Jefferson Quotes & Family Letters

My Dear Sir.

Charlottesville 20th May 1826

Your favour of this morning is recieved, by which I was glad to learn of your safe arrival home from the lower country, had I been in your place I should have feared sickness from the fatigue encountered in the late hot weather, I presumed you must of course feel anctious to visit [. . .] operations here. yet I know of nothing in relation to them that should induce you to hasten your comeing sooner than your convenience will admit, as far as I am informed all things are progressing as well as could be expected. your Lieut however I presume will give you a detaild account, yesterday Chewning & myself were out hunting locust for door & window sills for you & myself we could not obtain them where we went; but I have heard today where they may probably be had & we shall assertain certainly on tuesday next, They will come at about double what pine would costs (that is to say) 40$ [per]m feet. I suppose Chewning may will not finally conclude to engage for you untill he sees you,

The flying report of which you speak, in regard to the Professors & Students are wholy without foundation, the truth is there was not a single presentment made agt a Professor or Student, at our late Superior court, The grand jury it is true made an effort to enquire into the irregularities at the University but the persons who they caused directed to be summoned, absented themselves and having no evidence of course founded no presentments. they however got fairly into the nest of our townsmen and presented 51. cases for gambling, those presented and many of their friends and some of their acquaintancies, think the presentments might have been let alone; These declarations you know might have been expected, Our court & attorney however compliment’d the grand jury for their vigilance; Our county court refused to grant to Draffen, Mosly & Pallen a tavern licence; & Draffen & Mosly are both presented at the Superior court for retailing of sperits, so that you see thus far has the University succeeded against its enemies & I trust will so continue to succeed—The want of rain here is becoming a serious matter. besides the suffering of our crops our wells are failing there are but few wells in town that afford even drinking water; our mills are also failing, some of them refuse to grind chop for feeding, and this they must all do in a few days without rain,

We are all well and offer you & yours our best regards