Thomas Jefferson Papers
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Thomas Jefferson to Charles Pinckney, 3 September 1816

To Charles Pinckney

Monticello Sep. 3. 16.

Dear Sir

your favor of August has been duly recieved, with the pamphlet it covered.1 Colo Monroe happened to be at his seat adjoining me and to dine with me the day I recieved it. I thought I could not make better use of it than, by putting it into his hands, to let him know his friends. you say nothing in your letter of your health which, after so long an interval,2 cannot but be interesting to a friend. I hope it continues firm. as for myself, I weaken very sensibly, yet with such a continuance of good health as makes me fear I shall wear out very tediously, which is not what one would wish. I see no comfort in outliving one’s3 friends, and remaining a mere monument of the times which are past. I withdraw myself as much as possible from politics, and gladly shelter myself under the wings of the generation for which in our day,4 we have labored faithfully to provide shelter.

Your’s with continued friendship & respect5

Th: Jefferson

PoC (MHi); on verso of reused address cover of William D. Simms to TJ, 1 July 1816; at foot of text: “Charles Pinckney esq.”; endorsed by TJ. Printed with partial date of Sept. 1816 in the New York National Advocate, 30 Nov. 1818, and elsewhere.

James Monroe’s seat adjoining Monticello was his Highland estate.

1National Advocate here adds “in defence of Colonel Monroe’s nomination to the Presidency, written by yourself.”

2Preceding five words not in National Advocate.

3National Advocate: “our.”

4Preceding three words not in National Advocate.

5National Advocate: “Your truly, and with continued friendship.”

Index Entries

  • aging; TJ on his own search
  • books; on politics search
  • Highland (J. Monroe’s Albemarle Co. estate); J. Monroe at search
  • Jefferson, Thomas; Health; aging search
  • Jefferson, Thomas; Health; debility search
  • Jefferson, Thomas; Health; good health of search
  • Jefferson, Thomas; Opinions on; death of old friends search
  • Jefferson, Thomas; Opinions on; retirement search
  • Monroe, James; and C. Pinckney search
  • Observations to shew the propriety of the nomination of Colonel James Monroe, to the Presidency of the United States by the Caucus at Washington (C. Pinckney) search
  • Pinckney, Charles; and J. Monroe search
  • Pinckney, Charles; health of search
  • Pinckney, Charles; letters to search
  • Pinckney, Charles; Observations to shew the propriety of the nomination of Colonel James Monroe, to the Presidency of the United States by the Caucus at Washington search