Jefferson Quotes & Family Letters

My Dr Nic

August 26 [1826]

I wrote to you a few days before I recieved yr letter containing intelligence of Mr J’s death—It appears to be almost certain that Monticello will be secured to Mrs R. by the amt of the contributions—Want of feeling—of proper generosity seems to be a blemish upon national as well as individual character. I cannot reflect without astonishment, that so strong an appeal in favour of Mr J. should have been made, almost in vain, to the generosity of the American people—of 10 millions of people who are all ready to unite in panegyric on his great public services, his eminent virtues & his exalted talents—& this appeal strengthened by one circumstance particularly, which is calculated to give it the greatest effect, & which can attend no man hereafter, however great his claims to public gratitude may be; & that is the circumstance of his having been one of the great actors of t Our revolution & one of the principal architects of our Government. A legislature may cover its parsimony & its narrow illiberal spirit, under the cloak of principle, But this pretext is wanting to a whole nation, & where it withholds the pecuniary aid (so small considered relatively to the whole number) which it is called upon so loudly, by the best feelings of our nature to yield, the reproach on ingratitude & avarice may be justly applied to it.—Did Mr J. leave any memoirs written by himself behind him? Is his library included in the legacy he made to J. R? you see I am curious, but how could it be otherwise.

Although the apprehensions you entertain with regard to the abolition of slavery may, in some degree, be well founded yet the evil I imagine is not so near at hand as to require that we should be already prepared to meet it. Such are the feelings of the planters here that they would not believe such a revolution possible, unless it stared them in the face. I think therefore that we should not through fear of so remote a danger, abstain from the purchase of slaves, if we have the means, & if our interest calls for it, unless indeed it is to be feared that the explosion will be sudden

The crops promise well, both sugar & cotton. I am going next tuesday to the plantation at the request of Penny. There is to be an auction close by, & we have some intention of purchasing a negro man if he does not go too high—4 years credit.

You want me to explain why White is so laconic. Can I explain what is inexplicable, the whimsies of an eccentric man—He is apprehensive, I suppose, that you harbour a wicked design of inveigling him into a correspondence, which the sacred obligations of filial duty would scarce induce [. . .] from to engage him. His many good qualities, however, atone for those eccentricities which, in some measure, disfigure his character.

I have not received the box you sent—Enquire whether it has been sent from Norfolk—I will send a letter next mail to Nott desiring him to procure a dft for $100 & send it you. If you should want more let me know.

Ask Frank, when you have an opportunity, why he does not ‘Epistolon’ me. More than a twelvemonth has elapsed since I have written to him & I am still expecting an answer very patiently.

Though I feel somewhat mortified yet I confess I am glad to learn that Grandmother Trist is lodged at Monticello—You should use compulsory process to confine her to her chamber you can urge the Dr’s express orders. Payez bien les domestiques qui Ca soigneur

Mr T. received the other day a note of Julian[’s] [con]duct at school. It was marked ‘fort bien’ ‘bien’ ‘asse[. . .] It may be so, but there is no faith to be put in those school notes—The vanity or self love of the parent is more attended to than the proficiency of the pupil. Mary is very well. very smart, but wretchedly spoiled.

Give my love to G. T. & all at monticello. Embrace V & the little neice, to whom grandmother presents a parental kiss