CHAPTER IX
MR. THOMAS JEFFERSON
Not in fifty years, said Thomas Jefferson in the last days of hislife, had the sun caught him in bed. On this morning, having saidgood-by to the man to whose hands he had entrusted the dearestenterprise of all his life, he turned back to his desk in the littleoffice-room, and throughout the long and heated day, following a nightspent wholly without sleep, he remained engaged in his usual labors,which were the heavier in his secretary's absence.
He was an old man now, but a giant in frame, a giant in mind, a giantin industry as well. He sat at his desk absorbed, sleepless, with thatsteady application which made possible the enormous total of hislife's work. He was writing in a fine, delicate hand--legible to thisday--certain of those thousands of letters and papers which have beengiven to us as the record of his career.
In what labor was the President of the United States engaged on thisparticularly eventful day? It seems he found more to do with householdmatters than with affairs of state. He was making careful accounts ofhis French cook, his Irish coachman, his black servants stillremaining at his country house in Virginia.
All his life Thomas Jefferson kept itemized in absolute faithfulness alist of all his personal expenses--even to the gratuities he expendedin traveling and entertainment. We find, for instance, that "JohnCramer is to go into the service of Mr. Jefferson at twelve dollars amonth and twopence for drink, two suits of clothes and a pair ofboots." It seems that he bought a bootjack for three shillings; andthe cost of countless other household items is as carefully set down.
We may learn from records of this date that in the past year Mr.Jefferson had expended in charity $1,585.60. He tells us that in thefirst three months of his presidency his expenses were $565.84--and hewas wrong ten cents in his addition of the total! In his own hand hesets down "A View of the Consumption of Butchers' Meat from September6, 1801, to June 12, 1802." He knew perfectly well, indeed, what allhis household expenses were, also what it cost him to maintain hisstables. He did all this bookkeeping himself, and at the end of eachyear was able to tell precisely where his funds had gone.
We may note one such annual statement, that of the year ended fivemonths previous to the time when Captain Lewis set forth into theWest:
Provisions $4,059.98 Wines 1,296.63 Groceries 1,624.76 Fuel 553.68 Secretary 600.00 Servants 2,014.89 Miscellaneous 433.30 Stable 399.06 Dress 246.05 Charities 1,585.60 Pres. House 226.59 Books 497.41 Household expenses 393.00 Monticello--plantation 2,226.45 " --family 1,028.79 Loans 274.00 Debts 529.61 Asquisitions--lands bought 2,156.86 " --buildings 3,567.92 " --carriages 363.75 " --furniture 664.10
Total $24,682.45
Mr. Jefferson says in rather shamefaced fashion to his diary:
I ought by this statement to have cash in hand $183.70 But I actually have in hand 293.00 So that the errors of this statement amt to 109.20
The whole of the nails used for Monticello and smithwork are omitted, because no account was kept of them. This makes part of the error, and the article of nails has been extraordinary this year.
There was a curious accuracy in the analytical tests which Mr.Jefferson applied to all the ordinary transactions of life. It was notenough for him to know exactly how many dollars and cents he hadexpended; he must know what should be the average result of suchexpenditures. In the middle of a life of tremendous and marvelouslyvaried activities he finds time to leave for us such records as these:
Mr. Remsen tells me that six cord of hickory last a fireplace well the winter.
Myrtle candles of last year out.
Pd Farren an impudent surcharge for Venetn blinds, 2.66.
Borrowed of Mr. Maddison order on bank for 150d.
Enclosed to D. Rittenhouse, Lieper's note of 238.57d, out of which he is to pay for equatorial instrument for me.
Hitzeimer says that a horse well fed with grain requires 100 lb. of hay, and without grain 130 lb.
T. N. Randolph has had 9 galls. whisky for his harvest.
My first pipe of Termo is out--begun soon after I came home to live from Philadelphia.
Agreed with Robt. Chuning to serve me as overseer at Monticello for L25 and 600 lb. pork. He is to come Dec. 1.
Agreed with ---- Bohlen to give 300 _livres tournois_ for my bust made by Ceracchi, if he shall agree to take that sum.
My daughter Maria married this day.
March 16--The first shad at this market today.
March 28--The weeping willow shows the green leaf.
April 9--Asparagus come to table.
April 10--Apricots blossom.
April 12--Genl. Thaddeus Kosciusko puts into my hands a Warrant of the Treasury for 3,684.54d to have bills of exchange bought for him.
May 8--Tea out, the pound has lasted exactly 7 weeks, used 6 times a week; this is 8-21 or .4 of an oz. a time for a single person. A pound of tea making 126 cups costs 2d, 126 cups or ounces of coffee--8 lb. cost 1.6.
May 18--On trial it takes 11 dwt. Troy of double refined maple sugar to a dish of coffee, or 1 lb. avoirdupois to 26.5 dishes, so that at 20 cents per lb. it is 8 mills per dish. An ounce of coffee at 20 cents per lb. is 12.5 mills, so that sugar and coffee of a dish is worth 2 cents.
As to the code of official etiquette which we have seen to exist inWashington, the President himself was responsible for it, for wehave, written out in his own delicate hand, the following explicitinstructions:
The families of foreign ministers, arriving at the seat of government, receive the first visit from those of the national ministers, as from all other residents. Members of the legislature and of the judiciary, independent of their offices, have a right as strangers to receive the first visit. No title being admitted here, those of foreigners give no precedence. Difference of grade among the diplomatic members gives no precedence.
At public ceremonies the government invites the presence of foreign ministers and their families. A convenient seat or station will be provided for them, with any other strangers invited, and the families of the national ministers, each taking place as they arrive, and without any precedence.
To maintain the principle of equality, or of pell-mell, and prevent the growth of precedence out of courtesy, the members of the executive will practise at their own houses, and recommend an adherence to the ancient usages of the country of gentlemen in mass giving precedence to the ladies in mass, in passing from one apartment where they are assembled into another.
And so on, through reams and reams of a strange man's life records.
Why should we care to note his curious concern over details? Theanswer to that question is this--obviously, Thomas Jefferson'sestimate of a man must also in all likelihood have been curiouslyexact. He did not make public to the world his judgment of ColonelAaron Burr, at that time Vice-President of the United States; but inhis diary, written in frankness by himself for himself, he put downthe following:
I have never seen Colonel Burr till he became a member of the Senate. His conduct very soon inspired me with distrust. I habitually cautioned Mr. Madison against trusting him too much. I saw that under
General W. and Mr. Adams, where a great military appointment or a diplomatic one was to be made, he came post to Philadelphia to show himself, and in fact he was always in the market if they wanted him. He was indeed told by Dayton in 1800 that he might be Secretary at War, but this bid was too late. His election as Vice-President was then foreseen. With these impressions of Colonel Burr, there never has been any intimacy between us, and but little association.
A certain plan of this same Colonel Burr's now went forward in suchfashion as involved the loyalty of Meriwether Lewis, the man to whom,of all others of his acquaintance, Thomas Jefferson gave first placein trust and confidence and friendship--the young man who but now wasmaking his unostentatious departure on the great adventure that theytwo had planned.
His garb ill cared-for, his hair unkempt, his face a trifle haggard,working on into the day whose dawn he had seen arise, the tall, gauntold man set aside first one minor matter, then another, leaving themall exactly finished. At last he wrote down, for later forwarding, thelast item of his own knowledge regarding the new country into which hehad sent his young friend.
I have received word from Paris that Mr. Broughton, one of the companions of Captain Vancouver, went up the Columbia River one hundred miles in December, 1792. He stopped at a point he named Vancouver. Here the river Columbia is still a quarter of a mile wide. From this point Mount Hood is seen about twenty leagues distant, which is probably a dependency of the Stony Mountains. Accept my affectionate salutations.
This was the last word Meriwether Lewis received from his chief. Asthe latter finished it, he sat looking out of the window toward thatWest which meant so much to him.
He did not at first note the interruption of his reverie. Long ago hehad made public his announcement that the time of Thomas Jeffersonbelonged to the public, and that he might be seen at any time by anyman. He hesitated now but a moment, therefore, when old Henry, hisfaithful black, threw open the door and stated simply that there was"a lady wantin' to see Mistah Jeffahson."
"Who is she, Henry?" inquired the President of the United Statesmildly. "I am somewhat busy today."
"'Tain't no diff'rence, she say--she sho'ly want see MistahJeffahson."
The tired old man smiled and shrugged his shoulders. A moment laterthe persistent caller was ushered into the office of the nation'schief executive. He rose courteously to meet her.
It was Theodosia Alston, whom he had known from her childhood. Mr.Jefferson greeted her with his hand outstretched, and, her arm stillin his, led her to a seat.
"My dear," said he, "you will pardon our confusion here, I am sure.There are many matters----"
"I know it is an intrusion, Mr. Jefferson," began Theodosia Alstonagain, her face flushing swiftly. "But you are so good, so kind, sogreat in your patience that we all take advantage of you. And yet youare so tired," she added impulsively, as she caught sight of hishaggard face.
"I was not so fortunate as to find time for sleep last night." Hesmiled again with humorous, half twisted mouth.
"Nor was I."
"Tut, tut! No, no, my dear, that sort of thing will not do." He lookedat her in silence for some time. "Perhaps, my dear," said he at last,"you come regarding Captain Lewis?"
"How did you know?" she exclaimed, startled.
"Why should I not know?" He pushed his chair so close that he mightlay a hand upon her arm. "Listen, Theo, my child. I am an old man, andI am your friend, and his also. I had need to be very blind had I notknown long ago what I did know. I am, perhaps, the only confidant ofCaptain Lewis, and I repose in him confidences that I would venture tono other man; but he is not the sort to speak of such matters. It isonly by virtue of exceptional circumstances, my dear, that I know thestory of you two."
She was looking straight into his face, her eyes mournful.
"I was glad to send him away, sorely as I miss him. But then, yousaid, you come to me about him?"
"Yes, after he is gone--knowing all that you say--because I trust yourgreat kindness and your chivalry. I come to ask you to call him back!Oh, Mr. Jefferson, were it any other man in the world but yourself Ihad not dared come here; but you know my story and his. It is yourright to believe that he and I were--that is to say, we might havebeen--ah, sir, how can I speak?"
"You need not speak, my dear, I know."
"I shall be faithful to my husband, Mr. Jefferson."
The old man nodded.
"Captain Lewis knows that also. He would be the last to wish itotherwise. But, since it was his misfortune to set his regard upon oneso fair as yourself, and since fate goes so hard for a strong man likehim, then I must admit it needed strong medicine for his case. I senthim away, yes. Would you ask him back--for any cause?"
In turn she laid a small hand upon the President's arm.
"Only for himself--for that reason alone, Mr. Jefferson, and not tochange your plans--for himself, because you love him. Oh, sir, eventhe greatest courts sometimes arrest their judgment if there is newevidence to be introduced. At the last moment justice gives acondemned man one more chance."
"What is it, Theodosia?" he said quietly. "I do not grasp all this."
"Able men say that this government cannot take advantage of the saleof Louisiana to us by Napoleon--that our Constitution prevents ourtaking over a foreign territory already populated to make into newStates of our own----"
"Good, my learned counsel--say on!"
"Forgive my weak wit--I only try to say this as I heard it, well andplainly."
"As well as any man, my dear! Go on."
"Therefore, even if Captain Lewis does go forward, he can only fail atthe last. This is what is said by the Federalists, by your enemies."
"And perhaps by certain of my own party not Federalists--by ColonelAaron Burr, for instance!" Thomas Jefferson smiled grimly.
"Yes!" She spoke firmly and with courage.
"I cannot pause to inquire what my enemies say, my dear lady. But inwhat way could this effect our friend, Captain Lewis? He is underorders, on my errand."
"I saw him this very morning--I took my reputation in my hands--Ifollowed him--I urged him, I implored him to stop!"
"Yes? And did he?"
"Not for an instant. Ah, I see you smile! I might have known he wouldnot. He said that nothing but word from you could induce him tohesitate for a moment."
"My dear young lady, I said to Captain Lewis that no report from anysource would cause me for an instant to doubt his loyalty to me. Ifanything could shake him in his loyalty, it would be his regard foryou yourself; but since I trust his honor and your own, I do not fearthat such a conflict can ever occur!"
She did not reply. After a time the President went on gently:
"My dear, would you wish him to come back--would you condemn himfurther to the tortures of the damned? And would you halt him while heis trying to do his duty as a man and a soldier? What benefit to you?"
She drew up proudly.
"What benefit, indeed, to me? Do you think I would ask this formyself? No, it was for _him_--it was for _his_ welfare only that Idared to come to you. And you will not hear new evidence?"
But now she was speaking to Thomas Jefferson, the President of theUnited States, man of affairs as well, man of firm will and clear-cutdecision.
"Madam," said he, coldly, "in this office we do a thing but once. HadI condemned yonder young man to his death--and perhaps I have--I wouldnot now reconsider that decision. I would not speak so long as thisover it, did I not know and love you both--yes, and grieve over youboth; but what is written is written."
His giant hand fell lightly, but with firmness, on the desk at hisside. The inexorableness of a great will was present in the room as anactual thing. Tears swam in her eyes.
"You would not hear what was the actual cause of my wish for him----"
"No, my dear! We have made our plans."
"There are other plans afoot these days, Mr. Jefferson."
"Tut, tut! Are
you my enemy, too? Oh, yes, I know there are enemiesenough in wait for me and my administration on every side. Yes, I knowa plan--I know of many such. But one thing also I do know, madam, andit is this--not all the enemies on this earth can alter me one iota inthis undertaking on which I have sent Captain Lewis. As against thatmagnificent adventure there is nothing can be offered as an offset,nothing that can halt it for an instant. No reward to him or me--nay,no reward to any other human being--shall stop his advancement in thatpurpose which he shares with me. If he fails, I fail with him--and allmy life as well!"
She rose now, calm before the imperious quality of his nature, sounlike his former gentleness.
"You refuse, then, Mr. Jefferson? You will not reopen this case?"
"I refuse nothing to you gladly, my dear lady. But you have seenhim--you have tested him. Did he turn back? Shall I, his friend andhis chief, halt him at such a time? Now that were the worst kindnessto him in the world. And I am convinced that you and I both plan onlykindness for him."
Suddenly he saw the tears in her eyes. At once he was back again, thecourteous gentleman.
"Do not weep, Theodosia, my child," said he. "Let me kiss you, as yourfather or your grandfather would--one who holds you tenderly in hisheart. Forgive me that I pass sentence on you both, but you mustpart--you must not ask him back. There now, my dear, do not weep, oryou will make me weep. Let me kiss you for him--and let us all go onabout our duties in the world. My dear, good-by! You must go."
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