Jefferson Quotes & Family Letters

I had the honour to receive your favor of 20th inst: at 3. P.M. Yesterday: sunday Jany 26. Some of my friends had entertained the belief from evidence, which they thought and I believed to be good, that Mr Buchanan had destroyed my Bond, with the intention to cancel the debt by way of Legacy to an old friend, who had been his scholar more than forty years ago, and for whom his Brother James had stood God Father. Since that is a mistake, and the Bond has been left in force, as I now understand, I must do what the Executors require of me, for I am wholly at their mercy and am sensible how lucky I am in falling into the hands of men incapable of giving more than necessary distress, or of being more eager than duty requires to heighten the favor of fortune to some by the unnecessary ruin of others. If one year cannot be allowed under such circumstances, I must make an arrangement to dispose of a sufficient number of my negroes, of which I possess about fifty of great value, but that at this season involves the loss of the crop, which, with good seasons and good markets coming together, ought to be equal in value to all the property, land excepted, employed in making it. my hopes may be too high, but they cannot be wholly vain, with an experience of 33 years, improved by close study of the art; which have together given that skill upon which the chance entirely depends. I shall be in Richmond again in a few days on purpose to see you on this important business.

The kind expressions with which you close your letter have excited the most lively sensibility of which my mind is capable. “The tranquillity of private life and the charms of the domestic circle” are indeed preferable, in my estimation, to every thing under heaven. But your high mind will at once perceive how, with the best affections and the warmest heart, a solitary home may be relished, for a while, to give relief from the unpleasant circumstances necessarily attending the situation of perpetual guest, in any house whatever. men who have past their lives in the field, struggling against, and endeavouring to controul the powers of Nature, in which contest words are nothing, are too apt to consider the most entire freedom of speech as innocent, while the Will is good, and the feelings generous. Freedom of opinion they hear defended by every body, fre[e]dom of thought they are conscious is unrestrainnable; and they find it difficult to separate these three natural links, as they seem to them to be, between the individual and the Publick Mind.

The “gaieties of a Capital City” must necessarily give a constant heart-ache to one who has seen so many patrimonees, besides that which ought to have bee[n] his own, entirely dissipated in expensive entertainments, costly dress and furniture, and luxurious living.

Your letter becomes a document of value to a numerous race, in the hands of one from whom it has been attempted to withdraw all respect, which has not been riveted by the natural affection and long familiarity of, fortunately, no small number. But hatred is proverbially unbounded, towards a [. . .] partizan who demures; a companion who exposes presumptuous ignorance by willingness to undergo the labour requisite to acquire good information; an associate who pauses, when views become manifestly [Un?]generous and selfish, or vindictive and malignant.

I am too old to change, and too [. . .] confounded, therefore must, as I may boldly [. . .] my breast to malice. With respect to private [. . .] have long known that he whose lot it is may be to work watch and want, is not therefore necessarily unhappy. As for publick affairs, so long as the skill and talents are equal on both sides of the game, no matter which way the Ball of power flies for a time, it must be cau[ght] and thrown back before it gets out of all reach and is lost in natures wilds, or is pocketed by matchless strength impudence and intrepidity unopposed by wise concert.

I trust you will exccuse the freedoms your own goodness have given rise to.I have the honour to be Dr Sir your most obedt hble Servt