a nailery which I have established with my own negro boys now provides completely for the maintenance of my family, as we make from 8. to 10,000 nails a day

I, like other people, am so much the dupe of the fondness for the natale solum as to believe seriously there is no quarter of the globe so desireable as America, no state in america so desireable as Virginia, no county in Virginia equal to Albemarle & no spot in Albemarle to compare to...

Jefferson went off Yesterday, and a good riddance of bad ware. I hope his Temper will be more cool and his Principles more reasonable in Retirement than they have been in office. I am almost tempted...

when earth is rich it bids defiance to droughts, yeilds in abundance & of the best quality.

on the whole I find nothing any where else in point of climate which Virginia need envy to any part of the world. here they are locked up in ice and snow for six months. Spring and autumn, which make a paradise of our country, are rigorous winter with them, and a Tropical summer breaks on them...

Je vous en envoye 4 Caisses de 25 Bouteilles chacunne à raison de 50 S. la bouteille, elles sont en verre de france, et une 5e Caisse de 25 Bouteilles de 1786 en verre Englais, à raison de 3 [livre tournois] la bouteille. EDITORS’ TRANSLATION I am sending you 4 cases of 25 bottles each for 50 S...

I have wrought an entire reformation on the rest of my household nothing comes in or goes out without my knowledge and I believe there is as little waste as possible

interesting occupations are essential to happiness: indeed the whole art of being happy consists in the art of finding emploiment.

music, drawing, books, invention & exercise will be so many resources to you against ennui.

Books may be classed from the Faculties of the mind