IstillhopeyouwillfindourpreparationsnotfarshortoftheInformationItooktheLibertyofgivingyouinmyletterofthe8thinstant。IshallbeveryhappytoreceiveyourfirstApplicationsforwhatevermaybenecessaryforthepublicserviceandtoconvinceyouofourdispositiontopromoteitasfarastheAbilitiesoftheStateandPowersoftheExecutivewillenableus。
APPEALTOTHECOMMANDERINCHIEF
_ToGeorgeWashington_
_Charlottesville，May28th，1781_
SIR，——Imakenodoubtyouwillhaveheard，beforethisshallhavethehonourofbeingpresentedtoyourExcellency，ofthejunctionofLdCornwalliswiththeforceatPetersburgunderArnold，whohadsucceededtothecommandonthedeathofMajr。GenlPhillips。
IamnowadvisedthattheyhaveevacuatedPetersburg，joinedatWestoverareinforcementof2000menjustarrivedfromNewyork，crossedJamesRiver，andonthe26thinstant，werethreemilesadvancedontheirwaytowardsRichmond；atwhichplaceMajrGenltheMarquisFayette，laywiththreethousandmenRegularsandmilitia：
thesebeingthewholenumberwecouldarm，untilthearrivalofthe1100armsfromRhodeIsland，whichareaboutthistimeattheplacewhereourPublicstoresaredeposited。ThewholeforceoftheEnemywithinthisState，fromthebestintelligenceIhavebeenabletoget，isIthinkabout7000men，infantryandcavalry，including，also，thesmallgarrisonleftatPortsmouth：anumberofprivateers，whichareconstantlyravagingtheShoresofourrivers，preventusfromreceivinganyaidfromtheCountieslyingonnavigablewaters；
andpowerfuloperationsmeditatedagainstourWesternfrontier，byajointforceofBritish，andIndianSavages，haveasyourExcellencybeforeknew，obligedustoembody，betweentwoandthreethousandmeninthatquarter。YourExcellencywilljudgefromthisStateofthings，andfromwhatyouknowofourcountry，whatitmayprobablysufferduringthepresentcampaign。ShouldtheEnemybeabletoproducenoopportunityofannihilatingtheMarquis’sarmyasmallproportionoftheirforcemayyetrestrainhismovementseffectuallywhilethegreaterpartemployedindetachmenttowasteanunarmedcountryandleadthemindsofthepeopletoacquiesceunderthoseeventswhichtheyseenohumanpowerpreparedtowardoff。WearetoofarremovedfromtheotherscenesofwartosaywhetherthemainforceoftheEnemybewithinthisState。ButIsupposetheycannotanywheresparesogreatanarmyfortheoperationsofthefield。
WereitpossibleforthiscircumstancetojustifyinyourExcellencyadeterminationtolendusyourpersonalaid，itisevidentfromtheuniversalvoice，thatthepresenceoftheirbelovedCountryman，whosetalentshavesolongbeensuccessfullyemployed，inestablishingthefreedomofkindredStates，towhosepersontheyhavestillflatteredthemselvestheyretainedsomerightandhaveeverlookedupastheirdernierresortindistress。ThatyourappearanceamongthemIsaywouldrestorefullconfidenceofsalvation，andwouldrenderthemequaltowhateverisnotimpossible。Icannotundertaketoforeseeandobviatethedifficultieswhichlieinthewayofsucharesolution：ThewholesubjectisbeforeyouofwhichIseeonlydetachedparts；andyourjudgmentwillbeformedonaviewofthewhole。ShouldthedangerofthisStateanditsconsequencetotheUnionbesuchastorenderitbestforthewholethatyoushouldrepairtoitsassistancethedifficultywouldbehowtokeepmenoutofthefield。IhaveundertakentohintthismattertoyourExcellencynotonlyonmyownsenseofitsimportancetousbutatthesolicitationsofmanymembersofweightinourLegislaturewhichhasnotyetAssembledtospeaktheirowndesires。
Afewdayswillbringtomethatreliefwhichtheconstitutionhaspreparedforthoseoppressedwiththelaboursofmyofficeandalongdeclaredresolutionofrelinquishingittoablerhandshaspreparedmywayforretirementtoaprivatestation：stillasanindividualIshouldfeelthecomfortableeffectsofyourpresence，andhavewhatIthoughtcouldnothavebeenanadditionalmotiveforthatgratitude，esteem，&respectwithwhichIhavethehonourtobe，yourExcellency’smostobedienthumbleservant。
LIMITSOFPUBLICDUTY
_ToJamesMonroe_
_Monticello，May20，1782_
DEARSIR，——Ihavebeengratifiedwiththereceiptofyourtwofavoursofthe6th&11thinst。Itgivesmepleasurethatyourcountyhasbeenwiseenoughtoenlistyourtalentsintotheirservice。IammuchobligedbythekindwishesyouexpressofseeingmealsoinRichmond，andamalwaysmortifiedwhenanythingisexpectedfrommewhichIcannotfulfill，&moreespeciallyifitrelatetothepublicservice。BeforeIventuredtodeclaretomycountrymenmydeterminationtoretirefrompublicemployment，I
examinedwellmyhearttoknowwhetheritwerethoroughlycuredofeveryprincipleofpoliticalambition，whethernolurkingparticleremainedwhichmightleavemeuneasywhenreducedwithinthelimitsofmereprivatelife。Ibecamesatisfiedthateveryfibreofthatpassionwasthoroughlyeradicated。Iexaminedalsoinotherviewsmyrighttowithdraw。IconsideredthatIhadbeenthirteenyearsengagedinpublicservice，thatduringthattimeIhadsototallyabandonedallattentiontomyprivateaffairsastopermitthemtorunintogreatdisorderandruin，thatIhadnowafamilyadvancedtoyearswhichrequiremyattention&instruction，thattothesewereaddedthehopefuloffspringofadeceasedfriendwhosememorymustbeforeverdeartomewhohavenootherrelianceforbeingrenderedusefultothemselves&theircountry，thatbyaconstantsacrificeoftime，labour，loss，parental&familyduties，Ihadbeensofarfromgainingtheaffectionofmycountrymen，whichwastheonlyrewardI
everaskedorcouldhavefelt，thatIhadevenlostthesmallestimationIbeforepossessed。ThathoweverImighthavecomfortedmyselfunderthedisapprobationofthewell-meaningbutuninformedpeopleyetthatoftheirrepresentativeswasashockonwhichIhadnotcalculated：thatthisindeedhadbeenfollowedbyanexculpatorydeclaration。ButinthemeantimeIhadbeensuspected&suspendedintheeyesoftheworldwithouttheleasthintthenorafterwardsmadepublicwhichmightrestrainthemfromsupposingthatIstoodarraignedfortreasonoftheheartandnotmerelyweaknessofthehead；andIfeltthattheseinjuries，forsuchtheyhavebeensinceacknowledgedhadinflictedawoundonmyspiritwhichwillonlybecuredbytheall-healinggrave。Ifreason&inclinationuniteinjustifyingmyretirement，thelawsofmycountryareequallyinfavorofit。Whetherthestatemaycommandthepoliticalservicesofallit’smemberstoanindefiniteextent，orifthesebeamongtherightsneverwhollycededtothepublicpower，isaquestionwhichIdonotfindexpresslydecidedinEngland。ObiterdictumsonthesubjectI
haveindeedmetwith，butthecomplexionofthetimesinwhichthesehavedroppedwouldgenerallyanswerthem，besidesthatthisspeciesofauthorityisnotacknowledgedinourprofession。Inthiscountryhoweversincethepresentgovernmenthasbeenestablishedthepointhasbeensettledbyuniform，pointed&multipliedprecedents。
Officesofeverykind，andgivenbyeverypower，havebeendaily&
hourlydeclined&resignedfromthedeclarationofindependancetothismoment。Thegenlassemblyhasacceptedthesewithoutdiscriminationofoffice，andwithouteverquestioningtheminpointofright。Ifadifferencebetweentheofficeofadelegate&anyothercouldeverhavebeensupposed，yetinthecaseofMr。ThompsonMasonwhodeclinedtheofficeofdelegate&waspermittedsotodobythehousethatsuppositionhasbeenprovedtobegroundless。Butindeednosuchdistinctionofofficescanbeadmitted。Reasonandtheopinionsofthelawyersputtingallonafootingastothisquestionandsogivingtothedelegatetheaidofalltheprecedentsoftherefusalofotheroffices。Thelawthendoesnotwarranttheassumptionofsuchapowerbythestateoverit’smembers。Forifitdoeswhereisthatlaw?noryetdoesreason，fortho’Iwilladmitthatthisdoessubjecteveryindividualifcalledontoanequaltourofpoliticaldutyyetitcannevergosofarastosubmittoithiswholeexistence。Ifwearemadeinsomedegreeforothers，yetinagreaterarewemadeforourselves。Itwerecontrarytofeeling&
indeedridiculoustosupposethatamanhadlessrightinhimselfthanoneofhisneighborsorindeedallofthemputtogether。Thiswouldbeslavery¬thatlibertywhichthebillofrightshasmadeinviolableandforthepreservationofwhichourgovernmenthasbeencharged。Nothingcouldsocompletelydivestusofthatlibertyastheestablishmentoftheopinionthatthestatehasa_perpetual_
righttotheservicesofallit’smembers。Thistomenofcertainwaysofthinkingwouldbetoannihilatetheblessingofexistence；tocontradictthegiveroflifewhogaveitforhappiness¬forwretchedness；andcertainlytosuchitwerebetterthattheyhadneverbeenborn。HoweverwiththeseImaythinkpublicservice&
privatemiseryinseparablylinkedtogether，Ihavenotthevanitytocountmyselfamongthosewhomthestatewouldthinkworthoppressingwithperpetualservice。Ihavereceivedasufficientmementotothecontrary。Iampersuadedthathavinghithertodedicatedtothemthewholeoftheactive&usefulpartofmylifeIshallbepermittedtopasstherestinmentalquiet。IhopetoothatIdidnotmistakethemodesanymorethanthematterofrightwhenIpreferredasimpleactofrenunciationtothetakingsanctuaryunderthosedisqualificationsprovidedbythelawforotherpurposesindeed，butwhichaffordasylumalsoforresttothewearied。Idaresayyoudidnotexpectbythefewwordsyoudroppedontherightofrenunciationtoexposeyourselftothefatigueofsolongaletter，butIwishedyoutoseethatifIhaddonewrongIhadbeenbetrayedbyasemblanceofrightatleast。
ItakethelibertyofinclosingtoyoualetterforGenlChastelluxforwhichyouwillreadilyfindmeansofconveyance。ButImeanttogiveyoumoretroublewiththeonetoPelhamwholivesintheneighborhoodofManchester&toaskthefavorofyoutosenditbyyourservantexpresswhichIaminhopesmaybedonewithoutabsentinghimfromyourpersonbutduringthosehoursinwhichyouwillbeengagedinthehouse。Iamanxiousthatitshouldbereceivedimmediately。MrsJeffersonhasaddedanotherdaughtertoourfamily。Shehasbeeneversince&stillcontinuesverydangerouslyill。Itwillgivemegreatpleasuretoseeyouherewheneveryoucanfavoruswithyourcompany。Youwillfindmestillbusybutinlighteroccupations。Butinthese&allothersyouwillfindmetoretainaduesenseofyourfriendship&tobewithsincereesteem，DrSirYourmoob&mohbleservt。
P。S。didyoueverreceiveacopyoftheParl。debates&
Histor。RegisterwithaletterleftforyouwithMrJas。Buchanan?”ASINGLEEVENT……”
_ToChastellux_
_Ampthill，Nov。26，1782_
DEARSIR，——Ireceivedyourfriendlylettersof——andJune30butthelatternottillthe17thofOct。Itfoundmealittleemergingfromthestuporofmindwhichhadrenderedmeasdeadtotheworldasshewaswhoselossoccasionedit。Yourletterrecalledtomymemorythattherewerepersonsstilllivingofmuchvaluetome。
IfyoushouldhavethoughtmeremissinnottestifyingtoyousoonerhowdeeplyIhadbeenimpressedwithyourworthinthelittletimeI
hadthehappinessofbeingwithyouyouwillIamsureascribeittoit’struecausethestateofdreadfulsuspenseinwhichIhadbeenkeptallthesummer&thecatastrophewhichclosedit。Beforethateventmyschemeoflifehadbeendetermined。Ihadfoldedmyselfinthearmsofretirement，andrestedallprospectsoffuturehappinessondomestic&literaryobjects。AsingleeventwipedawayallmyplansandleftmeablankwhichIhadnotthespiritstofillup。InthisstateofmindanappointmentfromCongressfoundme，requiringmetocrosstheAtlantic。AndthattemptationmightbeaddedtodutyIwasinformedatthesametimefromhisExcytheChevalierdeLuzernethatavesselofforcewouldbesailingaboutthemiddleofDec。inwhichyouwouldbepassingtoFrance。Iacceptedtheappointmentandmyonlyobjectnowissotohastenoverthoseobstacleswhichwouldretardmydepartureastobereadytojoinyouinyourvoyage，fondlymeasuringyouraffectionsbymyown&
presumingyourconsent。ItisnotcertainthatbyanyexertionIcanbeinPhiladelphiabythemiddleofDecember。Thecontraryismostprobable。ButhopingitwillnotbemuchlaterandcountingonthoseprocrastinationswhichusuallyattendthedepartureofvesselsofsizeIhavehopesofbeingwithyouintime。Thiswillgivemefullleisuretolearntheresultofyourobservationsonthenaturalbridge，tocommunicatetoyoumyanswerstothequeriesofMonsrdeMarbois，toreceiveedificationfromyouontheseandonothersubjectsofscience，consideringchesstooasamatterofscience。
ShouldIbeabletogetoutintolerabletimeandanyextraordinarydelaysattendthesailingofthevesselIshallcertainlydomyselfthehonorofwaitingonhisExcyCountRochambeauathisHeadquartersandassuringhiminpersonofmyhighrespectandesteemforhim——anobjectofwhichIhaveneverlostsight。ToyourselfIamunabletoexpressthewarmthofthosesentimentsoffriendship&
attachmentwithwhichIhavethehonourtobe，DrSir，Yourmostobedt&mohbleservt。
ADVICETOAYOUNGDAUGHTER
_ToMarthaJefferson_
_Annapolis，Nov。28，1783_
MYDEARPATSY——AfterfourdaysjourneyIarrivedherewithoutanyaccidentandinasgoodhealthaswhenIleftPhiladelphia。TheconvictionthatyouwouldbemoreimprovedinthesituationIhaveplacedyouthanifstillwithme，hassolacedmeonmypartingwithyou，whichmyloveforyouhasrenderedadifficultthing。TheacquirementswhichIhopeyouwillmakeunderthetutorsIhaveprovidedforyouwillrenderyoumoreworthyofmylove，andiftheycannotincreaseittheywillpreventit’sdiminution。Considerthegoodladywhohastakenyouunderherroof，whohasundertakentoseethatyouperformallyourexercises，andtoadmonishyouinallthosewanderingsfromwhatisrightorwhatisclevertowhichyourinexperiencewouldexposeyou，considerherIsayasyourmother，astheonlypersontowhom，sincethelosswithwhichheavenhasbeenpleasedtoafflictyou，youcannowlookup；andthatherdispleasureordisapprobationonanyoccasionwillbeanimmensemisfortunewhichshouldyoubesounhappyastoincurbyanyunguardedact，thinknoconcessiontoomuchtoregainhergoodwill。WithrespecttothedistributionofyourtimethefollowingiswhatIshouldapprove。
from8。to10o’clockpractisemusic。
from10。to1。danceonedayanddrawanotherfrom1。to2。drawonthedayyoudance，andwritealetterthenextday。
from3。to4。readFrench。
from4。to5。exerciseyourselfinmusic。