The Online Library of Liberty

A project of Liberty Fund, Inc.

• Introduction
• Itinerary and Chronology of Thomas Jefferson 1743–1770. 1
• Autobiography 1743–1790
• The Anas 1 1791–1806
• Correspondence and Miscellaneous Writings 1760–1774
• 1760 - to John Harvey 1
• 1762 - to John Page 1
• 1763 - to John Page
• To John Page
• To William Fleming 1
• To John Page
• 1764 - to John Page
• To John Page
• To William Fleming 1
• To John Page
• Whether Christianity Is Part of the Common Law? 1
• 1768 - to Colonel William Preston 2
• 1769 - Resolutions of the Virginia House of Burgesses. 2
• 1770 - to John Page
• Argument In the Case of Howell Vs. Netherland 2
• To Thomas Adams, 1 Merchant
• To Peyton Randolph

TO WILLIAM FLEMING1

Wmsburg, March 20, 1764, 11 o’clock at night.

Dear Will:

—As the messenger who delivered me your letter, informs me that your boy is to leave town tomorrow morning I will endeavor to answer it as circumstantially as the hour of the night, and a violent headach, with which I have been afflicted these two days, will permit. With regard to the scheme which I proposed to you some time since, I am sorry to tell you it is totally frustrated by Miss R. B’s marriage with Jacquelin Ambler, which the people here tell me they daily expect: I say the people here tell me so, for (can you believe it?) I have been so abominably indolent as not to have seen her since last October, wherefore I cannot affirm that I knew it from herself, though am as well satisfied that it is true as if she had told me. Well, the Lord bless her I say! but S—y P—r is still left for you. I have given her a description of the gentleman who, as I told her, intended to make her an offer of his hand, and asked whether or not he might expect it would be accepted. She would not determine till she saw him or his picture. Now Will, as you are a piece of a limner I desire that you will seat yourself immediately before your looking-glass and draw such a picture of yourself as you think proper: and if it should be defective, blame yourself (mind that I mentioned no name to her). You say you are determined to be married as soon as possible: and advise me to do the same. No, thank ye; I will consider of it first. Many and great are the comforts of a single state, and neither of the reasons you urge can have any influence with an inhabitant and a young inhabitant too of Wmsburgh. Who told you that I reported you was courting Miss Dandridge and Miss Dangerfield? It might be worth your while to ask whether they were in earnest or not. So far was I from it that I frequently bantered Miss J—y T—o1 about you, and told her how feelingly you spoke of her. There is scarcely anything going on here. You have heard I suppose that J. Page is courting Fanny Burwell. W. Bland, and Betsey Yates are to be married thursday se’nnight. The Secretary’s son is expected in shortly. Willis has left town intirely so that your commands to him cannot be executed immediately, but those to the ladies I shall do myself the pleasure of delivering tomorrow night at the ball. Tom: Randolph of Tuckahoe has a suit of Mecklenburgh silk which he offers me for a suit of broadcloth. Tell him that if they can be altered to fit me, I will be glad to take them on them terms, and if they cannot, I make no doubt but I can dispose of them here to his advantage. Perhaps you will have room to bring them in your portmanteau, or can contrive them down by some other opportunity. Let him know this immediately. My head achs, my candle is just going out, and my boy asleep, so must bid you adieu.

[1 ]From the Southern Literary Messenger, iii., 305.

[1 ]Jenny Taliaferro.