Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1871-08-17
NASHVILLE UNION AMERICAN THURSDAY AUGUST IT, 1871

lea. lie was a good classical scholar and
mathematician, clever musician, under
stood French, Spanish snd italian, and
had mastered the physical sciences as
then known.
He at once entered into extensive
practice in his profession. During his
eight years at the Bar he was engaged in
948 cases in the General Court alone be-
sides acting as counsel in rlany others.
He could not have been brilliant advo-
cate, and never came to be fluent
speaker. An old man who had when a
youth, often heard him in court, when
asked how Jefferson appeared as q pleader
could only say, "Well, it's hard to tell,
for he always took the right side. )" The
lawyer who always appears to have the
right side, certainly has the essential gift
of an advocate.
In 1869 Jefferson was elected to the
Virginia House of Burgesses, of which
for five years he remained prominent
member. 1t was almost by accident
that he became member of the first
Congress of 1775. He had been sp-
pointed as alternate for Peyton Randolph,
one of the three men whom he had pro-
posed to himself as models. Randolph was
President of the House of Burgesses, anda
meeting of that body having been called, he
was unable to take his seat in Congress,
and jefferson took his place. His reputation
''as having mastery pen' had preceded
him, and he was appointed Chairman of
the Committee to draw up Declaration
of Independence. The draft, with come
omissions, and few verbal alterations
by John Adams, was adopted. In 1879
he was chosen Governor of Virgins, but
resigned two years later, on account OF
the failing health of his wife, he promis-
ing her that he would never leave her to
accept any Office or take part in political
life. The Marquis De Chastellux, who
travelled in America in 1882, gives long
account of his visit to Jefferson, from
which we quote a few sentences:
'Iet me describe to you man not yet
forty, tall, and with mild and pleasing
countenance, but whose mind and under
standing are ample substitutes for every
exterior grace. An American, who, with
out ever having quilted his own country,
is at once a musician, skilled in drawing,
a geometrician, an astronomer, natural
philosopher, legislator and statesman,
Senator of America who sat for two
years in that body which brought about
the revolution, Governor of Virginia, q
philosopher in voluntary retirement from
the world. A mild and amiable wife,
charming children, of whose education he
himself takes charge; great provisions to
improve, q house TO embellish, the arts
and sciences to cultivate, these are what
remain to Mr.. jefferson sitter having
played principal character on the theater
of the New World, aud which he pre-
ferred to the honorable commission Of
Minister PlenipotentiaTy in Europe.
Sometimes natural philosophy, at others
politics or arts were the topics of our
conversation, for no object had escaped
Mr.. Jefferson, and it seemed as if from
youth he had placed his mind, as he had
done his house, on an elevated situation,
from which he might contemplate the
universe"
Jefferson sailed for Europe in the sum,
mer of 1884, accompanied by his eldest
daughter. At that time no outfit was
given to our foreign Ministers. He,
however, took a large and elegant house
in Paris, with extensive gardens, court
and outbuildings. He had also apart
ments in Csrthusian Monastery, where
he retired whenever he had a press of
business. He rose early, and spent
the morning in study, writing and
business, riding or walking into the
county in the afternoon: In one of these
walks he broke his right wrist which
continued lame until his death, so that
he was obliged to write with his left
hand. In a few months Franklin re-
turned to America, Jefferson succeeded
him as Minister to France. "You re-
place DR.. Franklin" said the French
Premier. 81 succeed him; no one could
replace him, " was Jefferson'5 reply.