Jefferson Quotes & Family Letters

Alexandria 7th Janry 1811—

I recd my beloved Friends letter from Montecello a few days after its date, you say you were detained by the lameness of one of Mr Gilmers Horses and as the weather has for some time been very unfavourable to travelling—I have some hopes that this letter will find you still at Albemarle—I should have written before—if I had heard any thing of your friends in Orleans—but as I was entirely ignorant of any thing relative to them, I thought I would wait till you informed me of your arrival in Henry before I wrote—last thursday a Captain Robinson an old acquaintance of ours—came to see us—he left new Orleans about the last of Novr he arrived at Newyork first and then came on here in the stage—I enquired particularly after Mrs Jones and her family—he informed me that he had not seen her—but that she and her children—with a great deal of other company was on a visit at the plantation of Mr Daniel Clark—I suppose to avoid the town in the sickly season—I told him that you expected Mrs Jones would have been settled ere this on a place of her own—but he says she has not done so yet—William Brown—he informs us had not arrived in Orleans—and his wife he says will not live with him again if he should arrive there, as she had been convinced by her relations of the impropriety of doing so—with one part of his intelligence I know you will be delighted—he saw Charles Brown in Orleans in good health—he did not hear that his name was Charles he says—but he saw a young gentleman—that was pointed out to him as the brother of William Brown and as William had no other Brother it must be Charles—I made him describe his person—which convinced me it was him, for he described his person exactly

this Mr Robeinson is own Cousin to phil Grimes—but he despises him heartily—he has no doubt he says that from the insolence and impertinence of his conduct—that he will ere long meet with the fate he deserves—that of being killed—he related an anecdote of his behaviour to his mother before he left Virginia—which I think sufficient proof of his infamous charecter—his mother and himself had some dispute, in the course of which he tho threw a candlestick at his mothers head, which would probably have killed her if she had not providentially got out of the way of it

this same rough but honest hearted sailor you must know has been an admirer of Nancys for more than two years—he has lately by the recovery of an estate in Lancashire in England in right of his mother who is dead (become rich) and still continues his professions of affection for her at which she only laughs—he was bringing her an elegant glass Globe from England and had it with him in Orleans (when his cousin Mrs Grimes saw it, she wanted it prodigiously and Mr Grimes offered to purchase it at any price—but he blunted bluntly told him he should not have it—as he intended it for his greatest favorite—) but unfortunately when he was puting it into the vessel at Newyork to send round to Alexandria his servant broke the Globe—for which to use his own phrase he gave him a good drubing—thus was his intended present destroyed (an emblem of his hopes) if he could be so absud absurd as to entertain any of obtaining Ns favourable reception of him—however he is not easily discouraged—he is going to england again soon—where he will remain on his estate for eightteen months and when he returns—he is determined to court her again—unless as he terms it she is mortgaged when he returns—she finds no difficulty in resisting the attacks of her rough sea lover) or her almost as rough land one, Mr M—n— but I suspect she has not been so successful in repeling the thor Darts of the little mischeivous deity in every instance—the delicate and interesting attentions of a certain young Gentleman whome you saw here—tho they were accompanied by a respectful silence on a subject prohibeted by her—have I believe excited¹ a warmer interest in his favour than any other one possesses—he certainly is very sensible, and as far as we can Judge he is amiable in his disposition—his Father is rich and tho he has a large family—he can if he is so disposed give him something to commence life with—and his profession will eventually tho perhaps not very soon, afford him a support—for he is allowed by all who are well acquainted with him to be a young man of talents—you will easily infer from what I have written that the interdicted silence has been broken—and the tresspass pardoned—I do not yet know what will be the result, as there are some obstacles which may possibly not be removed—such as relat[es] to a certain establishment made for him by his Father—without which it would be imprudent to resolve—I have been tho more diffuse on this subject as I know you are interested in what so nearly interests concerns one, whome you honour with your friendship,—Janes little Midshipman is gone to sea and she has quite forgotten him—my son Douglass and his Wife have not yet arrived—but I still expect them this winter—the badness of the roads have hitherto prevented their setting off—it would have delighted D to have met you here—John, his Wife and their sweet little Emily are well—Kitty and her family are in good health—Mr Sims has had a very long fit of the Gout and tho now recovered—is in wretched spirits—I wish you, and my dear good Mrs House—were here again to enliven him—I have not seen him so chearful for a long time as when you were here Mr Sims, Nancy, Jane—and all my family request to be affectionately remembered to you and Mrs House—if you or she ever go to the North again—you must certainly come through Alexandria—for on that depends our only hope of again seeing either of you again—give my love to Mrs H—god bless you

write often to one who can with confidence subscribe herself ever your Sincere Friend