You are surprised to learn that I have not a high opinion of Mr. Jefferson and I am a little surprised at your surprise ... I have long been convinced that institutions purely democratic must, sooner or later, destroy liberty, or civilisation, or both ... Thinking thus, of course, I cannot reckon...

I have received your letter of the 25th inst: addressed to “The Honble Geo: W Randolph” and requesting permission to publish in your circular my letter of July 3rd to Mr Randall. You probably mistake me for my elder brother who edited the correspondence of Mr Jefferson and was in public life at...

The House at Monticello, and the Garden. Mr Jefferson made great changes in the house at Monticello after his return from Europe in 1789. He got new ideas of architecture during his residence abroad, and the buildings at Monticello were completely re-modelled under their influence. The house...

The Carr Family. My grandfather’s sister, Martha, married Dabney Carr a man of great merit. He died young but left six children, three sons & three daughters. Their history, of course, is without interest for the public but Mr Randall may like to know something of them. Peter, the eldest son...

“There has been a serious proposition made by the Governor of the State to my father (Col. T. J. Randolph) to have his Grandfather’s remains removed to Richmond, to be placed in the Hollywood Cemetery, where Mr Monroe’s are to be interred, and where Mr Wise proposes that Mr Madison, Mr Jefferson...

I am just from church, a church originally planned by Grandpapa, where I heard a good sermon from an Episcopalian Clergyman, a young man, the Revd Mr. Butler. I have been talking freely with my brother Jefferson on the subject of the ‘yellow children’ and will give you the substance of our...

October 24. We hear of the first act which was the forerunner of our Civil War. John Brown of Kansas notoriety attempted, with fifteen men and five negroes, to take forcible possession of the arsenal at Harper’s Ferry. They defended themselves for a day or two, but were killed or taken prisoners....

Schedule I.—Free Inhabitants in Huntington Township in the County of Ross State of Ohio enumerated by me, on the 14 & 15 day of June 1860. William Weaver Ass’t Marshal. Post Office Chillicothe.

I recieved your letter last night and hope the directions for the pudding may reach you to-morrow mornging. I have just recovered from a sick head-ache but feel well except rather weak. I went to market to day. Miss Dyckmann’s leaves us to day; She says she can get her house in order more quickly...

December 30. Major Anderson has evacuated Fort Moultrie and retired to Fort Sumter. The palmetto flag floats over the Charleston Custom House. In short, they are in open rebellion. The President’s (Buchanan) message took the ground that every State might secede, as there was no law to prevent it,...

I have had a little photograph taken which they tell me is not much uglier than I am myself, and I enclose one in this letter for Sally & yourself. I cannot tell you how unhappy I am in the present conflict between the North & South. The idea of Civil war makes all the blood in my body...

April 9, 12, 13, and 14. Mr. Appleton and Mr. Amory decided to go to Charleston and see for themselves the true condition of affairs. They embarked on the steamer “Nashville.” On the twelfth Sumter was attacked by the rebels, and after fighting thirty hours without much damage on either side...