Jefferson Quotes & Family Letters

Dearest Nic

N. Orleans Feb—1st

I arrived here on Saturday last. Thus far I have every reason to congratulate myself. When I waited upon him the Governor immediately reiterated the offer he made me at Mr T’s, conducted me to his house, Showed me the room that was destined for me & begged me a thousand times with the most unsophisticated politeness to make myself perfectly at home. The only fault is that my room is destitute of a fire place. He observed this & said he was sorry there was no room in the house with a fire place or he would have given it to me. He pushes things farther than I expected for he has my linen washed by his Washerwoman, & I burn his candles & write on his paper all by his express directions. I must not omit that I am now sitting at his desk Making use of one of his pens which is so fashioned that there is but one way of writing with it & that is as I am writing now, which perhaps you wont admire much. Nous faisons assez bonne chair et buvons d’assez bon vin. Notre maison est située pres du fauxbourg Marigny, non loin des anciennes casernes—Elle est assez belle et meublée avec assez d’élégance. Vous voyez que je ne suis pas a plaindre. White occupies a room on the same floor with mine (the ground floor). I have not yet seen him as he started for Plaquemine a few minutes before I arrived but will be back again in a few days. I found Col Nicholas in Town who made enquiries after you. I beleive I informed you he was a candidate for the legislature & lost his election. I met Hunter too for my sins. He is really boreissimus. I met Preston the other day who told me he had dined with you at Monticello

I have been as yet to no ball, play, or place of amusement & as the carnaval is about terminating, will have little temptation of that sort. I should have written to you immediately but put it off until I should whether I was to remain & upon What footing. As yet I have visited no one & shall keep my room for several days as I feel unwell from a sore throat which however I hope will leave me in a day or two.

Before I left Donaldsonville Grandmother B— received a letter from Nott announcing that the first bill was cashed (I beleive that was the term) in London & that there was a sum of $ 413 at her disposal in his hands. If the Woman Grandmother bought is payable in March & not before I can send you a portion of this sum. I will soon ascertain that—

Cotton is down very low & a very dull market. We got 13½ for ours & the price has fallen since. The proceeds of the crop amounted to upwards of $ 600 which with the profits arising from the Gin will amount altogether to about $900

Terry will go upon the plantation this month. It is to be hoped that from his arrival we will hereafter date the æra of our prosperity—

Give a brotherly kiss to V. & love to all & dont forget me to Mrs Coolidge when you write.