Alexander Garrett to John H. Cocke
| My Dear Sir | Charlottesville 17th Sept. 1824 |
The determination of Col. Bolling to leave us this morning, allous me but a moment to acknowledge the reciept of your favor of the 10th instant, with the kind and liberal supply of a portion of your excellent fruit, for which we pray you & Mrs Cocke to accept our gratefull thanks.
The caution you gave me to guard against the Col. on the Canal subject was considerate enough, altho. while he is firm and decided in his opposition to the Canal, yet he is respectfull & liberal towards the opinion of others; what effect your new addition of arguments may have on him I cant guess. I pray you to pore them on him with all your might, in the hope that he may be brought to think (as we would say) right; I think with you that it is high time that we Albemarle men were up and a doing, but you know how lazey and indolent a set we are. even in matters touching our most important interest. for my own part I oun myself such a novice in the great principals of internal improvement, that I am reluctantly compell’d to submit my little interest, with that of my fellow citizens, in them, to those, whose natural abilities, education, and opportunities, justly give, higher claims to the confidence of the public. At present however, no subject however interesting can devide our attention with that of the expected arrival of General La Fayette among us, we learn through Mr Jefferson that he will be here the second week in October, we are all therefore planing his reception; no two of whom as yet seem to agree upon any particular arrangements We have however call’d a meeting on monday next, to be held at our court house when (I hope) we shall all agree upon a [. . .] plan to govern us on so interesting occation, before the Generals arreval you will be among us, think therefore on the subject, and give us the benefit of your reflections,
The letter you sent to my care addressed to Mr Short was left in the post office the morning after I recieved it. to be sent him with those of Mr Jefferson that evening. I presume he is yet at Monticello detained by the late bad weather,
Mr J has lately recieved a letter from F. Gilmer then at Cambridge, he writes that he has been recieved by the first men in England with marked attention; (very flattering to Mr J.) he had however done little or nothing in the object of his [. . .] mission
I enclose you Nielsons reciept for the 500$ you desired me to hand to him, for which he seemed much obliged to you
Me & my [. . .] family pray you to present us to your household & accept for yourself the assurance of my high regard & esteem.