Jefferson Quotes & Family Letters

Be assured my Darling Children I rejoice that you are once more united, I will not point out what pleasure and advantage you ought to derive from such a reunion as I hope long ere this you are convinced that friendship between brothers is the most endearing and precious of all blessings and the little difference in Your ages allows of Your enjoying it in the fullest extent, you will know how ardently I have desired that no one else might usurp the first place in yours; neither will I expatiate on the many advantages that surround you, as I also trust you have sense and goodness sufficient to appreciate them as you ought, placed in such society and removed from all temptation much will be expected from you but I feel confident you will not disappoint me in any hopes I have indulged in. Your Father is in all the bustle of planting, he has been very fortunate in his Cotton speculations though I should be sorry to see him undertake it another year unless he employs some person to recieve and weigh it, as the fatigue is too great and the intercourse with such disagreeable savages too painful, he intends going to Orleans the last of this month, when he will if possible find a conveyance for the things you wish, but as I fear that will be very difficult I am desirous of receiving your letter with directions to where to consign them, have you received five hundred dollars which your Father enclosed you to purchase horses and to present your Grand mother one hundred in my name. how often my dear Children am I heart sick with the desire of seeing yo[u]. In any other circumstances what a prey to painful anxiety I should be; your dear little brother speaks of you longly tenderly, I am astonished at his faithful retention of many things you said and did. poor Mr Livingston has not succeeded shaking off his fever it is undermining his constitution, Mrs L— frequently enquires most affectionately after you, I request you will write to her you owe her that attenti[on] your Grandmother Father and Julian enjoy excellent health; I am teized with a slight fever which I believe proceeds from my situation however as it begins to injur[e me your?] Father sent for Doctor Martin who assures me I will be relieved from it in a few days, embrace each other and your Grand mother tenderly for me tell Mrs Randolph I claim a place in her affection where I feel I merit from my attachment to her: your Father sent the other halves of those notes by sundays mail.