141From Thomas Jefferson to Pierre Samuel Du Pont de Nemours, 12 April 1800 (Jefferson Papers)
You have a mind, active, highly informed, and benevolent. I avail myself of all these qualities in addressing to you the following request. I mentioned to you when you were here, that we had in contemplation in Virginia to establish an university or college on a reformed plan: omitting those branches of science no longer useful or valued, tho hitherto kept up in all colleges, and introducing...
142From Thomas Jefferson to Pierre Samuel Du Pont de Nemours, 12 December 1800 (Jefferson Papers)
I know, my dear friend, that you sent me, so long ago as August, the much desired, and much valued piece on education , which I read with great pleasure, and ought to have acknoleged it’s receipt. but when I am at home there are so many delicious occupations of the more active kind that it is as difficult to drag me to my writing table, as to get a horse, broken loose from confinement, to...
143From Thomas Jefferson to Pierre Samuel Du Pont de Nemours, 12 May 1800 (Jefferson Papers)
I am happy in having seen here M. Bureau Pusy. the relation in which he stands to two persons whom I so much esteem as yourself and M. de la Fayette, as well as his own merit ensured him my best wishes. he is now on the wing as well as myself. I have therefore only time to inform you that about three weeks ago you were chosen a member of the American Philosophical society by an unanimous vote....
144From Thomas Jefferson to Andrew Ellicott, 14 February 1801 (Jefferson Papers)
I have to acknolege the reciept of your favors of Feb. 5. & 9. and to thank you for the pamphlet contained in the former one which was a desideratum to me. I will forward the diplomas to Chr. Livingston & mr Stewart. the latter is almost out of date. I am Dear Sir Your most obedt. servt PrC ( DLC ); at foot of text: “Mr. Andrew Ellicot”; endorsed by TJ in ink on verso. Ellicott’s letter of 9...
145From Thomas Jefferson to Andrew Ellicott, 18 December 1800 (Jefferson Papers)
I recieved a little before I left home your favor of Oct. 17. as I had in due time the preceding one. the attractive nature of country employments are my apology to my friends for being a very unpunctual correspondent while at home. having no refuge here from my room and writing table, it is here that I fetch up the lee-way of my correspondence. I am glad to hear you are ready for printing...
146From Thomas Jefferson to Elizabeth Wayles Eppes, 24 March 1798 (Jefferson Papers)
I have to acknoledge the reciept of your friendly letter of the 5th instant . I had before heard of the melancholy situation of mrs Skipwith and, whatever reason might suggest as less painful than that was to herself and her friends, yet affection could not learn the event without a shock, and a tender recollection of former scenes on which the curtain is now forever drawn. but we shall join...
147From Thomas Jefferson to Francis Eppes, 24 September 1797 (Jefferson Papers)
It is with sincere pleasure I learn that Wayles and Maria have concluded to run their course of life together. From his prudence I presume he has not proceeded thus far without knowing it would be agreeable to Mrs. Eppes and yourself. I have thought it right on this occasion to do precisely what I did on a former similar one. I have made what I gave to my daughter Randolph the measure of what...
148From Thomas Jefferson to John Wayles Eppes, 6 May 1798 (Jefferson Papers)
I wrote you last on the 11th. of April, & the day after recieved yours of Apr. 4 . I inclosed you at the same time the communications just then recieved from our envoys. others are lately recieved, but, as far as made known to us, they contain only a long memorial given in by them, justifying all our complaints , and repelling those of France. it takes up the subject from the time of Genet’s...
149From Thomas Jefferson to John Wayles Eppes, 8 March 1800 (Jefferson Papers)
My last was to Maria of the 12th. of Feb. I have been discouraged from writing under the apprehension that my letters did not get to you. I therefore inclosed that to mr Jefferson. since this I have recieved yours of Feb. 7. 10. 16. & 20. by which I have had acknolege ments of the receipt of all mine except of Dec. 21. & my last of Feb. 12. this I shall hear of in due time. the former was sent...
150From Thomas Jefferson to John Wayles Eppes, 7 February 1799 (Jefferson Papers)
Yours of Jan. 20. & 24. are duly recieved. in the former you mention the reciept of £40. for me, and Maria’s of the next day says that mr Eppes expected to recieve £30. more for me at the ensuing Cumberland court. not having heard from mr Randolph on the subject of the hire of your negroes, I was in the moment of recieving your letter, just about to inclose you a draught on George Jefferson...
151From Thomas Jefferson to John Wayles Eppes, 11 April 1798 (Jefferson Papers)
My last letter from Maria was of Mar. 20. & from yourself of Feb. 8 . the dates of my latest to Maria were of Apr. 1. Mar. 7. and to yourself of Feb. 18. you have seen in the papers the resolutions proposed by mr Sprigg, the first of which was that under existing circumstances it is not expedient to resort to war with France. it is very uncertain how this would have been decided. but the...
152From Thomas Jefferson to John Wayles Eppes, 21 December 1799 (Jefferson Papers)
Your favor from the Hundred came to hand the [day before] yesterday. I have been detained here a week by bad weather. [this morn]ing mr Nicholas & myself breakfasted at Sun-rise to set out: but heavy snow is now come on. we shall start as soon as it holds up. our election was yesterday. Woods carried it against P. Carr by 247. against 122 votes. those of your people who were unwell when you...
153From Thomas Jefferson to John Wayles Eppes, 18 February 179[8] (Jefferson Papers)
I wrote you last on the 1st. inst. and three days ago recieved Maria’s of the same date. we have intelligence which seems to be authentic that the Spaniards have delivered up the posts on the Missisipi. this is the more welcome, as the commencement of war in that quarter seemed more imminent than it is with France. we are certainly more indebted for avoiding it to the good sense & moderation...
154From Thomas Jefferson to John Wayles Eppes, 21 January 1799 (Jefferson Papers)
I wrote to my dear Maria on the 1st. inst. and covered it in one to yourself on the 3d . I have not yet recieved any letters either from you or Monticello since I left home, now five weeks.—you will have seen the debates on Logan’s law, as it is called. the forged paper they endeavored to palm on the H. of R. as if written & presented by Logan to the French directory, being made appear to have...
155From Thomas Jefferson to John Wayles Eppes, 22 January [1800] (Jefferson Papers)
Your favor of Jan. 1. came to me on the 18th. that of the 12th. was recieved yesterday . the one you mention from the Hundred has never been recieved. none of these acknolege the receipt of mine of Dec. 21. the day I left Monticello. on the 30th. of Dec. I inclosed you some pamphlets, not writing as you know I mentioned my design of writing little for a year to come. on the 17th. inst. I wrote...
156From Thomas Jefferson to John Wayles Eppes, 7 June 1799 (Jefferson Papers)
We have for some time past had as little communication almost as if we did not know how to write. mr Randolph’s journies have given us mutual information of the welfare of both families & of course has lessened the occasion for writing. your prospect of a crop here has been as good as could be, independant of the seasons. but there has been through the whole of this part of the country an...
157From Thomas Jefferson to John Wayles Eppes, 22 February 1801 (Jefferson Papers)
I wrote to Maria on the 15th. inst. yours of the 12th. was recieved on the 18th. mr Tyler who was the bearer of my letter to Maria, set out so instantly after the event of the election that I could not write, but as he had promised to send Maria’s letter, he would probably notify that event at the same time. I cannot regret entirely the disappointment of meeting Maria & yourself at Monticello...
158From Thomas Jefferson to John Wayles Eppes, 19 January 1801 (Jefferson Papers)
I wrote to you Dec. 23. via Petersburg, and to Maria Jan. 4. via City point. neither seems to have reached you Jan. 12. the date of your letter which came to hand yesterday. I answer it immediately according to my promise to Maria. and if mine be acknoleged as soon as you recieve it, we may hear from each other regularly every fortnight, as a letter is but 6 days going hence to Richmond, and...
159From Thomas Jefferson to John Wayles Eppes, 23 December 1800 (Jefferson Papers)
I arrived here on the 4th. day of my journey without accident, & found myself better provided with lodgings than I expected. in general Congress is comfortably & conveniently lodged; dearer however than at Philadelphia; in my own case considerably so. the French treaty will meet considerable opposition in Senate. the judiciary system is again brought forward, & there is great fear will...
160From Thomas Jefferson to John Wayles Eppes, 21 April 1800 (Jefferson Papers)
In a letter to Maria, of the 6th. inst. I acknoleged the receipt of yours of Mar. 16. & 24. finding that Patsy has got home, I am in hopes that the expectations expressed in that of the 24th. that Maria would be well in a few days, have been realised; & that this long & painful scene for us all will be closed with a return of health. the two houses have at length agreed to adjourn on the 2d....
161From Thomas Jefferson to John Wayles Eppes, 4 July 1799 (Jefferson Papers)
I recieved yesterday a letter from Doctr. Taylor informing me he had paid very nearly the whole sum he owed me to mr Hanson, whose certificate was in the hands of French on it’s way to me. as soon as I recieve this certificate I shall not hesitate to redeliver to him the patents of the mortgaged lands in Greenbriar &c. be so good therefore as to leave them with mr Eppes, praying him barely to...
162From Thomas Jefferson to John Wayles Eppes, 21 December 1797 (Jefferson Papers)
Presuming that you get the newspapers I shall not repeat the public news which they detail. The great victory obtained by the English over the Dutch fleet is placed beyond doubt, they have taken 9 out of 16. As to the proceedings of Congress, they have passed a bill putting off the commencement of the Stamp act till July next. The land tax will not be taken up this session. It is suspected...
163From Thomas Jefferson to Mary Jefferson Eppes, 1 April 1798 (Jefferson Papers)
Yours of Mar. 20. came to hand yesterday. you are not aware of the consequences of writing me a letter in so fair a hand, and one so easily read. it puts you in great danger of the office of private secretary at Monticello, which would sometimes be a laborious one. your letter was 11. days coming here, and mr Eppes’s of Feb. 8. was 19. days on it’s way. this shews that there is something wrong...
164From Thomas Jefferson to Mary Jefferson Eppes, 8 December 1798 (Jefferson Papers)
I wrote to mr Eppes three weeks ago. immediately after the date of that letter Lucy increased her family. she is doing well except as to her breasts. the one so much out of order when you went away, still continues in the same state, and the other threatens to rise also, which would entirely prevent her giving suck. she could not be moved in their present condition. I expect to set out for...
165From Thomas Jefferson to Mary Jefferson Eppes, 1 January 1799 (Jefferson Papers)
I left Monticello the 18th. of Dec. and arrived here to breakfast on the 25th. having experienced no accident or inconvenience except a slight cold, which brought back the inflammation of my eyes and still continues it, though so far mended as to give hopes of it’s going off soon. I took my place in Senate before a single bill was brought in or other act of business done, except the Address...
166From Thomas Jefferson to Mary Jefferson Eppes, 4 July 1800 (Jefferson Papers)
We have heard not a word of you since the moment you left us. I hope you had a safe & pleasant journey. the rains which began to fall here the next day gave me uneasiness lest they should have overtaken you also. Dr. and mrs Bache have been with us till the day before yesterday. mrs Monroe is now in our neighborhood to continue during the sickly months. our Forte-piano arrived a day or two...
167From Thomas Jefferson to Mary Jefferson Eppes, [6 June 1798] (Jefferson Papers)
I wrote you last on the 18th. of May since which [I have recieved mr Eppes’s] letter of May 20. and yours of May 27. I have deter[mined to set out from] this place on the 20th. inst. and shall, in my letters of tomorrow, [order my horses] to meet me at Fredericksburg on the 24th. and may therefore be at home on the 26th. or 27th. where I shall hope to have the happiness of meeting you. I can...
168From Thomas Jefferson to Mary Jefferson Eppes, 18 May 1798 (Jefferson Papers)
It is very long since I have heard from Eppington. the last letter I [recieved?] was from mr Eppes dated Apr. 4. so long without hearing from you, I cannot be without uneasiness for your health. I have been constantly in the hope that we were within 3. or 4. weeks of rising, but so often disappointed I begin to lose my faith as to any period of adjournment; and some begin now openly to avow...
169From Thomas Jefferson to Mary Jefferson Eppes, 8 March 1799 (Jefferson Papers)
I am this moment arrived here, and the post being about to depart, I set down to inform you of it. your sister came over with me from Belmont where we left all well. the family will move over the day after tomorrow. they give up the house there about a week hence. we want nothing now to fill up our happiness but to have you & mr Eppes here. scarcely a stroke has been done towards covering the...
170From Thomas Jefferson to Mary Jefferson Eppes, 2 December 1797 (Jefferson Papers)
You will be surprised at receiving a letter from me dated here at this time. But a series of bad weather having suspended our works many days, has caused my detention. I have for some time had my trunk packed and issued my last orders, and been only waiting for it to cease raining. But it still rains. I have a bad prospect of rivers and roads before me. Your sister removed to Belmont about...