27781From Thomas Jefferson to Francis Eppes, 17 December 1789 (Jefferson Papers)
I enclose you the letter to Mr. Wythe. We arrived here safely last night in eight hours and a half from your house, having been obliged by the lateness of our departure to come rather brisker than we would have chosen. However the horses were perfectly well after it. We had got everything over the river before day light shut in. The girls are well except as to their colds which are much the...
27782From Thomas Jefferson to Francis Eppes, 6 April 1825 (Jefferson Papers)
The difficulty with which I write, my aversion to it, and the satiating dose which is forced upon me by an overwhelming correspondence have occasioned me to be thus late in acknoleging the rec t of your letter of Feb. 24. I was glad to learn the damage to your house by the fire was less considerable than I had supposed. John Heming and his two aids have been engaged in covering this house with...
27783From Thomas Jefferson to Francis Eppes, 15 February 1783 (Jefferson Papers)
After writing my letter of this date which is to go by Govr. Nash now here on his way to N. Carolina, I went to his lodgings to chat an hour. He has proposed to me a land party which I think is hopeful and great and which he desires may be entirely secret. I have never adventured in this way in my own country because being concerned in public business I was ever determined to keep my hands...
27784From Thomas Jefferson to Francis Eppes, 22 April 1786 (Jefferson Papers)
I came over to this place on public business about six weeks ago, and expect to leave it within three or four days. Meeting accidentally with a light neat pattern of chessmen , I ask your acceptance of a set which I deliver with this letter to Fulwar Skipwith to be forwarded to you. Mrs. Necks has presented to me an account against Mr. Wayles’s estate for £8-5-5 proved in Charles city court. I...
27785Thomas Jefferson to Francis Eppes, 6 September 1811 (Jefferson Papers)
Your letter of Aug. 19 . came to hand only 4. or 5. days ago. I should have answered it by post hat had not Martin arrived with your second. I am glad to learn you are becoming a Roman, which a familiarity with their history will certainly make you. the putting you into qui, quae, quod , was only to strengthen your memory, which you may do quite as well by getting pieces of poetry by heart....
27786From Thomas Jefferson to Francis Eppes, 4 July 1790 (Jefferson Papers)
The business of Congress has proceeded very slowly lately. Two interesting questions have so chafed the members that they can scarcely go on with one another. One of these is happily getting over. The Senate has passed the bill for transferring the temporary residence of Congress to Philadelphia for 10. years and the permanent one to Georgetown thenceforward. The other question relative to the...
27787From Thomas Jefferson to Francis Eppes, 4 March 1783 (Jefferson Papers)
In my last, from Baltimore, I informed you that my voyage to Europe was at least suspended till further intelligence should be received. I returned to this place about four or five days ago, that I might be on the spot to act as shall be ultimately concluded by Congress. Though nothing since has come to us, we consider the event of peace as certain and speedy. The hearing nothing is a proof of...
27788[From Thomas Jefferson to Francis Eppes, 11 May 1785] (Jefferson Papers)
[ Paris, 11 May 1785 . Entry in SJL reads: “F. Eppes. Receipt of his and Mrs. E’s of Oct. 13. and 14. My appointment will keep me somewhat longer. I must have Polly. As would not have her at sea but between 1st. of Apr. and Sep. this will allow time for decision-is there any woman in Virga. could be hired to come. I sometimes think to send one. Pray his advice and Mrs. E’s.-his wine shipped...
27789From Thomas Jefferson to Francis Eppes, 13 November 1791 (Jefferson Papers)
I wrote you the last week, since which I have received yours of Oct. 2. and Nov. 3d. informing me that mine of the 5th. of Oct. was come to hand. I thank you for the purchase of the Jenny, and I will furnish the price here to Jack; as it seems useless for you to be sending £20. here, and me sending £20. to you. My extreme wish is to put immediately the Jenny to a Jack of as pure a breed as...
27790From Thomas Jefferson to Francis Eppes, 10 November 1783 (Jefferson Papers)
I arrived at this place, not hearing till I had almost reached it that Congress had determined to remove for a time to Annapolis. Being engaged in some necessary business and knowing that the first day of the new Congress at Princetown would be emploied in chusing their president and other formalities of no public consequence, I did not join them there till the second day, and that evening...
27791[From Thomas Jefferson to Francis Eppes, 2 March 1784] (Jefferson Papers)
[ Annapolis, 2 Mch. 1784 . Entry in SJL reads: “F. Eppes. North and Fox resigned—execution of deed for Western lands—dates of all my letters—my health—Chevr. D’Anmours—Fox and North.” Not found.]
27792From Thomas Jefferson to Francis Eppes, 23 July 1776 (Jefferson Papers)
We have nothing new here now but from the southward. The successes there I hope will prove valuable here, by giving new spirit to our people. The ill successes in Canada had depressed the minds of many; when we shall hear the last of them I know not; everybody had supposed Crown Point would be a certain stand for them, but they have retreated from that to Ticonderoga, against everything which...
27793From James Madison to Francis Eppes, 18 April 1827 (Madison Papers)
I did not receive till yesterday yours of the 2d inst. I lose no time in complying with its request by the inclosed line of introduction to Govr. Duval, the only person in that quarter to whom I cd. address one. He will be more than sufficient to afford you friendly attentions as far as you may have occasion for them. He is a highly estimable man & probably known to you thro’ his Connections...
27794From Thomas Jefferson to Francis Eppes, 17 February 1825 (Jefferson Papers)
We heard some time ago indirectly & indistinctly thro’ your friends at Ashton of the injury sustained by your house at P. F. and I have waited in hopes you would inform me of the particulars that I might know how far I could help you. I will spare J. Hem. to you & his two aids and he can repair every thing of wood as well or perhaps better than any body there. I understand that the roofs of...
27795From Thomas Jefferson to Francis Eppes, 27 February 1793 (Jefferson Papers)
The Commissioners to the Indian treaty will not leave this place till the 1st. of April, which gives more time to provide for Jack. I shall not return home as soon as I expected, tho’ I shall not extend the term of my service long. I shall ship off my furniture about the beginning of April; and find in fact that my provision for winding up my affairs here, removing bag and baggage will fall...
27796Thomas Jefferson to Francis Eppes, 11 September 1818 (Jefferson Papers)
I am lately returned from the warm springs with my health entirely prostrated by the use of the waters. they produced an imposthume and eruptions which with the torment of the journey back reduced me to the last stage of weakness and exhaustion. I am getting better, but still obliged to lie night and day in the same reclined posture which renders writing painful. I cannot be at Poplar Forest...
27797Thomas Jefferson to Francis Eppes, 11 November 1814 (Jefferson Papers)
I arrived here a few days ago, and sent for you immediately and did not learn till the return of the messenger that your school had separated, and would not reassemble until after Christmas. as your father will probably be from home all that time, would it not be better that you should pass it at Monticello . in two month s we can advance you so much in French that you would be able to pursue...
27798Thomas Jefferson to Francis Eppes, 12 June 1822 (Jefferson Papers)
I recieved while at Poplar Forest your’s of May 13. and am glad to learn that you find Coke Lit. not as difficult as you expected. the methodical arrangement of his work and the new notes and cases have certainly been a great improvement. according to your information I have retained in my hands enough to import for you this edition of Coke Lit. & Bacon ’s abridgment. the present high...
27799Thomas Jefferson to Francis Eppes, 13 December 1820 (Jefferson Papers)
Yours of Oct. 31. came to me here Nov. 28. having first gone to Monticello . I observe the course of reading at Columbia which you note. it either is, or ought to be the rule of every collegiate institution to teach to every particular student the branches of science which those who direct him think will be useful in the pursuits proposed for him, and to waste his time on nothing which they...
27800Thomas Jefferson to Francis Eppes, 1 January 1819 (Jefferson Papers)
Leschot has repaired mrs Eppes ’s watch and changed the pipe of the key, but the watch was so short a time in his hands that she could not be well regulated. she will therefore probably need further regulation to make her keep good time. I am sorry you are disappointed in your teacher. but it depends on yourself whether this is of any consequence. a master is necessary only to those who...
27801Thomas Jefferson to Francis Eppes, 27 June 1821 (Jefferson Papers)
Your letter of May 7 . was recieved in due time, and in it you ask my opinion as to the utility of pursuing metaphysical studies. no well educated person should be entirely igno r a n t of the operations of the human mind, to which the name of metaphysics has been given. there are three books on this subject, Locke ’s essay on the human understanding, Tracey ’s element s of Idiology, & Stewart...
27802Thomas Jefferson to Francis Eppes, 6 October 1820 (Jefferson Papers)
Your letter of the 28 th came to hand yesterday, and, as I suppose you are now about leaving Richmond for Columbia , this letter will be addressed to the latter place. I consider you as having made such proficiency in Latin & Greek that on your arrival at Columbia you may at once commence the study of the sciences: and as you may well attend two professors at once, I advise you to enter...
27803Thomas Jefferson to Francis Eppes, 8 April 1821 (Jefferson Papers)
Yours of Mar. 27 . has been duly recieved. the effect of what our legislature did for us at their last session is not exactly what you suppose. they authorised us to borrow another 60,000.D. pledging however our own funds for repayment. this loan enables us to finish all our buildings of accomodation this year, and to begin the Library, which will take 3. years to be compleated. without...
27804Thomas Jefferson to Francis Eppes, 17 November 1821 (Jefferson Papers)
On my return to this place on the 5 th inst. I found here your letter of Oct. 22 . I learnt from that with real affliction that it was doubtful whether you would be permitted at Columbia to pursue those studies only which will be analogous to the views & purposes of your future life. it is a deplorable considn that altho neither your father nor myself have spared any effort in our power to...
27805Thomas Jefferson to Francis Eppes, 21 September 1820 (Jefferson Papers)
I leave at Flood’s with this letter a packet containing 3. small volumes of my petit format library containing several tragedies of Euripides , some of Sophocles and one of Aeschylus . the 1 st you will find easy, the 2 d tolerably so; the last incomprehensible in his flights among the clouds. his text has come to us so mutilated & defective and has been so much plaistered with amendments by...
27806Thomas Jefferson to Francis Eppes, 6 February 1818 (Jefferson Papers)
I have deferred acknoleging the reciept of your letter of Dec. 28. in the daily hope of being able to speak with more certainty of the time when our Central college will be opened. but that is still undecided and depending on an uncertainty which I have explained to your father . I do not wonder that you find the place where you are disagreeable. it’s character, while I lived in Washington was...
27807Thomas Jefferson to Francis Eppes, 19 January 1821 (Jefferson Papers)
Your letter of the 1 st came safely to hand. I am sorry you have lost mr Elliot ; however the kindness of D r Cooper will be able to keep you in the tract of what is worthy of your time. You ask my opinion of L d Bolingbroke and Thomas Paine . they were alike in making bitter enemies of the priests & Pharisees of their day. both were honest men; both advocates for human liberty.
27808Enclosure: Thomas Jefferson’s List of Books Recommended for Reading Law, [ca. 9 April 1822] (Jefferson Papers)
Bracton . English Brooke ’s abridgment. 4 to edn. Thomas ’s Coke Littleton 3. v. 8 vo Coke ’s 2 d 3 d and 4 th
27809Thomas Jefferson to Francis Eppes, 9 April 1822 (Jefferson Papers)
Your letter of Mar. 22. did not reach me till a few days ago. that of Feb 6 . had been recieved in that month. being chiefly a statement of facts, it did not seem to require an answer, and my burthen of letter writing is so excessive as to restrain me to answers absolutely necessary. I think, with you, that you had now better turn in to the study of the law. as no one can read a whole day...
27810Thomas Jefferson to Francis Eppes, 21 May 1816 (Jefferson Papers)
I send you, my dear Francis , a Greek grammar , the best I know for the use of schools. it is the one now most generally used in the United States . I expect you will begin it soon after your arrival at the New London academy . you might, while at home, amuse yourself with learning the letters, and spelling and reading the Greek words, so that you may not be stopped by that when mr Mitchell...