1From 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...
2From Thomas Jefferson to Mary Jefferson Eppes, 7 January 1798 (Jefferson Papers)
I acknowleged, my dear Maria, the reciept of yours in a letter I wrote to mr Eppes. it gave me the welcome news that your sprain was well. but you are not to suppose it entirely so. the joint will remain weak for a considerable time, & give you occasional pains much longer. the state of things at Chesnut grove is truly distressing. mr B.’s habitual intoxication will destroy himself, his...
3From Thomas Jefferson to Mary Jefferson Eppes, 7 March 1798 (Jefferson Papers)
I have recieved yours, my dear Maria, of Feb. 1. and with that extreme gratification with which I recieve all the marks of your affection. my impatience to get from hence is urged by the double motives of escaping from irksome scenes here, and meeting yourself and others dear to us both. no time is yet spoken of for our adjournment; yet as there is likely to arise nothing which might keep...
4From 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...
5From 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...
6From 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...
7From Thomas Jefferson to Mary Jefferson Eppes, 13 July 1798 (Jefferson Papers)
I arrived here on the 3d. inst. expecting to have found you here and we have been ever since imagining that every sound we heard was that of the carriage which was once more to bring us together. it was not till yesterday I learnt by the reciept of mr Eppes’s letter of June 30th. that you had been sick, and were only on the recovery at that date. a preceding letter of his, referred to in that...
8From Thomas Jefferson to Mary Jefferson Eppes, 14 July 1798 (Jefferson Papers)
I arrived here, my dear Maria, on the 3d. inst. and was in the daily hope of recieving you, when mr Eppes’s letter of June 30. by the post of day before yesterday, gave us the first notice of your being sick. some preceding letter we infer had explained the nature of your indisposition, but it has never come to hand. we are therefore still uninformed of it. your sister & myself wrote yesterday...
9From 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...
10From 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...
11From Thomas Jefferson to Mary Jefferson Eppes, 7 February 1799 (Jefferson Papers)
Your letter, my dear Maria, of Jan. 21. was recieved two days ago. it was, as Ossian says, or would say, like the bright beams of the moon on the desolate heath. environed here in scenes of constant torment, malice & obloquy, worn down in a station where no effort to render service can avail any thing, I feel not that existence is a blessing but when something recalls my mind to my family or...
12From 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...
13From Thomas Jefferson to Mary Jefferson Eppes, 13 April 1799 (Jefferson Papers)
Your letter, my dear Maria, of Mar. 13. came safely to hand and gave us the information, always the subject of anxiety, & therefore always welcome, that yourself and mr Eppes were well. it would yet have been better that we could all have been well together, as the health we enjoy separately would be more enjoyed together. whether we can visit you is still uncertain, my presence here is so...
14From Thomas Jefferson to Mary Jefferson Eppes, 17 January 1800 (Jefferson Papers)
I recieved at Monticello two letters from you , & meant to have answered them a little before my departure for this place; but business so crouded on me at that moment that it was not in my power. I left home on the 21st. & arrived here on the 28th. of Dec. after a pleasant journey of fine weather and good roads, & without having experienced any inconvenience. the Senate had not yet entered...
15From Thomas Jefferson to Mary Jefferson Eppes, 12 February 1800 (Jefferson Papers)
Mr. Eppes’s letter of Jan. 17 . had filled me with anxiety for your little one, & that of the 25th. announced what I had feared. how deeply I feel it in all it’s bearings, I shall not say, nor attempt consolation where I know that time & silence are the only medecines. I shall only observe as a source of hope to us all that you are young and will not fail to possess enough of these dear...
16From Thomas Jefferson to Mary Jefferson Eppes, 6 April 1800 (Jefferson Papers)
I have at length, my ever dear Maria, recieved by mr Eppes’s letter of Mar. 24. the welcome news of your recovery. welcome indeed to me, who have past a long season of inexpressible anxiety for you: and the more so as written accounts can hardly give one an exact idea of the situation of a sick person. I wish I were able now to leave this place & join you. but we do not count on rising till...
17From 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...
18From Thomas Jefferson to Mary Jefferson Eppes, 4 January 180[1] (Jefferson Papers)
Washington Jan. 4. 1800. [i.e., 1801] Your letter, my dear Maria, of Dec. 28. is just now recieved, and shall be instantly answered, as shall all others recieved from yourself or mr Eppes. this will keep our accounts even, and shew by the comparative promptness of reply which is most anxious to hear from the other. I wrote to mr Eppes Dec. 23. but directed it to Petersburg. hereafter it shall...
19From Thomas Jefferson to Mary Jefferson Eppes, 15 February 1801 (Jefferson Papers)
Your letter, my dear Maria, of the 2d. inst. came to hand on the 8th. I should have answered it instantly according to our arrangement, but that I thought, by waiting till the 11th. I might possibly be able to communicate something on the subject of the election. however, after 4. days of balloting, they are exactly where they were on the first. there is a strong expectation in some that they...
20From Thomas Jefferson to Mary Jefferson Eppes, 11 April 1801 (Jefferson Papers)
I wrote to mr Eppes on the 8th. instant by post, to inform him I should on the 12th. send off a messenger to the Hundred for the horses he may have bought for me. Davy Bowles will accordingly set out tomorrow, & will be the bearer of this. he leaves us all well, and wanting nothing but your’s & mr Eppes’s company to make us compleatly happy. let me know by his return when you expect to be...
21From Thomas Jefferson to Mary Jefferson Eppes, 28 May 1801 (Jefferson Papers)
An immense accumulation of business, my dear Maria, has prevented my writing to you since my arrival at this place. but it has not prevented my having you in my mind daily & hourly, and feeling much anxiety to hear from you, & to know that mr Eppes & yourself are in good health. I am in hopes you will not stay longer than harvest where you are, as the unhealthy season advances rapidly after...
22From Thomas Jefferson to Mary Jefferson Eppes, 24 June 1801 (Jefferson Papers)
According to contract , immediately on the reciept of mr Eppes’s letter of the 12th . I wrote him mine of the 17th. and having this moment recieved yours of June 18. I hasten to reply to that also. I am very anxious you should hasten your departure for Monticello, but go a snail’s pace when you set out. I shall certainly be with you the last week of July or first week of August. I have a...
23From Thomas Jefferson to Mary Jefferson Eppes, 16 July 1801 (Jefferson Papers)
I recieved yesterday mr Eppes’s letter of the 12th. informing me you had got safely to Eppington, & would set out tomorrow at furthest for Monticello. this letter therefore will, I hope, find you there. I now write to mr Craven to furnish you all the supplies of the table which his farm affords. mr Lilly had before recieved orders to do the same. liquors have been forwarded & have arrived with...
24From Thomas Jefferson to Mary Jefferson Eppes, 26 October 1801 (Jefferson Papers)
I have heard nothing of you since mr Eppes’s letter dated the day sennight after I left home. the Milton mail will be here tomorrow morning when I shall hope to recieve something. in the mean time this letter must go hence this evening. I trust it will still find you at Monticello, and that possibly mr Eppes may have concluded to take a journey to Bedford & still farther prolonged your stay. I...
25From Thomas Jefferson to Mary Jefferson Eppes, 14 December 1801 (Jefferson Papers)
I recieved in due time yours & mr Eppes’s letters of Nov. 6. and his of Nov. 26 . this last informed me you would stay at Eppington 2. or 3. weeks. having had occasion to write during that time to mr F. Eppes, without knowing at the moment that you were there, you would of course know I was well. this with the unceasing press of business has prevented my writing to you. presuming this will...
26From Thomas Jefferson to Mary Jefferson Eppes, 3 March 1802 (Jefferson Papers)
I observed to you some time ago that during the session of Congress I should be able to write to you but seldom; and so it has turned out. your’s of Jan. 24. I recieved in due time, after which mr Eppes’s letters of Feb. 1. & 2. confirmed to me the news, always welcome, of your’s & Francis’s health. since this I have no news of you. I see with great concern that I am not to have the pleasure...
27From Thomas Jefferson to Mary Jefferson Eppes, 29 March 1802 (Jefferson Papers)
I wrote, my ever dear Maria, to mr Eppes & yourself on the 3d. inst. since which I have recieved mr Eppes’s letter of the 11th. informing me all were well. I hope you continue so. a letter of the 20th. from mr Randolph informed me all were well at Edgehill. mr Randolph, allured by the immensely profitable culture of cotton, had come to a resolution to go to the Missisipi territory and there...
28From Thomas Jefferson to Mary Jefferson Eppes, 1 May 1802 (Jefferson Papers)
I recieved yesterday your’s of April 21. bringing me the welcome news that you are all well. I wrote 2. or 3. days ago to mr Eppes to inform him that Congress would rise the day after tomorrow, that on the 6th. I should set out for Monticello where I should stay a fortnight, & had some hopes of meeting him there. it is even possible that Congress may rise to-day, which makes me so full of...
29From Thomas Jefferson to Mary Jefferson Eppes, 1 July 1802 (Jefferson Papers)
Mr. Eppes’s letter of May 11. is the last news I have heard of you. I wrote to him June 13. your sister has been disappointed in her visit here by the measles breaking out in her family. it is therefore put off to October. I propose to leave this on the 21st. inst. and shall be at Monticello on the 24th. or 27th. according to the route I take; where I shall hope to find you on my arrival; I...
30From Thomas Jefferson to Mary Jefferson Eppes, 2 July 1802 (Jefferson Papers)
My letter of yesterday had hardly got out of my hand, when yours of June 21st. and mr Eppes’s of the 25th. were delivered. I learn with extreme concern the state of your health & that of the child, and am happy to hear you have got from the Hundred, to Eppington, the air of which will aid your convalescence, and will enable you to delay your journey to Monticello till you have recovered...