Thomas Jefferson to Wilson Cary Nicholas, 8 March 1819
To Wilson Cary Nicholas
Monticello Mar. 8. 19.
Dear Sir
Mr Brockenborough, as you describe him, is exactly such a character as we greatly need for our Proctor; but I fear much that altho he would suit us, our salary would not suit him. on this subject I have requested mr Garrett, who sets off to Richmond to-day, to consult with yourself & mr Cabell.
Jefferson’s wounds are nearly healed; but I fear he will never recover much use of his arm. with respect to Bankhead, there is room for fear, and mostly for his wife. I have for some time taken for granted that she would fall by his hands, and yet she is so attached to him that no persuasion has ever availed to induce her to separate and come to live with us, with her children. he has failed to appear to his recognisance, and it is understood he does not intend to appear. in this case it is believed he will never come into the county again for fear of being re-apprehended. the penitentiary is the only thing which can produce safety to others, or reformation to himself. but the execution of the law is so lenient in our country that altho’ it’s provisions for personal safety are imperfect, the enforcement of them is more so, and our citizens are, from this cause left in a state of nature to save their own lives by taking that of another. Accept my affectionate & friendly salutations.
Th: Jefferson
PoC (DLC); on verso of reused address cover of Joseph Milligan to TJ, 3 Mar. 1819; at foot of text: “Wilson C. Nicholas esq.”; endorsed by TJ.
jefferson’s: Thomas Jefferson Randolph’s.
Index Entries
- Bankhead, Ann (Anne) Cary Randolph (TJ’s granddaughter; Charles Lewis Bankhead’s wife); children of search
- Bankhead, Ann (Anne) Cary Randolph (TJ’s granddaughter; Charles Lewis Bankhead’s wife); relationship with husband search
- Bankhead, Ann (Anne) Cary Randolph (TJ’s granddaughter; Charles Lewis Bankhead’s wife); safety of search
- Bankhead, Charles Lewis (Ann Cary Randolph Bankhead’s husband); and fight with T. J. Randolph search
- Bankhead, Charles Lewis (Ann Cary Randolph Bankhead’s husband); TJ on search
- Brockenbrough, Arthur Spicer; as University of Virginia proctor search
- Cabell, Joseph Carrington; as member of University of Virginia Board of Visitors search
- Garrett, Alexander; as University of Virginia bursar search
- Jefferson, Thomas; Family and Friends; great-grandchildren search
- Jefferson, Thomas; Family and Friends; relations with grandchildren search
- Jefferson, Thomas; Opinions on; C. L. Bankhead search
- Jefferson, Thomas; Opinions on; Va. law search
- Nicholas, Wilson Cary (1761–1820); and fight between C. L. Bankhead and T. J. Randolph search
- Nicholas, Wilson Cary (1761–1820); and University of Virginia search
- Nicholas, Wilson Cary (1761–1820); letters to search
- Randolph, Thomas Jefferson (TJ’s grandson; Jane Hollins Nicholas Randolph’s husband); and fight with C. L. Bankhead search
- Randolph, Thomas Jefferson (TJ’s grandson; Jane Hollins Nicholas Randolph’s husband); health of search
- Virginia, University of; Board of Visitors; selects officers, staff, and workmen search
- Virginia; laws of search
- women; spousal mistreatment of search