Thomas Jefferson to John Wayles Eppes, 24 January 1817
To John Wayles Eppes
Monticello Jan. 24. 17.
Dear Sir
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 himself afterwards.
Martin begins to turn tolerably. I send some specimens of his turning by your servant, and one of them is of the head proposed to your garden posts. I added a neck to the ball, which however nearly doubles the work. about 20. are made, and the stuff all ready for the whole. but I do not think he can do two aday. still he had better go on with them here as long as you can let him stay; however this must be as is convenient to yourself. I shall give him a pass to go home the first week in February, unless you inform me in the mean time that you can conveniently spare him. had Francis come in a gig I should have sent mrs Eppes some shrubs which she has not; but shall not fail to avail myself of some other opportunity.
I rejoice that your health permits you to return into public life, and that you are returning; nor is there any place where an honest disinterested patriot can be more useful than in the Senate of the US. I suppose you will hardly go to the call of the 4th of March, which I presume is a matter of ceremony. Patsy is absent with mrs Bankhead who is in the straw and very poorly. the rest of the family join in affectionate remembrances to mrs Eppes & yourself; be assured always of my sincere esteem & respect
Th: Jefferson
RC (ViU: TJP); addressed: “John W. Eppes esq. Millbrook.” PoC (MHi); on verso of reused address cover of Micajah Davis to TJ, 3 Sept. 1816; mutilated at seal; endorsed by TJ.
The Senate convened briefly on the 4th of march 1817 for the inauguration of President James Monroe. patsy: Martha Jefferson Randolph. in the straw: “in childbed, lying-in” ( ).
Eppes’s reply of 30 Jan. 1817, not found, is recorded in SJL as received 6 Feb. 1817 from Mill Brook.
Index Entries
- Bankhead, Ann (Anne) Cary Randolph (TJ’s granddaughter; Charles Lewis Bankhead’s wife); pregnancy of search
- carriages; gigs search
- education; Spanish language search
- Eppes, Francis Wayles (TJ’s grandson); at Monticello search
- Eppes, Francis Wayles (TJ’s grandson); education of, TJ on search
- Eppes, Francis Wayles (TJ’s grandson); relationship with father search
- Eppes, John Wayles (TJ’s son-in-law); as U.S. senatorial candidate search
- Eppes, John Wayles (TJ’s son-in-law); letters from accounted for search
- Eppes, John Wayles (TJ’s son-in-law); letters to search
- Eppes, John Wayles (TJ’s son-in-law); relationship with son search
- Eppes, John Wayles (TJ’s son-in-law); slaves of search
- Eppes, Martha Burke Jones (John Wayles Eppes’s second wife); TJ sends plants to search
- gigs; travel in search
- health; pregnancy and childbirth search
- inaugurations; J. Monroe’s presidential search
- Jefferson, Thomas; Opinions on; Spanish language study search
- Martin (J. W. Eppes’s slave); training of search
- Monroe, James; presidential inauguration of search
- Monticello (TJ’s Albemarle Co. estate); slaves at search
- Randolph, Martha Jefferson (Patsy; TJ’s daughter; Thomas Mann Randolph’s wife); relations with A. C. R. Bankhead search
- Senate, U.S.; and inauguration of J. Monroe search
- slaves; of J. W. Eppes search
- Spanish language; TJ on study of search