on every question of construction, carry ourselves back to the time when the constitution was adopted, recollect the spirit manifested in the debates, & instead of trying what meaning may be squeezed out of the text, or invented against it, conform to the probable one in which it was past.

Mrs. Trist with Emma & Mr. Gilmer arrived at Farmington a few days ago, My Dear Nicholas, and this morning Mama & Aunt Randolph have gone to pay their respects and learn from your Grand-Mother when we shall have the pleasure of seeing her here. She bore the journey from Bedford very well,...

My dearest grand-father is just recovering from a fever which lasted three weeks without intermission, and which Dr. Watkins & my brother ascribe to his daily visits last summ fall to the Mill-dam where he was in the habit of remaining from breakfast until dinner time. but this fever was...

the committee of 5. met ... they unanimously pressed on myself alone to undertake the draught. I consented; I drew it; but before I reported it to the committee, I communicated it separately to Dr. Franklin and mr Adams requesting their corrections; because they were the two members of whose...

it is a hideous blot.

I agree with you that it is the duty of every good citizen to use all the opportunities, which occur to him, for preserving documents relating to the history of our country.

I return you mr Coxe’s letter which has cost me much time at two or three different attempts to decypher it. had I such a correspondent I should certainly admonish him that if he would not so far respect my time...

the equal rights of man, and the happiness of every individual are now acknoleged to be the only legitimate objects of government. modern times have the signal advantage too of having discovered the only device by which these rights can be secured, to wit, government by the people.

but the only security of all is in a free press. the force of public opinion cannot be resisted, when permitted freely to be expressed. the agitation it produces must be submitted to. it is necessary to keep the waters pure.

Mail after mail has arrived without bringing me a line from you My Dear Nicholas, for more than a month past. have you forgotten me? or are you sick? I assure you that enquiry, which I make of myself every hour in the day without being able to answer, torments me very much. the last letter that I...

I have paid your half years interest to the Literary fund, say $225, and have requested Mr. Christian to make a statement of the interest due to the college, & call when he pleases, & the money shall be paid, I think I understood him to say he had some $9,000 of principal for you, tho’ am...

I am induced to trouble you a gain with my scrawl from hearing Mrs Randolph speak of the good effect she experienced from taking charcoal when her stomach was affected by acidity I beg’d her to write the receipt which she has just brought me, I shou’d have been very unhappy had I known your...