To Thomas Jefferson from James Madison, 15 December 1824

I return Mr Gilmers two letters to you & that of Mr Emmet to Mr Calhoun, inclosed in yours of the 10th.

I have so much confidence in the )pinion of Mr Gilmer, & respect for the testimony of the father, with every abatement for partia[   ] that I can not doubt the chemical & other mine[   ] ascribed to young Emmet. As a letter however such as you propose, would be viewed by him as equivalent nearly to an appointments, & preclude the Visitors from the freedom of decision, some of them might wish there might be some hazard in the step. For myself I should allow but little weight to the circumstance of foreign natively agst superior qualifications in the other scale, especially where naturalization & a fixture in the Country had taken place. But [so]me of our Colleagues, to say nothing of the public [   ]es may vary from our way of thinking, and prefer arrangement giving Chemistry to Dunglison [   ] Natural History & rural Economy. in the hands [   ] a Native, to a change which would leave but a single professorship for a native, in cas[e] the Ethical professor should be of foreign birth.

Something may depend on the comparative [   ] fitness for the Chemical Chaer, of the two [   ]didates, and the probable effect of a disappoi[   ] on Dunglison; who tho’ having no stipulatns or pledge, may feel it in his profits, as well as in his wishes & hopes. and it may be well as he appears to be a great acquisition that he enter on his career with all the satisfaction that can be secured without a sensible sacrifice of the interests of the University. Suppose instead of writing to Emmet, or otherwise making a commitment, you were to drop a line to Gilmer, who may not have not have left N-Y. with a view [to] prevent Young Emmet from disposing of himself, should there be any immediate danger of it. This may probably be done for a very short, but sufficient time in a way not even commiting Mr G. himself. As you, after all, think it best to take the step you suggest I am very willing to take my share of the responsibility.

I am glad to learn that the result of your enquiries concerning Mr Tucker strengthens my favorable view of his fitness for the Ethical Chair. I wish Mr Cabel, who doubtless knows every feature of his character, could have be[en] consulted on the subject. Would it not be better to request Mr C if you [   ]to sound him, than to write [directly] yourself. The delay will be trifling: Mr T. being now at Washington.