1From Thomas Jefferson to Martha Jefferson Randolph, 2 July 1826 (Jefferson Papers)
A death-bed Adieu. Life’s visions are vanished, it’s dreams are no more. Dear friends of my bosom, why bathed in tears? I go to my fathers; I welcome the shore, which crowns all my hopes, or which buries my cares. Then farewell my dear, my lov’d daughter, Adieu! The last pang of life is in parting from you! Two Seraphs await me, long shrouded in death: I will bear them your love on my last...
2Thomas Jefferson to Martha Jefferson Randolph, 24 August 1819 (Jefferson Papers)
It is our purpose to set out from this place for Monticello on Monday the 13 th or perhaps on Sunday the 12 th of next month. As Henry , his mule and little cart will be necessary to carry our baggage, I would wish him to leave Monticello on Sunday morning the 5 th making stages at Tooler ’s on this side the river at
3Thomas Jefferson to Martha Jefferson Randolph, 28 July [1819] (Jefferson Papers)
I have just learned from the Enquirer the death of my old & valuable friend Cathalan of Marseilles , an important loss to me, & at this time particularly requiring attention, as my orders are now on the way to him for the supplies of the year, & the money to pay for them. but I can do nothing without his papers which I request you to send me. in my Cabinet, & in the window on the right of my...
4Thomas Jefferson to Martha Jefferson Randolph, 21 August 1818 (Jefferson Papers)
I wrote to you this day week and this day fortnight . we have been here in a continued state of fluctuation between the numbers of 40. & 60. a greater proportion of ladies than formerly: but all invalids, and perfectly recluse in their cabins. mr Glendy joined us to-day and will stay till Sunday. we had been many days without venison till the day before yesterday, in the course of which 8....
5Thomas Jefferson to Martha Jefferson Randolph, 14 August 1818 (Jefferson Papers)
I wrote to you by our last mail of the 8 th having been now here a week & continued to bathe 3 times a day, a quarter of an hour at a time, I continue well, as I was when I came. having no symptom to judge by at what time I may presume the seeds of my rheumatism eradicated, and desirous to prevent the necessity of ever coming here a 2 d time, I believe I shall yeild to the general advice of a...
6Thomas Jefferson to Martha Jefferson Randolph, 7 August 1818 (Jefferson Papers)
I have heard that D r Cooper has come on to Richmond , which however I doubt. if so he may possibly have come to Monticello . under this uncertainty where a letter may find him, I inclose one to you for him , with a request to forward it to him by mail wherever he is. I have left it open as it may enable you to judge what to do with it in every case. I left Judge Stuart ’s yesterday after...
7Thomas Jefferson to Martha Jefferson Randolph, 4 August 1818 (Jefferson Papers)
All our members, except 3 who came not at all arrived on Saturday morning so that we got to work by 10. aclock, and finished yesterday evening. we are detained till this morning for fair copies of our report. Staunton had 2. votes, Lexington 3. the Central college 16. I have never seen business done with so much order, & harmony, nor an abler nor pleasanter society. we have been well served...
8Thomas Jefferson to Martha Jefferson Randolph, 29 November 1817 (Jefferson Papers)
The calculation in my former letter of the time when Johnny Hemings would be done, was made on a guess of his own. by what he has since done I can estimate the time it will take him more exactly, and I find the cart need not leave Monticello till Thursday the 11 th of December, on which day therefore I wish it to be dispatched. I have been two days engaged from sunrise to sunset with a...
9Thomas Jefferson to Martha Jefferson Randolph, 22 November 1817 (Jefferson Papers)
I arrived here, my dear daughter after a disagreeable journey, one day shut up at Warren by steady rain, the next travelling thro a good deal of drizzle & rain, and the last excessive cold, the road being full of ice. but all well in the end. Johnny Hemings had made great progress in his work. his calculation is that he may possibly finish by this day fortnight, but possibly & almost probably...
10Thomas Jefferson to Martha Jefferson Randolph, 31 August 1817 (Jefferson Papers)
Ellen tells me that a request is communicated thro’ M r Randolph & yourself from the Freemason societies of Charlottesville to be permitted to lay the first brick of the Central college . I do not know that I have authority to say either yea or nay to this proposition; but as far as I may be authorised, I consent to it freely. the inhabitants of Charlottesville deserve too well of that...
11Thomas Jefferson to Martha Jefferson Randolph, 18 August 1817 (Jefferson Papers)
I inclose the within, to you, my dearest daughter & friend, because it is of great consequence, to be put into the post office at Charlottesville from which place it will go safer to Staunton than from hence. Ellen writes to you and of course will give the news of this place if she can muster up any. the history of our expedition to the Natural bridge she will write you of course. the sun,...
12Thomas Jefferson to Martha Jefferson Randolph, 3 December 1816 (Jefferson Papers)
We have been, my ever dearest Martha , now weather bound at this place since Sunday was sennight. we were then to have set off on our return home, but it began to rain that day, and we have had three regular N.E. rains successively, with intermissions of a single day between each. during the first intermission, mr Flower left us for Monticello , but by the way of the Natural bridge . by him I...
13Thomas Jefferson to Martha Jefferson Randolph, 10 November 1816 (Jefferson Papers)
We are all well here, my dear Martha , and thinking of our return home which will be about the 30 th or perhaps a day or two sooner. it is necessary therefore that the boys, Johnny & Randall shoul with the mules should set off from Monticello on the 19 th or 20 th to take the cart and baggage. I must pray you to desire mr Bacon
14Thomas Jefferson to Martha Jefferson Randolph, 4 November 1815 (Jefferson Papers)
We arrived here on the third day of our journey, without any accident; but I suffered very much both mornings by cold. I must therefore pray you to send my wolf-skin pelisse and fur-boots by Moses ’s Billy , when he comes to bring the two mules to move the Carpenters back. he is to be here on the 27 th by my directions to mr Bacon .
15Thomas Jefferson to Martha Jefferson Randolph, 31 August 1815 (Jefferson Papers)
We all arrived here without accident, myself the day after I left home , having performed the journey in two days, reaching Noah Flood ’s the 1 st day . the story of the neighborhood immediately was that I had brought a croud of workmen to get ready my house in a hurry for Bonaparte . were there such people only as the believers in this, patriotism would be a ridiculous passion. we are...
16Thomas Jefferson to Martha Jefferson Randolph, 13 August 1815 (Jefferson Papers)
The letter you forwarded , my dear Martha, desiring me to attend the Buckingham court of this month, requires an impossibility because that is tomorrow. I Know also that the trial of the question cannot be at the Same court at which the two wills are presented. Time must be given to Summon witnesses, and I Suppose I shall be Served with a Summons notifying the day I must appear.— We have had a...
17Thomas Jefferson to Martha Jefferson Randolph, 6 June 1814 (Jefferson Papers)
I have for some time been sensible I should be detained here longer than I had expected, but could not till now judge how long. Chisolm will finish his work in about 10. days, and it is very essential that I should see the walls covered with their plates, that they may be in a state of preservation. this will keep me 3. or 4. days longer, so that I expect to be here still about a fortnight...
18Thomas Jefferson to Martha Jefferson Randolph, 6 May 1813 (Jefferson Papers)
We arrived here, my dear Martha , well & without accident, favored on the road by the weather. the caravan also came well, except overpassing their stage the 2 d day, sleeping in the woods all night, without cover, and overwhelmed by a rain, in the center of which they were, while it did not extend 5 miles in any direction from them. the spinning Jenny is at work, well while with washed...
19Thomas Jefferson to Martha Jefferson Randolph, 24 February 1811 (Jefferson Papers)
When I wrote you this day week, I thought I should have been with you as soon as my letter . so I think with respect to the present one. my whole crop of wheat had been put compleatly out of my own power, and the miller who had rec e ived it has, by twice losing his dam, become insolvent and has delivered over his mill to a person more able to carry it on, but who will need time to repair it....
20Thomas Jefferson to Martha Jefferson Randolph, 17 February 1811 (Jefferson Papers)
Our post to Milton is but once a week, and I missed the opportunity of sending my letter to Lynchburg the last week. I performed my journey to this place with as little fatigue and by the same stages as in my chair. and by losing myself the first day I made it 40. miles to mr Scott’s . I have sold my tob o here for 7. Dollars: but my wheat is in an embarrassing situation. the dam of the mill...
21From Thomas Jefferson to Martha Jefferson Randolph, 27 February 1809 (Jefferson Papers)
Your letters of the 17th. and 24th. are both recieved. Beverly T. Randolph called at the hour at which I had rode out, & left your letter of the 17th. Taking for granted he was to stay a day as you mentioned, I wrote an invitation to him the next morning to come and dine with me. but he had already gone on. he called in like manner on his namesake Beverley here, who being out did not see him....
22From Thomas Jefferson to Martha Jefferson Randolph, 14 February 1809 (Jefferson Papers)
In the instant of the departure of the post Genl. Dearborne calls on me to know the name of a person for whom I applied to be made a Cadet; and I have forgotten the name, & cannot find it on a review of your letters, altho’ I know it was through you that the application came. pray let me know it by return of post; and I will keep the place open a few days. Genl. Dearborne leaves us in a few...
23From Thomas Jefferson to Martha Jefferson Randolph, 10 January 1809 (Jefferson Papers)
I recieved yesterday your letter of the 5th. & mr Randolph’s of the 6th. and I have this morning sent an extract of the latter to mr Nicholas. I sincerely wish it success, but I am afraid mr Carr has been misinformed of mr Patterson’s views, or, which is as likely, that mr Patterson has changed them. he has certainly concluded to settle on a tract of 5. or 600. acres which he gets from mr...
24From Thomas Jefferson to Martha Jefferson Randolph, 6 December 1808 (Jefferson Papers)
I inclose you a letter from Jefferson which I presume will inform you he is well, and I send you one from Dr. Wistar which will give you satisfaction. be so good as to return it. I had one from Anne 2. or 3. days ago, when all were well. she says they will be with us early in March. I sent you the last week by the post rider your watch, watch key & ring, which I hope got safe to hand. I forgot...
25From Thomas Jefferson to Martha Jefferson Randolph, 29 November 1808 (Jefferson Papers)
Yours of the 18th. has been recieved. I recieved a letter lately from mr Bankhead informing me he & Anne were well and agreeing to come and live with us until the population of the hive shall force a swarm or the concourse of clients call for & afford a separate establishment. I am happy that they think of settling ultimately at Poplar forest. it is a fine establishment & good neighborhood. I...
26From Thomas Jefferson to Martha Jefferson Randolph, 1 November 1808 (Jefferson Papers)
Mr. Bacon delivered your letter & every thing else safely. I had ordered a gross of bottles to be bought: but I will now countermand them. I send on corks by the stage, for I think that water casks should be trusted no longer than necessary. the letter & bundle for Jefferson shall be forwarded. certainly the residue of Buffon ought to be sent on to him to the care of mr Jefferson. when he went...
27From Thomas Jefferson to Martha Jefferson Randolph, 18 October 1808 (Jefferson Papers)
I inclose you a letter for T. B. Randolph containing his appointment as a Cadet. but the lodgings at the Military school at Westpoint being entirely full, he cannot be recieved there till the 1st. of March. indeed he could do nothing there sooner, as their vacation begins with November & ends with February. Genl. Dearborne proposed to me yesterday a new regulation respecting the Cadets. there...
28From Thomas Jefferson to Martha Jefferson Randolph, 30 September 1808 (Jefferson Papers)
I forgot to bring with me the gravy spoons to be converted into Dessert spoons. I must therefore pray you to send them to me. I think you mentioned a spare ladle. two ladles I think are necessary. if there be more it may come. if any body should be coming from your neighborhood to Washington, by the stage , they might be packed in a great mass of waste paper & a light box. Shoemaker or J....
29From Thomas Jefferson to Martha Jefferson Randolph, 19 July 1808 (Jefferson Papers)
I drop this line merely to inform you that it is still doubtful whether I shall be ready to set off tomorrow or not till the next day. but indeed should the weather be as warm as it has been for some days I doubt whether I should venture on the road as I believe it impossible the horses should stand it or even ourselves. this day however is moderate, and if it continues so I shall have the...
30From Thomas Jefferson to Martha Jefferson Randolph, 11 July 1808 (Jefferson Papers)
My last letters from Edgehill mentioned that you had been indisposed but had got the better of it. having no letter from Edgehill by this mail I can only hope you continue well.—in a conversation with you on the subject of Jefferson’s going to Philadelphia you mentioned that mr Randolph thought of declining it, and I do not know whether I inferred rightly, from what you said that a supposed...
31From Thomas Jefferson to Martha Jefferson Randolph, 21 June 1808 (Jefferson Papers)
We got in good time to dinner at Montpelier the day I left you, and the next two days being cool, we reached this place a little in the night, having come a little over 100. miles in the two days without inconvenience to ourselves or horses. mr Madison arrived here the next day. mr Gallatin & Rodney are still absent. mr Ogilvie has been here sometime lecturing, to very unequal audiences of...
32From Thomas Jefferson to Martha Jefferson Randolph, 25 April 1808 (Jefferson Papers)
Davy arrived last night with your letter of the 23d. and as he will stay some days, & then return slowly with a lame horse I take advantage of this day’s post to answer it. the recommendations for military appointment came too late. as it was impractical for the Executive to select the best characters for command through all the states, we apportioned the men to be raised and the officers to...
33From Thomas Jefferson to Martha Jefferson Randolph, 19 April 1808 (Jefferson Papers)
My latest news from Edgehill was Ellen’s letter of the 1st. inst. which seems to have closed her weekly engagements, as otherwise the 8th. & 15th. would have been here. I think Congress will certainly rise on the 25th. the only question of length is the giving the Executive a power to suspend the embargo in the events of peace or of the orders & decrees being withdrawn. the members seem...
34From Thomas Jefferson to Martha Jefferson Randolph, 6 February 1808 (Jefferson Papers)
I wrote to you the last week, but a pressure of business at the time prevented my answering a part of your letter of the 16th. Jan. the regret which you there expressed at the supposed effect of your visit to this place on my ordinary expences, gives me real uneasiness, and has little foundation. your being here with your family scarcely added any thing sensible to the ordinary expences of the...
35From Thomas Jefferson to Martha Jefferson Randolph, 2 February 1808 (Jefferson Papers)
The letter to mr Hackley shall go by a government vessel which sails for Cadiz the 10th. of this month. such a one will sail monthly for Falmouth, Brest, Lisbon & Cadiz during the embargo. this will furnish his friends a regular means of writing to him. Mr. Hackley has nothing to apprehend from mr Meade as the successor to mr. Yznardi. Meade’s intrigues against Yznardi, and his indecent...
36From Thomas Jefferson to Martha Jefferson Randolph, 5 January 1808 (Jefferson Papers)
I recieved yesterday yours of the 2d. my fever left me the day I wrote to you, and the swelling abated through the whole face, but still remains in a knot as big as a pigeon’s egg, over the diseased tooth, which has now been suppurating so long that the Doctr. thinks he shall have to extract the tooth (altho’ perfectly sound) to prevent a caries of the bone. a day or two will decide. in the...
37From Thomas Jefferson to Martha Jefferson Randolph, 29 December 1807 (Jefferson Papers)
I was taken with a tooth-ache about 5. days ago, which brought on a very large & hard swelling of the face, & that produced a fever which left me last night. the swelling has subsided sensibly, but whether it will terminate without suppuration is still uncertain. my hope is that I shall be well enough to recieve my company on New Year’s day. indeed I have never been confined by it to my...
38From Thomas Jefferson to Martha Jefferson Randolph, 23 November 1807 (Jefferson Papers)
Here we are all well; & my last letters from Edgehill informed me that all were so there except some remains of Influenza hanging on yourself. I shall be happy to hear you are entirely clear of it’s remains. it seems to have gained strength & malignancy in it’s progress over the country. it has been a formidable disease in the Carolinas; but worst of all in Kentucky; fatal however only to old...
39From Thomas Jefferson to Martha Jefferson Randolph, 12 October 1807 (Jefferson Papers)
My journey to this place was not as free from accident as usual. I was near losing Castor in the Rapidan, by his lying down in the river, where waste deep, & being so embarrassed by the shafts of the carriage & harness that he was nearly drowned before the servants, jumping into the water, could lift his head out & cut him loose from the carriage. this was followed by the loss of my travelling...
40From Thomas Jefferson to Martha Jefferson Randolph, 27 July 1807 (Jefferson Papers)
As it seems now tolerably probable that the British squadron in our bay have not in contemplation to commit any hostile act, other than the remaining there in defiance & bringing to the vessels which pass in & out, we are making all the arrangements preparatory to the possible state of war, that they may be going on, while we take our usual recess. in the course of three or four days a...
41From Thomas Jefferson to Martha Jefferson Randolph, 14 June 1807 (Jefferson Papers)
I have just recieved information from mr Jefferson that my shipwrecked goods are gone on from Richmond to Monticello (3. casks excepted which he supposes plundered) and that they appear to be in good condition. as a knolege of what gets safe & in good condition will dispense with my sending on a duplicate provision, I have directed mr Bacon to open all the packages & report to me their...
42From Thomas Jefferson to Martha Jefferson Randolph, 1 June 1807 (Jefferson Papers)
I am in hopes this evening’s mail will bring me information that you are all well, tho in the mean time this letter will have gone on. my health has been constant since my return here. I inclose a newspaper for mr Randolph, a magazine for yourself, and a piece of poetry for Ellen. tell her she is to consider this as a substitute for a letter and that I debit her account accordingly. I shall...
43From Thomas Jefferson to Martha Jefferson Randolph, 5 April 1807 (Jefferson Papers)
We are all well here, my ever dear Martha, but I shall not be able probably to set out tomorrow, but shall on Tuesday. we shall be five days on the road. in the mean time the roads will be getting better, & the weather perhaps milder. but indeed it looks as if this winter would run through the summer. not a bud is swelled here yet, except of the red Maple. kiss our dear children for me, and be...
44From Thomas Jefferson to Martha Jefferson Randolph, 2 April 1807 (Jefferson Papers)
Being apprehensive we have mistaken, by one day, the departure of the horse post from hence, I write this on Thursday instead of Friday. mr Randolph is quite strong enough to begin his journey even now. I think that to-day for the first time I have had no sensation of any remains of my head-ach. we continue our purpose of setting out on Monday, but I foresee a particular circumstance which may...
45From Thomas Jefferson to Martha Jefferson Randolph, 30 March 1807 (Jefferson Papers)
I presume mr Randolph informs you himself that he is quite well. indeed I have no doubt he could now very safely undertake the journey; but we continue to fix on Monday next for departure. as to myself altho’ I have no actual head-ach, yet about 9. oclock every morning I have a very quickened pulse come on, a disturbed head, & tender eyes, not amounting to absolute pain. it goes off about...
46From Thomas Jefferson to Martha Jefferson Randolph, 27 March 1807 (Jefferson Papers)
I presume mr Randolph writes to you and informs you he continues well. he has rode twice on horseback; yesterday about 4. miles without feeling it. my fit of yesterday was so mild that I have some hope of missing it to-day. I write this in the morning, but will keep it open till the evening to add the result of the day. we both think we may very safely fix on Monday sennight for our departure,...
47From Thomas Jefferson to Martha Jefferson Randolph, 23 March 1807 (Jefferson Papers)
Mr. Randolph’s convalescence proceeds steadily, not a single circumstance having arisen to throw him back. yet his strength increases slowly. as yet he only rides out in the carriage every day. it will not be till he can get on horseback that we can judge when he will be able to travel. my fits of head-ach have shortened from 9 hours to 5. but they have stuck some days at 5. hours, and when...
48From Thomas Jefferson to Martha Jefferson Randolph, 20 March 1807 (Jefferson Papers)
Mr. Randolph continues well without the least retrograde circumstance. he sleeps well, walks a good deal about the house, rides out in the carriage every day this cruel weather will permit & breakfasts & dines with us. but his strength returns so slowly that he certainly will not be able to undertake his journey on Monday as we had hoped. indeed I do not think a time can be fixed. when he...
49From Thomas Jefferson to Martha Jefferson Randolph, 16 March 1807 (Jefferson Papers)
Mr Randolph continues well. nothing has happened to throw him back. he rides out now on good days in the carriage. he came down to breakfast with us to-day. but the quantity of blood taken from him occasions him to recover strength slowly. it is now certain that his calculation for departure will be truer than mine. judging by the advance of his strength for the last week, it will take another...
50From Thomas Jefferson to Martha Jefferson Randolph, 13 March 1807 (Jefferson Papers)
I wrote to you by the carts yesterday morning; but as you will not get that letter till Monday evening, and may recieve this written a day later on Monday morning, I again inform you that mr Randolph continues well. he rode yesterday 5. miles, without fatigue, was much exhilarated by it, & had a fine night’s sleep. an Easterly storm having set in this morning will interrupt this salutary...