Jefferson Quotes & Family Letters

Your Brothers long expected letter of July 24th I recd the 14th instant, it gives me pain to hear that you have had an attack of fever God grant that you may have better health in future and that your Brother may enjoy the blessing of health which I fear will not be the case if he removes to the Highlands tho I have no doubt but that wou’d be a healthy situation if the low grounds were banked to keep them from overflowing but I shall not be easey if your Brother settles there, That Country has been so fatal to my repose that I wish you cou’d all leave it Mr Tournillon and all the family if I was worth a large fortune, I wou’d make it his interest to abandon that country, he stands so high in my estimation that there is nothing in my power that I wou’d not do to serve him, his children are dear to me and I have him as a Son, he was the kind husband of your dear Mother and that wou’d wou’d be sufficient to make me love him, I wish to know what makes it necessary to sell the Plantation and Negroes on the fourche I hope Mr Tournillon has not involved himself in the purchases he has made if he has if he has I think your self and Brother shou’d aid him all in your power for he certainly has been a kind and liberal Father to you both, and one of the best of Husbands to your Mother I dont suppose you will ever get the Money that your Uncle William purloind from you I think it was 12,00 £ Sterling his Wife must be a mean Woman or she wou’d aid him in discharging his debts for I understand she is very Rich

I have had the pleasure of receiving a letter from Virginia Randolph I make no doubt of your keeping up a corrispondence with the Monticello family they had, I thought been indifferent towards me certain it is I seldom heard from any of them but Virginia says that my suspicions of being forgotten by the family are groundless and my friends in the Neighbourhood all think of me with as much interest and affection as they have ever felt her Mama wou’d have written long before this time had it been in her power but she has had frequent attacks of Rheumatism and sick head ache and sick Stomack Cornelia was then in bed with a very bad head ache and sick Stomack which will not permit her to retain even the medicine that she takes long enough to afford her relief Mary is constantly sufferring with the tooth ache as to her self she has been twice bled and took and took calomel every night for three weeks by Dr Watkins advise, she says her Grand papa has been frequently in disposed but was well then and continues to take regular exercise on Horse back, and to relish his meals Ellen had been sick, I think the Monticello family enjoy as poor health as any I know, I shou’d be very glad to visit Albemarle one more if I knew how to get there I have had an affectionate and kind invitation from Lucy Minor to take possession of my chamber at Ridgeway and another from Aunt Divers I shou’d be contented with my present abode if the accomadation were more convenient but a small Chamber which Emma and my self Occupy and have to pass through the chamber to enter it, where Peachey and Mary Sleep and a set of noisey children makes my residence as uncomfortable as need be, If I had the means I wou’d hire a carriage and get William Gilmer to accompany me to Albemarle Peachey is not yet out of debt for the purchase of his Plantation and keeps but one Horse and no carriage so that I shall have a poor chance my finances are running low, post Office accounts and my mourning with other contingent expences has drain’d my purse almost to the dregs and to tell you the truth I long to change my situation tho I am treated with kindness and attention but the noise of children and a small House is not suited to my disposition my health is very [. . .] indifferent and my nerveous System quite debilitated, I cant expect to live much longer but I shou’d wish to see your self and Brother before I leave the world I am afraid that you woud not know me if you were to meet me for I have become almost a skelliton skeleton Please to present me affectionately to your Father Grand Mother and Brother and kiss the Children for me tell them I love them dearly Your Cousins all Unite in love to your Grand Mother Brother and self may God bless and preserve You all I wish to know if Mr Tournillon is obliged to sell the Plantation on which he lives May God bless and preserve you all is the sincere prayer of your devoted Grand Mother