101From Thomas Jefferson to John Wayles Eppes, 20 September 1808 (Jefferson Papers)
Your letter of the 5th. mentioning that you should be at Eppington till the 14th. & then proceed to Cumberland did not get here till the 15th. it had either been put into the post-office at Richmond after the mail hour, or loitered there a week. I thank you for your attention to the purchase of a horse. I now send for him, & the bearer goes first to Cumberland, & if yourself or the horse...
102To Thomas Jefferson from John Wayles Eppes, 21 September 1808 (Jefferson Papers)
In my letter of the 6th. from Richmond I mentioned having purchased a horse for you—& that I could send him up without the least inconvenience provided you could trust Martin—Not hearing from you & knowing that the period at which you generally return to Washington has almost arrived I have determined to risque Sending him—You will find him a fine carriage horse—he is not fit for the Saddle as...
103John Wayles Eppes to Thomas Jefferson, 10 July 1809 (Jefferson Papers)
I had written to you by Jefferson who travelled on with us as far as Dumfries , but his going off in the stage before I was up, in the morning prevented my giving him the letter—I should long before receiving your letter have written to you had I followed only the impulse of my feelings—I had however postponed from time to time announcing to you the change in my situation, until your friendly...
104Thomas Jefferson to John Wayles Eppes, 24 July 1809 (Jefferson Papers)
I recieved some time ago a summons from Commissioner Ladd to attend a settlement in the case of m r Wayles & mr Skelton ’s accounts on the 1 st of Aug. I expressed to him, in answer, my extreme anxiety to have that settlement made, & that I would attend any meeting which promised to be effectual; that I doubted whether in the sickly season an effectual meeting could be had at Richmond , &...
105Thomas Jefferson to John Wayles Eppes, 8 December 1809 (Jefferson Papers)
I should sooner have informed you of Francis’s safe arrival here but that the trip you meditated to N. Carolina rendered it entirely uncertain where a letter would find you. nor had I any expectation you could have been at the first meeting of Congress till I saw your name in the papers brought by our last post. disappointed in sending this by the return of the post, I avail myself of General...
106John Wayles Eppes to Thomas Jefferson, 10 December 1809 (Jefferson Papers)
I have been looking with great anxiety for some time for a letter from you—My own situation has been such that I have not had a moment to devote to any purpose— You left me almost on the bed of sickness— So soon as I was able to perform the journey I went with M rs Eppes to Carolina and my Journey was so long delayed that I did not return to Eppington until the 20 th of November — On the 21 st my
107Thomas Jefferson to John Wayles Eppes, 25 December 1809 (Jefferson Papers)
Our letters crossing each other on the road have anticipated the grounds of mutual excuse for their being the first which were written. my occupations are now almost entirely without doors, in the farms the garden, the shops E t c. I shut up my room on going to breakfast & scarcely enter it again but to dress for dinner, after which I read little, & never write. this of course withdraws me...
108John Wayles Eppes to Thomas Jefferson, 10 January 1810 (Jefferson Papers)
I enclose under cover to you a note for my little boy —I am delighted to hear that he gives you so little trouble—If you can prevail on him to write to me often so that I may know he is well I will not impose on you the sacrifice of time which appears to be so completely filled up with occupations, so much more interesting than the sedentary life to which you have been for so many years,...
109Thomas Jefferson to John Wayles Eppes, 17 January 1810 (Jefferson Papers)
Your’s of the 10 th came safely to hand, and I now inclose you a letter from Francis . he continues in excellent health, and employs his time well. he has written to his Mama & grandmama . I observe that the H. of R. are sensible of the ill effect of the long speeches in their house on their proceedings. but they have a worse effect in the disgust they excite among the people, and the...
110John Wayles Eppes to Thomas Jefferson, 21 January 1810 (Jefferson Papers)
I enclose to you a letter from Colo: Bently of Virginia —You will find among your papers another letter from him previous to your leaving the city of Washington last spring—You mentioned I think when I presented the former letter to you, “that the papers by which the release must be drawn were at Monticello —that you would execute it and forward it to Colo: Bently ” — His post office is...
111Thomas Jefferson to John Wayles Eppes, 26 January 1810 (Jefferson Papers)
Your letter of the 21 st brought to my mind Col o Bentley’s business. I immediately examined the papers, & calculated the balance due, a small one, and wrote to mr James Pleasants a statement of the account, authorising him on paiment of the balance to Gibson & Jefferson in Richmond , to convey the lands to Col o Bentley discharged of all further claims on my part. Francis
112John Wayles Eppes to Thomas Jefferson, 2 April 1810 (Jefferson Papers)
Since M r Carr left us I have been confined at least two thirds of my time—I am at present confined to my room— During the whole winter I have been subject to relapses more or less violent and life at times has been felt almost as a burthen of which I would be willing on any terms to be released—My complaint has in every attack been confined to the same knee—which was for the first time...
113Thomas Jefferson to John Wayles Eppes, 21 April 1810 (Jefferson Papers)
I found here your letter of the 2 d on my return from a three weeks visit to Bedford : and as I see by a resolution of Congress that they are to adjourn on the 23 d I shall direct the present to Eppington where it may meet you on your passage to Carolina . mr Thweatt is to let me know when I am to set out for
114Archibald Thweatt, with postscript by John Wayles Eppes to Thomas Jefferson, 7 May 1810 (Jefferson Papers)
I did hope to have had your business ready before this.—I was to have attended Mr Ladd on the 29 th until and remained until the report was finished and ready for your revision—as it was your wish not to be delayed in Richmond — Unfortunately I was seized by a violent attack of the Rheumatism in my right hip; which has confined me to my bed.—altho’ in perfect health in all other respects, I...
115Thomas Jefferson to John Wayles Eppes, 10 May 1810 (Jefferson Papers)
M r Thweatt’s letter with your P.S. came to hand late last night, and I shall dispatch Francis tomorrow morning in the care of one of the most trusty servants I have. it will take to-day to have Francis’s affairs ready for the road, & he will be obliged to make but two days of the journey to arrive at Eppington on the eve of your departure for Carolina . considering the shortness of the time...
116Thomas Jefferson to John Wayles Eppes, 16 July 1810 (Jefferson Papers)
I recieved in May last the inclosed letter from mr Thomas Wilson agent for Speirs & co. with two other papers the copy of which is now inclosed, the originals being returned to him at his request. I wrote in answer that your father had solely gone through the administration of mr Wayles’s estate, or had left so little to do that I expected you would do that, as the papers were in your hands,...
117John Wayles Eppes to Thomas Jefferson, 1 November 1810 (Jefferson Papers)
circumstances on which I shall not dwell have prevented my writing to you for some time—I have not however thought less of you and of others dear to my heart by whom you are surrounded. I have sold out my interest in the Eppington plantation & am now occupied in fixing a permanent residence here—It is a situation superior in climate soil & prospect to the other and of various houses which I am...
118Thomas Jefferson to John Wayles Eppes and William B. Giles, 12 November 1810 (Jefferson Papers)
You have heard of the suit brought by E. Livingston against me on the subject of the Batture . this has rendered it necessary for me to make a statement of the facts for the use of my Counsel; and the justification which these offer being derived from certain systems of foreign law in force at N. Orleans , which I have had more time to enquire into than they, I have been led into a full...
119Thomas Jefferson to John Wayles Eppes, 7 December 1810 (Jefferson Papers)
Your letter of Nov. 19. desiring me to send to Haden’s for Francis on the 29 th did not get to my hands till the evening of that day Wormeley set off the next morning and I was happy to find he was in time to recieve him. he got here to breakfast the morning after he parted with you. I did not write to you by Wormley because I supposed you would have passed on. on the 12 th of Nov. I had...
120John Wayles Eppes to Thomas Jefferson, 14 December 1810 (Jefferson Papers)
Your letter from Monticello of the 7 th instant was rec e ived yesterday—The one dated the 12. of November has never reached me— M r Giles received his enclosing the statement of the case of the
121John Wayles Eppes to Thomas Jefferson, 14 December 1810 (Jefferson Papers)
Since my perusal of the batture case I have greatly regretted that you had not previous to the discussion given to some of your friends in whom you could rely such a view of that case as would have enabled them to do justice to the course pursued by you— There is another subject which will shortly be before us—The boundary of Louisiana —With this question I know you are perfectly conversant—...
122Thomas Jefferson to John Wayles Eppes, 5 January 1811 (Jefferson Papers)
Your two letters of Dec. 14. reached this place just after I had left it for Bedford . this has occasioned the delay of the answer. I now inclose you the paper you requested on the boundaries of Louisiana . it is a bad Polygraph copy; however it is legible. there is nothing secret in the paper and therefore may be freely used as you please, except that I would not have it printed, but with the...
123Thomas Jefferson to John Wayles Eppes, 10 January 1811 (Jefferson Papers)
By the post succeeding my last letter to you , I recieved one from my counsel in Livingston’s case requesting me to prepare a statement of all the facts which will be to be proved in that case to be forwarded with commissions to N. Orleans to have the depositions regularly taken. this it is not in my power to do without the aid of the statement of the case sent to mr Giles & yourself, of which...
124John Wayles Eppes to Thomas Jefferson, 21 January 1811 (Jefferson Papers)
When I received your last letter the pamphlet the return of which you requested was in the hands of M r Clay one of the gentlemen to whom you extended by a former letter the permission of reading it— I have just this moment received it in the House and have only time while a discussion on the Bank bill is progressing to put it under cover with my friendly wishes— The first section of the Bill...
125Thomas Jefferson to John Wayles Eppes, 24 January 1811 (Jefferson Papers)
The Chronological appendix to the paper I sent you on the subject of Louisiana had been retained, as I conjectured, in the Secretary of State’s office, from which I have since recieved it, & now inclose it to you. it is an indispensable companion to the other as referring to the authorities for the several facts stated in that. the subject of your closed doors is perfectly secret here. I...
126John Wayles Eppes to Thomas Jefferson, 20 March 1811 (Jefferson Papers)
My being uncertain whether you had returned from Bedford prevented my writing before I left washington — The rancour of party was revived with all its bitterness during the last Session of Congress —United by no fixed principles or objects & destitute of every thing like American feeling, so detestable a minority never existed in any country—Their whole political creed is contained in a single...
127Thomas Jefferson to John Wayles Eppes, 24 March 1811 (Jefferson Papers)
Your servant arrived here the day before yesterday, since which the weather has been showery, & is now threatening & uncertain if tomorrow is promising, Francis will set out. we part with him with more regret after every visit. while the cold weather kept him pretty much in the house, I made him do a little in the Latin grammar, merely to begin to exercise his memory. as soon as you think him...
128Thomas Jefferson to John Wayles Eppes, 30 March 1811 (Jefferson Papers)
The inclosed letter came to my hands a few days before Francis left us, & was reserved to go by him. it was however forgotten. I hope you will be my apologist with mrs Eppes and that she will pardon this omission of a declining memory, and accept the assurance of my respects. my constant affections attend on yourself. PoC ( MHi ); dateline at foot of text; endorsed by TJ. The inclosed letter...
129Thomas Jefferson to John Wayles Eppes, 6 September 1811 (Jefferson Papers)
I had before learned with great concern your affliction with the rheumatism. your remedy of the cold bath is new to me, except a single instance of the wife of an overseer of mine who uses the cold bath every day of her life, and the day she omits it, has a return of Rheumatic symptoms. I have had an attack of it myself for two months past, confined a part of the time, without fever, and...
130Thomas Jefferson to John Wayles Eppes, 29 September 1811 (Jefferson Papers)
The inclosed letter came under cover to me without any indication from what quarter it came. Our last latest arrival brings information of the death of the king of England . it’s coming from Ireland & not direct from England would make it little worthy of notice, were not the event so probable. on the 26 th of July the English papers say he was expected hourly to expire. this vessel sailed from
131Thomas Jefferson to John Wayles Eppes, 3–5 June 1812 (Jefferson Papers)
I learnt accidentally a day or two ago that you were proposing to sell Pantops , and had offered it to some persons in this neighborhood. this is done, I have no doubt, after mature consideration, and under the view that it will be most beneficial to Francis , of whose interests no one can be a more faithful depository than yourself. candor obliges me to say that an estate so closely and...
132Thomas Jefferson to John Wayles Eppes, 25 June 1812 (Jefferson Papers)
I recieved a week ago your favor of the 15 th and should sooner have answered it, but that I have been awaiting the issue of a negociation between Jefferson and his uncle T. E. Randolph for a relinquishment of his lease of Pantops . the result of this is too doubtful to detain me longer from notifying my acceptance of your offer of Pantops on the terms of your letter, that is to say, for ten...
133Thomas Jefferson to John Wayles Eppes, 18 September 1812 (Jefferson Papers)
I deferred answering your letter of July 11 because I had learnt there were several points of difference of opinion between mr T. E. Randolph and yourself as to the conditions of the lease of Pantops , & I thought it proper that these should be explained & settled between yourselves before a third party intervened. I wrote to mr Randolph accordingly, to ask his understanding of the lease that...
134Thomas Jefferson to John Wayles Eppes, 18 April 1813 (Jefferson Papers)
I have been in the less haste to answer your last letter , because it appeared from that as if the farther we proceeded in our negociation, the wider we got apart. in the early part of the letter you state justly as the only point of difference, the condition of providing the same quantity of open lands on the Tomahawk tract as there is on Pantops . the practicability of effecting this by...
135Thomas Jefferson to John Wayles Eppes, 26 April 1813 (Jefferson Papers)
We are just now packing your Commode & two presses. strange as it may seem, altho’ it required but 4. or 500 feet of plank to make the packing boxes, yet so difficult is that article here, and that I never have been able to command that quantity bef beyond my own constant & pressing wants till I got a saw mill of my own to work. this has enabled me now to pack them and my boat will be sent off...
136John Wayles Eppes to Thomas Jefferson, 25 May 1813 (Jefferson Papers)
I received in due time the letter forwarded from Floods — I regret that my letter contained any thing which could induce you to suppose me either unreasonable in my proposals or diffident of your attatchment to my child —Being incapable of expressing either directly or indirectly any sentiment calculated to wound your feelings I have no hesitation in solemnly disclaiming any expression not in...
137Thomas Jefferson to John Wayles Eppes, 24 June 1813 (Jefferson Papers)
This letter will be of Politics only. for altho’ I do not often permit myself to enter that field think on that subject, it sometimes obtrudes itself and suggests ideas which I am tempted to pursue. some of these relating to the business of finance, I will hazard to you, as being at the head of that committee , but intended for yourself individually, or such as you trust, but certainly not for...
138John Wayles Eppes to Thomas Jefferson, 21 July 1813 (Jefferson Papers)
Your letter of the 24 th of June has been received and read with great pleasure—If the war continues and with it the present rate of expenditure nothing but a rigid adherence to principles such as you state can secure us against the evils of a permanent debt— The duration of the Taxes reported to the present Session of Congress has been limited to the war and one year after its conclusion in...
139Thomas Jefferson to John Wayles Eppes, 11 September 1813 (Jefferson Papers)
I turn with great reluctance from the functions of a private citizen to matters of state. the swaggering on deck, as a passenger, is so much more pleasant than clambering the ropes as a seaman, & my confidence in the skill and activity of those employed to work the vessel is so entire, that I notice nothing, en passant, but how smoothly she moves. yet I avail myself of the leisure which a...
140John Wayles Eppes to Thomas Jefferson, 26 September 1813 (Jefferson Papers)
I met with Doct r Flood at Buckingham court house on the second monday of the present month. From him I had the pleasure of hearing you were in good health and that a letter from you to me had been put into the mail at his Fathers on that morning—The letter has not been received and I am unable to account for its failure—Even if it had gone on to Richmond it ought to have reached me on Tuesday...
141Thomas Jefferson to John Wayles Eppes, 6 November 1813 (Jefferson Papers)
I had not expected to have troubled you again on the subject of finance; but since the date of my last I have recieved from mr Law a letter covering a memorial on that subject which from it’s tenor I conjecture must have been before Congress at their two last sessions. this paper contains two propositions, the one for issuing Treasury notes bearing interest, & to be circulated as money; the...
142Thomas Jefferson to John Wayles Eppes, 16 July 1814 (Jefferson Papers)
M r Estin Randolph has shewed me a letter from you, proposing to sell him Pantops , o i n order to lay out the money in lands in your neighborhood for Francis . I had hoped that we had concurred in our purposes on that subject, altho’ we did not in the immediate execution of them. my view & wish was when Francis should come of age, or the Pantops lease expire, or whenever else you pleased, to...
143John Wayles Eppes to Thomas Jefferson, 7 September 1814 (Jefferson Papers)
Having occasion to send to Milton I have directed the servant to call and enquire after your health and that of the family— We are all in a bustle here since the destruction of the public buildings at Washington . The feeble resistance made and the total want of any thing like an efficient force even of militia notwithstanding the Government had timely notice, is a subject of triumph to the...
144Thomas Jefferson to John Wayles Eppes, 9 September 1814 (Jefferson Papers)
I am sorry to learn by Francis’s letter that your you are not yet recovered from your rheumatism, and much wonder you do not go and pass a summer at the Warm springs . from the examples I have seen I should entertain no doubt of a radical cure. the transactions at Washington and Alexandria are indeed beyond expectation. the circumjacent country is mostly disaffected, but I should have thought...
145Thomas Jefferson to John Wayles Eppes, 1 June 1815 (Jefferson Papers)
For want of time to consult you on it, I have taken a measure of great responsibility on my self as to Francis , for your pardon for which I must rely on the motives, and what I hope will be the effect of it. French is become the most indispensable part of modern education. it is the only language in which a man of any country can be understood out of his own; and is now the preeminent...
146John Wayles Eppes to Thomas Jefferson, 6 July 1815 (Jefferson Papers)
your letter from Poplar Forrest arrived here while I was absent on a trip to Eppington and Richmond . Any arrangement which you consider calculated to benefit Francis in the course of his education cannot fail to meet my approbation. I have only one fear that Francis amidst the amusements of Monticello will not have resolution enough to pursue steadily the course marked out for him— I had...
147John Wayles Eppes to Thomas Jefferson, 11 December 1815 (Jefferson Papers)
Francis arrived at warren the day after you passed on your last visit to Bedford . on learning there that you had passed on instead of proceeding to Monticello he returned home— I was seized a few days afterwards with a violent attack of the Rheumatism and he has been detained in consequence of my indisposition much longer than I could have wished— You can keep him at Monticello as long as you...
148Thomas Jefferson to John Wayles Eppes, 30 [March] 1816 (Jefferson Papers)
Francis returns as much improved, I am in hopes, as you will have expected. he reads French with so much ease as to read it for amusement, has not much occasion for his dictionary, pronounces generally well, the few defects remaining being such as will be easily corrected hereafter. being kept almost entirely at French, he could afford only the time before breakfast for keeping up his Latin....
149Thomas Jefferson to John Wayles Eppes, 30 April with 7 May 1816 postscript (Jefferson Papers)
Yours of the 8 th was recieved here on the 19 th inst. the information you have had as to the schools at Staunton and Lexington is correct. the latter has been at all times under the direction of an infuriated Presbyterian bigot and tory, better fitted to fanaticise than to instruct youth in useful knolege. when I was last here, I heard of their expelling two or three youths for the heinous...
150Thomas Jefferson to John Wayles Eppes, 24 June 1816 (Jefferson Papers)
I am this moment arrived here with Ellen & Cornelia , and find Francis who arrived last night. I will take care and attend him to the Academy & see to every thing necessary for him. we will keep him with us as long as we stay (a week or 10. days) and rub him up in his French. I learn with great concern the state of your health, but can prescribe nothing by but patience & the springs with good...