The weekly Minnesotian. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1852-1858, 1854-12-16

Ir. Jeffer son and his Daughter Martha.


Mr.. Jefferson and his Daughter Martha. a..
In the superb new work soon to be issued by
the Appletons, under the title THE Repnbli-
can Court, or American Society in the days of
Washin gton," by Rufus W. Griswold, We find
an interesting letter from Mr.. Jefferson to his
eldest aughter, addressed to her when she was
at school, in Philadelphia. This daughter was
afterwards married to the Hon. Thomas Mann
Randolph, Of Tuckahoe, who became Governor
Of Virginia. DIR. Griswold says of her:
martha Jefferson was born on the 9th of
September, l772, and was therefore now a
little more than seventeen years of age. John
Randolph said she was 'the sweetest young
creature in Virginia : Mrs. Adams, to whose
care she had been entrusted some time in Par
is, refers to her with the most atlcctiOnate cX-
prcss:ons; and Mrs. Smith, the daughter ofMrs.
Adams, says 'dclicacy and sensibility are read
in unison in her every feature, and her man
ncrs. are in unison with all that is amiable and
lovely While Miss Jefferson, in 1888. was at
school in Philadelphia, boarding with Mrs.
Trst grandmother of Mr.. Nicholas Z. Trist,
VIII is now the husband of the granddaughter
of Mr.. Jcffcrson.) her father addressed to her
the following letter, which has never hitherto
been published, and is very interesting as an
illustration of his domestic character, and his
views OF the education OF woman:
"'-ANNAPoLIs, Nov. %, 1888.
".MY DEAR PATSY After four days jour-
ncy, arrived here without any accident. and
in as good health as when let Philadelphia.
The conviction that YOU would be more i'm
proved i'll the situation where | have placed
you than if still with M, has solaccd me on my
parting with you, which nay love for you has
rendered Il difficult thing. The requirements
which hope you will make under the tutors
have provided for yoa, will render You more
worthy ofmy love !: and if they cannot in
crease it. they will prevent its dm:nuat:on-
Consider the good lady who has taken you un-
der her roof, who has undertaken to see that
You perform all your exercises, and to adnon-
ish you in all those wanderings from What is
light or what is clever to which your ineypc-
rance would expose YOU consider hr. say,
As Your mother as the oaly person to whom
since the loss with which llcaycn has been
pleased to alii!ct YOU yon can now lock up
and that her displcasurc or dis pp:obatun on
any occasion. VIII be an immense misfortune
winch. should YOU be unhappy lis to incur
by ANY Gngnarlcd act, think no concession too
much to regain hr good Will. With respect 10
the distribution Of your time. the following is
what should approve: From eight to ten
practise music. From ten 10 one. d4ice oAc
day aud draw another. From one to TWO. draw
on the day you dance, and write letter next
day. From three to four. read French. From
four to five exercise yourself in music From
five till bedtime, read English write. &C.
Communicate this plan to Mrs. liopkin,on: and
If she approves it Pursue it. As loay rs Mrs
Trist remains in Ph iadclp h;a. cultivate her at
fcctionS. She has been valuable friend to
you. and her good sense and good heart make
her valued by all who know her. and bv no
bo'iy on earth noSe than me. | expect Won
will write TO me ny every post. Inform me
what looks you cad. what t;iars You learn and
inclosc me your best copy of every lesson n
drawing. Write also one letter every week.
either to your Aunt Epprs. your Aunt Skip
with, your Aunt Carry or the little lady from
whom | low enclose il letter. and always put
the letteryou :" write under cover to me
Take care that You never spell word wrong
Always, b fore yon write Il word. consider Ii, W
it is spelt, and. ii You do rot remember it turn
to dictionary. Ii produces great praise to a
lady to spell well. have placed my happi-
ness Oh seeing YOU good and accomplished
and no distress which this worl Id can now bring
on me would equal that ofyour disappointing
my hopes. Ii you love me. thea, strive to be
good under every situation. and to all living
creatures, Lave pat in your power. and which
WI! 90 far towards lis ring you the walm..t
love U. Your a:lrctionate father
TIL. JEFFERSON.
"'P. 5. Keep nay letters and read them at
times. that You will always have present in
your mind those things that will cntyar yuu TO
me-"
An admirable po:rait ofMiss Jefferson strong
~ resembles her iiustrious father and iusti-
lies the traditional fame o: her graceful Lcau-
ty.