To Thomas Jefferson from Ellen Wayles Randolph, 26 July 1804
From Ellen Wayles Randolph
[before 26] July 1804
My Dear Grand Papa
I have long wished to write to you. but would not untill I could do it myself. all the children are well except little Virginia she has been sick but is now much better adieu My Dear Grand Papa you must excuse the faults of this letter for it is the first I ever attempted to write and believe me to be your most affetionate Grand Daughter
E. W Randolph
RC (ViU: Coolidge Deposit); partially dated; addressed in Martha Jefferson Randolph’s hand: “Thomas Jefferson President of the U.S. Washington”; endorsed by TJ; recorded in SJL as received 26 July. Unrelated note on address sheet also in Martha Jefferson Randolph’s hand: “Voi amante qui vedete quanto amor mi sia d’affanno,” a loose rendering of a line from Antonio Salieri’s opera Il Talismano, act 2, scene 12, roughly translated as “You all who love can see how love torments me.”
do it myself: Ellen, seven years old when she wrote the letter printed above, had previously written to TJ with the help of her mother; see Vol. 35:589 and Vol. 36:656 (, 9).