CHAP. IV.] LETTERS TO HIS DAUGHTERS. 221 By omitting all other dates and names, we trust we shall avoid awakening unpleasant recollections in any quarter. MY DEAR MARTHA : To MARTHA JEFFERSON RANDOLPH. I am now very long without a letter from Monticello, which is always a circumstance of anxiety to me. I wish I could say that Maria was quite well. I think her better for this week past, having for that time been free from the little fevers which had harassed her nightly. A paper which I some time ago saw in the under the signature of **** proved to me the existence of a rumor which I had otherwise heard of with less certainty. It has given me great uneasiness, because I knew that it must have made so many others unhappy, and among these Mr. Randolph and yourself. Whatever the case may be, the world is become too rational to extend to one person the acts of another. Every one at present stands on the merit or demerit of their own conduct. I am in hopes, therefore, that neither of you feel any uneasiness but for the pitiable victim, whether it be of error or of slander. In either case I see guilt in but one person, and not in her. For her it is the moment of trying the affection of her friends, when their commiseration and comfort become value to her wounds. I hope you will deal them out to her in full measure, regardless of what the trifling or malignant may think or say. Never throw off the best affections of nature in the moment when they become most precious to their object; nor fear to extend your hand to save another, lest you should sink yourself. You are on firm ground: your kindness will help her, and count in your own favor also. I shall be made very happy if you are the instruments not only of supporting the spirits of your afflicted friend under the weight bearing on them, but of preserving her in the peace and love of her friends. I hope you have already taken this resolution, if it were necessary. I have no doubt you have. Yet I wish it too much to omit mentioning it to you. I am, with sincere love to Mr. Randolph and yourself, my dear Martha, Yours affectionately, TH. JEFFERSON. 1:|:| CHAPTER V. 1794-1795. Jefferson's Return to Private Life-His Health, etc.-His Family-Maria JeffersonMartha (Jefferson) Randolph-Thomas Mann Randolph-Jefferson's Ideal of Retire ment-A Flash of the old Spirit-Threatened War with England-Proceedings in Congress Jay sent Minister to England-Chasm in Jefferson's Correspondence-His avowed desire for Permanent Retirement-Was he sincere in these Avowals?-Mania for Office not yet introduced-The first Offices "went a begging"-Jefferson's Private Pursuits His Land-roll in 1794-Farm Census-Exhausted Soils and Beggarly Account of Empty Bins-Farm Operations of 1794-Pennsylvania Insurrection-The Govern ment Measures, how regarded by the two Parties-Republican View of Hamilton's Conduct Washington invites Jefferson to return to the Cabinet-Did Washington willingly abandon a Balance of Parties in his Cabinet?-Bradford's Political AttitudePolitics of Others who were offered Seats in the Cabinet-Madison's Course considered -Had the Republicans a Good Excuse for Non-Acceptance?-Reasons rendered by John Adams-His own Peculiar Situation at the Time-Hamilton's Influence-A Dif ferent Theory offered-The President's Objects in instituting Jay's Mission-The Selection of Jay unfortunate-Bad Republican Tactics-The President forced from his Neutrality Jefferson's Views-Session of Congress 1794-5-Sharp Contest on Denun ciation of Democratic Societies-Jefferson's Strictures-His Refusal to be a Presidential Candidate-Hamilton's Resignation-Jefferson to D'Ivernois-Madison's Letter to Jef ferson on his refusal to be a Presidential Candidate-Jefferson repeats his RefusalJay's Treaty received and approved by Senate-Jay's, Hamilton's and Washington's Recorded Disapprobation of it-Renewal of Orders in Council pending its RatificationImpressments-British attempt to seize French Ambassador in United States-Washington's Expressions of Indignation at these Outrages-Hamilton declares Ratification now disreputable-John Adams's View of English Feelings towards America-Different Mettle of the Cabinet-Wolcott's Remarkable Reasons for Ratification-Washington's Proceedings in the Affair-The Treaty ratified-Had Fauchet's intercepted Dispatches any Influence?—Public Explosion on the Publication of the Treaty-Meetings on the Subject and the Actors in them-Jefferson's Strictures on Jay-His further Views"Camillus's" Defence of the Treaty-Bradford's Death and Successor-Virginia Election and Legislative Action-Meeting of Fourth Congress-Contest in regard to the Address of the House-Rutledge's Rejection Jefferson's Comments on Randolph's Vindication-Relations with France-Conduct of Adet in the United States-Monroe's Reception in France-Exchange of Flags and other Proceedings-Monroe's Assurances in respect to Jay's Mission-Monroe censured by his Government Justifies himself on his Instructions-Washington's Reply-Misunderstandings between Monroe and JayAdet's Remonstrances against Treaty of London-His Complaints considered-Adet's Delivery of French Colors, and President's Reply-Proceedings of both Houses of Congress-Washington's Sincerity in his Address to Adet-He did not concur in the Feelings of the Federalists-The Republicans drive him from his Political NeutralityThe Consequences-The Reaction first sets against Monroe-Washington's and Adams's Censures on him-A curious Example of Political "Sea-change" "-A larger Champion than Monroe in the field. On the 16th of January (1794), Mr. Jefferson reached home, fondly imagining, as many other public men have done at some JEFFERSON'S HEALTH-HIS DAUGHTERS. 223 Ontary lull in the very midst of their public careers, that he now had reached the long-desired haven of rest—that henceforth, in his calm and delightful retreat, he was to look out, only as an unconcerned spectator, on party struggles-on the roar and strife of the busy world! It was but a delusive dream! But that one who had been twenty-four years in the official harness-more than half of that time entirely cut off from his private affairs-should feel thus at least for a period, until the agreeable novelty of new pursuits and associations should gradually wear away, would be expected by all who have any correct appreciation of public life. Mr. Jefferson was now fifty years old. His hair was slightly touched with white. When the excitement, by which he had so long been surrounded, suddenly ceased, and the natural prostration of reaction followed, he fancied for a time that he had grown old, that his constitution was seriously shattered. It was, however, but a fancy. His form was erect, his tread was elastic, his strength was really unimpaired. The strict temperance and abstinence which had attended him onward from his youth-his regularity of exercise in all weather and under all circumstances and, indeed, his prudent and uniform habits in every particular, had scarcely yet allowed him to land on the hither shore of a hale and vigorous old age. And here let us take another direct glimpse of his family. Maria, who had resided with him at Philadelphia, until his last trip but one home, was now sixteen-in mind and gentle sweetness of character, bearing out all the promise which Mrs. Adams had discovered in her childhood-in person, a dazzling vision of beauty. While her older sister-herself a woman of dignified and highly agreeable appearance-bore too many of her father's lineaments to be termed beautiful, Maria closely resembled that parent who had gone so early to the grave; and whom, alas! she was so soon to follow. Her beauty, indeed, was of that exquisitely delicate cast which betrays an organization too fine and fragile to long withstand the physical and other vicissitudes of life. Martha (Mrs. Randolph) was the mother of a fine healthy son, and a daughter.' Though a highly accomplished woman, conspicuously attractive in manners and conversation, and as Thomas Jefferson and Ann Carey Randolph. 224 THOMAS MANN RANDOLPH. [CHAP. V gentle and amiable as any of her sex, her highest charm, to those who were familiarly acquainted with her, was in the solid traits of her character-a firm good sense which always judged wisely but benevolently-a perfect sincerity to all, and an entire and unselfish devotion to her friends and her family. No man judged female grace or excellence by a loftier standard, or with a more fastidious hypercriticism, than Martha's kinsman by blood and by marriage, Randolph of Roanoke. On one occasion, long after his utter alienation from Mr. Jefferson, and when he was only on terms of speaking with his family, Martha's health was offered in a company of gentlemen where John Randolph sat at the table. He, to the surprise of all, immedi ately rose with his glass in his hand. His piercing, haughty eye rolled round the circle as if challenging criticism on his course, while in his clear shrill tones he deliberately uttered: “I drink, gentlemen, to her to the sweetest woman in Virginia !” Thomas Mann Randolph, the husband of Martha, had yet scarcely turned thirty. He was what we have described him four years earlier, only new business cares, and new responsi bilities, had stamped more thoughtfulness on his brow. His rapid impulsiveness and vehemence of character may be sup posed to have unfitted him for agreeable habitual association with his father-in-law; who if he felt deeply, always judged and acted deliberately, and suppressed every outward exhibition of excitement. But Randolph, to the wide and varied information which has been mentioned, added an excellent literary taste, He also possessed very considerable scientific attainments, particularly in two widely separated departments-arms and natural history. In the latter, he was, for example, so thorough and so ardent a botanist that the celebrated Abbé Correa, in making his annual visits to Monticello in after years, spent more time in rambling the fields and forests with him, than he devoted to his host, Mr. Jefferson. We have already seen that it was on a visit to him and his kinsmen, that Professor Leslie visited America. He had other traits which commended him to Mr. Jefferson. He was a man of unbounded generosity of character. He had that physical nerve and hardihood which the former warmly admired, and considered, if not a part of character, at least, the foundation from which many of the noblest traits of character necessarily spring. If his father-in-law was a bold rider, he was P. V.] THOMAS MANN RANDOLPH. 225 desperate one. Darkness, the swollen ford, the rushing river, the wildly beating storm, stopped not his journey when his horse's head was pointed homeward. The tall spare figure wrapped in a horseman's cloak, the blazing but abstracted eye, the powerful blood-horse,' splashed with mud and foam, and dashing swiftly onward, are yet familiar objects in the recollections of many. Scott's description of William of Delioraine was often applied to him by his friends: "Alike to him were time and tide, It was his exaggerated generosity of character, coupled with this reckless contempt of exposure, which ultimately cost him his life." He possessed, or was before long to possess, a large property -his two principal estates being Edgehill' (joining Shadwell, and about three miles from Monticello), and Varina, an extensive plantation a few miles below Richmond. He managed both of these estates. His residence was nominally on the first named, but he found himself unable to occupy it, except at short intervals. When Mr. Jefferson was at home, it was impossible to keep the father and daughter separated, and more especially now, when infant grandchildren enlivened the household. These Mr. Jefferson would not have taken from him! Randolph struggled to keep a home of his own, for a time, but finally gave it up, and became a pretty regular part of the family at Monticello. From Mr. Jefferson's return home, in 1794, we find the old entries in the account-book, "paid for Patsy "gave Randolph selected his horses for their speed and endurance-for that reckless courage and unconquerable "bottom" which marked his own organization. He had no dandyism in horseflesh-none of the feeling of an ancestor whose horse Shakespeare" was kept in a stable wainscoted like a parlor, his groom sleeping in an alcove! Thomas Mann Randolph's horses fared as he fared, and they were apt to look as he looked, gaunt and rough. One of his best remembered horses through the country side (one of his last) was "Camel," so called for withers which rose before the saddle like a camel's hump. To ride this powerful animal eighty miles a day (the distance from one of his halting-places to Monticello), when the roads were deep and sticky with mud-and then, at nightfall, to take the Rivanna at full bank to save riding round by the bridge-were no uncommon feats with him. On review, we apprehend our picture conveys an impression of Gov. Randolph at a later period than the one under consideration (1794)—after misfortune and sorrow had subtracted something from the rounder and warmer-tinted lineaments of young manhood. His grandfather William Randolph's patent-400 acres of which, as we have seen, were sliced off (for a bowl of arrack punch) to give Peter Jefferson a more eligible buildIng-spot on Shadwell. VOL. JI.-15 |