1To Thomas Jefferson from Eliza House Trist, [ca. 8 December? 1783] (Jefferson Papers)
I am greatly indebted to worthy Mr. Jefferson for his polite and friendly letter. I wish I cou’d express my greatful feelings in language suitable to what my mind suggests. I can and will say that you are incapable of esteeming me more than I do you. I cou’d give as many reasons were I to enumerate your Virtues as wou’d fill a Volume folio. Your caracter was great in my estamation long before...
2To Thomas Jefferson from Eliza House Trist, 13 December 1783 (Jefferson Papers)
I take particular notis of that part of your letter that relates to my intended reunion with my Husband. I fear if the chain is intirely loosened my confidence must be great if I succeed in fasting it again. It is rather too late in the day for me to attempt at conquest, I am in hopes the links are only a little rusty. If that shou’d be all I will exert my skill to restore them to their...
3To Thomas Jefferson from Eliza House Trist, 8 April 1784 (Jefferson Papers)
I had the pleasing satisfaction to receive a letter of yours dated 22d of Dec. which was the day after I set out on my journey. Had I received it in time I do not think it wou’d have prevented my undertaking the journey tho no ones advise wou’d have had greater weight independant of the knowledge I knew you had of the back Woods but my mind was in that State of Wretchedness that I cou’d have...
4To James Madison from Eliza House Trist, ca. 13 April 1784 (Madison Papers)
Letter not found. ca. 13 April 1784. Mrs. Trist was at Fort Pitt awaiting transportation down the Ohio for a reunion with her husband. She wrote Jefferson regarding a misunderstood report that Virginia had “reward[ed] merit by making our friend Madison Governor.… I have wrote to him, but before I got your letter, which I beg you to forward” ( Boyd, Papers of Jefferson Julian P. Boyd et al.,...
5To Thomas Jefferson from Eliza House Trist, 13 April [1784] (Jefferson Papers)
If Mr. Jefferson cou’d see my heart and know its feelings there wou’d be no occasion for words to express my gratitude, and thanks for his very kind favor by Capt. Lynn which I received yesterday. I had wrote to some of my friends by a Gentlemen of the same Corp who has postponed his journey for a day or two longer which prolongs the time sufficient for me to write a few more letters. In a few...
6To Thomas Jefferson from Eliza House Trist, 25 December 1784 (Jefferson Papers)
I must plead the same excuse to all my friends for not writing sooner. There is no certain conveyence from this country to ours, and the distress’d State of my mind for a long time after my arrival incapasitated me for such an undertaking. I have been severely afflicted, and my situation peculiarly unfortunate. I received the cruel stab when I least expected it. My mind was prepared for...
7To Thomas Jefferson from Eliza House Trist, 12 March 1785 (Jefferson Papers)
In a very few days, I expect to leave this country having nearly compleated my business, tho not so advantageously as I had reason to expect. Owing to the paper currency, I shall be obliged to give seventy five pr. Cent to get it exchanged into silver, but this loss I must submit to. There is not the most distant prospect that the situation of affairs will be better in the course of another...
8To Thomas Jefferson from Eliza House Trist, 4 May 1785 (Jefferson Papers)
I embark’d on board a Spanish Ship bound for the Havanah, sixteen days ago and have been detained at this place by contrary winds thirteen days. There are several Vessels by us likwise waiting for a fair wind. I have just heard that one of them is bound for france. So favorable an oppertunity induces me to take up my pen to address a few lines to you, notwithstanding my situation is not the...
9To James Madison from Eliza House Trist, 9 February 1786 (Madison Papers)
Letter not found. 9 February 1786. Contained news of Mrs. Trist’s state of health and her proposed trip through various states. Mentioned in JM’s response of 14 March 1786 .
10To Thomas Jefferson from Eliza House Trist, 24 July 1786 (Jefferson Papers)
I cannot review the time that has elapsed since the receipt of your obliging and kind favor by Messrs. Fitzhughs without feeling a mortification at the negligence and ingratitude which the delay seems to accuse me. Shortly after it came to hand I was prevailed on by my friend Mrs. Simms of Alexandria to accompany her return from a visit to her friends in this quarter. This trip with my...