The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1871-08-06
LITER AT q RE-
Reviews of New Books,

TH1 DOMESTIC LIFE OF THOMAS JEFFERSON C0nf-
plicd from his family letters ana "reminiscences.
Sy ms great granddangnier, sarah n Randolpa'
PIP. 49,
When Congress purchased the original papers of
Thomas Jefferson for the sum OF $200O0 IN the year
lS4S, his grandson and executor, Thomas Jeferson
Randolph delivered to the Department OF State all
The letters both public and private, with the stipu
Aallon reserved that after they had been used for
publication OF the writings OF Jefferson by order OF
Congress the papers which were found to be private
IN their character should be returned to the family
Years passed on and the Writings OF Thomas JEFF.
lerson" appeared from the press, in 1853, IN nine
large octave volumes. Yet the immense material
was unexhausted, though subsequently drawn upon
largely by Mr.. Henry s. Randall, whose extensive
biography OF his lustrous subject appeared in three
volumes In 1855. Indeed, the Jefferson papers were
not only unexhausted, but we are disposed TO think
them almost lnexhaustible. That great man was,
Ike washington and many other OF the public
characters OF Revolutionary times, slave OF the pen.
HIS voluminous correspondence included large
number Of the men OF his times most eminent for
learning and public merit He left behind him at
his death $4,000 letters which he had taken the
paths to preserve, besides over sixteen thousand
copies OF letters written by himself. Aad he wrote
mutitudes OF which no copies were kept
The heirs OF Jefferson made several applications to
she State Department from 1855 to 1861 for the return
Of his private and family papers, but successive
Secretaries doubted their power to part with them
without Congressional legislation. Meanwhile the
war came on, and Virginia tried secession from
the Union, and Jenerson's papers still slept
at the State Department. Finally, in 1862
Thomas Jefferson Randolph pettioned Congress for
the return OF these family memorials and joint
resolution was passed directing their return after
careful examination, and separating the papers
which were public IN their character from the
merely private letters, journals and accounts. The
restitution took place In the summer OF 1870, and
The handsome volume before us is the worthy first
fruit Of the late recovery Of these interesting pr-
vate memoranda.
The plan OF the work is by no means an ambitious
one; and the author, who is young lady OF cult
waited mind and careful pen, gives special promi-
nence to the family correspondence OF her great an
oestOr. Her style is as quiet and unpretending as
II is possible for style 10 be, and, although she
hlghly compliments Mr.. Randall upon the merits OF
his Dadgnug, opus, the "Lfe of Jefferson, we think
his ambitious ana frequently turbid rhetoric has not
always adorned his subject so much as 1t has over.
lad IT, Miss Randolph, daughter Of Thomas JEFF.
Jerson's favorite grandson, who had the good for
tune TO inherit his name, and, We must sOrrowfuly
add, the III fortune to inherit his debts which he
paid AZ great personal sacrifice, writes always with
conscientious affection of ner subject; but though
we have read her work through with care, we have
Called TO detect In 1t one fulsome word
Thomas Jefferson was born In l74s, on the banks
OF the picturesque little river Rvanna in Albemarle
county, Va. His father, Colonel Peter Jefferson was
y land surveyor, whose map Of Virginia more than
century ago IL Still famous. OF the early training OF
the future President Miss Randolph tells US that his
father was
Careful to have his young son early instructed in
All the manly sports and exercises of MS day. SO
that while still scnoolboy he was good rider a
good swimmer ana an ardent sportsman, spending
n0ars ana DAYS wandering IN pursuit OF game along
strengthening his body ana his health. which must
otherwise have given way under the intense appli-
CaOn 10 study 10 which he soon afterwards devoted
Aanlselr.
We ind the following characteristic trait OF the
way OF life OF the "Old Virginia gentleman before
the War OF Independence brought In LABOR and re.
spOnsiblity:-
The lives led by our forefathers were certainly
nlled with ease and leisure. One or Thomas Jener
sons giandsons asked him, on one OCCASION how
3he men OF his fathers day spent their time. He
voted friend TO whose house he would 90, dine
spend the night dine with him again on the second
DAY and return 10 Shadaeil in the evening. His
Trend ia the course OF day or two. returned the
Visit ana spent the same length OF lime house.
rms occurred once every week. and thus. you see
they were together four days out Of the seven.r
Yet we fnd the young scion OF this parentage so
far from inheriring such easy and ,soucjam habits
that he devoted himself to the severest intellectual
labor from Doyhood. Says his Diograpner OF his life
~ the University Of williamsburg
He studied fifteen hours a day. During the most
closely occupied days OF his college ife IL Was his
nab TO siuoy until TWO O'Clock ut night ana rise at
dawn; the day he spent in close apple Ation-the
only recreation oeing a run at twilight To a CERTAIN
stone which stood al point mlIe beyond the
limits OF the town. His habits Of study Kept
up Curing his vacation. which were spent
a n- mt cnf nj
self OFT from the social Interercourse with
friends and family, yet he still devoted nearly three
1Ourths OF his time TO his books. he rose in the
morning as soon as the hands Of a clock placed on
the mantelpiece in his chamber could be dIstin-
set he crossed the kivanDa III a little canoe, which
was kept exclusively for his own use, and walked
up 10 Inc summit OF bis loved Monticello. where ne
was having the apex OF the mountain Ievelled down,
preparatory 10 building.
rhe following incident has been printed before,
nut 1; embooes so characteristic trait that we
cannot refrain from copying
In the following year, 1865, there took place In
the House OF Burgesses tue great Gena.e on the
Stamp act, in which Patrick Henry electrified his
hearers by his bold and sublime Nights OF oratory.
In the ioDby OF the House was the tall thin
figure OF Jefferson, bending eagerly forward wit
ness the silrring scene. MS lace paled from the
effects O hard study and his eyes flashing with the
IRE Of latent genius and all the enthusiasm OF
youthful and devoted patriotism. In alusion to
the scene he writes IN his meiDoir:--
"When the famous resolutions OF l7G5 against the
stamp act were proposed was yet student OF law
Al WILLIAMSBURG. 1 attended the ueOate how
ever at the door o! tae lobby OF the House OF
burgesses, ana heard the splendid display OF Mr..
Henry's talents as popular orator. They were in
deco great such as have never heard from any
Other man. He appeared to me 10 speak as Homer
Wr0Le.n
Though Jefferson was fond OF horses and OF manly
sports he had one habit from his earliest youth
which principally aided to make him great He
never sat down for moment IN idleness, but went
aiways TO books or Investigations OF some kind hen
Otherwise unoccupIed. He thus took with him TO
the Congress OF l775 that solid reputation for scholar
ship which contributed to mark him out though one
OF the youngest members TO draft the immortal
Declaration OF Independence
AT twenty-nine Jefferson married youna and
bcautifui widow OF twentythree, by whom ne had
four children OF whom only two daughters lived to
reach adult years. The story OF the night ride OF the
newly married couple In driving snowstorm. which