View source for Wythe to James Madison, February 1785

In early 1785, [[George Wythe]] wrote to [[wikipedia:James Madison|James Madison]], enclosing an honorary LL.D. (''Legum Doctor,'' or Doctor of Laws) from the [https://www.wm.edu/ College of William &amp; Mary,] in Williamsburg, Virginia.<ref>"Historical and Genealogical Notes," ''William &amp; Mary Quarterly 22, no. 4 (April, 1914), 297-298.</ref> Wythe mentions that honorary degrees have previously been accorded to Benjamin Franklin, [[Thomas Jefferson]], [[wikipedia:David Rittenhouse|David Rittenhouse]],<ref>In 1784-1785, Rittenhouse, an astronomer and mathematician, had assisted in settling the [http://www.virginiaplaces.org/boundaries/cessions.html border between Pennsylvania and Virginia.]</ref> [[Edmund Randolph]], and [[wikipedia:John Page (Virginia politician)|John Page]].

The text of this letter, and [[James Madison to Wythe, 15 April 1785|Madison's reply in April]], are reproduced in William C. Rives' [https://books.google.com/books?id=yCj7AwAAQBAJ&pg=PA6 ''History of the Life and Times of James Madison''] (1868-1873), but the letter itself and Madison's diploma seem to have been lost.<ref>William C. Rives, [https://books.google.com/books?id=yCj7AwAAQBAJ&pg=PA6 ''History of the Life and Times of James Madison,''] vol. 2, (Boston: Little, Brown, 1870), 6. Letter not found: [https://founders.archives.gov/documents/Madison/01-08-02-0127 "To James Madison from George Wythe, February 1785,"] Founders Online, National Archives.</ref>

==Letter text, February, 1785==
===Page 1===

<blockquote>
<div align="right">
Williamsburg, February, 1785
</div>

I have the pleasure, sir, to forward to you the testimony, herewith enclosed, of our university. Distinctions of this kind will, I am persuaded, be not unacceptable, whilst we continue to bestow them on such men as Franklin, Jefferson, Rittenhouse, E. Randolph, John Page of Rosewell, &c, &c. ''C&aelig;teraque extra animum,'' in the diploma, which may perhaps appear an obscure expression, is used by [[C. Cornelii Taciti Opera, Quae Exstant|Tacitus]], in the sense here intended, to signify those things which contribute not to the improvement of the mind.<ref>The full quote from [http://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/text?doc=urn:cts:latinLit:phi1351.phi004.perseus-lat1:4.5 Tacitus' Hist. 4.5] is, "He followed those teachers of philosophy who hold nothing to be good but what is honourable, nothing evil but what is base, and who refuse to count either among things good or evil, power, rank, or indeed ''any thing not belonging to the mind.''"</ref> Permit me to subscribe myself,
::::::::::Your friend,
::::::::::::George Wythe
</blockquote>

==See also==
*''[[C. Cornelii Taciti Opera, Quae Exstant]]''
*[[James Madison to Wythe, 15 April 1785]]

==References==
<references/>

==External links==
*List of [https://books.google.com/books?id=ISZO_E3944EC&pg=PA145 honorary degrees conferred by the College of William &amp; Mary.]
*Read this book in [https://books.google.com/books?id=yCj7AwAAQBAJ&pg=PA6 Google Books.]

[[Category: Letters and Papers]]