I received Your last some weeks before I left Monticello, but I believe you are so much accustomed to my bad ways that you do not require a fresh apology for every letter—I have in vain tried to be punctual, but bad habits are not so easily conquered, particularly when the causes which first gave...

When your last letter arrived I was confined by a severe illness which has prostrated my small stock of strength and denied me the power of replying to it earlier—I have a perfect recollection of the letters from Mr Hamilton which you sent for my perusal and which were returned to you—I was much...

I have received two letters from you dear Sister since I wrote last and although very closely employed yet the art of arranging my business so as to leave me most time, I never possessed and fear never shall, hence a great loss of that most precious comodity, and consequent neglect of many duties...

You will hardly be more surprised at the date of this letter than I am my self, so firmly resolved was I not to come, under existing circumstances. but Mr R—. thought there were reasons for it even stronger than mine . like another Themistocles he over powerd them and brought me down sorely...

I have been long owing you a letter dear Sister but the state of my family has been such this winter that I have not had a moment to do any thing that I wished, and as for writing I believe I have not written three letters since I left Albemarle although two marriages have taken place in the...

It is a long time dear Sister since a letter passed between us, at whose door the ommission lies I do not know, but certain I am no blame should attach to either, for there never can exist any feelings between us deserving so harsh a feeling. My health which has been very miserable this spring...

I had been for some time intending to write to you dear Sister when I received your letter. I sympathise deeply and sincerely with you in your late sufferings, but we have both arrived at the winter season of life, with all it’s infirmities, so greatly encreased by the absence of warm weather,...

I have long been intending to write dear Sister but have been so closely employed as to leave me not a moment. I sincerely regretted seeing so little of you, but Mr Coolidge’s short stay and approaching absence with the task he had so much at heart that I should break up house keeping and live...

I believe My dear Sister that there was some thing like a tacit agreement between us that you should take me as men do their wives for better for worse, though as a correspondant I am afraid the “better is still to come.” I have been I think rather worse than common this summer. in the early part...

The mournful subject of this letter dear Nancy will excuse the delay in answering your last. I have had the affliction of again losing one of my dear and excellent children. my poor James who no doubt you remember, whose quiet gentle manly manners you remarked as a boy and whose manhood fulfilled...