Thomas Jefferson Papers

Louis Pio to Thomas Jefferson, [received 1 May 1819]

From Louis Pio

ce 24. 1819. [received 1 May 1819]
Paris, rue St honoré
n° 284. près S. Roch.

Mon Digne, et
Respectable ami

Les papiers publics m’avaient fort effrayé ces jours-ci en annonçant votre maladie. Graces au Ciel j’ai été tranquillisé tout de suite par votre ambassadeur Mr Gallatin, qui me dit, que vous etes retabli en bonne santé, et quel’humanité espére de vous posseder encore1 pendant de Longues années. Utinam! Moi, je tire à ma fin de toute maniere, physiquement, et civilement. J’ai été cloué quatre mois dans le lit à cause d’une blessure, que le hazard m’a procurée dans la rue. à present je suis hors du lit, mais d’une faiblesse extreme, et ce qu’il y a de pire, que je suis obbligé pour vivre d’avoir recours à mes meilleurs amis. Hier précisement le brave Mr De la Fayette, le compatriote des deux mondes, m’a envoyé encore de l’argent assez pour me soutenir au moins un mois. Mes rentes sur l’Etat sont si peu de choses, et Les Leçons de Langue sont cessées, car je ne puis plus marcher. N’importe; je me suis sacrifié pour la Liberté; vous m’en avez instillé les premiers principes, et je suis digne d’être homme. Les Français, et les autres Peuples del’Europe en diront ils autant? Cela viendra, mais mes yeux seront fermés. C’est bien consolant pour les gens qui pensent de voir aujourdhui le nom de la Fayette parmi nos Deputés. J’en augure bien, et vous? Portez vous bien; ne m’oubliez pas, car certainement je suis le Doyen des vos amis Etrangers. Vale

Pio

Editors’ Translation

The 24th. 1819. [received 1 May 1819]
Paris, Rue St. Honoré
Number 284. near St. Roch.

My worthy, and
respectable friend

The public newspapers have recently frightened me very much by announcing your illness. Thank God that I was immediately reassured by your ambassador, Mr. Gallatin, who told me that you had recovered your good health and that humanity could expect to keep you for many more years. Utinam! As for myself, I am approaching the end in every way, physically and in a civic sense. An injury I received accidentally in the street confined me to my bed for four months. Though I am now out of bed, I am extremely feeble and, even worse, forced to rely for survival on my closest friends. Yesterday, in fact, the good Mr. Lafayette, compatriot of the two worlds, again sent me enough money to sustain me for at least a month. My annuities from the state are trifling, and I had to stop giving language lessons because I can no longer walk. It does not matter. I have sacrificed myself for liberty. You instilled in me its first principles, and I am worthy of manhood. Can the French and the other peoples of Europe say as much? That day will come, but my eyes will be closed. Thoughtful people find it very comforting to see Lafayette’s name today among our deputies. I think this bodes well, do you not? Stay well and do not forget me, as I am surely your oldest foreign friend. Vale

Pio

RC (ViW: TC-JP); partially dated at foot of text; endorsed by TJ as a letter dated only “1819,” received 1 May 1819, and so recorded in SJL. RC (MoSHi: TJC-BC); address cover only; with PoC of TJ to Micah Sterling, 19 June 1819, on verso; addressed: “À Monsieur Monsieur Jefferson En sa maison de Monticello en Virginie.”

utinam: “If only.” vale: “Farewell.”

1Manuscript: “encoree.”

Index Entries

  • education; Italian language search
  • France; Chambre des Députés search
  • French language; letters in, from; L. Pio search
  • Gallatin, Albert; and TJ’s health search
  • Italian language; study of search
  • Jefferson, Thomas; Family and Friends; friendship with L. Pio search
  • Jefferson, Thomas; Health; illness of search
  • Lafayette, Marie Joseph Paul Yves Roch Gilbert du Motier, marquis de; aids L. Pio search
  • Lafayette, Marie Joseph Paul Yves Roch Gilbert du Motier, marquis de; as legislator search
  • Pio, Louis; aided by Lafayette search
  • Pio, Louis; health of search
  • Pio, Louis; letter from search
  • Pio, Louis; TJ’s friendship with search