Jefferson Quotes & Family Letters

Presuming that you have already been informed of what has occurred between Miss Martin and myself, I venture to address you as a mutual friend and solicit your advice on that subject. I requested and received from Miss Martin, a mere consent on her part, provided my suit met the entire approbation of her friends in Washington. The engagement was, by my own desire, conditional only, and this approbation, was the condition upon which depended its after confirmation. It may be urged that our acquiantance is but of yesterday’s duration, but, this, I think, if well weighed, will be found to present an obstacle of rather apparent, than real difficulty. ’Tis true, our first introduction to each other’s personal acquaintance, bears a date of little more than two months, only, but, ’tis equally true, that at the period of this introduction, no ignorance existed as regarding the connexions & respective condition of either party. But, I will reserve the pleading of my cause for another occasion and for the present, will, only, beg you to tell me with perfect candor your sentiments on the subject, but, before deciding definitively on it the case, if agreable, I will ask permission to have some conversation with you. Whatever may be the result of your deliberation, be assured, My dear Major, that the feelings of friendship, which I have entertained towards yourself shall suffer no diminution, on that account.

I have taken the liberty of communicating with you, in preference to appealing directly to Miss Martin’s parents, because you know who & what I am, my condition in life, and, in some degree, my future prospects, and no deception or concealment, can be practised by¹ me, if such was my wish.