Jefferson Quotes & Family Letters

I have been long waiting for the Brig William from Richmond to arrive that I may receive the books &c which are aboard her; but tho. two months have passed since she left Rd we have no news of her, and she must either have been blowed off, or lost in the late tremendous gales:—the truth is Peyton does not trouble himself to select the best vessel in port when he ships articles to the north; at all events this Brig is of the same place with the “Washington” which was lost with all Ellen’s property aboard, and I suppose equally old and unseaworthy; for many which sailed since have arrived here long ago.—The very morning that the vessel sailed from Boston which had the lead and other articles aboard for Jeff. and yrself, I recd yours asking me to send wine to Dr Dunglison; I was sorry that it was not in my power to forward it at the same time to avoid delay, but it was not, and another vessel has sailed since without my knowing it: but, by the next, you shall receive the sicily, and yr sherry; they will be sent by Messrs T. Devine & Son, very respectable persons to whom any order may be sent in the fullest confidence. I have been obliged to put the order into their hands, tho. with reluctance, because otherwise I must have paid the price $100. probably, or more, at the end of the year, at a time when my own bills are more than I can comfortably meet. so that, dear N. You must say to these gentlemen that “supposing they might wish to apply frequently, you recommended me to introduce them to a suitable house, here, wh. would punctually attend to their subsequent orders; you may add that tis an House of high character, who import their wines themselves, and yearly send large quantities to gentlemen in Washington, during Congress:

I wish, however, to say that if at any time, and in any way that I can serve you, or friends whom you wish to gratify by an offer, apply to me freely; & as for yourself it is of no consequence whether you have funds in my hands or not: only remember that, as I take pains to do the best, I like to hear how the articles answer wh. I send: do not fail, then, to tell me about the lamps, and whether the shoes fit you or not: in like manner give me any hint about matters with you, if I can do anything by way of remembrance or acknowledgement to those in Albemarle!—this morning Sparks returned me the letters you had forwarded, Ledyard’s—and I can say that you have obliged me much, and served him also, by yr. promptness, and secured a place in his good opinion.He goes immediately to Washington, and shortly after to England, on business connected with the publication of Washington’s, and other papers: would that Mr J’s were also in his charge! and by the way, Nicholas, what is the condition and prospect of these papers? are they to come out, and in what form; when, where, & how?—I have my misgivings about them; that they will fail to produce the money they ought, and to do the full justice they ought to his principles, and talents: ’tis impossible that they should appear as a mere bookseller’s Job.—they will disappoint every hope unless properly managed! Why could not Ticknor be applied to—? he is a man of leisure, was an acquaintance; is not a friend of Sparks, and would probably exert himself very much to bring out the works with equal eclat and success with washington :—he is, too, now I believe, at leisure; has broken off his connection with the review; has just completed a memoir of a friend lately deceased which he will soon publish, and has written his course of lectures for the University: of course his employments must be of a literary character; and his political opinions are not such as to make it unsafe or unwise to interest him with such papers. But I mention this merely for your consideration, that if you see fit you may name it to Jefferson, for Mr Madison, I apprehend, is too aged, and too infirm, and too much engaged in his own pursuits, and engrossed by Company, to do any thing actively in their publication:—I have seen with great regret another Communication from ___ to an Editor in Ohio;—good heavens! must it be ever thus—? must the world be continually deceived as to the real opinions of T. J? you, and I, and all of us, well knew what there were—! the very expressions dwell ineffaceably in my memory—yet how give them publicity? I was tempted to repeat them to Gilmer when I saw him here, but forbore!—and so the boasted to moderation of the Va advocate has given into as thorough a partisanship as any in the country—: ex-parte statements—the repetition of stale and off-refuted calumnies—a barren visage, and an iron-mask—unblushingly to avow, and impenetrably to conceal opinions and facts! yet I confess the other side is as bad—abominable charges and slanders against a man who is and was a valuable and upright one—tho. not fitted for the chair of state:—What is yr own opinion—how will Virginia go—who will finally be elected—and if Adams what will be the consequence even in the far South and West?—I have heard of the correspondence between yrself and ___. it is all right, all but the allowance of [. . .]. pr. ann. he is well, educated, experienced, and now unshackled by a family—and should at least, I think, support himself if he will not them. good heavens—that one so situated should consent to be supported by a wife who is the mother of so many [. . .]ded children!—The letter to wh. I alluded has too palpable an aim—to make friends with a man whose chance he thinks the best; in fact to ke[ep] himself in view, and by and by to bottom an application for office upon services rendered [. . .]

——please examine if the edition of Virgil by Heyne which is in the Library is the 3d edition—? [. . .] it be printed by Payne & White in London, or by Mitsch in Leipzig—I have just finished the life of Héyne—in the Classical Journal —; it is immensely interesting; and mentions several editions of [. . .] Virgil—one splendid in 4to London—two others in 8 vo, in 4 vols each. with vignettes—also a 3d of Leipzig in 6 vols 8 vo—printed in 1800 and reprinted in 1803 in 4 vols 8vo.—these two last much the best.Cornelia after a visit of a month went to Cambridge, and Tim took her place, here, in company with a young friend of hers, Miss Ware; they have returned and Mr is now with us: all are well—. George most admirably placed, and where he cannot fail to improve: & Mother very comfortably and pleasantly situated in an excellent family—:—If Hilliard has not yet left you, or any opportunity offers, send me the Alto. to Micali—the Unto. will be very acceptable to me.—Give my love to all; kiss for Martha, and tell the girls to direct all letters to Boston, as heretofore—; the arrangements of the Cambridge P.O. are such as would produce delay, wh. Mr did not know.