Thomas Jefferson Papers
Documents filtered by: Author="Jefferson, Thomas" AND Period="Adams Presidency"
sorted by: date (descending)
Permanent link for this document:
https://founders.archives.gov/documents/Jefferson/01-32-02-0429

From Thomas Jefferson to Mary Jefferson Eppes, 15 February 1801

To Mary Jefferson Eppes

Washington Feb. 15. 1801.

Your letter, my dear Maria, of the 2d. inst. came to hand on the 8th. I should have answered it instantly according to our arrangement, but that I thought, by waiting till the 11th. I might possibly be able to communicate something on the subject of the election. however, after 4. days of balloting, they are exactly where they were on the first. there is a strong expectation in some that they will coalesce tomorrow: but I know no foundation for it. whatever event happens, I think I shall be at Monticello earlier than I formerly mentioned to you. I think it more likely I may be able to leave this place by the middle of March. I hope I shall find you at Monticello. the scene passing here makes me pant to be away from it: to fly from the circle of cabal, intrigue & hatred, to one where all is love and peace. tho’ I never doubted of your affections, my dear, yet the expressions of them in your letter give me ineffable pleasure. no, never imagine that there can be a difference with me between yourself & your sister. you have both such dispositions as engross my whole love, and each so entirely that there can be no greater degree of it than each possesses. whatever absences I may be led into for a while, I look for happiness to the moment when we can all be settled together, no more to separate. I feel no impulse from personal ambition to the office now proposed to me, but on account of yourself & your sister, and those dear to you. I feel a sincere wish indeed to see our government brought back to it’s republican principles, to see that kind of government firmly fixed; to which my whole life has been devoted. I hope we shall now see it so established, as that when I retire, it may be under full security that we are to continue free & happy. as soon as the fate of the election is over, I will drop a line to mr Eppes. I hope one of you will always write the moment you recieve a letter from me. continue to love me my dear as you ever have done, and ever have been & will be by your’s affectionately

Th: Jefferson

RC (ViU); addressed: “Mrs. Maria Eppes Bermuda Hundred near City point”; franked.

Formerly mentioned to you: in the letter to his daughter of 4 Jan., TJ indicated that he would be at Monticello the first week in April.

Index Entries