The Writings of Thomas Jefferson, Vol. 1 (of 9): Being His Autobiography, Correspondence, Reports, Messages, Addresses, and Other Writings, Official and PrivateJefferson, Thomas
History
The Writings of Thomas Jefferson, Vol. 1 (of 9): Being His Autobiography, Correspondence, Reports, Messages, Addresses, and Other Writings, Official and Private
Jefferson, Thomas
United States -- Politics and government -- 1775-1783; United States -- Politics and government -- 1783-1865
You cannot conceive the satisfaction it would give me to have a letter
from you. Write me very circumstantially everything which happened at
the wedding. Was she there? because, if she was, I ought to have been
at the Devil for not being there too. If there is any news stirring
in town or country, such as deaths, courtships, or marriages, in the
circle of my acquaintance, let me know it. Remember me affectionately
to all the young ladies of my acquaintance, particularly the Miss
Burwells, and Miss Potters, and tell them that though that heavy
earthly part of me, my body, be absent, the better half of me, my soul,
is ever with them, and that my best wishes shall ever attend them.
Tell Miss Alice Corbin that I verily believe the rats knew I was to
win a pair of garters from her, or they never would have been so cruel
as to carry mine away. This very consideration makes me so sure of
the bet, that I shall ask everybody I see from that part of the world
what pretty gentleman is making his addresses to her. I would fain ask
the favor of Miss Becca Burwell to give me another watch-paper of her
own cutting, which I should esteem much more, though it were a plain
round one, than the nicest in the world cut by other hands; however,
I am afraid she would think this presumption, after my suffering the
other to get spoiled. If you think you can excuse me to her for this,
I should be glad if you would ask her. Tell Miss Sukey Potter that
I heard, just before I came out of town, that she was offended with
me about something, what it is I do not know; but this I know, that
I never was guilty of the least disrespect to her in my life, either
in word or deed; as far from it as it has been possible for one to
be. I suppose when we meet next, she will be _endeavoring_ to repay
an imaginary affront with a real one; but she may save herself the
trouble, for nothing that she can say or do to me shall ever lessen her
in my esteem, and I am determined always to look upon her as the same
honest-hearted, good-humored, agreeable lady I ever did. Tell--tell--in
short, tell them all ten thousand things more than either you or I can
now or ever shall think of as long as we live.
My mind has been so taken up with thinking of my acquaintances, that,
till this moment, I almost imagined myself in Williamsburg, talking to
you in our old unreserved way; and never observed, till I turned over
the leaf, to what an immoderate size I had swelled my letter; however,
that I may not tire your patience by further additions, I will make but
this one more, that I am sincerely and affectionately,
Dear Page, your friend and servant.
P. S. I am now within an easy day's ride of Shadwell, whither I shall
proceed in two or three days.
TO JOHN PAGE.
SHADWELL, Jan. 20, 1763.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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