Jefferson Quotes & Family Letters

Your letter of the 13th ultimo, came safe to hand, giving me the pleasing intelligence of your happy meeting with your dear Elisabeth & of her presenting you with a fine son, and your honoring me with his name—for this signal mark of your kindness & respect I tender to you my grateful acknowledgements. I present my blessings to this child, and my prayers, that he may became an ornament to that society in which he may be placed, and a comfort & blessing to his parents in their declining¹ years—please kiss the dear boy for me and present to your dear Elisabeth, my kind congratulations, on this joyous occasion, & how grateful you both ought to be to a kind providence for the blessing he has bestowed upon you, and her restoration to health again. I had written thus far with joyous feelings, and gratitude to a kind providence for her blessing thus bestowed, when lo, the mournful intelligence of the death of our dear niece, and your amiable Mother came to us—it was a shock unexpected, that has from joy turned us to morning—but why mourn, she is transfered from a troublesome world, to one of bliss, in the presence of her Saviour and where no wave of trouble passes over her peaceful breast—let us then cease to mourne for the dead, but for the living, and unite with the destressed husband in aiding him to perform that arduous task devolved upon him by this sudden & heavy bereavement, of taking care of the dear little ones on whom falls the heavy loss of a dear & tender Mother—peace to her manes, and consolation from above to her dear husband, & all her connection.

I am truly happy to hear that you are again restored to health, and may you & your dear Elisabeth & dear boy long enjoy this greatest of Earthly blessing—is the prayer of your affectionate friend.