Thomas Jefferson to Horatio Turpin, 20 January 1811
To Horatio Turpin
Monticello Jan. 20. 11.
Dear Sir
Your letter of Dec. 8. arrived here just as I had set out on a journey to Bedford which occasioned an absence of some weeks. it was not till my return that I recieved your letter, and before that I had seen that a Marshal was already appointed. these births are1 generally hopeless. it is for the most part the case of one loaf and ten persons seeking bread. an expected call to Richmond last fall had given me the hope of being able to call on yourself & Doctr Turpin. but my presence there being dispensed with, the occasion of seeing you did not occur. necessity calls me frequently to Bedford; otherwise I do not willingly undertake journies. my only chance therefore of seeing you is that of your having calls into this quarter, in which cases I trust you would not pass us. I salute you with great esteem & respect.
Th: Jefferson
PoC (MHi); at foot of text: “Mr Horatio Turpin”; endorsed by TJ.
1. TJ here canceled “so.”