Worcester daily spy., 1861-11-12
lNortester 4ailg Spy,
JEFFERSON AT MONTICELLO,
THE PRIVATE LIFE AND PERSONAL HABITS
OF THOMAS JEFFERSON.
From the n. Y, Evening Post.

fore the New York Historical Society. IT con.
tanned some elaborate statements concerning
the private life and personal habits of Jefier-
son, derived from new sources. The author,
Rev DIR. Pierson, president OF Cumberland
College, in Kentucky, became acquainted with
an overseer Of Jeffersons estate, who is now
living, and from whom he has obtained a
number of interesting "reminiscences.
After some remarks on the character Of the
subject of his address, the speaker SAID that II
would probably be new to his audience that
Thomas Jefferson still survived in his every
day life at Monticello-ln the iron memory OF
the sturdy old man-Capt Edwin Bacun-
who had lived with him tors twenty years, as
all overseer of his estate and business, aud
had during that time sustained the most init
mate relations with his employer, sharing his
confidence throughout. Dr.. Pierson proceed,
ed to give the result of Capt. Bacon's remin.
iscences-partly in his own words: =
Mr.. JeffersOn's estate was quite large.
There were about ten thousand acres. 1t was
not profitable estate, being uneven and hard
to work. The whole was divided into four
plantations, each in charge OF an overseer.
Around the buildings acres of ground were
planted with trees flowers were very plenti
full, and these were also found scattered over
the estate. OF fruit of every description there
were great quantities. The speaker had never
such place for fruit. Monticello was
on high ground, and fruit never failed. Mr..
jefferson was fond of shrubbery lie cutiya.
ted it carefully !; and when lie was in Wash
ington sent home large quantities, which he
procured in a nursery in Alexandria. He al
ways knew all about every tree or plant on
every part OF his grounds and just where any
were missing To illustrate Mr. JeffeTsons
very particular knowledge ia relation to thi;
subject the speaker read a letter of detailed
instructions TO Capt. Bacon, which had accom-.
panied quantity Of shrubbery he had sent
home.
Mr. Jefferson was very fond of all kinds of
good stock The first full bred Merino sheep
i'll all that portion of country were imported
for himself and Mr.. Madison, while he was
president. He afterward imported from Bar
barry four large broad tailed sheep, and also
six hogs, OF which Gen. Dearborn had two.
But the horse was Mr.. JetfeTs0n's tayOrtc an,
imal he was passionatey fond of fine good
horses, and would not ride or drive anything
buG high bred animals. Bay was his tavorite
color; he would 4have no other. John Ran
dolph would have none but black horses.
When Mr.. jefferson came from Washington,
at the conclusion of his presidential term, he
had new carriage built, according to de-
sign of his own The work was all done by
his own workmen, except the plating, which
was done in Richmond. lie always had five
four attached to it,. and one saddle horse.
These had such names as Washington, Wei
lington, Eagle. The last thing (said Captain
Bgcon) | ever did for Mr. Jefferson was TO
buy Eagle for him, for a riding horse. Tie
last time he ever rode on horseback he rode
Eagle. The last letter ] ever received ilom
him came from Kentucky, and described how
Eagle had fallen into the river with him and
famed his wrist. These horses made spleD
did appearance in the new carriage, Mr. JEFF
ferson would never allow them TO be contrOlltd
by reins he would not trust himself; but two
servants rode on horse back, each guiding
pair.
Mr.. Jefferson built a Touring mill while l
(Bac9n) lived with him; it was large four
story building, and had four run OF stores. He
also built a railway on which ten or twelve
persons were sometimes employed. He had
factory for making cloths there were three
spinning jennies, one with thirty-siX spindles,
the second with eighteen, and the smallest
with six There the clothing for all his ser
wants was made, aud good deal besides. lie
also had blacksmith shop.
DIR. Pierson gave particular account OF the
personal appearance and habits OF Mr. Jefier
son at home. Mr.. Jefferson was lin the Ian
guage OF Capt Bacon) six feet two and a half
inches high, well proportoned and straight as
a gun barrel. He had no surplus flesh. He
was very strong, and lie had machine for
measuring strength Very few men | have
seen try it were as strong as his son in law,
Thomas Mann Randolph, but Mr.. Jefferson
was stronger than he. He enjoyed the best
OF health-was really never sick IN his life
until his last sickness. His skin was pure
just as lie was in principle continued Bacon,
emphatcallyl ; he had blue eyes and kindness
always marked his countenance, which bore
serenely mild expression; he was never dis
turbed. Capt. Bacon referred to a single in
stance in illustration. On one occasion eleven
thousand bushels of wheat were i'll the mill
The rain fell in torrents, when the water WAS
already high, during the entire night; l got
up early aud went to the dam; 500 1T began
10 break, and | saw the whole swept away. 1
never felt worse in my life. / went to SIC
Mr.. Jefferson about it. He had just come
from breakfast On seeing me he inquired if
l had from the mill dam. replied that had
lust come from there, and that the dam was
all swept away. He replied, as calmly us
though nothing had happened, that we must
build temporary one tor this season, and
next summer we would make dam that
could not be washed away.
MIR. Jefferson was always an early riser, and
generally rode out at daybreak or before.
have never found him in bed, though often
having occasion to see him very early Ill the
morning. l thought severn times, when
went at an unusually early hour, that l would
find him bed-but there he would be walking
on the terrace (the captain closed with his IA
vOrite eXpression) straight as a gun barrel
daughter He never had a servant TO make
a fire in his room; lie always had quantity
Of ashes in the fire place, and usually kept the
fire alive by covering it, doing the work with
his own hands He did not use tobacco in
any form (appause); he never used protane
word, nor any thing like it he never played
at cards. | never saw a card in the house at
Monticello, and his overseers had particular
orders TO suppress card playing among the
negroes. | never saw any dancing in his
house. He was never great eater, but what
he did eat was very choice; never ate much
hog meat, and he told me when l gave out
food for the servants, for one week, that it was
more than he would need in six months. He
was very fond of Guinea fowl also ATE two
or three kinds of lesh particularly lamb. He
was also very fond of fruit and vegetables,
and raised every variety. In his dress he was
very neat he wore short breeChes and bright
buckles. When he rode on horseback he wore
overalls.
Mr. jefferson was very particular in the
transaction of all his business, and always had
written statement about every thing, so that
l knew exactly what to do. Dr. Person read
the instructions Mr.. Jefferson had lett with
Bacon when he went to Washington. He
kept an account of everything relating to hls
farm, and knew exactly how mnch OF every
thing was raised, on what plantation, and
what became of it-how much was sold and
how much was used IDr. Pierson read a
balance sheet estimates for quarter. Mr..
Jefferson, in his business transactions, would