Jefferson Quotes & Family Letters

I received your welcome favor of the 21st October last Evening I had been expecting Brother a letter from your Brother not having had that pleasure for some time but he seems not to have that feeling towards me that wou’d excite much sensibility or he wou’d delight in giving pleasure to his poor Grand Mother even at the expence of a little labour you will be surprised to hear that I am still here not having it in my power for want of a conveyance except in the public stage and my Strength is not adequate to such a mode of travilling, beside having no one to escort me the expense of sending to Lynchburg for a carriage and other matters made me conclude to remain where I am till you returned tho I must confess I shou’d be better pleased at being in Albemarle I have no chance here of taking a Ride and where there are so many children in a small House it makes it unpleasant Emma is so complasent that she occupies as little of the room as possible if I had known the exact situation of the establishment I certainly should not have come tho treated with every kindness but I dont feel easy at the Idea of being an incumbrance

My health has improved mostly my appetite is good and we have Plenty of good things to eat most excellent Buckweed Cakes this morning for the first time I wish’d for your self and Brother to partake tho my health and strength has increased I have fallen a way to skin and bones God knows how long the old torment will last, but I console my self with the hope of seeing you before I quit the Stage, I am not altogether easy at your intended peregrination I wish you may not be a sufferer by it in your health beside I am not altogether satisfied with your Companion I wou’d go no where or do any thing without consulting Mr Tournillon however the hope of your being benifited in your health is a relief to my mind but let me hear from you soon, I have not had a line from Farmington far some time Mr Divers has had a Paralytick stroke in his head, we had the pleasure of seeing Jefferson Randolph last sunday week his visit to ths place was in consiquence of an event which took place at poplar Forest a Mulatto attack’d the Overseer knock’d him down and wounded him in several places with a knife he wou’d have bled to Death but with the assistance of one of the Negroes and Hannah a Black woman who has the care of the House Staunch’d the Blood by holding the wounds by hand together till they sent for a Doctor he had eleven or twelve wounds and tho his face was horibly mutulated they entertain hopes of his recovery they say that he was by no means a severe task master I understand that there are 3 or 4 of them in the jail here and in the course of a month their fate will be decided there has lately been two executions in this place one Black Man for the Murder of his wife and the other for destroying a child Mr Jefferson has been finnishing his back porticco was careless took a wrong step fell and broke his arm at the wrist but no dangerous consiquences it is thought will ensue I am sorry to hear that the vermin that injured your crop last year has not left you but the winter has as yet been too favorable for there destruction but it may became more severe I shou’d be for smoking them with sulphur I make no doubt that Mr Tournillon cou’d easily have dispensed with the Company he has been honord with, you dont say a word about your Grand Mother or the children my heart is interested in them all I am anxious to hear how Harriet makes out I am afraid her husband will never do much I hope the fever has ceased its violence ere this, there has been great mortallity prevailing Douglass Simms became a victim. to the fever in Pensacola, as you have some corrispondents, in this state you no doubt hear more than I can inform you of what is going forward, I am glad that Mr Tournillon is going to make a trial of sugar God grant that success may attend his endeavours Providence has been more bountious to us in this part of the world tho a great deal of sickness and many Deaths have taken place in the lower part of the State poor Mrs Hackly is still in a very low state which will prevent her going to Florida this winter it surprises me that so many are leaving this state to settle on the Alabama and Missouri a very respectable family left here about two months since to settle on the Missouri some of the family had gone there last year I dont immagine that those who leave this country will do much better by the change I want to know how you have sett[led?] matters about the plantation at Natchez every thing se[ems?] to go against us, do let me know if Mr Dumolin is living and if success has attended his endevours—pray My Dear children run no risks to endanger your healths I am sorry that you sent me the money as I shall not need it, for the purpose it was sent I shall not wear any thing but mourning the remainder of my days and that shall provided sufficient to last my time your Cousin mary desires me to assure you both of her affectionate regard and united with me in love to your Grand Mother whoes kindnesses she shall never forget, your Cousin Peachey is busily attendg the court if the fees were as large as they are in Orleans he wou’d make a fortune pray let me know when I may expect to see you My Dear Nicholas be guarded in your associates present me affectionately to Mr Tournillon tell him not to respond tho the times are bad at present a change may take place for the better I hope God will preserve him and his dear little children to be a Comfort and blessing to him give them twenty Kisses for me I wish I had twenty thousand pounds for their sake Remember me to Arthur who I shall always feel an interest in may God bless and preserve you and believe me your ever affectionate Grand Mother