we must use a good deal of economy in our wood, never cutting down new, where we can make the old do.

the grounds which I destine to improve in the style of the English gardens…compose the Northern quadrant of a mountain for about 2/3 of it’s height, & then spread for the upper third over it’s whole crown. they contain about 300. acres, washed at the foot, for about a mile, by a river of the...

the floor should be painted the instant you have it ready, and all other work should give way to the getting that ready

This is merely to...

besides the attention to my farms I am uncovering & repairing my house, which during my absence had gone much to decay. I make some alterations in it with a greater eye to convenience than I had when younger.

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...

I never before knew the full value of trees. my house is entirely embosomed in high plane trees, with good grass below, & under them I breakfast, dine, write, read & receive my company. what would I not give that the trees planted nearest round the house at Monticello were full grown.

I am as happy no where else & in no other society, & all my wishes end, where I hope my days will end, at Monticello. too many scenes of happiness mingle themselves with all the recollections of my native woods & feilds, to suffer them to be supplanted in my affection by any other.

I am savage enough to prefer the woods, the wilds, & the independance of Monticello, to all the brilliant pleasures of this gay capital. ... for tho’ there is less wealth there, there is more freedom, more ease & less misery.

the frize to be ornamented with human figures as in Palladio B. 4. pl. 13.14.15.