Jefferson Quotes & Family Letters

Your letter without date I received on the 16th; I had heard of your Cousin Walkers arrival some time before I received your letter and expected a letter from Your Mother or your self, the last I recd from your Mother was dated 16th May, but she has become a lazy corrispondent William promised to write me and let me know the particulars of Mr Burwells Will but I am afraid he¹ is affected with the malady incidental to the family, forgetfulness or laziness, George has totally forgotten me, but hope Harmer and Francis has some recollection of their Aunt Trist, on the 23d I left Farmington I had detirmined on visiting your Aunt Lucy and my friends in that quarter before I came here as Mrs Craven was so kind as to offer to send her carriage for me and after spending a day or two with her she wou’d take me [to] Ridgeway but rain almost every day made the roads bad Mr Hackley brought Ellen Randolph from Richmond in a small travilling carriage and Cornelia tho he was to go to Ashton that day to Dinner borrow’d it to come for me I demur’d a little about coming till I had been in the other neighbourhood, but on considering that this was a [. . .] busy season the harvest coming on that it might be inconvenient for Mr Craven to spare a hand to drive the carriage I concluded to come tho I did not feel very well inconsiquence of taking cold nor have I felt well since, a Stupor hangs on me I found the Roads pretty bad but not dangerous accept in one place on the Mountain, or rather assending it, The rains we have had has wash’d the land dreadfully and the hail we had on the 20 has² been attended with serious consiquences to many I am told that your Uncle George has had his crop destroyd which must be a sad loss to him, Your Uncle Peter has escaped with little or no damage I received a letter from your Aunt dated 21st she mentions that she had received a short letter from your Mother by Walker she observed that she shou’d take a ride ere long to see us, that the family were all well

My last letter from Browse was dated 14th June he had just returnd from visiting our relations in Jersey after passing six days at New Mills and six at Mount Holly very pleasantly he was induced he says to stay longer then he had contemplated on by the unaffected kindness, and cordiality shewn him by our friends who beheaved towards him as if he had belong’d to the family It was quite a treat after being pent up in a City to breathe the Pure Country air and he viewd the green banks of the Delaware, ornamented with handsome Villas, with unaccustomed pleasure, they took took him out a riding every day and he return’d to the City quite fat he says that I can have no Idea how highly I am thought of in that part of the World he was exceedingly pleased with his trip and charm’d with the reception he met with from all and shall be tempted to visit them when ever he has leisure this taste of the Country has made him desireous to³ pass the summer in it and Nicholas urges him continually to join him but he must defer it till he receives Remittances his Brother writes him that he will set off if Possible on the 20th June it depended however on his receiving Remittances before that time he heard that the examination at West Point had been deferd Nicholases last letter to me was dated 17th May his not writing since that time, feeds my hope of seeing him soon I dont like being on the tenter Hook of expectation I am interested in seeing him if only to [. . .] try and get a conveyence for me to Liberty tho to embrace him once more wou’d make me much more happy than I am at present Mrs Randolph is very unwell at present with a complaint that she is frequently afflicted with sore throat head ache attended with fever She accompanies her Father to Bedford as soon as the Horses are restored to health her plan is to spend a month there and on her Return two of the Girls will go to Poplar Forest yesterday she made me an offer of a seat in the carriage with her Father and self but I woud prefer going in any othe[r] Carriage for with all du defference to Mr Jefferson taste I shou’d prefer going in any other carriage I ever rode in, if we cant do better I shall propose to Nicholas to take the Stage to Staunton and hire a carriage there to go the remainder of the journey I shou’d be very glad if I cou’d afford to keep a light easey going carriage and a pair of well broke Horses and good driver but that will not be ever in my power, and must be thankful for what I have, people cant be very independent that is confined to one spot I find my self unequal to walking and some exercise is necessary tho I look forward to taking Some rambles when I get to Bedford attended by my Boys who will let me lean on them when tired and prevent my losing my self, as I did in Henry Remember me affectionately to your Father and Mother also to your Brothers and William Burwell I hope he has not forgotten me wishing you all health and happiness I am My Dear Emma your sincere friend and affectionate Aunt