1John 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...
2John 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...
3John 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...
4John 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,...
5John Wayles Eppes to Thomas Jefferson, 17 January 1817 (Jefferson Papers)
Francis has been detained in consequence of the severe indisposition of two of my children—They are now however nearly restored to health. I received by the last Mail a letter from M r Baker at Richmond now in which he States that M r Wood had Just opened a School in that place and was very anxious to have Francis as one of his pupils— He has declined returning to Lynchburg .
6John 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...
7John 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
8John 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...
9John 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...
10John 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...
11John Wayles Eppes to Thomas Jefferson, 23 December 1816 (Jefferson Papers)
I have directed Martin to remain at Monticello until he learns to Turn—He will be able to get the stocks necessary for the pieces 400 in number and I can send for them after his return— My health is I hope gradually improving— I am able now to take exercise on horse back which I am in hopes in time with a rigid attention to diet will restore me— Martha unites with me in every wish of affection...
12John 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—...
13John 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...
14John 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...
15John 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...
16John 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...
17John 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...
18John 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
19Archibald 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...
20Thomas 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...
21Thomas 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...
22Thomas 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...
23Thomas 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...
24Thomas 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...
25Thomas 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...
26Thomas 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...
27Thomas 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...
28Thomas 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...
29Thomas Jefferson to John Wayles Eppes, 24 January 1817 (Jefferson Papers)
Francis arrived here in good health the day before Yesterday. I think he cannot do better than to take this occasion of learning Spanish, because it is a language rarely taught in this country, and will be of great importance within his day. it is that too in which all the early history of America is written. I suppose he may acquire so much of it in 2. or 3. months as to pursue it easily...
30Thomas 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