1Thomas Jefferson to George Ticknor, 24 December 1819 (Jefferson Papers)
Repeated and severe attacks of illness during the last 15. or 16. months have kept me unable to attend even to necessary business and equally so to maintain a correspondence with my friends. I would not otherwise have been so tardy in congratulating you on your safe return to your family and country, and in acknoleging your letters from Madrid and from sea . and indeed I have, in some degree,...