Jefferson Quotes & Family Letters

My dear Margaret,

Baltimore [ca. 8] Janary 1821 1822—

Aunt Carr received your letter yesterday and as she is over head and ears fixing up your old crape for Maria to wear to the cotillion party tomorrow, she has commissioned me to answer it, she sends her love to you with many thanks for your letter & promises to write on sunday; you never saw any one n engaged so heart and sould as she is in making that frock for Maria she has taken all the trimming off and put it on in a new way, she thinks it much handsomer than it was at first I do not—

I returned from Atamasco on sunday where I have been since Christmas, (which is the reason I’ve not written to you for the last fortnight) Mary Jane went up with me and we spent our time most agreeably, I’ve returned quite in love with her, she is certainly the best girl in the world, she is dying to see you; almost by main force we brought sister Polly down with us to spend a week, she is very miserable about her husband he has had three severe attacks this winter, in the last letter that he wrote he says that he is confined to his rom room & that he does not know¹ when he ma will be able to get ² I very much fear from all accounts that he will [. . .] never get home There is a gentleman in town just from Savannah who says that he is the merest wreck that he ever beheld and all his money and health he has thrown away for nothing for his suit was put off till the next [. . .] term, my heart aches for poor sister Polly she is the most unhappy woman that I ever say saw and indeed I think she has every reason to be so.—Mamma is quite well but in rather bad spirits just now at not hearing from brother R—we have not received a letter from him since the one I sent you, her spirits I think have been very much improved by coming here & her healh health very much indeed, why does’nt brother Wilson write to her and tell her something about her expectations it is abominable in him not to do so—

I suppose mamma told that Dabney has returned and what a cruel reception he met with from all the folks at home, he sends his love to you & says that he still cherishes your memory though he has not written to you, he begs that you will not undertake to be offended with him as you are now his only friend³

I congratulate Jane most sn sincerely on the birth of her child although it is a gal, for my single self I think they are much more desirable than boys. I am⁴ dreadfully outrageous with Jeff about that nurse, why does Jane ask him any thing about it I would ⁵ just send over for her—

Good bye it’s time my letter should be in the office