Jefferson Quotes & Family Letters

Georgetown 6th April 1810

After a long silence for which I am ashamed, I have to Apologize to you for such neglectful behaviour, I again [went?] down to enquire after the health and happiness of my Dear [Au]nt, as such an opportunity offers which I readily embrace, & hope you will forget past negligence, If I promise, always [to?] write you In future, which I shall try strictly to perform—[. . .]Brother William sails from here soon for Philadelphia, [an]d I hope he will have the pleasure of seeing you upon [his?] arrival, and handing you this, I have now to Inform [[. . .] t]he pleasing Intelligence of his having entirely given up [th]e Idea of a seafaring life, which to us, and no doubt to you My Dear Aunt, will afford much satisfaction and save us a great deal of uneasiness, for we could never have enjoyed so much pleasure and been contented, when the Idea of his danger would come across our minds, exposed to so many hardships tossed on the tempestuous ocean, and liable to be shipwrecked by every storm which might happen, and perhaps by seing [. . .] many bad practises and examples, might fall into that [dis]sipation and wickedness, which I am sorry to say too many [of t]hat profession abandon themselves to, but how pleasing [wi]ll be the contrast, when fixed in situation to his liking, [. . .] surrounded by his friends,—For he has now determined [o]n being a Mechanic, and as Uncle Isaac thinks Phila[delp]hia as the Most suitable place for him he has resolved [o]n sending him there, and selected the Coachmakers trade [t]he one likely to be the most advantageous to him and as it meets his approbation, he is going as I before mentioned and has taken his passage on board the Brig Virginia Captain Lomax now lying in this port and bound for Philadelphia and who I beleive will sail to morrow if nothing happen[s] to detain him.—William is much pleased with the Inte[. . .] jaunt and thoughts of seing you and beholding such a fine City, and I hope when there he will behave so as to gain your estee[m] and all his friends there which I beleive will be a great ple[asure] and of service to him and prove a source of much satisfa[ction] to us—It will be a strange place to him and I am sure [he?] will sensibly miss home, but I am sure my Dear Aunt wi[ll] treat him with affection, which will greatly compen[sate?] for his separation and contribute much towards mak[ing] him spend his time more cheerfully during his first residence there. he enjoys by the Goodness of God an ex[ce]llent share of health and good constitution [. . .] and has I beleive an affectionate though wild disposition which no doubt will wear of when he gets to his trade. I hope he will meet with a good Master, as Uncle has recommended himto one of his Friends there Saml Allen Esqr who no doubt will try to e[. . .] that desirable purpose and it would give me great pl[ea]sure to hear of his being settled in a situation to his likin[g]

I am much distrest to hear how Mr Brown has behave[d] owing no doubt to the force of temptation, for as we no[w] perceive he could not withstand the Dazzling prospe[ct] which placed it self in his way, hurried on by the force of [his?] passions which he could not resist, he like a great many [. . .] weak minds men he perhaps on only thought of acquiring riches by che[. . .] the public, not so much to hurt them as to enrich himself without considering the Infamy attached to such an action [w]hich we now fatally experience is the result, for he has [ru]ined his fortune (here) his fair fame and Integrity. destroyed [pe]rhaps his own peace of mind, deserted his family and [re]ndered his name Infamous, and all for what, this for the [sa]ke of quickly acquiring a few thousands (which as you [know?] he might have soon honorably earned) and which now [. . .] may never enjoy, but such my Dear Aunt we often witness [in t]he fatal consequences to those, who let their passions get [th]e command of their reason, perhaps in any other situation he might have continued to be an honor and happiness to himself and friends. I know how sensibly you must feel it then to have your hopes upon which perhaps you had contemplated so many future days of happiness and pleasure destroyed in a moment [pr]oduces a sensation too painful to be described [bu]t my Dear Aunt we must expect deprivations and losses [in] this World for we cant hope for compleat felicity here—

I have now the Happiness of being with my Dear Sister [whi]ch will be some compensation for parting with Willm [. . .] as I know it is for his good I cheerfully submit to this [depr]ivation, and more so when I know he will some times [hav]e the pleasure of seeing you. Do write me soon and [in]form how he comes on and is situated—

[I h]ave nothing to write about now only to inform you of my [b]eing permanently settled with Uncle, and am very much pleased with my situation as I am treated very kind by all the family. Give my best respects to all my relations, for though I am a stranger to them they sometimes enquire af[ter] my welfare no doubt. And receive the same from your affectiona[te [. . .]] Nephew