1From Thomas Jefferson to Martha Jefferson Randolph, 4 April 1790 (Jefferson Papers)
I saw in Philadelphia your friends Mrs. Trist and Miss Rittenhouse. Both complained of your not writing. In Baltimore I enquired after Mrs. Buchanan and Miss Holliday. The latter is lately turned methodist, the former was married the evening I was there to a Mr. Turnbull of Petersburg in Virginia. Of course you will see her there. I find it difficult to procure a tolerable house here. It seems...
2From Thomas Jefferson to Martha Jefferson Randolph, 26 April 1790 (Jefferson Papers)
I wrote you last on the 4th. instant. In my letter of the 19th. to Mr. Randolph I inclosed one to you from England. I now send a packet from France, which comes from Botidour. I have now been seven weeks from you my dear and have never heard one tittle from you. I write regularly once a week to Mr. Randolph, yourself, or Polly, in hopes it may induce a letter from one of you every week also....
3From Thomas Jefferson to Martha Jefferson Randolph, 16 May 1790 (Jefferson Papers)
Your’s of the 25th. of April came to hand ten days ago, and yesterday I received Mr. Randolph’s of the 3d. instant. When I wrote to him last week, I hoped to have been soon rid of the periodical headach which had attacked me. It has indeed been remarkeably slight since that, but I am not yet quite clear of it. I expect every fit to be the last. I inclose the newspapers for Mr. Randolph. He...
4From Thomas Jefferson to Martha Jefferson Randolph, 6 June 1790 (Jefferson Papers)
Your favor of May 28. from Eppington came to me yesterday, with the welcome which accompanies ever the tidings I recieve from you. Your resolution to go to housekeeping is a good one, tho’ I think it had better be postponed till the fall. You are not yet seasoned to the climate, and it would therefore be prudent not to go to a sickly position till the sickly season is over. My former letters...
5From Thomas Jefferson to Martha Jefferson Randolph, 27 June 1790 (Jefferson Papers)
My last news from you were conveyed in your letter of May 28. I ascribe this to your present ambulatory life. I hope when you are more in the way of the post, I shall receive letters regularly once a week from one or other of you, as I write regularly once a week myself. In my letter of the last week to Mr. Randolph I mentioned the appearances of a war between England and Spain. We have...
6From Thomas Jefferson to Martha Jefferson Randolph, 17 July 1790 (Jefferson Papers)
I recieved two days ago yours of July 2. with Mr. Randolph’s of July 3 . Mine of the 11th. to Mr. Randolph will have informed you that I expect to set out from hence for Monticello about the 1st. of September. As this depends on the adjournment of Congress and they begin to be impatient, it is more probable I may set out sooner than later. However my letters will keep you better informed as...
7From Thomas Jefferson to Martha Jefferson Randolph, 8 August 1790 (Jefferson Papers)
Congress being certainly to rise the day after tomorrow, I can now, my dear Patsy, be more certain of the time at which I can be at Monticello, and which I think will be from the 8th. to the 15th. of September: more likely to be sooner than later. I shall leave this about a fortnight hence, but must stay some days to have arrangements taken for my future residence in Philadelphia. I hope to be...
8From Thomas Jefferson to Martha Jefferson Randolph, 22 August 1790 (Jefferson Papers)
The last letter I recieved from you was of the 2d July. In mine of the 14th. inst. to Mr. Randolph I informed him I should set out the next day to Rhode island with the President. I did so, and returned yesterday, after a very pleasant sail of two days going and two days returning thro the Sound. We visited Newport and Providence, where the President was received with great cordiality. He...
9From Thomas Jefferson to Martha Jefferson Randolph, 1 December 1790 (Jefferson Papers)
In my letter of last week to Mr. Randolph I mentioned that I should write every Wednesday to him, yourself and Polly alternately, and that my letters arriving at Monticello the Saturday and the answer being sent off on Sunday I should recieve it the day before I should have to write again to the same person, so as that the correspondence with each would be exactly kept up. I hope you will do...
10From Thomas Jefferson to Martha Jefferson Randolph, 23 December 1790 (Jefferson Papers)
This is a scolding letter for you all. I have not recieved a scrip of a pen from home since I left it which is now eleven weeks. I think it so easy for you to write me one letter every week, which will be but once in three weeks for each of you, when I write one every week who have not one moment’s repose from business from the first to the last moment of the week. Perhaps you think you have...
11From Thomas Jefferson to Martha Jefferson Randolph, 20 January 1791 (Jefferson Papers)
Mr. Short in a late letter says that your acquaintances in Panthemont complain excessively of your inattention to them and desired him to mention it. Matters there are going on well. The sales of the church lands are succesful beyond all calculation. There has been a riot in Paris in which M. de Castrie’s houshould furniture was destroyed. I am opening my things from Paris as fast as the...
12From Thomas Jefferson to Martha Jefferson Randolph, 2 February 1791 (Jefferson Papers)
I have this moment recieved yours of January 16. and answer it by the first post. It is indeed an interesting letter to me as it gives me details which I am sure will contribute to your happiness, my first wish. Nothing is so engaging as the little domestic cares into which you appear to be entering, and as to reading it is useful for only filling up the chinks of more useful and healthy...
13From Thomas Jefferson to Martha Jefferson Randolph, 9 February 1791 (Jefferson Papers)
Your two last letters are those which have given me the greatest pleasure of any I ever recieved from you. The one announced that you were become a notable housewife, the other a mother. This last is undoubtedly the key-stone of the arch of matrimonial happiness, as the first is it’s daily aliment. Accept my sincere congratulations for yourself and Mr. Randolph. I hope you are getting well,...
14From Thomas Jefferson to Martha Jefferson Randolph, 2 March 1791 (Jefferson Papers)
The present will serve just to tell you that I am well, and to keep up my plan of writing once a week whether I have any thing to say or not. Congress rises tomorrow. They have passed no laws remarkeable except the excise law and one establishing a bank. Mrs. Trist and Mrs. Waters always enquire after you and desire me to remember them to you. I hope you are by this time able to be about again...
15From Thomas Jefferson to Martha Jefferson Randolph, 24 March 1791 (Jefferson Papers)
The badness of the roads retards the post, so that I have recieved no letter this week from Monticello. I shall hope soon to have one from yourself to know from that that you are perfectly reestablished, that the little Anne is becoming a big one, that you have received Dr. Gregory’s book and are daily profiting from it.—This will hardly reach you in time to put you on the watch for the...
16From Thomas Jefferson to Martha Jefferson Randolph, 17 April 1791 (Jefferson Papers)
Since I wrote last to you, which was on the 24th. of March, I have received yours of March 22. I am indeed sorry to hear of the situation of Walker Gilmer and shall hope the letters from Monticello will continue to inform me how he does. I know how much his parents will suffer, and how much he merited all their affection.—Mrs. Trist has been so kind as to have your calash made, but either by...
17From Thomas Jefferson to Martha Jefferson Randolph, 8 May 1791 (Jefferson Papers)
Your letter of April 13. tho’ it came to hand on the 30th. is yet to be acknowleged. That of May 1. I received last night, within seven days of it’s date. The post from Richmond comes I believe in 4. days at this season of the year, so that our correspondence might be very prompt if you had a regular post from Charlottesville to Richmond. I thank you for all the small news of your letters,...
18V. Thomas Jefferson to Martha Jefferson Randolph, 31 May 1791 (Jefferson Papers)
I wrote to Maria yesterday, while sailing on Lake George, and the same kind of leisure is afforded me today to write to you. Lake George is without comparison the most beautiful water I ever saw: formed by a contour of mountains into a bason 35 miles long, and from 2 to 4 miles broad, finely interspersed with islands, its waters limpid as chrystal and the mountain sides covered with rich...
19From Thomas Jefferson to Martha Jefferson Randolph, 23 June 1791 (Jefferson Papers)
I wrote to each of you once during my journey, from which I returned four days ago, having enjoyed thro’ the whole of it very perfect health. I am in hopes the relaxation it gave me from business has freed me from the almost constant headach with which I had been persecuted thro the whole winter and spring. Having been entirely clear of it while travelling proves it to have been occasioned by...
20From Thomas Jefferson to Martha Jefferson Randolph, 10 July 1791 (Jefferson Papers)
I have no letter from Monticello later than Maria’s of May 29. which is now six weeks old. This is long, when but one week is necessary for the conveyance. I cannot ascribe all the delay to the Charlottesville post. However to put that out of the way I am negotiating with the postmaster the establishment of a public post from Richmond to Staunton. In this case all the private riders will be...
21From Thomas Jefferson to Martha Jefferson Randolph, 24 July 1791 (Jefferson Papers)
Your last letter come to hand was of May 23. Consequently it is now two months old. Petit arrived here three or four days ago, and accosted me with an assurance that he was come pour rester toujours avec moi. The principal small news he brings is that Panthemont is one of the convents to be kept up for education, that the old Abbess is living, but Madame de Taubenheim dead, that some of the...
22From Thomas Jefferson to Martha Jefferson Randolph, 14 August 1791 (Jefferson Papers)
Maria’s letter of July 16. informs me you were all well then. However great my confidence is in the healthy air of Monticello, I am always happy to have my hopes confirmed by letter. The day of my departure is not yet fixed. I hope it will be earlier or later in the first week of September. I know not as yet how I am to get along, as one of my horses is in such a condition as to leave little...
23From Thomas Jefferson to Martha Jefferson Randolph, 13 November 1791 (Jefferson Papers)
Maria and myself are waiting with impatience to hear that Mr. Randolph and yourself and dear little Anne are well. We now write alternately, once a week, so that the correspondence is become more equal. I now inclose to Mr. Randolph Freneau’s paper instead of Bache’s on account of the bulk of the latter which, being a daily paper, was too much for the post. And Freneau’s two papers contain...
24From Thomas Jefferson to Martha Jefferson Randolph, 4 December 1791 (Jefferson Papers)
We are well here, tho’ still without news from Mr. Randolph or yourself, tho’ we have been eight weeks from Monticello. Maria was to have written to you to-day, but she has been so closely engaged in pasting paper together in the form of a pocket book that she has not been able. She has been constantly getting colds since she came here. I have put on board Capt Stratton a box with the...
25From Thomas Jefferson to Martha Jefferson Randolph, 25 December 1791 (Jefferson Papers)
Your’s of Nov. 29. and Mr. Randolph’s of Nov. 28. came to hand five days ago. They brought us the first news we had received from Monticello since we left it. A day or two after, Mr. Millar of Charlottesville arrived here and gave us information of a little later date, and particularly of Colo. Lewis and Mrs. Gilmer’s illness. His account of Mrs. Gilmer was alarming, and I am anxious to hear...
26From Thomas Jefferson to Martha Jefferson Randolph, 15 January 1792 (Jefferson Papers)
Having no particular subject for a letter, I find none more soothing to my mind than to indulge itself in expressions of the love I bear you, and the delight with which I recall the various scenes thro which we have passed together, in our wanderings over the world. These reveries alleviate the toils and inquietudes of my present situation, and leave me always impressed with the desire of...
27From Thomas Jefferson to Martha Jefferson Randolph, 5 February 1792 (Jefferson Papers)
I was prevented writing to you last week by a bad cold attended with fever: and this week I have nothing to say but that I find myself nearly well, and to repeat the assurances of my love to you. Maria is well, and has come to a resolution to write to you no more. Whether this arises most from resentment or laziness I do not know. Mr. Randolph’s last letter received was of Dec. 29, yours of...
28From Thomas Jefferson to Martha Jefferson Randolph, 26 February 1792 (Jefferson Papers)
We are in daily expectation of hearing of your safe return to Monticello, and all in good health. The season is now coming on when I shall envy your occupations in the feilds and garden, while I am shut up drudging within four walls. Maria is well and lazy, therefore does not write. Your friends Mrs. Trist and Mrs. Waters are well also, and often enquire after you. We have nothing new or...
29From Thomas Jefferson to Martha Jefferson Randolph, 22 March 1792 (Jefferson Papers)
Yours of Feb. 20. came to me with that welcome which every thing brings from you. It is a relief to be withdrawn from the torment of the scenes amidst which we are. Spectators of the heats and tumults of conflicting parties, we cannot help participating of their feelings. I should envy you the tranquil occupations of your situation were it not that I value your happiness more than my own. But...
30From Thomas Jefferson to Martha Jefferson Randolph, 6 April 1792 (Jefferson Papers)
Mr. Randolph’s letter of the 18th. has been received since my last. The one it covered for Great Britain is sent by the packet now about to sail from New York. His commission to Doctor Barton shall be fulfilled to-day. Maria is with me keeping her Easter holidays. She is well. She allows herself to write but one letter a week, and having written to some acquaintance already she has nothing but...
31From Thomas Jefferson to Martha Jefferson Randolph, 27 April 1792 (Jefferson Papers)
I received yesterday your’s and Mr. Randolph’s of the 9th. which shews that the post somehow or other slips a week. Congress have determined to rise on the 5th. of May. Colo. Monroe and Mrs. Monroe will set out on the 7th. and making a short stay at Fredericksburg pass on to Albemarle. I have reason to expect that my visit to Virginia this year, instead of September as heretofore, will be...
32From Thomas Jefferson to Martha Jefferson Randolph, 11 May 1792 (Jefferson Papers)
Excess of business prevented my writing to you the last week or even having time to inclose the papers to Mr. Randolph. Since my last I have received yours of Feb. 28. and Mr. Randolph’s of Apr. 9. 16. and May 4. Congress rose three days ago. Colo. Monroe sets out three days hence, and by him I shall send your watch, and the 2d. part of Payne’s Rights of man for Mr. Randolph. Also, for...
33From Thomas Jefferson to Martha Jefferson Randolph, 27 May 1792 (Jefferson Papers)
I was too much occupied to write by Friday’s post and fear it will occasion your recieving my letter a week later. Yours of the 7th. Inst. has come duly to hand. Colo. and Mrs. Monroe will probably be with you by the time you recieve this. Mr. Madison left us last Wednesday. I have promised, during his stay in Orange, to inclose to him Fenno’s paper for his perusal, to be forwarded on to Mr....
34From Thomas Jefferson to Martha Jefferson Randolph, 8 June 1792 (Jefferson Papers)
The last news we have from Monticello is by your letter of May 7. I am in hopes tomorrow’s post will bring us something, for some how or other your letters (if you write by post to Richmond) miss a post and are sometimes a week longer coming than they ought to be.—The news from the French West India islands is more and more discouraging. Swarms of the inhabitants are quitting them and coming...
35From Thomas Jefferson to Martha Jefferson Randolph, 22 June 1792 (Jefferson Papers)
Yours of May 27. came to hand on the very day of my last to you, but after it was gone off. That of June 11. was received yesterday. Both made us happy in informing us you were all well. The rebuke to Maria produced the inclosed letter. The time of my departure for Monticello is not yet known. I shall within a week from this time send off my stores as usual that they may arrive before me. So...
36From Thomas Jefferson to Martha Jefferson Randolph, 3 July 1792 (Jefferson Papers)
I now inclose you Petit’s statement of the stores sent round to Richmond to the care of Mr. Brown. They sailed from hence yesterday morning, and the winds have been and are so favorable that I dare say they will be in Chesapeak bay tomorrow, ready for the first Southernly breeze to carry them up the river. So that they will probably be at Richmond some days before you receive this. I wrote to...
37From Thomas Jefferson to Martha Jefferson Randolph, 13 July 1792 (Jefferson Papers)
Yours of the 2d came yesterday. I wrote to Mr. Randolph two days ago, but by a bungle of the servant it did not get to the post office in time, so I suppose that and this will get to hand together, and both probably only the evening before I shall reach Monticello. Still should my former one desiring horses, have missed, this will be in time for them to meet me on the road, and relieve mine in...
38From Thomas Jefferson to Martha Jefferson Randolph, 26 October 1792 (Jefferson Papers)
Having not received a letter by yesterday’s post, and that of the former week from Mr. Randolph having announced dear Anne’s indisposition, I am under much anxiety. In my last letter to Mr. Randolph I barely mentioned your being recovered, when somewhat younger than she is, by recurrence to a good breast of milk. Perhaps this might be worthy of proposing to the Doctor. In a case where weakness...
39From Thomas Jefferson to Martha Jefferson Randolph, 12 November 1792 (Jefferson Papers)
The last post day for Monticello, which was the 9th. slipt by me without my recollecting it. However as you are perhaps in Cumberland, a letter of this day may get to you only three days the later. I have nothing indeed to tell you but that I love you dearly, and your dear connections, that I am well, as is Maria. I hope your little one has felt no inconvenience from the journey, that Anne is...
40From Thomas Jefferson to Martha Jefferson Randolph, 22 November 1792 (Jefferson Papers)
The last letter received from Mr. Randolph or yourself is of Oct. 7. which is near seven weeks ago. I ascribe this to your supposed absence from Monticello, but it makes me uneasy when I recollect the frail state of your two little ones. I hope some letter is on the way to me. I have no news for you except the marriage of your friend Lady Elizabeth Tufton, to some very rich person, but whose...
41From Thomas Jefferson to Martha Jefferson Randolph, 6 December 1792 (Jefferson Papers)
I have this day received yours of the 18th. November and sincerely sympathize with you on the state of dear Anne, if that can be called sympathy which proceeds from affection at first hand, for my affections had fastened on her for her own sake and not merely for yours. Still however experience (and that in your own case) has taught me that an infant is never desperate, let me beseech you not...
42From Thomas Jefferson to Martha Jefferson Randolph, 13 December 1792 (Jefferson Papers)
By capt. Swaile, who sailed yesterday for Richmond I sent addressed to Mr. Randolph to the care of Mr. Brown a box containing the following articles for your three house maids. 2. peices of linen. 52. yards 9. pair cotton stockings (3 of them small) 13. yds. cotton in three patterns 36. yards Calimanco. 9. yards muslin. Bob is to have a share of the linen. I had promised to send him a new suit...
43From Thomas Jefferson to Martha Jefferson Randolph, 31 December 1792 (Jefferson Papers)
I received three days ago Mr. Randolph’s letter of the 14th. from Richmond, and received it with great joy as it informed me of the reestablishment of dear Anne’s health. I apprehend from an expression in his letter that some of mine may have miscarried. I have never failed to write every Thursday or Friday. Percieving by the Richmond paper that the Western post now leaves that place on...
44From Thomas Jefferson to Martha Jefferson Randolph, 14 January 1793 (Jefferson Papers)
Mr. Randolph’s letter of Dec. 20. from Richmond is the only one come to hand from him or you since your’s from Bizarre of two months ago. Tho’ his letter informed me of the re-establishment of Anne, yet I wish to learn that time confirms our hopes. We were entertained here lately with the ascent of Mr. Blanchard in a baloon . The security of the thing appeared so great that every body is...
45From Thomas Jefferson to Martha Jefferson Randolph, 26 January 1793 (Jefferson Papers)
I received two days ago your’s of the 16th. You were never more mistaken than in supposing you were too long on the prattle &c. of little Anne. I read it with quite as much pleasure as you write it. I sincerely wish I could hear of her perfect reestablishment.—I have for some time past been under an agitation of mind which I scarcely ever experienced before, produced by a check on my purpose...
46From Thomas Jefferson to Martha Jefferson Randolph, 11 February 1793 (Jefferson Papers)
The hour of post is come and a throng of business allows me only to inform you we are well, and to acknolege the receipt of Mr. Randolph’s letter of Jan. 24. With hopes that you are all so accept assurances of constant love to you all from your’s my dear most affectionately RC ( NNP ); at foot of text: “Mrs. Randolph”; endorsed by Mrs. Randolph. PrC ( CSmH ). Tr ( ViU : Edgehill-Randolph...
47From Thomas Jefferson to Martha Jefferson Randolph, 24 February 1793 (Jefferson Papers)
We have no letter from Monticello since Mr. Randolph’s of Jan. 30. to Maria. However we hope you are all well and that there are letters on the road which will tell us so. Maria writes to-day. Congress will rise on Saturday next, a term which is joyous to all as it affords some relaxation of business to all. We have had the mildest winter ever known, having had only two snows to cover the...
48From Thomas Jefferson to Martha Jefferson Randolph, 10 March 1793 (Jefferson Papers)
Your letters of the 20th. and 27th. Feb. as well as Mr. Randolph’s of the same dates, came to hand only yesterday. By this I percieve that your post must be under bad regulation indeed. I am sorry to learn that your garden is dismantled, and yourself thereby discoraged from attention to it. I beg that Mr. Randolph will employ the whole force, he has been so kind as to direct, in repairing the...
49From Thomas Jefferson to Martha Jefferson Randolph, 24 March 1793 (Jefferson Papers)
I have nothing interesting to tell you from hence but that we are well, and how much we love you. From Monticello you have every thing to write about which I have any care. How do my young chesnut trees? How comes on your garden? How fare the fruit blossoms &c. I sent to Mr. Randolph, I think, some seed of the Bent-grass which is much extolled. I now inclose you some seed which Mr. Hawkins...
50From Thomas Jefferson to Martha Jefferson Randolph, 8 April 1793 (Jefferson Papers)
Since my letter of the last week, Maria has received one from Mr. Randolph which lets us know you were all well. I wish I could say the same. Maria has for these three or four weeks been indisposed with little fevers, nausea, want of appetite, and is become weak. The Doctor thinks it proceeds from a weakness of the stomach, and that it will soon be removed.—I learn from the head of Elk that a...