Jefferson Quotes & Family Letters

It is hardly worth the expence of Postage that you pay for my letters, but it is some satisfaction when I dont receive letters from my friends to write to them; I dont mean to complain of your not writing¹, tho it is six weeks and upwards since the date of your last, as your Brother, in a note mention'd that he had recd a letter from you about ten days since, that you were well, he mention’d [. . .] also that he had recd a Letter from your Grand Mother Brown and another from your Cousin Peachy I presume the letter was an acknowledgement of one he received from Browse for my part I get no letters from any of those I am most interested in hearing from and I begin to be apprehensive for the fate of the Money that your Mother assured me shoud be remitted very soon her letter was dated 11th Jany as your Grand Mother made no mention of me in her letter I am persuaded that your Mother must have written and enclosed the bill if so it has taken a wrong route I am anxious for its arrival as I wish to settle with Leitch for sundry little articles that Browse got for me at his Store as I am well assured he will stand in need of all that he will receive for his bill paying Leitch beside his Board schooling and other bills I suppose he wrote you that your friend Ragland had become a teacher of Mathematics in Stacks school and is reading law with Southall he is a Boarder and has part of Browse and Epps Room they are pleased with him It is three weeks last Sunday since I saw Browse he inform’d me that Cornelia and virginia wou’d have accompanied him, but the day was too blustering he thought for Ladies to turn out, but if the next Sunday proved favorable we might expect them, it was a charming day, and Mrs D had an excellent Dinner provided with an elegant dessert but they never came, next day Virginia wrote that that the reason of her disappointing us was that her Grand papa had invited Mr Ragland to dine with them and as he has no acquaintance but Browse her Mama said she thought they ought not to take him a way hoped that the weather wou’d be good on the next Sunday and that they wou’d be able to assure me in person of their continued interest an affection She mentions that her Mama has been very subject this winter to violent attacks of sore throat Mr Jeffersons health is in tolerable health but his Ancles swell so much that he is obliged to have them constantly bandaged, she had terminated all her suffering by having her tooth extracted Ellen has also had the tooth ache in the root of a tooth that was broken off by the dentist in Richmond in attempting to draw it last Spring Doct Watkins has advised her to go² down again and have them taken out, which she expects she will do as soon as her papa pays them another visit and returns, I was disappointed again by not seeing them last sunday in consiquence of Mr and Mrs Divers being Ill on Thursday 23d he had been complaining of the head ache for a day or two but still kept in his Garden and late in the afternoon persuaded Mrs D to accompany him and it had like to prove fatal to both, for his head ache increased to a great degree attended with a high fever and about 3 O Clock in the morning she was siezed with a difficulty of breathing and when we went into her room she was senseless and drew her breath like one in the agony of death he was so much affected by it that he wish’d for death however by a number of pillows we got raised in a setting possission and after some time she recoverd so as to be able to speak when the Doctor arrived he bled them both pretty copiously and administered medicine she got relief much sooner than Mr Divers but they are now able to go about, I wrote to Browse to inform him that they were too Ill to see Company if the weather continues favorable I hope to see them next Sunday I have no chance of seeing Browse but an Sundays and to be within 4 miles of him and not see him but three times in upwards of three months is a little hard tho it is grateful to be attended to I dont I dont wish to exact attention it must be a voluntary tribute of respect or I woud rather dispence with it Browse is very kind to me but I some times think that his heart is not very warm towards me, but an Old Woman is not an Object to Command the affections of youth, if they are treated with respect and kindness it ought to satisfy them I look forward with pleasing hope of embracing you in June I shou’d be glad to know if you mean to pass through Phila on your way here or come in the Steam boat directly from N York if I shou’d be so fortunate as to get my remittance I shall beg the favor of you to bring me some articles I want in N York they are to be had so much lower then here or even in Richmond honor’d and every attention shou’d be paid at these times to Œconomy, the Tortoitise shell spectacles you are to get for me must be of the oldest sight and if you can get two or three spare sets of Glasses, by feeling the Glass the more concave the better my sight is as old as many people that are eighty years old, with kind remembrance of this family I bid you Adieu wishing you every happiness I am your sincere friend and affectionate G Mother