Extract from Thomas Jefferson to Francis Hopkinson, 18 Sept. 1787 [Quote]
one who loves the arts, must be well disposed to those who practice them.
Extract from Thomas Jefferson's Notes of a Tour through Holland and the Rhine Valley, 3 March–23 April 1788 [Quote]
Mr. Hermen Hend Damen, merchant-broker of Amsterdam tells me that the emigrants to America come from the Palatinate down the Rhine and take shipping from Amsterdam. Their passage is 10. guineas if paid here, and 11. if paid in America. He says they might be had in any number to go to America and...
Extract from Thomas Jefferson to Anna Scott Marks, 12 July 1788 [Quote]
it is neither wealth nor splendor, but tranquility & occupation which give happiness.
Extract from Thomas Jefferson to Randolph Jefferson, 11 Jan. 1789 [Quote]
no society is so precious as that of one’s own family.
Extract from the Diary of Nathaniel Cutting, 28 Sept.–12 Oct. 1789 [Quote]
I have found Mr. Jefferson a man of infinite information and sound Judgement, becoming gravity, and engaging affability mark his deportment. His general abilities are such as would do honor to any age or Country.
Extract from Thomas Jefferson to Martha Jefferson Randolph, 26 Apr. 1790 [Quote]
interesting occupations are essential to happiness: indeed the whole art of being happy consists in the art of finding emploiment.
Extract from Martha Jefferson Randolph to Thomas Jefferson, 16 Jan. 1791 [Quote]
I have wrought an entire reformation on the rest of my household nothing comes in or goes out without my knowledge and I believe there is as little waste as possible
Extract from Madame Briet de Rausan to Thomas Jefferson, 30 Jan. 1791 [Quote]
Je vous en envoye 4 Caisses de 25 Bouteilles chacunne à raison de 50 S. la bouteille, elles sont en verre de france, et une 5e Caisse de 25 Bouteilles de 1786 en verre Englais, à raison de 3 [livre tournois] la bouteille. EDITORS’ TRANSLATION I am sending you 4 cases of 25 bottles each for 50 S...
Extract from Thomas Jefferson to Martha Jefferson Randolph, 31 May [1791] [Quote]
on the whole I find nothing any where else in point of climate which Virginia need envy to any part of the world. here they are locked up in ice and snow for six months. Spring and autumn, which make a paradise of our country, are rigorous winter with them, and a Tropical summer breaks on them...
Extract from Thomas Mann Randolph to Thomas Jefferson, 27 Mar. 1792 [Quote]
The skill & activity of Clarkson are sufficiently manifested allready to make us hope that your affairs in Albemarle will be better conducted than they have ever been. I know it will give you real pleasure to hear that he has a valuable art of governing the slaves which sets aside the...
Extract from Thomas Jefferson to Thomas Mann Randolph, 30 Mar. 1792 [Quote]
I inclose you some seeds of the Acacia Farnesiana, the most delicious flowering shrub in the world.
Extract from John Adams to Abigail Adams, 3 Feb. 1793 [Quote]
Fryday night I Spent with the Philosophical society. The Meeting was thin: but I was not able to perceive any great superiority to our Academy, except in the President. There are able Men however, and I was agreably entertained. Mr Jefferson was polite enough to accompany me: so you see We are...
Extract from Thomas Jefferson to Martha Jefferson Randolph, 21 July 1793 [Quote]
when earth is rich it bids defiance to droughts, yeilds in abundance & of the best quality.
Extract from John Adams to Abigail Adams, 6 Jan. 1794 [Quote]
Jefferson went off Yesterday, and a good riddance of bad ware. I hope his Temper will be more cool and his Principles more reasonable in Retirement than they have been in office. I am almost tempted...
Extract from Thomas Jefferson to Alexander Donald, 30 May 1795 [Quote]
I, like other people, am so much the dupe of the fondness for the natale solum as to believe seriously there is no quarter of the globe so desireable as America, no state in america so desireable as Virginia, no county in Virginia equal to Albemarle & no spot in Albemarle to compare to...
Extract from Thomas Jefferson to James Lyle, 10 July 1795 [Quote]
a nailery which I have established with my own negro boys now provides completely for the maintenance of my family, as we make from 8. to 10,000 nails a day
Extract from Thomas Jefferson to Archibald Stuart, 5 Apr. 1796 [Quote]
I lodge him & find provisions; but give no liquor. this is an absolute article, as I never saw work go on well if the workman had liquor. it is therefore a point which I never give up.
Extract from Thomas Jefferson to Mann Page, 16 May 1796 [Quote]
besides the attention to my farms I am uncovering & repairing my house, which during my absence had gone much to decay. I make some alterations in it with a greater eye to convenience than I had when younger.
Extract from Abigail Adams to John Adams, 15 Jan. 1796 [1797] [Quote]
tho wrong in politicks, tho formerly an advocate for Tom pains Rights of Man, and tho frequently mistaken in Men & measures, I do not think him an insincere or a corruptable Man. my Friendship for him has ever been unshaken.
Extract from Thomas Jefferson to Maria Jefferson Eppes, 7 Jan. 1798 [Quote]
harmony in the marriage state is the very first object to be aimed at.
Extract from Thomas Jefferson’s Miscellaneous Memoranda, Sept.–Oct. 1799, filed with his Farm Book [Quote]
Dinsmore alone made & put up the semicircular arch of the Cabinet (wide) in 10. days.
Extract from Thomas Jefferson’s Miscellaneous Memoranda, Sept.–Oct. 1799, filed with his Farm Book [Quote]
Dinsmore & Johnny prepared & put up the oval arch in do (8. feet wide in 12. days.
Extract from Thomas Jefferson’s Farm Book, [ca. 1801] [Quote]
children till 10. years old to serve as nurses from 10. to 16. the boys make nails, the girls spin. at 16. go into the ground or learn trades.
Extract from Thomas Jefferson to Daniel Trump, 21 Feb. 1801 [Quote]
he was a valuable young man, and his loss has given great concern to me ... the object of the present is to see if you can procure one to supply his place. good humor & sobriety are the two indispensable qualities. skill in his business is now become more important, as I shall be little at...
Extract from Thomas Jefferson to Joseph Rapin, 14 Aug. 1801 [Quote]
while I wish to have every thing good in it’s kind, and handsome in stile, I am a great enemy to waste and useless extravagance, and see them with real pain.