The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1857-03-27
SS>ASM Sl<
from tho New York commsreiai.
A LIFE OF THOMAS JEFFERSON.


s. Randall LID formerly State superintendent Of public
instruction. has in preparation life of Jefferson the mate
rails of which derived from inaccessible TO
other gentleman Mr. Randals unique for his
forthcoming memoir pleasantly described in letter,
portion of which subjon, from one Of the most cunt
nent literary of the country in the confidence OF end
ship to literary friend The letter will well repay perusa
for while preguring biography win be in Mr. Ran
das hands, lets the reader incidentally into the habits
and character of jefferson greater extent than
yet published II contains indeed the promise Of far
complete and worthy life Of Jefferson than has yet
appeared than could be written by any other man
His industry in collecting materials has been
remarkably successful Piles OF books lay stacked in
every corner of the library to give up the shelves to
authorities But it is in the original department that his
success has been peculiar The library perfect
magazine of personal of Mr.. Jefferson, manu-
scripts pictures views of Monticello ground plans Of its
garden grounds and other SURROUNDINGS in the days Of is
classed Here list of the texts in JeferSons BIZ
be drawn up for publication there is list Of the pedi
grees his horses not drawn for publication here was
the pocket referred in the Notes Virginia. for
the original copy of Logans speech there neat drawing
of Jeersons pough of least resistance with spechca-
for construction here lockets of his hair there his
MSS copies of avorte songs and ballads and 90 cd
infnu And queer collection Of tables kept by one
man. surely heard of There are tables OF his
annual and monthly expenses private man and as
PRESIDENT of his receipts lawyer of his observations
in various departments of science and natural history Of
his farming and gardening operations q the Drsns
and farm products caed off and destroyed by
Corvallis; of his nail making; Of his manufactures of do
nestle woollens and linens OF his milling; OF his smith
ing and cooperng Of distances between this place and
that scsraned by pedomeer attached to his person. or an
equivalent machine registering the rotations of carriage
wheel and Of innumerablc other things.
You will Judge Of the minuteness Of his ssrvations in
natural history when inform You that among the tables
that there = ns ,afss
knds) sold the Washington market during the entire
eight years Of his presidency
facts on which these made also in
Mr. Randalrs possession. The mnutest you
of expenses and receipts, (things and kind always
gwen his register as lawyer giving an account of all
his cases his daily observations in science his farm and
garden BOOKS his detailed exhibits in all the manufac-
turing branches and memoranda Of journeys Ss, g
writing and all deliberately ndexed by him. extend
space Of from twenty to fifty years
To my wondering inquiry why of these things had
ever come to light Mr. Randall informed me that nearly or
quite all these volumes and manuscrptsand have
meraed but small portion Of thenwere found by Mr.
Jeersons family in 1851 in dark and entirely forgotten
receptacle where they had lain since Mr. JeersoRs DEATH
At Cor not long aer) that time they doubtes
moved to F., amongst the old cast-aside account
books and other umpery of closet connected with Mr.
Jsferson's bedroom. You will remember it the
acove with its two eyeke holes opening into the bed
The lower tiers of these papers had remained
disturbed and forgotten time out of mind Randall thinks
it impossible that Mr. jefferson remembered their existence
when he his photographed memoir In proof
of ths Randall showed me several MSS volumes written
by Mr. Jefersons father and pointed out facts in them
which too am well satisfied no son would have ever
omitted in giving the most meagre account Of his family
So much for what may be termed the physical depart
ment. Now for the esoteric one And pray you mark
my string of specifications for it's bearing point
think Randall all right and you all wrong. He has Mr.
Jefersons family correspondence comprising three hun
dred more letters written to his two daughters from
their childhood down to the death of the youngest Mrs
Eppes He has, entire every extant letter Mr. Jefferson
wrote the latter his vvae letters to her husband
John W. Eppes aquanty addressed to Mr. Eppes senior,
(who his brothsrn-law running back to 1775 and
nf frnTn IN
the Declaration of Independence declared. You
of course that Of Mr. Jeersons family
has published. Randall has all the written
recoeStions which Mrs. Randoph left Of her father These
extensive but far they 60 precious from
the uncommony intelligent and candid character Of the
writer g. He has contemporaneous narratives and diaries
of OF Mr. Jeersons descendants of the genera
ton who however, grew up to and womanhood under
the same roof with him forget their extent but one
remember long giving records ofnumerous conversations
A. He has pretty recoections of of Jeer-
sonsintmate personal friends including Dr. Ds journal
of hislaa illness and DEATH He has narratives reco-
lections, descriptions, explanations, opinions word
TO inquiries every topic where intelligent
biograpber would seek information furnished TO him by
nearly all of Mr. j. ersons grandchildrenall who
old enough have distinct recolectons of the facts
should judge from seeing into deep drawer two that
these letters extend to some thousands of manuscript
pages and Randall himself said that they worth far
than any other cass of his original materials
says happily the family started the profoundly sensible
erity eraev as he sas that eIaeeeration would both n
ure and discredt the whole picture He turned
passage in letter from Mrs ---, of -, in answer
the question under what Mr. jefferson should be re-
giousy cassed querst having asserted thathe was
in Of the word nfde The reply splendidly
characteristic; aCass my grandfather nowhere my dear
Mr. Randall tell the world exactly what he thought
You may be sure saw with pleasure thick package of
letters from this gifted woman and another almost as
thick from the Misses -----, of -.r Randall drew
forth and put in nay hand three letters read them
with moistencd eyes! Commend me to woman's love to
relgouy collect the deca me6ya of biography and to
present them with religious scrnpuousness Randall is
obligations Of h0th
Now, ask you, what in the name of common sense in
duced you and Dr. d. to advise Randall make sho1t
life of this? If the object get up Sensation book
to meet the wants OF enerprsng' bookseller-to
make money for the author could better understand
you Would you have Randall reduce his vast mass OF
materials, particularly original materials mere sum-
the last in the tomb aud scattered the past collection
Never, in my opinion was biography OPPORTUNITY
commenced. And now when with such ZEAL such indus
try and such success these things have gathered are
they to be thrown away for fear railroad travellers and
yetcwcoreed readers generally will find the work too
p0nderous TO be taken at lunch and dgested between
stations Would you suppress Mr. Jeersons family let
iersY Wonld you exclude pictures Of life and manners
Montcello2 Would you reject anything that throws light
from original and certainly authentic his pri-
waite character and hstoynow just about well under
stood those of Nance Capac and Zoroaser Or would
you give two of his private letters and then say
after the solemn fashion of - ahe good people are
assured that all the betray equal excellence OF head
and hearth Or should his private and not his public life
be given2 Or should have plain narrative of his
public and private life and history of his mind and
opinions2 On which of these departments would Dr. d.
bring down his amputating SAW
is Thomas Jefferson who acted so prime psrt in our