Thomas Jefferson Papers
Documents filtered by: Author="Jefferson, Thomas" AND Recipient="Randolph, Martha Jefferson" AND Period="Adams Presidency"
sorted by: author
Permanent link for this document:
https://founders.archives.gov/documents/Jefferson/01-31-02-0282

From Thomas Jefferson to Martha Jefferson Randolph, 21 January 1800

To Martha Jefferson Randolph

Philadelphia Jan. 21. 1800.

My dear Martha

I wrote on the 13th. inst. to mr Randolph. I now inclose you a letter from your friend Mde. Salimberi. it came under cover to me. and without looking at the second cover, or suspecting it not for me, I broke the seal, a few words in the beginning shewed me it was not, & on looking at the back I found it was addressed to you.—M. Bureau-Pusy, the companion of la Fayette, with his1 family & Mde. Dupont arrived at N. York some time ago. Dupont, with his son (late consul) & family arrived there a few days ago. I have a letter from La Fayette in which he says he should sail for America in July, but as he also expressed a wish to see the event of our negociation I suppose he will not come till reconciliation is established by that. J. Randolph’s affair is not over. a rancorous report was made to the H. of R. yesterday by a committee. it would seem as if the army themselves were to hew down whoever shall propose to reduce them. the non-intercourse law is to be renewed, but whether only for the tobacco states, or for all, is a question. were it not for the prospect of it’s expiring by the effect of a treaty, our state would do better to drop the culture of tobo. altogether.—I am made happy by a letter from mr Eppes, recd two or three days ago & informing me that Maria was become a mother & was well. it was written the day after the event. these circumstances are balm to the painful sensations of this place. I look forward with hope to the moment when we are all to be reunited again. it is proposed that we shall adjourn about the middle of March; & as the proposition comes from the Eastern members it will probably prevail. there is really nothing to do but to authorize them to make up their deficit of 5. millions by borrowing at 8. or 10. per cent. my friend Govr. Rutledge of S. Carolina is dead. news is this moment recieved here of the death of Govr. Mifflin at Lancaster; and there is a rumor of the death of George the 3d. the great & antient house of Cuningham & Nesbitt of this place has stopped paiment. it is but the beginning of a great crush. no commerce was more deeply interested than our’s in the deposits at Hamburgh. indeed our commerce & navigation2 generally are in a state of prostration. I am anxious as you may suppose to hear from you, having heard nothing since I left home. I hope you all continue well, yet should be happier to know it. I inclose a little tale for Anne. to Ellen you must make big promises, which I know a bit of gingerbread will pay off. kiss them all for me. my affectionate salutations to mr Randolph3 & tender & unceasing love to yourself. Adieu my ever dear Martha affectionately.

Th: Jefferson

RC (NNPM); at foot of first page: “Mrs. Randolph”; endorsed by Randolph. PrC (MHi); with recto and verso letterpressed on same sheet. Enclosures not found.

Letter from La Fayette: see 19 Apr. 1799. For the letter from John Wayles eppes, see 1 Jan. 1800.

Governor Edward Rutledge suffered a severe stroke on 10 Jan. but did not die until the 23d or 24th. The Philadelphia Gazette incorrectly reported that Rutledge had died on 11 Jan. Having served the maximum of three terms as governor of Pennsylvania, Thomas Mifflin heeded the appeal of Republicans and won a seat in the Pennsylvania House in 1799. He was attending the session in Lancaster when he died on 20 Jan. (James Haw, John & Edward Rutledge of South Carolina [Athens, Ga., 1997], 274; ANB description begins John A. Garraty and Mark C. Carnes, eds., American National Biography, New York and Oxford, 1999, 24 vols. description ends , 15:441). The rumor about the death of George the 3d. was published in Philadelphia newspapers without elaboration from a New York source (Philadelphia Gazette, 20 Jan. 1800; Philadelphia Aurora, 21 Jan.).

1TJ here canceled “wife the daughter.”

2Word and ampersand interlined.

3TJ here canceled “& […].”

Index Entries