La Rouene, Marquis de, letter written to, 512. Lee, Richard Henry, letters written to, 204, 540. Livingston, Robert R. letters written to, 320, 327, 330, 331. Madison, James, letters written to, 315, 324, 412, 431, 446, 531. Marbois, Monsieur de, letter written to, 297. O'Bryan, Richard, letter written to, 477. Osgood, Samuel, letter written to, 450. Otto, Mr. letter written to, 558. Page, John, letters written to, 181, 184, 186, 188, 189, 190, 191, 193, 210, 399, 548. Pleasants, T., letter written to, 563. Poncens, Marquis de, letter written to, 430. Portail, Monsieur du, letter written to 357, President of Congress, letters written to, 285, 287, 299, 300, 301, 302, 303, 304. Randolph, Edmund, letters written to, 312, 433. Randolph, John, letters written to, 200, 202. Riedesel, General de, letter written to, 240. Thompson, Charles, letters written to, 354, 542. Thulemeyer, Baron de, letters written to, 368, 469. Unger, John Louis de, letter written to, 278. Van Staphorst, N. & J., letters written to, 369, 461, 471. Washington, George, letters written to, 221, 225, 230, 231, 232, 235, 237, From, 328. Wythe, George, letter written to, 211. * (address lost), 207, 246, 272, 289. INTRODUCTORY TO BOOK I. In the arrangement which has been adopted, Book I. comprises the Autobiography and Appendix. The Autobiography extends to the 21st of March, 1790, when Mr. Jefferson arrived in New York to enter upon the duties of the Department of State, and embraces a variety of important subjects, such as the rise and progress of the difficulties between Great Britain and her North American Colonies-the circum. stances connected with the Declaration of Independence-the debates in Congress upon the adoption thereof, as reduced to writing by Mr. Jefferson at the time-the history of the Articles of Confederation-early stages of the French Revolution-revision of the Penal Code of Virginia—abolition of her laws of Primogeniture—overthrow of her Church Establishment-Act of Religious Freedom, &c.—all matter interesting in itself, but rendered particularly so by the fact that it comes from one who was himself a chief actor in the scenes which he describes. BOOK I. AUTOBIOGRAPHY, WITH APPENDIX. JANUARY 6, 1821. At the age of 77, I begin to make some memoranda, and state some recollections of dates and facts concerning myself, for my own more ready reference, and for the information of my family. The tradition in my father's family was, that their ancestor came to this country from Wales, and from near the mountain of Snowdon, the highest in Great Britain. I noted once a case from Wales, in the law reports, where a person of our name was either plaintiff or defendant; and one of the same name was secretary to the Virginia Company. These are the only instances in which I have met with the name in that country. I have found it in our early records; but the first particular information I have of any ancestor was of my grandfather, who lived at the place in Chesterfield called Ozborne's, and owned the lands afterwards the glebe of the parish. He had three sons; Thomas who died young, Field who settled on the waters of Roanoke and left numerous descendants, and Peter, my father, who settled on the lands I still own, called Shadwell, adjoining my present residence. He was born February 29, 1707-8, and intermarried 1739, with Jane Randolph, of the age of 19, daughter of Isham Randolph, one of the seven sons of that name and family, settled at Dungeoness in Goochland. They trace their pedigree far back in England and Scotland, to which let every one ascribe the faith and merit he chooses. |