Thomas Jefferson Papers
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John Wayles Eppes to Thomas Jefferson, 10 January 1810

From John Wayles Eppes

Washington January. 10th 1810.

Dear Sir,

I enclose under cover to you a note for my little boy—I am delighted to hear that he gives you so little trouble—If you can prevail on him to write1 to me often so that I may know he is well I will not impose on you the sacrifice of time which appears to be so completely filled up with occupations, so much more interesting than the sedentary life to which you have been for so many years, confined, & a release from which must not only add to your happiness, but greatly prolong the years of health for the full enjoyment of which you have my most sincere and affectionate wishes—

We may now pronounce with some degree of certainty as to the measures which will be adopted during the present Session of Congress—The Bill reported by Mr Macon will take the place of the present non intercourse—The law for holding readiness the detatchment of 100,000 militia will be revived—20,000 men will be raised for a short period—They are called in the message of the President volunteers but will in fact be regulars—not embodied or called into service until actual war—I understand the plan is to give a sufficient bounty in Land in case of their being called into actual service, to induce the people in Country places, such as the farmers sons to inlist—From this body of men the first to be called into service will be formed the army to continue for the war—if in war we shall be involved—

It is reported here that Mr Canning returns to the administration with Ld Wellesley—If this is certainly the case the Resolution on the subject of Jackson may be very seriously noticed—You have employments so much more interesting than politics that I forbear to say any thing on this subject—Our external difficulties will I fear be greatly increased by the state of feeling existing among the members of the cabinet—The coal has blown almost into a flame & may produce serious injury & difficulty to the nation—

With every sentiment of affection I am yours sincerely

Jno: W: Eppes

RC (MHi); endorsed by TJ as received 14 Jan. 1810 and so recorded in SJL. Enclosure not found.

The bill reported by Nathaniel macon (which came to be known as Macon’s Bill No. 1) prohibited British and French ships from entering harbors of the United States, allowed American merchants to import goods directly from their place of origin, and gave the president the power to restore normal commercial relations with either of the belligerent nations if they ceased to harm American shipping. It passed the House of Representatives on 29 Jan. 1810 but died on 31 Mar., when the House refused to accept alterations to the bill by the Senate (JHR description begins Journal of the House of Representatives of the United States description ends , 7:204, 334; Madison, Papers description begins William T. Hutchinson, Robert A. Rutland, John C. A. Stagg, and others, eds., The Papers of James Madison, 1962– , 29 vols.: Congress. Ser., 17 vols.; Pres. Ser., 5 vols.; Sec. of State Ser., 7 vols description ends , Pres. Ser., 2:196). An 1808 act authorizing the detatchment of 100,000 militia was to expire on 30 Mar., prompting President James Madison to call on Congress to renew it and provide for the raising of 20,000 additional volunteers (Madison, Papers description begins William T. Hutchinson, Robert A. Rutland, John C. A. Stagg, and others, eds., The Papers of James Madison, 1962– , 29 vols.: Congress. Ser., 17 vols.; Pres. Ser., 5 vols.; Sec. of State Ser., 7 vols description ends , Pres. Ser., 2:158–9) . George canning resigned as British foreign secretary shortly after being wounded in September 1809 in a duel with Lord Castlereagh, the secretary of war. He did not return to the cabinet at this time. Richard wellesley, Marquess Wellesley, succeeded Canning as foreign secretary, serving until 1812 (ODNB description begins H. C. G. Matthew and Brian Harrison, eds., Oxford Dictionary of National Biography, 2004, 60 vols. description ends ).

1Manuscript: “wite.”

Index Entries

  • Army, U.S.; and militia search
  • Army, U.S.; expansion of search
  • Canning, George; British foreign minister search
  • Canning, George; rumored return to British cabinet search
  • Congress, U.S.; and foreign affairs search
  • Congress, U.S.; and Macon’s Bill No.1 search
  • Eppes, Francis Wayles (TJ’s grandson); relationship with father search
  • Eppes, John Wayles (TJ’s son-in-law); letters from search
  • Eppes, John Wayles (TJ’s son-in-law); relationship with son search
  • House of Representatives, U.S.; and Macon’s Bill No.1 search
  • Jackson, Francis James; congressional resolution concerning search
  • Macon, Nathaniel; and Macon’s Bill No.1 search
  • Madison, James; calls for military expansion search
  • military; expansion of search
  • Wellesley, Richard Wellesley, Marquess; British foreign minister search