4115. JEFFERSON (Thomas), Offices held by.—[further continued] .
I had been more than a
year soliciting leave to go home, with a
view to place my daughters in the society
and care of their friends, and to return for a
short time to my station in Paris. But the
metamorphosis through which our government
was then passing from its chrysalid to
its organic form suspended its action in a
great degree; and it was not till the last of
August, 1789, that I received the permission
I had asked. * * * On the 26th of
September, I left Paris for Havre, where I
was detained by contrary winds until the 8th
of October. On that day, and the 9th, I
crossed over to Cowes, where I had engaged
the Clermont, Capt. Colley, to touch for me.
She did so, but here again we were detained
by contrary winds, until the 22nd, when we
embarked, and landed at Norfolk on the 23rd
of November. On my way home, I passed
some days at Eppington, in Chesterfield, the
residence of my friend and connection, Mr.
Eppes, and while there, I received a letter
from the President, General Washington, by
express, covering an appointment to be Secretary
of State.—
Autobiography. Washington ed. i, 107.
Ford ed., i, 148.
(1821)
