of liberty and free government. I hope, gentlemen, you will persevere in the laudable effort you are making to instruct the youth of the country, in an easy and cheap manner, by means of Juvenile Library Companies; it is among the most important and interesting employments of philanthropy, and you should feel yourselves urged to go on, by every motive connected with the moral, literary, and political advancement of your country. You have my best wishes for success, and it will give me pleasure to aid you in any manner I am able. Most respectfully, your obedient servant, Messrs. R. MAYO & W. A. BARTOW, Richmond. AND. STEVENSON. Richmond, July 6, 1827. DEAR SIR-Doctor Robert Mayo, of this city, proposes to take an excursion to the north this summer, and may possibly extend it westwardly. He will pass through Washington. I beg leave to introduce him to you, as my friend and kinsman, and to request your kind attention to him while in your city. The Doctor received his medical education at the University of Philadelphia, where he graduated. He is the author of several literary works of esteemed merit, and has practised medicine with reputation, for several years in this city. I am, dear Sir, yours very truly, MR. WIRT, Att. Gen'l U. States, Washington City. WM. H. CAbell. Richmond, June 29, 1827. DEAR SIR-The bearer hereof, Doctor Robert Mayo, now of this place, will shortly visit the University, and will proceed thence to a more distant part of our country on a journey of observation. He wishes to have the advantage and satisfaction of your acquaintance, and will probably have it in his power to call on you in the course of his tour. I beg leave to present him to you as a gentleman of talents and information, and am sure that I could not recommend him more favourably to you than as the author of several treatises on elementary education, well received and extensively used by the people of the United States. I am, dear Sir, ever most respectfully and truly yours, MR. MADISON, Montpellier. JOSEPH C. CABELL presume Richmond, June 28, 1827. DEAR SIR-I beg leave to introduce to you Doctor Robert Mayo, of this city, who will hand you this letter. He was the able Editor of the Jackson Republican, and I known to you in that character. He is on his way to the north, and will pass through Washington. You will find him an amiable and gentlemanly man of talents and acquirements. Very respectfully your obedient servant, Gen. D. GREEN, Washington. A. STEVENSON. Richmond, March 31, 1829. DEAR SIR-I beg leave to introduce to you Dr. Robert Mayo, of this city, who is now in Washington. He is a man of letters, and connected with one of the oldest and most respectable families of our State. Respectfully your obedient servant. Hon. M. VAN BUREN, Washington. A. STEVENSON. Richmond, March 31, 1829. DEAR SIR-Several common friends in this place have made me the compliment to suppose that a letter from me might be of some small service to you at Washington. Without yielding to that belief, I shall with great pleasure comply with their wishes. If your object be to obtain the place of surgeon in either branch of the public service, I can truly say that I have always heard you represented by others (and I believe as much myself,) as an able physician and surgeon, and know you to be a man of general literature and science. To this it may be sufficient to add that your standing is that of a gentleman. But it has been intimated to me that you might perhaps become an applicant for the office of Librarian to Congress. Now, if I could suppose myself to have weight, it would be my duty to recommend that the present incumbent should be continued, for I know him to be a most respectable man and an able public officer. Indeed, I know not a third individual in the United States, who would accept the place, so peculiarly qualified to discharge its duties as Mr. Watterston and yourself. If therefore he cannot be retained, I hope you may succeed him; but I should certainly regret to hear that he had been turned out, even to make room for you. Wishing that you may obtain some other place, worthy of your standing as a gentleman, a man of science and letters, DR. ROBERT MAYO. I remain, my dear Sir, with great esteem, yours, WINFIELD SCOTT. Washington, May 17, 1829. DEAR SIR-I submitted your letter to Major Donelson, who promised me to write to you on the subject. I am induced to hope that you could obtain the situation of Librarian to Congress, if you were here. I may be more influenced by my hopes than I should be in this matter, but all that I can do has been done to remove obstacles. Present me kindly to Mr Giles, and assure him that I appreciated the confidence which induces him to communicate his views relative to the proper course to defeat ***. Your friend, D. GREEN. DR. R. MAYO, Richmond. Washington, March 30, 1829. DEAR GENERAL-I recommend to you with great confidence and concern, as Librarian to Congress, (should a vacancy in that office occur) Dr. Mayo, of Richmond, who will have the honour of handing you this letter. He has peculiar qualifications for the duties of that place, being a linguist, conversant with books, an author, and habitually studious of that sort of information which a bibliographer should possess. ment. By habits, learning, and long familiarity with books, he is qualified to arrange and take care of libraries. I sincerely believe his exertions and sacrifices as the editor of the Jackson Republican, in Richmond, entitle him also to the favourable notice of the governI have already recommended him to the State Department, but so firm is my persuasion of his suitableness and merit, that I give this additional testimonial in his favour with cheerfulness. With much respect, I remain, dear Sir, your faithful servant, The President of the U. States. H. LEE. New York, July 2, 1830. DEAR SIR-I have pondered with care and delight on the synopsis of the work you have projected, to be entitled-The Structure and Genius of the English Language, in four parts. The Analysis itself evinces much research, and a habit of philological investigation. When a great subject is once happily conceived, broken into general heads, and these again subdivided into minute parts, according to philosophical analysis, genius has performed her part, and time, and books, and manual labour only are wanted to complete the work. Now, of your capacity for continuous labour I do not doubt; but have you the leisure, and the books which are needed? What a pity you did not obtain the place of Librarian to Congress, which, it is understood, your political friends solicited for you! In that situation, with the works of all preceding philologers before you, you might, in eight or ten years, have completed a design worthy of your country and worthy of posterity. But what can you hope to accomplish in that way where you are, without a library, and in the midst of professional avocations? I can only offer you my sympathies, and remain truly yours, Dr. ROBERT MAYO, Richmond. WINFIELD SCOTT. Washington, March 5th, '33. SIR-Dr. Robert Mayo, of Virginia, has conceived, and has for some time past been maturing a literary work of great interest, for which his friends, and particularly General Scott, whose letter on the subject I have seen, consider him very highly qualified. To the accomplishment of this undertaking, the facilities to be desired from a suitable public office here, I understand from the Doctor, alone is wanting. I take the liberty, therefore, of expressing to you my good wishes for the success of the application he is about to present to you. With sentiments of great respect, your obedient servant, To the President of the United States. W. C. RIVES. Washington, May 2, 1833. MY DEAR SIR-Dr. Mayo will hand you this letter. Permit me to introduce him to you. You will find him a gentleman of scientific attainments, and of a very respectable character and standing. From the fact of an important business having been recently entrusted to him, I have been brought considerably into contact with him, and I have found him attentive, well informed, and capable. I am, dear sir, truly yours, HON. LOUIS MCLANE. LEW. CASS. N. B. The reader is now enabled, in some degree, to appreciate the sacrifice I have made of the most precious period of my life, in pursuing the phantom of 'Jacksonian-democracy,' in the hope of rendering a public benefit, and advancing more endeared objects of literature, while the humiliating result has been to defeat both. Washington, November, 1838. R. M. |