Letters
contributor: Eric Lease Morgan (Infomotions, Inc.)
creator: Jefferson, Thomas
extent: 1799753
format: text/plain
language: en
publisher: Eris Etext Project
rights: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/GPL/2.0/
source: 5
subject: time
subject: government
subject: country
subject: state
subject: people
subject: colo
subject: desirous
subject: stay
subject: mountains
subject: loss
subject: fourth
subject: inevitable
subject: jefferson
subject: thomas
subject: letters
subject: american
subject: literature
type: text
local mirror: jefferson-letters-256.txt
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plain html: jefferson-letters-256.htm
sort title: Letters
full text: LETTERS by Thomas Jefferson A YOUTH OF SIXTEEN _To John Harvie_ _Shadwell, Jan. 14, 1760_ SIR, -- I was at Colo. Peter Randolph's about a Fortnight ago, & my Schooling falling into Discourse, he said he thought it would be to my Advantage to go to the College, & was desirous I should go, as indeed I am myself for several Reasons. In the first place as long as I stay at the Mountains the Loss of one fourth of my Time is inevitable, by Company's coming here & detaining me from School. And likewise my Absence will in a great Measure put a Stop to so much Company, & by that Means lessen the Expences of the Estate in House-Keeping. And on the other Hand by going to the College I shall get a more universal Acquaintance, which may hereafter be serviceable to me; & I suppose I can pursue my Studies in the Greek & Latin as well there as here, & likewise learn something of the Mathematics. I shall be glad of your opinion. OLD COKE AND YOUNG LADIES _To John Page_ _Fairfield, December 25, 1762_ DEAR PAGE, -- This very day, to others the day of greatest mirth and jollity, sees me overwhelmed with more and greater misfortunes than have befallen a descendant of Adam for these thousand years past, I am sure; and perhaps, after excepting Job, since the creation of the world. I think his misfortunes were somewhat greater than mine: for although we may be pretty nearly on a level in other respects, yet, I thank my God, I have the advantage of brother Job in this, that Satan has not as yet put forth his hand to load me with bodily afflictions. You must know, dear Page, that I am now in a house surrounded with enemies, who take counsel together against my soul; and when I lay me down to rest, they say among themselves, come let us destroy him. I am sure if there is such a thing as a Devil in this world, he must have been here last night and have had some hand in contriving what happened to me. Do you think the cursed rats (at his instigation, I suppose) did not eat up my pocket-book, wh…