1To Thomas Jefferson from John Wayles Eppes, 22 May 1786 (Jefferson Papers)
The difficulty which I allways feel in begining a correspondence has hitherto debared me from the satisfaction of writing to you but I am determined to remain silent no longer, as I am certain that you will pardon all deficiencies which I may be guilty of. It would indeed be almost useless to write unless I had something to mention [in p]articular besides enquireing after your health, of which...
2From Thomas Jefferson to John Wayles Eppes, 28 July 1787 (Jefferson Papers)
The letter which you were so kind as to write to me the 22d. of May 1786. was not delivered to me till the 3d. of May 1787. when it found me in the neighborhood of Marseilles. Before that time you must have taken your degree as mentioned in your letter. Those public testimonies which are earned by merit and not by sollicitation may always be accepted without the imputation of vanity. Of this...
3From Thomas Jefferson to John Wayles Eppes, 14 April 1793 (Jefferson Papers)
Your departure hence is so recent that nothing has occurred worth communicating to you. The object of the present letter is merely to inclose to you an account presented me by Peter Gordon the shoemaker, who supposed you had forgotten him. As I know that there is sometimes a forgetfulness on the side of the Creditor, I told him I would pay the account if you should admit it to be just. You...
4To Thomas Jefferson from John Wayles Eppes, 1 May 1793 (Jefferson Papers)
I received two days ago your favor of the 14th. of April, and although I am apprehensive I have already trespassed too far on your goodness, must accept of the offer you have been kind enough to make of discharging Gordons account. Forgetfulness on the part of the Creditor is but too general, and the present instance of negligence may afford you just grounds for supposing, I am not altogether...
5From Thomas Jefferson to John Wayles Eppes, 12 May 1793 (Jefferson Papers)
I have just received from Donald & Burton the invoice of your books . Thinking you would be impatient to hear something of them, I inclose you the invoice . They have been shipped from Dublin on board the Young eagle, Elias Lord. The four last in the invoice came here under the care of Mr. Marshal, who told me he would have them delivered to me as soon as they could be come at in the ship....
6From Thomas Jefferson to John Wayles Eppes, 3 September 1795 (Jefferson Papers)
I find on recurring to the papers that the name of the person for whose tobacco I am charged was Thomas Cobbs . The year does not appear: but it must have been 1785. or 1786. Nor does the warehouse appear.—Mr. Giles joined us, the day after you left us, and after a stay of a week or 10 days he went on to the springs, from whence he will return with Mr. Randolph. A letter from Mr. Randolph 2...
7To Thomas Jefferson from John Wayles Eppes, 25 September 1796 (Jefferson Papers)
To avoid the difficulties, which must ever attend personal applications, on subjects important and delicate, I have adopted the present mode of addressing you. A stranger to forms, and following the impulse of my feelings, I have ventured to indulge, and express, sentiments, for a part of your family, which ought perhaps, to have received your previous sanction. Could I hope, that should time...
8To Thomas Jefferson from John Wayles Eppes, 19 December 1796 (Jefferson Papers)
I have it now in my power to inform you that all obstacles to my happiness are removed, and that in every arrangement as to future residence, I shall be guided by yourself and Maria. I am with sincere regard yours RC ( MHi ); addressed: “Thomas Jefferson Esqr.”; endorsed by TJ as received 19 Dec. 1796 and so recorded in SJL .
9To Thomas Jefferson from John Wayles Eppes, [17 November 1797] (Jefferson Papers)
The badness of the roads prevented our reaching Millers last Evening. We arrived here at an early hour after being overset once without receiving the smallest injury. The Carriage went down so gradually that the glass windows which were up received no injury. Marias foot improves with traveling. She walked last evening conveniently without her stick. She is well this morning in good spirits...
10From Thomas Jefferson to John Wayles Eppes, 21 December 1797 (Jefferson Papers)
Presuming that you get the newspapers I shall not repeat the public news which they detail. The great victory obtained by the English over the Dutch fleet is placed beyond doubt, they have taken 9 out of 16. As to the proceedings of Congress, they have passed a bill putting off the commencement of the Stamp act till July next. The land tax will not be taken up this session. It is suspected...
11From Thomas Jefferson to John Wayles Eppes, 18 February 179[8] (Jefferson Papers)
I wrote you last on the 1st. inst. and three days ago recieved Maria’s of the same date. we have intelligence which seems to be authentic that the Spaniards have delivered up the posts on the Missisipi. this is the more welcome, as the commencement of war in that quarter seemed more imminent than it is with France. we are certainly more indebted for avoiding it to the good sense & moderation...
12From Thomas Jefferson to John Wayles Eppes, 11 April 1798 (Jefferson Papers)
My last letter from Maria was of Mar. 20. & from yourself of Feb. 8 . the dates of my latest to Maria were of Apr. 1. Mar. 7. and to yourself of Feb. 18. you have seen in the papers the resolutions proposed by mr Sprigg, the first of which was that under existing circumstances it is not expedient to resort to war with France. it is very uncertain how this would have been decided. but the...
13From Thomas Jefferson to John Wayles Eppes, 6 May 1798 (Jefferson Papers)
I wrote you last on the 11th. of April, & the day after recieved yours of Apr. 4 . I inclosed you at the same time the communications just then recieved from our envoys. others are lately recieved, but, as far as made known to us, they contain only a long memorial given in by them, justifying all our complaints , and repelling those of France. it takes up the subject from the time of Genet’s...
14To Thomas Jefferson from John Wayles Eppes, 24 November 1798 (Jefferson Papers)
I have just time by my Father who is setting out for Richmond to acknowledge the reciept of your letter and to return Marias thanks and my own for the arrangement you have made with my Sister—The bustle of a wedding and a large company have prevented our writing for some weeks—For the future I may venture to promise we shall not neglect our friends. Maria has been very well since leaving...
15To Thomas Jefferson from John Wayles Eppes, 20 January 1799 (Jefferson Papers)
On my return here from Bermuda-Hundred I found your last letter & as an opportunity to Petersburg offers I inclose two plats one of the Lands lying immediately at the Hundred and the other of My part of Martins Swamp. My Father has always estimated the 2 pieces at £6000—So anxious am I however to purchase higher up the Country that I would willingly make a sacrifice—You are as well acquainted...
16From Thomas Jefferson to John Wayles Eppes, 21 January 1799 (Jefferson Papers)
I wrote to my dear Maria on the 1st. inst. and covered it in one to yourself on the 3d . I have not yet recieved any letters either from you or Monticello since I left home, now five weeks.—you will have seen the debates on Logan’s law, as it is called. the forged paper they endeavored to palm on the H. of R. as if written & presented by Logan to the French directory, being made appear to have...
17To Thomas Jefferson from John Wayles Eppes, 24 January 1799 (Jefferson Papers)
In my letter on the subject of Bermuda Hundred I neglected to say any thing in answer to that part of yours which relates to rent and Tenants. In this part of Virginia we are so little in the habit of leasing that it would be difficult to say what any Lands would rent for. Mine are well situated for that purpose and might be conveniently divided into four farms of 100. acres—each of which...
18From Thomas Jefferson to John Wayles Eppes, 7 February 1799 (Jefferson Papers)
Yours of Jan. 20. & 24. are duly recieved. in the former you mention the reciept of £40. for me, and Maria’s of the next day says that mr Eppes expected to recieve £30. more for me at the ensuing Cumberland court. not having heard from mr Randolph on the subject of the hire of your negroes, I was in the moment of recieving your letter, just about to inclose you a draught on George Jefferson...
19From Thomas Jefferson to John Wayles Eppes, 7 June 1799 (Jefferson Papers)
We have for some time past had as little communication almost as if we did not know how to write. mr Randolph’s journies have given us mutual information of the welfare of both families & of course has lessened the occasion for writing. your prospect of a crop here has been as good as could be, independant of the seasons. but there has been through the whole of this part of the country an...
20From Thomas Jefferson to John Wayles Eppes, 4 July 1799 (Jefferson Papers)
I recieved yesterday a letter from Doctr. Taylor informing me he had paid very nearly the whole sum he owed me to mr Hanson, whose certificate was in the hands of French on it’s way to me. as soon as I recieve this certificate I shall not hesitate to redeliver to him the patents of the mortgaged lands in Greenbriar &c. be so good therefore as to leave them with mr Eppes, praying him barely to...
21From Thomas Jefferson to John Wayles Eppes, 21 December 1799 (Jefferson Papers)
Your favor from the Hundred came to hand the [day before] yesterday. I have been detained here a week by bad weather. [this morn]ing mr Nicholas & myself breakfasted at Sun-rise to set out: but heavy snow is now come on. we shall start as soon as it holds up. our election was yesterday. Woods carried it against P. Carr by 247. against 122 votes. those of your people who were unwell when you...
22To Thomas Jefferson from John Wayles Eppes, 1 January 1800 (Jefferson Papers)
Since my note to you from the wharf at the Hundred I have been in daily expectation of having it in my power to make you a sharer in a species of happiness from which my Mary and myself have heretofore been debarred. Fortune has at length crowned our wishes & made us happy in the birth of a daughter —It was born last Evening and tho’ very small has every appearance of good health—Maria has...
23From Thomas Jefferson to John Wayles Eppes, 22 January [1800] (Jefferson Papers)
Your favor of Jan. 1. came to me on the 18th. that of the 12th. was recieved yesterday . the one you mention from the Hundred has never been recieved. none of these acknolege the receipt of mine of Dec. 21. the day I left Monticello. on the 30th. of Dec. I inclosed you some pamphlets, not writing as you know I mentioned my design of writing little for a year to come. on the 17th. inst. I wrote...
24To Thomas Jefferson from John Wayles Eppes, 7 February 1800 (Jefferson Papers)
My poor Mary still continues to suffer much from her right breast—It has broke in four or five different places & is still much inflamed. Her fever had left her entirely until yesterday: it returned then in consequence of new rising & inflamation—We expect Doctr. Turpin here again this evening & I hope a few days more will put an end to the cruel pain she has for some time suffered— With...
25To Thomas Jefferson from John Wayles Eppes, 16 February 1800 (Jefferson Papers)
Maria continues I think to mend slowly; The inflamation in the part of her breast already broke has gone off—She will I hope escape one of the places we apprehended would break when I wrote last—The other however will most certainly break and we are now forwarding it with hot poultices—She has not left her room yet, but has got clear of the bed to which she was confined for eight or ten days...
26To Thomas Jefferson from John Wayles Eppes, 20 February 1800 (Jefferson Papers)
We have been favoured within a few days past with a visit from Patsy and Mr. Randolph which has revived a little the drooping spirits of my poor Mary. The sores on her breasts have proved most obstinate & successive and continual risings appear almost daily to check the hopes I form of seeing her once more free from pain—Two new places of which we had no apprehension have pointed (since my...
27From Thomas Jefferson to John Wayles Eppes, 8 March 1800 (Jefferson Papers)
My last was to Maria of the 12th. of Feb. I have been discouraged from writing under the apprehension that my letters did not get to you. I therefore inclosed that to mr Jefferson. since this I have recieved yours of Feb. 7. 10. 16. & 20. by which I have had acknolege ments of the receipt of all mine except of Dec. 21. & my last of Feb. 12. this I shall hear of in due time. the former was sent...
28To Thomas Jefferson from John Wayles Eppes, 16 March 1800 (Jefferson Papers)
My poor Mary is still confined—She is well enough to pass to an adjoining room but has not yet ventured down stairs. The sores on her breast have proved most obstinate & will not I fear be easily healed without the aid of the knife to which she feels as is natural a great repugnance— I left her for one day on business to Richmond and learnt from George Jefferson his having forwarded a letter...
29From Thomas Jefferson to John Wayles Eppes, 21 April 1800 (Jefferson Papers)
In a letter to Maria, of the 6th. inst. I acknoleged the receipt of yours of Mar. 16. & 24. finding that Patsy has got home, I am in hopes that the expectations expressed in that of the 24th. that Maria would be well in a few days, have been realised; & that this long & painful scene for us all will be closed with a return of health. the two houses have at length agreed to adjourn on the 2d....
30To Thomas Jefferson from John Wayles Eppes, 22 April 1800 (Jefferson Papers)
Your letter of the 4th. to Maria reached us at this place on the 15th. instant—We are at length fixed here and look forward with much pleasure to the second week in May—Marias health is completely reestablished & with it her spirits—You would not at present judge from her appearance that she had been otherwise than well as she has not I am certain appeared more blooming for two years...