Jefferson Quotes & Family Letters

your kind favor of the 9th June on the 4th of July I recd with joy and gratitude it was the first news I had of Marys arrival, and I began to be anxious about her if the same good fortune attends her in the settlement of her affairs with the Government as she experienced on the voyage it will prove a fortunate enterprise and her energies will be amply compensated but I dont allow my mind to be very sanguine, having so often been disappointed in my expectation of happiness if it visits me it will be the more welcome from its novelty, the same day yours came to hand I recd a few lines from Nicholas Philip Trist dated 18th June I presume the addition to his name is caused by a sentiment of gratitude to the memory of his Father in law I cou’d not but smile when I saw the signature as also at the information he gave me of their improvement he says „Browse draws pretty well but I learn Geometry for which I have a better taste„,¹ hopes that I am as well as they are mentions the arrival of his Mother and her intention of taking them to Batton Rouge and that on their return their Grand Mother Brown intends going that they were going to move into another House I am very apprehensive that that Country will be sickly in the season when the waters retire, from the acct publish’d the river had risen to a very uncommon height if the Banks give way it will be attended with serious evil—I wish Mary may get over her disinclination of writing to me I cant conceive that she cou’d be greatly at a loss to find me for if her letters had been directed to Albemarle they wou’d have been forwarded She appears to avail her self of any thing that will admit of an excuse. however I shall take no notice to her, but trust her in [. . .] like manner. yes my Dr friend I am as happy as I ever cou’d expect to be, tho my present situation is far from any thing like elegance or even as comfortable as I have been accustomed to, am nevertheless content if the tranquility I now enjoy is not interrupted by any event that will seriously effect the happiness of my Neice who is deservedly intitled to the character of one of the best and one of the most contented of human beings I shall have reason to be thankful to a Bounteous Providence for the blessing. I have no regrets at leaving the busy haunts of society—time and misfortunes lessens our desires for those pleasures which at an earlier period wou’d be a serious evil to lose my sister does not make her conclusions in favor of Virginia tho I believe she wou’d be satisfied to pass the remainder of her days here if h[er] Mother was nearer to her she talks of leaving us in October to place her Boys at some business Thomas has derived no advantage from his residence in this Country for he has no disposition for Study nor is he fond of plantation work and his Mother is afraid that he will get too fond of Idle company or be establish’d in habits of Laziness we shall mis her society tho we are not without occasional visitors whoes appearance wou’d not disgrace a Philad drawing room but our visitors live from 18 to 30 miles distance of course their visits are not very frequent but then they stay three or four days can you conceive of a ten or a Dozen people being accomodated in a House consisting of three rooms but they dont mind trifles. we however have got two additional apartments Peachy had a good hewn log House erected in the yard for an Office which has been fitted up for me it has two Glass windows and a Stone chimney and is really very comfortable and neat a Staircase on the outside leads to a chamber which tho a Garret room is very snug and serves for the accomodation of visitors for Mary will not suffer me to relinquish mine to any one we expect a good deel of company who have a curiosity to see me Mr and Mrs Tucker formerly Maria Carter neice to Champ Carter I saw her in Richmond before she was married Mr Tucker is a man of taste and they are very comfortably established so is Mr Burwell I was very fortunate in fitting so good a conveyance as they afforded me in their carriage Mrs Burwell is a very amiable woman but her health is a draw back on the pleasures of her life I pass’d a fortnight with them in Franklin Peachy and Mary are much flatterd by your expressions of friendship and beg me to assure you of theirs sincerely and the gratification it wou’d be to them to enjoy your society in any situation none appreciate your character and virtues more highly than they do, they and unite with Sister and self in love to you the Doct and children who I hope will not forget their Aunt Trist tell Benjamin that flatter myself his taste for Geometry may accord with his friend Nicholas Philip Trists—I am surprised that my letters to Jersey shou’d miscarry which must be the case if my friends complain have written much oftener to them than they have to me. The weather has been till the last three days so cool and pleasant that I never coud throw off the blanket and now it is sufficently hot for any purpose I hope the summer will prove healthy in your city except a bad cold that seized me immediately on my arrival and made me deaf for a few weeks my health has been remarkably good I can eat Indian bread which I am fond off without feeling any bad effects from it which was formerly the case Adieu and believe me sincerely your friend