But then all the other great parts that I have seen in countless films etc that obviously I base my whole knowledge of America on - the huge football stadium, the marching band bus, the Virginia University Police Force cars driving around, the massive alumni building, the American football team practising etc etc. I will be spending much more time down at the university which will be great.
Went to the library and was looking through their catalogue of the collection of letters etc they hold of Jefferson's - most of them either the copies he made at the time or 19th century copies.
Then I noticed that one of the letters he wrote to Alexander Donald was the "recipient's copy". As I was a fellow etc, managed to persuade the librarian to let me see the original letter rather than look on microfilm as was normal and sat down presuming it would take sometime to arrive.
Two minutes later - and there it was. I was holding the original letter than Jefferson had written and signed and that Alexander had received and opened. I was touching history!
The letter itself I have to admit wasn't one of the more stunning ones - the text is below - but that didn't take away from the fact that both these men, who obviously I have been studying quite a bit - had held the same bit of paper as I was now. I really didn't think I would get to do that.
Interestingly it said on the folder that held it that it was purchased - so who sold it? Was it a Donald? Or who else had it? Yet another avenue to explore.
Came back and then went back for lunch back in Charlottesville with my fellow fellows. Went for a curry which was great. One fellow has come across Alexander Donald in his studies, so is going to give me that information - something about religion which will be interesting.
The other fellow I spoke to was Grant Gilmore - the chief archaeologist from St Eustatius. His details are here. The island was the major supplier of arms and ammunition to the American revolutionaries.
Spoke to him about Page's/Hanover Town and he said he would be happy to accompany me if I went to the site to explain a bit about what I wouldn't be able to see as obviously he has incredible experience of this. He studied at William and Mary College and had lots of really valuable information about who to meet and what to do etc.
He also said that Alexander Donald was ringing bells - and he thinks in his parent's house he has an 18th century book, printed in Scotland, that has Alexander Donald's name on the frontispiece. I think that would be the biggest coincidence in the world if true. I await to hear.
Meeting Grant at 8am tomorrow morning for our pre-tours tour of Monticello so we can be there before the groups arrive. Very excited about that.
Text of the letter from Thomas Jefferson to Alexander Donald following - the letter that I held today in my own hands! Funny, the back of it, where it was addressed to "Alexander Donald esquire, Richmond" was stamped ALEX. MARCH 12 like a franking machine. Looked somehow out of time and place on a letter from 1790 - 50 years before the first postage stamp.
DEAR SIR Alexandria Mar. 11. 1790.
Your letters to Mr. Wilson were delivered on my arrival yesterday evening. The vessel sails tomorrow. By her I write to Monsieur Lamotte merchant at Havre and Mr. Coffin merchant at Dunkirk to receive and forward the box of plants. Be so good therefore as to have it addressed to the one or the other of these gentlemen according as a vessel may be first found going to the one or the other of these ports. In the mean time the box should be stowed in a cellar as one day’s heat if intense might destroy them. I write in haste & am Your friend & servt,
TH: JEFFERSON
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