political conversation I really dislike, & therefore avoid where I can without affectation. but when urged by others, I have never concieved that having been in public life requires me to bely my sentiments, nor even to conceal them. when I am led by conversation to express them, I do it with...

Dinsmore & Johnny prepared & put up the oval arch in do (8. feet wide in 12. days.

Dinsmore alone made & put up the semicircular arch of the Cabinet (wide) in 10. days.

I now employ a dozen little boys from 10. to 16. years of age, overlooking all the details of their business myself and drawing from it a profit on which I can get along till I can put my farms into a course of yeilding profit. my new trade of nail-making is to me in this country what an...

being myself a warm zealot for the attainment & enjoiment by all mankind of as much liberty as each may exercise without injury to the equal liberty of his fellow citizens, I have lamented that in France the endeavors to obtain this should have been attended with the effusion of so much blood.

I am then to be liberated from the hated occupations of politics, & to sink into the bosom of my family, my farm & my books. I have my house to build, my feilds to farm, and to watch for the happiness of those who labor for mine.

I know no country where ... public esteem is so attached to worth, regardless of wealth.

Mrs Pine set off this morning to England I staid with her till a day or two before she went and am now with papa and hope to be for some time I expect to go then to mrs Brodeau. I have heard that she is a very agreeable woman and that all her scholars are very fond of her Papa intends to go to...

I must again write to you my Dear Sister tho’ a painful doubt has sometimes arrisen, whether, or not, it is agreeable to you; & as much as I have endeavor endeavour’d to find reasons for your silence I can imagine none that could for so long a time, have occasion’d it. I was sorry to hear...

I am going up to Richmond tomorrow with my children to be inoculated. I shall take lodgings somewhere and stay with them myself till they are safe through as Mrs Randolph cannot be with them on account of the age of the youngest, being just about teething. If Mrs Watkins & yourself will...