Martha Jefferson Randolph to Thomas Jefferson, 11 July 1805
From Martha Jefferson Randolph
Edgehill July 11, 1805
My Dearest Father
The trunk you were so good as to forward from Washington, arrived safe by the same post which brought your letter. it contained the wedding cloaths, which rendered it of so much importance to some of the family that I shall make no apology for the trouble it put you to. the marriage will take place at Monticello early in August entirely private except the old Gentleman and Lady & Aunt Carr. there is however a possibility of it’s being delayed by the1 illness of Mrs Cary’s youngest daughter whose situation is extremely critical and will be lingering; which ever way it terminates. I am afraid however the phisicians will expedite the business; a feeble constitution reduced as low as she is, is not apt to linger in their hands—I have this moment recieved a letter from Mr Eppes informing me of the health of the children and a promise to see Francis early in August. the little Girl not quite so soon, as My Aunt’s attentions to her daughter Baker will retard her motions, it will be the latter end of the month before we can expect to see her. I must beg your pardon for having omitted till this moment to inform you of the dismantled state of our tea equipage being reduced to 4 tea cups of every thing else there is enough the tea pots are too small. consequently a large black one with 2 cream pots to match would add both to the comfort and appearance of the board the plated ones being so much worn as to shew the copper coffee cups & we have in abundance. I am afraid having delayed so long will occasion you some trouble for which I am truly sorry but it slipt my memory till this moment and had like to have done it all together. will you be so Good as to bring Cornelia Mrs Barbauld’s first lessons she is so young at reading that the print of the books common to children of her age puzzles her extremely where as Mrs Barbauld is allways printed in large type in 4 small volumes. adieu My Dearest Father it is with great pleasure I write to you for the last time this summer believe me with every sentiment of respect and tenderness yours most affectionately
MR.
we have this moment heard of the death of S. Carr’s eldest daughter, the little girl my Aunt had with her at Monticello
RC (MHi); endorsed by TJ as received 20 July and so recorded in SJL.
the marriage: see TJ to Martha Jefferson Randolph, 24 June.
old Gentleman and Lady: father of the groom, Wilson Miles Cary, who was about 71 or 72 years old in 1805, and his second wife, Rebecca Dawson Cary, whom he married in 1802 (; Fairfax Harrison, The Virginia Carys: An Essay in Genealogy [New York, 1919], 108-10).
Aunt Carr: TJ’s sister, Martha Jefferson Carr.
Mrs Cary’s youngest daughter: Jane Blair Cary, daughter of TJ’s niece Jane Barbara Carr Cary, died on 13 July at the age of 13 (Richmond Virginia Gazette, and General Advertiser, 24 July; Harrison, Virginia Carys, 111-12).
little Girl: Maria Jefferson Eppes, TJ’s granddaughter, born 15 Feb. 1804 (Vol. 42:2).
My Aunt’s attentions: Elizabeth Wayles Eppes was attending her pregnant daughter, Martha Bolling Eppes Baker (Baker family Bible record, 1776-1836, MS in ViHi).
Mrs Barbauld’s first lessons: Cornelia Randolph would turn 6 years old on 26 July. Her mother sought a volume from the four-part juvenile primer by Anna Letitia Aikin Barbauld, Lessons for Children. Published in multiple locations and editions with large type and wide margins, the books were designed to be small enough to fit in a child’s hand (William McCarthy, “Mother of All Discourses: Anna Barbauld’s Lessons for Children,” Princeton University Library Chronicle, 60 [1999], 200-1; , 278; Vol. 31:330n).
1. Here Randolph canceled “dangerous.”