1Thomas Jefferson to John Philippart, 11 May 1819 (Jefferson Papers)
Your favor of Feb. 17. is duly recieved, and claims my acknolegements for the notice of which you are pleased to think my course of life worthy. it finds me however unequal to the undertaking you request. the hand of age (now 76) presses heavily on me, and renders writing exceedingly laborious. the transactions too in which I have borne a part, have many of them entirely escaped recollection,...