Jefferson in His Own Time: A Biographical Chronicle of His Life, Drawn from Recollections, Interviews, and Memoirs by Family, Friends, and Associates

Jefferson and the Boy Professor (1875)

[184] kkk [Jefferson and the Boy Professor] (1875) George Long Professor George Long (1800–1879) wrote this reminiscence at the request of one of his first students at the University of Virginia, Henry Tutwiler. Educated at Cambridge University, Long was hired as professor of ancient languages at the University of Virginia. He enjoyed his time in Virginia. His method of teaching Latin and Greek pleased students, including his most renowned student, Edgar Allan Poe. Long had a passion for geography, and he used to incorporate lessons in ancient geography as he taught Latin and Greek. He also enjoyed talking about classical literature with Jefferson. In 1828, Lord Brougham invited Long to serve as professor of Greek at the newly founded University of London (later University College, London). Long accepted the position and returned to England. A prolific writer, Long produced numerous scholarly works over the course of his lengthy career. In his Essays in Criticism (1865), Matthew Arnold said that Long “treats Marcus Aurelius’s writings, as he treats all the other remains of Greek and Roman antiquity which he touches, not as a dead and dry matter of learning, but as documents with a side of modern applicability and living interest, and valuable mainly so far as this side in them can be made clear” (257). Arnold’s words apply to Thomas Jefferson, as well. From George Long to Henry Tutwiler, 30 May 1875 Early in December 1824 I travelled from Washington to Fredericksburg, where I stayed all night. I do not know how I was known, but a gentleman called on me, and asked me to his house, and I spent a pleasant evening . I saw some young Virginian ladies there and I thought they were very charming. I was amused with the curiosity which my new friends showed to hear some news about England. A gentleman came up to me, and asked how I left Mr. [Thomas] Campbell, the poet. Luckily I had lately called on him in London on some business about a relative of his who thought of emigrating to America, and I could therefore give a satisfactory answer. At Fredericksburg I first tasted corn bread, and I used it all the time that I lived in Virginia. I wish that I could have it now. [185] From Fredericksburg I had a two days’ rather unpleasant journey to Charlottesville in the stage coach. The roads were bad, the accommodation not good, and the company very indifferent. The young men of the present day can hardly conceive what this road was then, for I suppose that there is now a railroad the whole distance. At Charlottesville, I mean of course the University near it, I lived at least two months in the house which was assigned to me, in great solitude and during bad weather. It would have been still worse, if I had not experienced the kindness of the Proctor, Mr. Brockenbrough, whose wife’s sister I afterwards married. The other professors had embarked in an English vessel for Norfolk, and they had a very long passage. The ship was described to me as something like an old hay stack: it could just float and go before the wind. I had more wisely embarked in one of the New York American packets from Liverpool. Since that time the English have learned to build good ships for the American trade. When my brother professors arrived at the University, they found me eating corn bread and already a Virginian in tastes and habits. Things were rather rough, but I have always had and still have the faculty of making myself happy under any circumstances. A few days after my arrival at Charlottesville I walked up to Monticello to see Mr. Jefferson. I made myself known to his servant, and was introduced into his great room. In a few minutes a tall dignified old man entered, and after looking at me a moment said, Are you the new professor of antient languages? I replied that I was. He observed, You are very young: to which I answered, I shall grow older. He smiled, and said, That was true. He was evidently somewhat startled at my youthful and boyish appearance; and I could plainly see that he was disappointed. We fell to talking and I stayed to dine with him. He was grave and rather cold in his manner, but he was very polite; and I was pleased with his simple Virginian dress, and his conversation free from...