51Thomas Jefferson to John Wayles Eppes, 10 January 1811 (Jefferson Papers)
By the post succeeding my last letter to you , I recieved one from my counsel in Livingston’s case requesting me to prepare a statement of all the facts which will be to be proved in that case to be forwarded with commissions to N. Orleans to have the depositions regularly taken. this it is not in my power to do without the aid of the statement of the case sent to mr Giles & yourself, of which...
52Thomas Jefferson to John Wayles Eppes, 6 March 1817 (Jefferson Papers)
I have detained Martin a little longer than you intended because my waggons were to set off this day for Bedford and I concluded to send him with the work he had done by one of them. it was but one day’s journey of their way, and saves your waggon a trip of 5. days to come for them. by Martin ’s count there are 129. knobs. their tops will require to be kept well painted, as they present the...
53Thomas Jefferson to John Wayles Eppes, 18 September 1812 (Jefferson Papers)
I deferred answering your letter of July 11 because I had learnt there were several points of difference of opinion between mr T. E. Randolph and yourself as to the conditions of the lease of Pantops , & I thought it proper that these should be explained & settled between yourselves before a third party intervened. I wrote to mr Randolph accordingly, to ask his understanding of the lease that...
54Thomas Jefferson to John Wayles Eppes, 13 March 1818 (Jefferson Papers)
Your’s & Francis’s of Feb. 14. were recieved in due time. you have seen by the newspapers what our legislature has done on the subject of an University. the centrality & salubrity of Charlottesville excite strong expectations that the site of the Central College will be adopted for that. but this cannot be known until the next session of the legislature. in the mean while we shall go on with...
55Thomas Jefferson to John Wayles Eppes, 16 July 1814 (Jefferson Papers)
M r Estin Randolph has shewed me a letter from you, proposing to sell him Pantops , o i n order to lay out the money in lands in your neighborhood for Francis . I had hoped that we had concurred in our purposes on that subject, altho’ we did not in the immediate execution of them. my view & wish was when Francis should come of age, or the Pantops lease expire, or whenever else you pleased, to...
56From 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...
57From Thomas Jefferson to John Wayles Eppes, 28 May 1807 (Jefferson Papers)
Martin arrived here the night before last & delivered safely yours of the 22d. I learn with great pleasure the good health of yourself & the good family of Eppington & particularly of our dear Francis. I have little fear but that he will out grow those attacks which have given us such frequent uneasiness. I shall hope to see him well here next winter & that our grounds will be in such a state...
58From Thomas Jefferson to John Wayles Eppes, 27 May 1805 (Jefferson Papers)
Not understanding the conveyance to you by post beyond Richmond, I have thought it safest to remit the 100. D. for you to Gibson & Jefferson, subject to your order, which is done this day. I was never better pleased with a riding horse than with Jacobin. it is now really a luxury to me to ride. The early prevalence of sickness here this season will probably drive us hence earlier than usual,...
59From Thomas Jefferson to John Wayles Eppes, 22 January 1802 (Jefferson Papers)
Yours of the 6th. has been duly recieved. but the printer has been slow in making up for me the documents you desired. they are now inclosed. the Census is not yet printed. the bill for the Military establishment , on the scale proposed by the Executive, passed the H. of R. yesterday by about 58. or 60. votes against 12. a proposition to strike out the Brigadier General had a good deal divided...
60From Thomas Jefferson to John Wayles Eppes, 14 April 1793 (Jefferson Papers)
Your departure hence is so recent that nothing has occurred worth communicating to you. The object of the present letter is merely to inclose to you an account presented me by Peter Gordon the shoemaker, who supposed you had forgotten him. As I know that there is sometimes a forgetfulness on the side of the Creditor, I told him I would pay the account if you should admit it to be just. You...
61From 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...
62From Thomas Jefferson to John Wayles Eppes, 1 January 1802 (Jefferson Papers)
I wrote to Maria on the 14th. of Dec. My occupations are now so incessant that I cannot command a moment for my friends. 7. hours of close business in the forepart of the day, and 4. in the evening leave little time for exercise or relaxation. Congress have not yet done anything, nor passed a vote which has produced a party division. the sending a message, instead of making a speech to be...
63From 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...
64From Thomas Jefferson to John Wayles Eppes, 19 June 1803 (Jefferson Papers)
Yours of the 14th. came to hand last night. I am glad you are all well so far, but having terrible apprehensions of the Hundred after the warm weather sets in, I should have been better pleased to learn you would go to Monticello immediately from whence you could make your trip to the Louisa springs if necessary at your convenience. groceries & other necessaries for summer use at Monticello...
65Thomas Jefferson to John Wayles Eppes, 24 July 1809 (Jefferson Papers)
I recieved some time ago a summons from Commissioner Ladd to attend a settlement in the case of m r Wayles & mr Skelton ’s accounts on the 1 st of Aug. I expressed to him, in answer, my extreme anxiety to have that settlement made, & that I would attend any meeting which promised to be effectual; that I doubted whether in the sickly season an effectual meeting could be had at Richmond , &...
66Thomas Jefferson to John Wayles Eppes, 6 August 1817 (Jefferson Papers)
I set out for Bedford tomorrow, and shall leave this at Flood ’s. you will know therefore by it’s receipt that we are passed on, to wit Ellen , Cornelia and myself. very soon after our arrival at Poplar Forest , perhaps a week, we shall go to the Nat l bridge and be a b sent 4. or 5. days: and shall hope to see you & Francis soon after as given us to hope in yours of
67Thomas Jefferson to John Wayles Eppes, 16 July 1810 (Jefferson Papers)
I recieved in May last the inclosed letter from mr Thomas Wilson agent for Speirs & co. with two other papers the copy of which is now inclosed, the originals being returned to him at his request. I wrote in answer that your father had solely gone through the administration of mr Wayles’s estate, or had left so little to do that I expected you would do that, as the papers were in your hands,...
68Thomas Jefferson to John Wayles Eppes, 29 July 1820 (Jefferson Papers)
In my letter of June 30. I informed you I would write to D r Cooper for information as to the state and expences of education at Columbia S.C. I will quote his answer in his own words. ‘I am not fully prepared to answer your queries as to the expence of education at the C S. Carolina college . but I have always understood it was very cheap, not exceeding 250.D. for the session of nine months....
69From Thomas Jefferson to John Wayles Eppes, 8 October 1807 (Jefferson Papers)
In my letter to you from Monticello by your servant I had concluded to let the purchase of the horse lie till you should come here. but I find I am obliged to get another & without much delay: & that therefore I had better not let the chance slip out of my hands of getting Major Egglestone’s horse, for taking into consideration his price, & the circumstance of it’s being known that he draws...
70Thomas Jefferson to John Wayles Eppes, 6 November 1813 (Jefferson Papers)
I had not expected to have troubled you again on the subject of finance; but since the date of my last I have recieved from mr Law a letter covering a memorial on that subject which from it’s tenor I conjecture must have been before Congress at their two last sessions. this paper contains two propositions, the one for issuing Treasury notes bearing interest, & to be circulated as money; the...
71From 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...
72From Thomas Jefferson to John Wayles Eppes, 25 March 1805 (Jefferson Papers)
Yours of the 22d. by Martin is recieved together with the horse. in the exchange we have made my own knolege of the horse recived is sufficient to prevent all after-claims as to his soundness, should he become unsound. so frequently the lot of horses the loss must be mine, without affecting you. With respect to the land at Poplar forest you are free to enter into occupation of it when you...
73Thomas Jefferson to John Wayles Eppes, 18 April 1813 (Jefferson Papers)
I have been in the less haste to answer your last letter , because it appeared from that as if the farther we proceeded in our negociation, the wider we got apart. in the early part of the letter you state justly as the only point of difference, the condition of providing the same quantity of open lands on the Tomahawk tract as there is on Pantops . the practicability of effecting this by...
74From Thomas Jefferson to John Wayles Eppes, 15 March 1804 (Jefferson Papers)
Your letter of the 9th. has at length relieved my spirits. still the debility of Maria will need attention, lest a recurrence of fever should degenerate into Typhus. I should suppose the system of wine & food as effectual to prevent as to cure that fever, and think she should use both as freely as she finds she can bear them. light food & cordial wines. the Sherry at Monticello is old &...
75Thomas Jefferson to John Wayles Eppes, [by 17] January 1822 (Jefferson Papers)
I send a small cart and box for the books, state papers E t c you are so kind as to lend me. I possess the Journals of the old Congress ; and I have no need of the public accounts mentioned in your list. the information I need is generally from 1789. to 1809. and nothing at all after 1809. I will state specify at the end of my letter the particular titles of what I wish to recieve as they are...
76Thomas Jefferson to John Wayles Eppes, 7 April [1819] (Jefferson Papers)
The adoption of our College as an University much delays the opening our schools here, as needing much greater preparation & the Visitors having concluded that accomodations must be provided before Professors, they have fixed on April next for recieving professors. in the of our D r Cooper was to have brought on a mr Slack , as Usher to our Grammar school & whom he had pressed as our...
77From 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...
78From 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...
79Enclosure: Receipt and Bond from Thomas Jefferson to John Wayles Eppes, 13 October 1820 (Jefferson Papers)
I Thomas Jefferson of Albemarle acknolege that I have recieved of John W. Eppes of Buckingham checks on the bank of for the sum of four thousand Dollars in consideration whereof I oblige myself to deliver to him, on or before the twenty fifth day of December eighteen hundred & twenty two such and so many of my slaves now residing on my lands in Bedford as shall be equal in value to the sd...
80From Thomas Jefferson to John Wayles Eppes, 27 March 1801 (Jefferson Papers)
According to the plan I had proposed of each of us answering immediately on reciept of a letter from the other, by which means we should keep up a continued correspondence, & hear mutually about once a fortnight, I was waiting a letter from you, and began to be very uneasy, when yesterday yours of the 18th. came to hand. I set out the last day of this month for Monticello, where I shall remain...
81Thomas Jefferson to John Wayles Eppes, 26 January 1810 (Jefferson Papers)
Your letter of the 21 st brought to my mind Col o Bentley’s business. I immediately examined the papers, & calculated the balance due, a small one, and wrote to mr James Pleasants a statement of the account, authorising him on paiment of the balance to Gibson & Jefferson in Richmond , to convey the lands to Col o Bentley discharged of all further claims on my part. Francis
82From Thomas Jefferson to John Wayles Eppes, 9 September 1823 (Jefferson Papers)
I have been truly uneasy at the delay which has attended the remittances of the sum of interest due to you, but I had calls so pressing in the spring, and at the same time such disappointments in the reciept of monies due me & which would have enabled me to meet all my engagements, as put the remittance out of my power. We a- wait nothing now but a tide in our river to carry down my crop of...
83From Thomas Jefferson to John Wayles Eppes, 7 August 1804 (Jefferson Papers)
Your letters of July 16. & 29. both came to me on the 2d instant. I recieve with great delight the information of the perfect health of our dear infants, and hope to see yourself, the family, and them, as soon as circumstances admit. with respect to Melinda I have too many already to leave here in idleness when I go away; and at Washington I prefer white servants, who when they misbehave can...
84From Thomas Jefferson to John Wayles Eppes, 21 February 1803 (Jefferson Papers)
Your’s of the 10th. was recieved on the 16th. I shall leave this about the 6th. of March, unless unexpected business, bad roads or bad weather should delay it a little. I am happy to learn that I shall meet Maria & yourself at Monticello. my stay there will be of two or three weeks, the visit being for the purpose of planting trees, in order that they may be growing during my absence. as Lilly...
85From Thomas Jefferson to John Wayles Eppes, 17 January 1803 (Jefferson Papers)
Yesterday morning I recieved information of Maria’s safe arrival at Edgehill. some apprehension that Francis had recieved the infection of the measles on the road had determined her to await there the usual term of it’s appearance. I have to acknolege several letters from you . Colo. Monroe arrived here the night before last, not having previously heard of his appointment to Paris & Madrid to...
86From 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....
87From Thomas Jefferson to John Wayles Eppes, 12 May 1793 (Jefferson Papers)
I have just received from Donald & Burton the invoice of your books . Thinking you would be impatient to hear something of them, I inclose you the invoice . They have been shipped from Dublin on board the Young eagle, Elias Lord. The four last in the invoice came here under the care of Mr. Marshal, who told me he would have them delivered to me as soon as they could be come at in the ship....
88Thomas Jefferson to John Wayles Eppes, 10 May 1810 (Jefferson Papers)
M r Thweatt’s letter with your P.S. came to hand late last night, and I shall dispatch Francis tomorrow morning in the care of one of the most trusty servants I have. it will take to-day to have Francis’s affairs ready for the road, & he will be obliged to make but two days of the journey to arrive at Eppington on the eve of your departure for Carolina . considering the shortness of the time...
89Thomas Jefferson to John Wayles Eppes, 9 July 1819 (Jefferson Papers)
Your favor of June 28 . came duly to hand, as did also the coat-pattern for Francis . he is now closely engaged with mr Stack , whose style of instruction he finds very superior to any he ever met with before. I do not believe so solid & critical a one has ever been before in this state, if in the US. his fatherly demeanor too towards his pupils engages their affections and their obedience....
90Thomas Jefferson to John Wayles Eppes, 27 August 1820 (Jefferson Papers)
Yours of the 19 th was received on the 25 th . what it proposes on the subject of the stock is perfectly agreeable to me; but I shall be glad to recieve the proceeds as soon as they can be had, that I may the sooner relieve myself from the applications of those to whom it is destined, and them from the want of it. Our court is Monday sennight (Sep. 4.) and I see nothing to prevent my setting...
91Thomas Jefferson to John Wayles Eppes, 3 May 1818 (Jefferson Papers)
I set out from this place for Monticello tomorrow morning and shall leave this letter at Flood ’s. I have engaged Francis ’s board with mr Dashiell himself, who takes only three others. Francis will be much pleased with the family, which is a very genteel one, and they live well as I saw by going in upon them at their dinner unexpectedly. he is an excellent teacher as I judged, at his...
92Thomas Jefferson to John Wayles Eppes, 5 January 1811 (Jefferson Papers)
Your two letters of Dec. 14. reached this place just after I had left it for Bedford . this has occasioned the delay of the answer. I now inclose you the paper you requested on the boundaries of Louisiana . it is a bad Polygraph copy; however it is legible. there is nothing secret in the paper and therefore may be freely used as you please, except that I would not have it printed, but with the...
93Thomas Jefferson to John Wayles Eppes, 29 September 1811 (Jefferson Papers)
The inclosed letter came under cover to me without any indication from what quarter it came. Our last latest arrival brings information of the death of the king of England . it’s coming from Ireland & not direct from England would make it little worthy of notice, were not the event so probable. on the 26 th of July the English papers say he was expected hourly to expire. this vessel sailed from
94From Thomas Jefferson to John Wayles Eppes, 4 June 1804 (Jefferson Papers)
I should much sooner have written to you but for the press of business which had accumulated at my return, and which is not yet entirely got under. we lamented much that you had not staid a day longer at Monticello, as on the evening of your departure the Eppington family arrived, and it would have added much to our happiness to have been all together the 4. or 5. days that the weather...
95From Thomas Jefferson to John Wayles Eppes, 25 April 1801 (Jefferson Papers)
Martin & Davy arrived on the 20th. with the horses. I am perfectly satisfied with them all, & they completely answer my expectations. they are dear certainly, but horses, less perfect, however cheaper, would not have answered my purpose at all, so that I think the extra prices better submitted to. your draughts will be duly honored & provided for at maturity. the horses being tried in the...
96From 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...
97From Thomas Jefferson to John Wayles Eppes, 22 November 1802 (Jefferson Papers)
The family arrived here yesterday morning , without accident. mr Lilly’s order for £40. his wages & £20. for Austin is good. I have lately remitted to John Perry the whole balance due him to the completion of the South East offices; and our bargain is, whenever a compleat job is done & settled it is to be paid for. he says the shop is done, and that it will amount to £60 although he always...
98Thomas Jefferson to John Wayles Eppes, 6 June 1817 (Jefferson Papers)
By a letter from mr Wood recieved a few days ago, I learned with great regret that he was obliged to suspend his school for four months (till the last of September) in order to compleat the public survey he had undertaken. regret being unavailing, the question is how Francis may best employ those 4. months. I observe he has made no progress in Arithmetic, and think therefore he could not do...
99From Thomas Jefferson to John Wayles Eppes, 19 June 1807 (Jefferson Papers)
I have lost two days ago the most valuable horse I had remaining (Turn-coat). a constipation of the bowels which nothing could remove carried him off in 24. hours. I am now reduced to 2. carriage horses, Castor & Fitzpartner; they are old & do not match. I can not get along without another, & therefore must pray you to get me one to match Castor. a perfect match I cannot expect, but if he is...
100Thomas Jefferson to John Wayles Eppes, 30 [March] 1816 (Jefferson Papers)
Francis returns as much improved, I am in hopes, as you will have expected. he reads French with so much ease as to read it for amusement, has not much occasion for his dictionary, pronounces generally well, the few defects remaining being such as will be easily corrected hereafter. being kept almost entirely at French, he could afford only the time before breakfast for keeping up his Latin....