University of Virginia Library

I received my dear papa's affectionate epistle, and was sorry to find that
he thought himself neglected. I assure you, my dear sir, that there has
scarcely a fortnight elapsed since uncle's absence without my writing to
you, and I would have paid dearly for you to have received them. I sent
them by the post, and indeed no other opportunity except by Capt. Crozier,
and I did not neglect that. Be well assured, my dear sir, our expenses
since our arrival here have been enormous and by far greater than our
estate, especially loaded as it is with debt, can bear; however, I flatter myself,
my dear papa, that upon looking over the accounts you will find that
my share is, by comparison trifling, and hope that by the wise admonitions
of so affectionate a parent, and one who has our welfare and interest so
much at heart, we may be able to shun the rock of prodigality, upon which
so many people continually split, and by which the unhappy victim is
reduced, not only to poverty, but also to despair and all the horrors attending
it.

Brother R. writes you, that I am lazy. I assure you, dear papa, he has

been egregiously mistaken. I attend every lecture that the class does.
Not one of the professors have ever found me dull with my business or
even said that I was irregular. All my leisure time I devote to the study
of —, and then read the poets from five o'clock in the morning till
twelve. I am constantly reading in my —. The rest of my time is
allotted to College duty. If brother Richard had written you that I did
nothing all the vacation he would have been much in the dark—neither
was it possible for me. We lived in this large building without a soul in
it but ourselves, and it was so desolate and dreary that I could not bear to
be in it. I always was afraid that some robber, of which we have a
plenty [as you will see by the enclosed paper] was coming to kill me after
they made a draught on the house.

Be so good, my dear sir, when it is convenient, to send me the debate
of the Convention of our State. My love to the families of Butler, —,
Cawsons. My love to Mr. Tucker, Jr., Miss Maria, and the children.
Tell them I wish them a Merry Christmas. That you, my ever dear papa,
may enjoy many happy ones, is the sincere wish of your ever affectionate
son,

I received last night your letter of the 17th instant,
covering a draft on the treasury for $104.27, for which accept my hearty
thanks. I wish I could thank you also for your news concerning the
conjectured "marriage between a reverend divine and one who has been
long considered among the immaculate votaries of Diana." I can easily

guess at the name of the former; but there are really so many ancient
maids in your town, of desperate expectations in the matrimonial lottery,
that it is no easy task to tell what person in particular comes under the
above denomination.

You may depend on my contracting no debts. I have known the
sweets of that situation too well again to plunge into the same gulph of
extreme misery for a long time by dint of extreme parsimony, extricating
myself from that most horrid of all calamities.

You have not, I perceive, received some of my letters, for immediately
on the late change in our ministry, as 'tis styled by the countrymen here,
I wrote to you informing you minutely of the circumstance. I have
wished to send you several important publications; our executive's correspondence
with the ministers of France and Britain, &c., but I had no
mode of conveying them to you. Mr. Madison's resolutions, respecting
the restrictions of commerce in regard to those nations not in alliance with
us, are now before the House of Representatives, and will be, I am afraid,
thrown out, from the circumstance of two of our southern men being
absent—Mr. Page and Mercer. It is an unpardonable thing for men to
offer themselves as candidates who cannot punctually attend. Mr. Madison's
sentiments, and those of Columbus, are in perfect unison.

I will now, my dear, sir, touch upon that part of your letter dated New
Year's day, which relates to my studying in Williamsburg. I have found
my conduct and character, during my residence in that place, canvassed
in so ungenerous and malicious a manner, that were it not the residence
of yourself, and your beloved family, I never would set foot in it again,
but if you wish me to return, I will conquer my aversion to the place. I
ought to have said its inhabitants, as far as 'tis in my power, and endeavor
to avail myself of every advantage which it may afford.

Dr. Tucker is expected in town every minute. I need not say how
happy I shall be to see him. I am extremely unwell, owing to the
amazing vicissitude of weather which we have experienced. For some
days we have the air so immoderately warm that we are obliged to open
our windows and extinguish the fire, and in the course of five hours we
experience the utmost severity of winter.

Present my best love to all the family, particularly Mrs. Tucker and
Fanny. Why does not the latter write? Believe me, my dear sir, with
the most ardent love and sincere esteem your affectionate son and friend,

I have been so unwell as to be incapable of carrying this to the post
office until to-day. Yesterday we had a most violent snow storm, which
lasted from 10 o'clock A. M. till two this morning, during which time it
snowed incessantly. Uncle T. is not come. No news of my trunk, at
which I am very uneasy. I wrote to Mr. Campbell by Capt. Dangerfield
to learn by what vessel it was sent, but have received no answer. There
is no such thing in this city as Blackstone in 4to. The house has come,
as yet, to no determination respecting Mr. Madison's resolutions. They
will not pass, thanks to our absent delegates; nay, were they to go
through the H. of R. the S. would reject them, as there is no senator from
Maryland and but one from Georgia. Thus are the interests of the Southern
States basely betrayed by the indolence of some and the villainy of
others of her statesmen,—Messrs. G—r, H—n and L—e generally voting
with the paper men.

Pray write at least once a week, and not such short letters as you sometimes
do. I wish very much you would indulge me with a watch. I can
get a very good gold one for 50 Dolls: and will not sell it I assure you.
Once more, dear father, adieu.

I was mistaken, my dear sir, when I said Uncle Tucker had not arrived
in town. He got here the day before yesterday, and did not know where
to find me. In my way to the post office this morning, I was told of his
arrival, and flew to see him. He looks as well as I ever saw him, and
was quite cheerful—made a number of affectionate enquiries concerning
you and your family, my brother and his wife and little boy. He cannot
go through Virginia in his way to Charleston. I pressed him very warmly
to do it, but you know his resolutions when once taken are unalterable.
I gave you in a former letter a full account of our friends in Bermuda.
My uncle says that they complain much of your neglecting to write to
them. He seemed much hurt at the circumstance. You cannot think
how rejoiced I was to see him look so well and cheerful. It has quite
revived my spirits. He stays in this city a week or ten days, when he

returns to New York, where he will remain five or six weeks before he
goes to Charleston. If you write him, which I suppose you will unquestionably
do, you had better direct to New York. I shall write next post,
till then, my dearest father, adieu. I must not forget to tell you that Dr.
Bartlett, the spermaceti doctor, as Mr. Tudor used to call him, has turned
privateersman, and commands a vessel out of Bermuda. Miss Betsy Gilchrist
is to be married to a Lieut. Hicks of the British army, and Mr.
Fibb, it is reported, is also to be married to another officer whose name I
do not recollect.

I see that you begin again to cease writing to me;
and I hope that you will be so good as to send me a letter at least once a
week, as you are so shortly to set out on your circuit, when I cannot expect
to hear from you as often as when you are at home. The enclosed
letter I wrote some time ago. I have every day been expecting an opportunity
by which I could send it without subjecting you to the expense
of postage, which perhaps I too often do. As the subject is an important
one, I hope you will answer it as soon as you conveniently can.

Yesterday the important question, whether Mr. Gallatin, a senator from
this State, was entitled to a seat in the Senate or not, was determined
against him.

                               

Ayes.	Noes.
Langdon, N. H.	Livermore, N. H.
Bradley, Verm.	Cabol, Massachusetts.
Robinson, Verm.	Strong, Massachusetts.
Burr, N. Y.	Bradford, R. Island.
Monroe, Virg.	Foster, R. Island.
Taylor, Virg.	Ellsworth, Conn.
Brown, Kent.	Mitchell, Conn.
Edwards, Kent.	King, N. York.
Martin, N. C.	Frelinghuysen, N. Jersey.
Butler, S. C.	Morris, Penn.
Jackson, Geor.	Vining, Delaware.
Gunn, Geor.	Potts, Maryland.
	Hawkins, N. C.
	Irrard, S. C.
12	14

The Republican party are much hurt at this decision, since in abilities
and principles, he was inferior to none in that body. So said Mr. Taylor,
from Virginia. Altho' he came here in 1780, took up arms in our defence,
bought lands and settled, yet, nine years not having elapsed between
the time of his taking the oaths of allegiance and his election, he
was declared not qualified according to the constitution. It was agreed
that by art. 2, sect. 1, clause 4, a resident of 14 years standing might
take the oaths of citizenship one day and be elected the next to the presidential
chair; and therefore it was apprehended that the constitution of
the U. S. was not more vigilant with respect to the election of senators
than presidents. Certainly, if a man be not a citizen of the United States
at the time of the adoption of the Federal constitution, he is not eligible
to the office of president: however, Mr. Gallatin had been nine years a
citizen and thirteen an inhabitant when he took his seat. Query, can a
man be a senator until he qualifies as is prescribed by art. 6, clause 3, and
informed by c. 1, 2d sess. 1st congress? I wish you would inform me
what your opinion is on the subject.

My uncle is still in town. I saw him the day before yesterday. He
desires me to tell you that he will write you when he arrives in New
York. He is very well.

In almost every one of my letters I have made enquiries concerning my
trunk. Pray, my dear sir, inform me, if you can, where it is. Do you
know by what vessel it was sent? I am sans chemise and sans culottes
in every sense of the word. Toulon is certainly retaken. The English
are apprehensive of a descent on their coast. The vessels in — exterminated.
My best love to Mrs. T. & Co.

Your welcome letter of the 13th from Petersburg reached me yesterday.
I waited for its receipt, that I might acknowledge that of its predecessor
at the same time. I am sorry that I did so, for I wanted to know whether
I could advantageously place my horse, Roanoke, in your neighborhood?
I am sorry that you can't take filly; but I pledge, as the boys say,
a place for her in your training stables next autumn, and another if you
have it to spare. Could I get Bolling Graves, think you, to train for me?
I mean next autumn of course, for his spring engagements are no doubt
complete. There is some mistake about that rifle. It was never sent
home. The last time I saw it it was in J. M. & D.'s compting room.
Have I any other article there except the fir pole from Mont Blanc?
Uncle Nat.[1] is greatly mended, and I am satisfied that if the "wicked
world cease from troubling," which they will not do in this world, I wish
they may in the next, he would be well. He made a remark to me the
other day, that forcibly reminded me of Gay's Shepherd and Philosopher—the
best of all his fables, except "the Hare and many friends." It
will not require your sagacity to make the application. "All animals,"
said he, "provide for their own offspring, and there the thing stops. The
birds rear their young by their joint cares and labours. The cow suckles
and takes care of her own calf, but she does not nurse or provide for that
calf's calf." "The birds do not build nests for their young one's eggs, nor
hatch them, nor feed the nestlings."

I return the good wishes and "best regards of all your family to one
and all. But I must particularly name the matron mother of them all, and
Virginia. Edward I see is married. Being now aged, and having his
full weight to carry, he will I trust "plumb the track," as I have heard
old racers say. To George I am indebted for a very kind letter. John I

am satisfied, with proper training and exercise, which last depends upon
himself, will make a fine fellow, but he must bear in mind that no nag
can run just taken off the grass, and that with the best management he
must sometime muzzle. The younger boys, in which members I include
your grandson, I need not advise to diligently mind their work, which,
at their age, is play. This they will do without aid from any quarter.

Mr. Macon's kindness to me on all occasions, but particularly last winter
and this, cannot be requited by any return that I can make. But for
him last winter I don't know what I should have done. But if you were
to hear him, you would suppose that he, and not I, was the obliged party.
We have had but one fair day this month (New Year's day), and but four
in December. It has been very warm and damp—the worst possible
weather for preserving meat. I wish that you may have "saved your
bacon." If practicable, I am sure that it has been done by Mrs. J.'s
management, who, in her department, I will back against any that can be
named; and now you are fairly tired of a letter of two closely written
pages. So farewell, and God bless you all.

Since the sailing of the last packet from Liverpool, I received
via St. Petersburg your letter of the 21st of August—the only one
that I have had the pleasure to get from you.

It is with no small difficulty that I summon strength to thank you for it;
for I am as low as I can be to be able to write at all.

In case that you shall not have contracted for the house at Bizarre, I
wish to countermand the request. I intended it for a purpose that now
can never be.

My expectations from the tobacco were very small; but I had hoped it
would not turn out quite so badly. Meanwhile, I have no supply from
Government. Congress and the Virginia Assembly both meet this day,
and I pray God to send us, the people, a safe deliverance.

It will be very unlucky in case of a general war in Europe, which some
look forward to, that we shall have eaten all our wheat, for I learn that
there is a total destruction of Indian corn.

I must refer you to the newspapers for European politics. Nothing
will preserve peace but the dread of the "Great Powers," lest their subjects
should catch the French and Belgic disease (for such they deem it).
If they touch Belgium, France will strike. This country is in a deplorable
condition of splendid misery. A great discovery has been made on
the Continent, far surpassing any of Archimedes or Newton. The people
have discovered the secret of their strength; and the military have found
out that they are the people. The teeth and nails of despotism are from
that day drawn and pared.

Commend me earnestly to all my old friends and constituents. I shall
be among them (dead or alive) next Summer. I have provided for a
leaden coffin, feeling as I do an inexpressible desire to lie by the side of
my dear mother and honored father at old Matoax.

Remember me to the old servants—particularly Syphax, Louisa, Sam

and Phil, and be assured, my dear sir, that I set the highest value on the
good opinion with which you have honored me, and I fully reciprocate it.

This is no common-place address, for without profession
or pretension such you have quietly and modestly proved yourself to
be, while, like Darius, I have been

All this is only acting according to your character, and you can hardly
help it now, second nature being superadded to the first. In the whole
course of my unprofitable life I never received a letter from a man that
affected me so deeply as yours of the 3d.

If I can I will be with you on the 14th (the day before the sale.) I
will bring with me the original blotter of the sale, which Creed Taylor

can verify, if he be not civiliter mortuus, as I greatly fear he is. There
is no body else left, unless it be our old friend Bedford. * * *

But my dear friend, what are, or what ought to be, the cares of a man
about property that believes himself to be dying? and almost, but not
"altogether," hopes it. I am now as much worse than when you saw
me on my way to Buckingham November court, as then I was worse than
when I left London.

I wish to sell the lots next the warehouse at cost, and interest if to be
had, or exchange them for others, adjoining the lots I got from your
father and of Wathell, or those on the branch; or I could sell all, or improve
for the benefit of thankless heirs.

A long credit to me is the same as a short one; I shan't outlive a bank
discount.

Caught like Bonaparte by an Arctic winter, setting in on November
(Prince Edward) court, but not like him in latitude 50-55, I am in 37° 30
north, a little south of Algiers. I am tied here until the March and April
winds and May frosts are over, if I live so long.

This will be presented to you by my neighbor, Elisha E.
Hundley, whose affairs take him to what, in old times, we used to call
the Bear Grass Country.

The estate of his relative, which Mr. Hundley goes out to settle up,

lies within six miles of Louisville, and he may stand in need of advice.
As there is no man in Kentucky, or out of it, more capable of aiding him
in this behalf than yourself, I have given him this letter; but not so much
on that account, as to recommend him to your good offices as a man every
way worthy of them. Mr. Hundley is a plain, industrious, quiet man,
who minds his own affairs and does not meddle with other people's business.
He is also a pious member of the Wesleyan Methodist Church. I
have purchased his land next to my own, and thereby deprived myself of
an excellent neighbour—but he was resolved to sell.

My old acquaintances, the Maupins, whom we called Maupanes, Richard
especially, will oblige me by any attentions they may show Mr. H.

I am in the most wretched health that can be conceived or endured.