Jefferson Quotes & Family Letters

My dear Jane

Jan 10th 1819

What a painful Winter this has been to you; It was too much, to be tortur’d with the tooth-Ach, in addition to the Measles, however, I consider you were fortunate in the Children not being ill at the same time with you, or and Dolly; I feel very grateful to old [. . .] Cilla, for her kind attention to you. And I hope you will give her my thanks in your kindest manner, I flatter me myself that in all this bad weather, you have been very careful both of yourself, and our dear little Mag. I expect that your next letter will anounce that poor Patt, and little Mary are laid up, at least I hope so, as I have no doubt but they would have it very favorably. Pray has Miss Ellen escaped it.

How goes on your house at Tuffton? have you any prospect of getting in next Month? I have been curious to know, What your Husband, has done with Edwin? had he firmness enough, to sell him in Baltimore to a Negro-trader? if he did, what price did he get? Or has he brought him home again?

Whilst you have been suffering in sickness; your Sisters, have been enjoying themselves with one agreeable party after another. There have been some very agreeable Beaux in Town, which you know, always gives an additional zest to a party. Amongst the Number Was Doct Bronaugh whom you know, has been so celabrated. The girls were in raptures with him. they found him quite the polish’d Gentleman, his Manners, mild, and very preposessing, and one of the handsomest men they ever saw. He din’d several times (I am told) in company with John Coles, and John, became quite affable with him. There is another distinguished [. . .] favorite amongst the ladies, a Mr Ringold from Maryland, Aid to Gen Scott, he is very remarkable for his Beauty altho it is of the femanine order, he is quite a Dandy in his dress. laces as tight, as any lady. But with all, he takes with the Lad[ies] prodigiously. You may wish to know too who, are the Belles? from what I can understand Sarah, is thought the greatest Beauty, But Julia Wickham, decidedly the greatest Belle. But I dare say that Sarah has given you all this news, As we write twice a Week, you must expect to hear the same things repeated. If you wish to hear who is the happiest girl, in Town, I will inform you it is my dear good, Margaret: She enjoys every thing she sees, is beloved by all her acquaintance, and meets with great attention where ever she goes. [. . .] but you will be surprised to hear that she has given up dancing. Margaret would have had no scruple in asking Capt Peyton for the Money if she wanted it, but as yet we have been very flush, and she has not thought of it. My reason for mentioning it, was merely to know whether you would choose that the value of the Blankets, should be applied in this way or if you would prefer having the Blankets.

I mention’d to you in my last, that it was suppos’d that there was a quarrel at BellVille, But it has since been ascertaind that Gen Scotts motive for going to housekeeping, was merely that he might have as entertain as much company as he thought his station required, And as I suppose would have been deemed improper to be entertain’d at BellVille so soon after the death of the Coln, A strong evidence that their has been no quarrel, is, that they have left thier Child, with the old Lady. Mrs Mayo, and Julia JuliAnn, live very retired, and indeed Mrs Scott has not appear’d at any Party. They say that Edward, lives in Town, for the Convenience of attending the Legislature of which he is an honorable Member. Yours with