Thomas Jefferson Papers

From Thomas Jefferson to Martha Jefferson Randolph, 3 December 1804

To Martha Jefferson Randolph

Washington Dec. 3. 04.

My dearest Martha

Taking for granted that mr Randolph writes to you regularly and much engaged by business & company myself, I have been more remiss. we are all well here, and our accounts from Eppington are favorable, & particularly that our dear little one there has two teeth. Francis is in remarkeable health: and I hope the objects of our affections with you are equally so. I send you some magazines which may amuse you & them. I have some poetry for Anne, but I reserve it for my answer to her first letter. Congress has scarcely any thing to employ them, and complain that the place is remarkably dull. very few ladies have come on this winter, & we have lost Madmes. Yrujo, Pichon, Merry, and Law. the theatre fails too for want of actors. you are happy to need none of these aids to get rid of your time, and certainly they are poor substitutes for the sublime enjoiment of the affections of our children and of our cares for them. mr Burwell being a member of the Virginia legislature has left us to attend it, and mr Isaac Coles remains with me during his absence.—being this moment called off, I must here conclude with my kisses to all the dear children, and my tenderest & unalterable love to you.

Th: Jefferson

RC (NNPM); at foot of text: “Mrs. Randolph.” PoC (MHi); endorsed by TJ. Enclosures not found.

our dear little one: TJ’s granddaughter, Maria Jefferson Eppes, born on 15 Feb. 1804 (Vol. 42:547-8).

her first letter: Anne Cary Randolph wrote an undated letter that TJ received on 31 Jan. 1805 (Appendix IV).

William A. Burwell temporarily left Washington to serve in the Virginia legislature. His successor, Isaac Coles, was a classmate of Burwell’s at the College of William and Mary and had recently returned from Europe. Coles was, according to Burwell’s narrative, “well known to Mr J” at the time he was appointed (Gerald W. Gawalt, “ ‘Strict Truth’: The Narrative of William Armistead Burwell,” VMHB description begins Virginia Magazine of History and Biography, 1893- description ends , 101 [1993], 113; Burwell to TJ, 29 Nov.).

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