Jefferson Quotes & Family Letters

Your favor of the 19th came to hand last even accompany’d by one from Mrs Higginbotham another from Mrs Claibourne and one from Mrs Minor and William Gilmer brought me one from Virginia dated 12 Octo and one from Cornelia of the 17th the receipt of so many letters at one time gave me pleasure particularly the one that¹ mentions your dear Mothers recovery poor soul she has her cares and anxieties her dear little Marys Illness must have occasion’d her great unhappiness God grant that she may be spared to requite her for all her care and attention, it is some satisfaction that I hear no complaint of the rest of the family if my letters get safe to the fourche in which I mentiond yours and your Brother intention of taking advantage of the Inland Navagation her fears for your safty by a sea voyage will be quieted that of the 2d Sept I believe I mention’d your having it in contemplation to go down the Ohio I wrote also on the 15th of this month but I presume you have written on the subject your plans, I am thankful that ye have been so fortunate as to have escaped the dreadful Storms that have visited the Bay of St Louis and along that coast I shou’d have been very miserable if you had embark’d so as to have had that to encounter, I think the visitations of Heaven have bourn hard upon us and in short the whole world seems to be in a miserable State of comotion and distress. the papers mention that General Jackson has gone to Nashville and that he will no longer preside over the Goverment of Pensacola I am truly sorry that he has been guilty of any impropriety in his conduct to Calava not authorised by the laws of Nations he is better calculated for a Military commander than a Civil one I suppose if he resigns that matters will be adjusted without coming to blows with the Spanish Goverment The paper also mentions that according to all the Statements that have come to hand they have not made more than half a crop in Louisiana I hope Mr Tournillon is an exception to what has been general or I fear the Money he has had to advance for Your self and Brother has bourne hard upon him, you seem to think I give way to a depression of Spirits, believe me My Dear Nicholas I endeavour to suppress all feelings that interrupt my happiness but age and infirmities will operate on minds Stronger than mine ever was and a retrospection of the misfortunes I have experenced when my health is not good will obtrude on my memory I cant expect to live much longer and if my days are prolonged beyond my expectations I have not much in prospect to make me happy the Idea of being burthensome to my friends is not a pleasing one I have no Right to look for support from any one unless it be your Self and Brother tho Mary Gilmer may owe me some obligation, her husband owes me none he has debts hanging over him and a family to support and educate tho he treats me with affection and kindness that I consider my self as increasing his burthens, but I ought not to be unhappy nor am I, except occasionally when indisposition operates to promote disquietude, I have no right to look for what can never fall to the lot of any one to possess in this world and [that?] is uninterrupted happiness, I have much to be thankful for the kindness and remembrance of those who I have no claim upon; the attention I receive is more than I merit but obligation is some times painful especially when there is no chance of repaying it your happiness and that of my Dear Browse will always add to mine but a pang will cease my heart at the thought of your or his residence in that Country that has been so fatal to my repose

I need not assure you what I feel, when I hear of my Dear Mrs Randolphs indisposition every member of that family are dear to me, Your Cousin Mary was surprised when I read that Part of your letter wherin you reply’d to my reproof when speaking of Francis Gilmer on your calling him Frank She did not think it worth while for me to notise it that she did not suppose that Peachey wou’d have observed it I told her that I did not think your intimacy was so great as to justify Your being so familiar especially as he was always calld Francis in my hearing, and unless a great intimacy subsisted it was I thought treating him rather too freely to call him Frank and your doing it, hurt my feelings

I am sorry that Mrs Randolph has not the aid of her favorite Physisian as she has a great opinion of his medical Abilities but I woud as soon have Doct Gilmer to administer to me as any of them I am sorry to hear that the fever has made its appearence at Monticello God grant that it may not, reach the family, present my love to them all I shall write soon to Cornelia and Virginia and I hope to hear from my Dear Browse as soon as he can find time I wish to know if you settled my account at the Milton Post Office and if you [paid]² Molly Barret or Betty Farley 2 Dollars for the pillow let me know when Francis and Elizabeth are to be United I received your letter that Francis forwarded, I thought that I [. . .] acknowledged it your Cousin Peachey is expected from Lynchburg to night William came to pay his monthly visit last evening your Cousin Mary desires a great deel of love to you and all the family unite, I have little opportunity of writing in the midst of noise and tumult George has been sick and Harmer complains but hope neither will be long indisposd the rest of the family are as well as usual Remember me to all my friends and let me beg of you to take leave at Farmington and Ridgeway before you leave Virgini and I shou’d be glad if you both wou’d pay Mrs Higginbotham a visit her kindness and³ attention to me deserve your attention to her May God bless you