my object too at present is peace and tranquility, neither doing nor saying any thing to be quoted, or to make me the subject of newspaper disquisitions.
you will be surprised to hear that we are still in Albemarle and very probably the bad weather may detain us some time longer altho Peachey has come to escort us, I begin to think it wou’d have been for our advantage if he had not come till the spring for my poor sister seems to despair of ever...
I am afraid My Dr friend that I shall tire your patience by forcing so many of my scribbles upon you, but goodness often wounds it self—had you been less kind and discovered less feeling towards a distressd unfortunate family you might have escaped as well as many other of my acquaintance with...
I recd my beloved Friends letter from Montecello a few days after its date, you say you were detained by the lameness of one of Mr Gilmers Horses and as the weather has for some time been very unfavourable to travelling—I have some hopes that this letter will find you still at Albemarle—I should...
I had the honour of sending you two Volumes from Baltimore and an engraving of Napoleon to this are of Mrs. Madison I now beg leave to inclose two copies of my translation of Marcus Aurelius which perhaps you have not seen—I returned yesterday from New york—hoping to hear something concerning my...
I have the same good opinion of mr Adams which I ever had. I know him to be an honest man, an able one with his pen, and he was a powerful advocate on the floor of Congress. he has been alienated from me by belief in the wretched forgeries lying suggestions, contrived for electioneering purposes,...
my present course of life admits less reading than I wish. from breakfast, or noon at latest, to dinner, I am mostly on horseback, attending to my farms or other concerns, which I find healthful to my body, mind, & affairs: and the few hours I can pass in my cabinet, are devoured by...
I had, with the world, deemed Montesquieu’s a work of much merit; but saw in it, with every thinking man, so much of paradox, of false principle, & misapplied fact, as to render it’s value equivocal on the whole.
permit me now to render my portion of the general debt of gratitude, by acknolegements in advance for the singular benefaction which is the subject of this letter, to tender my wishes for the continuance of a life so usefully employed, and to add the assurances of my perfect esteem and respect.
I am not conscious that my participations in Executive authority have produced any bias in favor of the single executive; because the parts I have acted have been in the subordinate, as well as superior stations, and because, if I know myself, what I have felt, and what I have wished, I know...
Indeed my Dr friend your letter if I was capable of being surprised would have had the effet: for Marys visit, and at such a season was not to be expected I have not yet heard from her by...
Many thanks dear Madam—But justice loses nothing by mercy, and were I guilty my compunctions would only be increased by your kindness. My excuses may have been awkwardly made but that must not rob my assertions of their sincerity; And as I am desirous of more than partial belief I would fain...
Changed indeed my dear Sister is our habitation by the absence of you all, I fear Matilda will not remain content she has been so gloomy that I have felt quite uneasy about her. Mr Thweatt has been constantly absent & only her & my self, she appears lost—we have a continuance of Perkins’s...
Can I flatter myself that my Dear Mrs bache will be pleased to hear from me after so long a silence? your affectionate letter was truly wellcome & I have no excuse to offer for so shameful a neglect in not answering it sooner than the state of my health, & spirits, which have both been...
Since I had last the pleasure of writing to you, I have to acknolege the reciept of your favors of 1809. June 12. & Oct. 9. & 1810. March 24. with the first came the seeds of the Paullinia or Koelreuteria, one of which has germinated, and is now growing. I cherish it with particular...
ranaway, from his plantation, in Albemarle, a negro man called james hubbard of the property of the Subscriber, living in Bedford, a Nailor by trade, of 27 years of age, about six feet high, stout limbs and strong made, of daring demeanor, bold and harsh features, dark complexion, apt to drink...
I take the liberty of informing you that it will give me great pleasure to purchase for you, at Paris, any article you may wish to procure I have been persecuted in a violent manner by gen Armstrong who, contrary to his verbal and written declaration stated, after my departure from Washington...
I console myself with the reflection that those who will come after us will be as wise as we are, & as able to take care of themselves as we have been.