8433. THIRD TERM, Irksome.—
At the end of my present term, of which two years
are yet to come, I propose to retire from public
life, and to close my days on my patrimony
of Monticello, in the bosom of my family.
I have hitherto enjoyed uniform health;
but the weight of public service begins to be
too heavy for me, and I long for the enjoyment
of rural life, among my books, my
farms and my family. Having performed my
quadragena stipendia, I am entitled to my
discharge, and should be sorry, indeed, that
others should be sooner sensible than myself
when I ought to ask it. I have, therefore,
requested my fellow citizens to think of
a successor for me, to whom I shall deliver
the public concerns with greater joy
than I received them. I have the consolation,
too, of having added nothing to my private
fortune, during my public service, and
of retiring with hands as clean as they are
empty.—
To Comte Diodati. Washington ed. v, 62.
(W.
March. 1807)
