Thomas Jefferson to William Johnson, 31 July 1823
To William Johnson
Monticello. July 31. 23.
Dear Sir
A fever of three weeks has so long delayed my sending you the papers I had promised. I avail myself of the first day of freedom from it, and, of the pen of another to perform this duty, for I am not yet able to write or think. the papers I send are Roane’s Hampden. Ritchie had them not; and it was sometime before I found them in the hands of an individual who had carefully cut them out at the time, & preserved them. those of Somers, & Fletcher of Saltoun are not to be had. I am sorry for it, those of Somers particularly presenting some very clear views of the question. I add to these some previous papers of Hampden printed as an Appendix to mr Madison’s report.1 I informed mr Madison of the communication I had made you respecting the Valedictory. he wishes me to caution you very particularly against the possibility of his name appearing in it, as it might expose him to an imputation of breach of confidence and involve him in some other questions of peculiar delicacy. my grandaughter, who lends me her pen on this occasion, will avail herself of this cover to express to you her own sentiments of respect with which be pleased to accept the assurance of my most friendly esteem and high consideration
Th: Jefferson
Dft (DLC); on verso of reused address cover to TJ; endorsed by TJ as a letter to “Johnson Wm judge.” Not recorded in SJL.
For the enclosed essays of roane’s hampden, see Spencer Roane to TJ, 22 Aug. 1819, and note. For the previous papers of hampden also sent here, see Thomas Ritchie to TJ, 23 June 1823, and note. my grandaughter: presumably Ellen W. Randolph (Coolidge), who would have met Johnson during her visit to Washington in the winter of 1821–22.
1. Sentence interlined.
Index Entries
- Cohens v. Virginia search
- Coolidge, Ellen Wayles Randolph (TJ’s granddaughter); as TJ’s amanuensis search
- Coolidge, Ellen Wayles Randolph (TJ’s granddaughter); visits Washington search
- Exposition of the Federal Constitution. contained in the Report of the committee of the Virginia House of Delegates … commonly called Madison’s Report search
- Jefferson, Thomas; Correspondence; amanuenses for search
- Jefferson, Thomas; Health; fever search
- Johnson, William (1771–1834); and G. Washington’s Farewell Address search
- Johnson, William (1771–1834); as Supreme Court justice search
- Johnson, William (1771–1834); letters to search
- Madison, James (1751–1836); and G. Washington’s Farewell Address search
- Madison, James (1751–1836); Report of1800 search
- McCulloch v. Maryland search
- Randolph, Peyton (d.1828); andCohens v. Virginia search
- Richmond Enquirer (newspaper); prints essays onCohens v. Virginia search
- Richmond Enquirer (newspaper); prints S. Roane’s essays search
- Ritchie, Thomas; as editor ofRichmond Enquirer search
- Roane, Spencer; andMcCulloch v. Maryland search
- Supreme Court, U.S.; andCohens v. Virginia search
- Supreme Court, U.S.; andMcCulloch v. Maryland search
- Washington, George; Farewell Address search
- “Fletcher of Saltoun” (pseudonym); essays onCohens v. Virginia search