T PREFACE. HROUGHOUT the formative period of our national life Thomas Jefferson stood second only to Washington in power and influence; after the death of Washington, for a quarter of a century, the will and words of Jefferson were supreme in American politics. After his death the spirit of Jefferson lived on, and to-day millions of men regard him as the greatest prophet of government and expounder of human rights that the world has produced. An inquiring mind, doubtless, desires to know the exact nature of the teachings of one who has so profoundly affected society, desires to read the precise words of his doctrine. But it is not an easy matter to satisfy this desire. The doctrines of Jefferson are scattered through many costly volumes that are to be found only in favored private libraries or in centers where there are large public libraries. It is the purpose of this volume to put the teachings of Jefferson within the reach of all. His voluminous correspondence and numerous State papers have been examined and wherever a significant passage or an important official document has been found it has been classified and placed in this collection. Nothing that has point has been omitted. For the purpose of making the writings more serviceable and intelligible a Life of Jefferson has been prepared. In this biographical sketch the aim has been to avoid controversy, abuse and eulogy, and to state the facts in a fair, non-partisan manner. The portion of the Life beginning with Jefferson's career in France and continuing to the end has been written by Dr. W. A. Montgomery, of Arkansas College, Fayetteville, Arkansas. S. E. F. THE LIFE OF THOMAS JEFFERSON. T SCHOOL AND COLLEGE DAYS. HOMAS JEFFERSON was born on the thirteenth day of April, 1743, at the homestead of Shadwell, near the city of Charlottesville, Albemarle County, Virginia. His father, Peter Jefferson, was a farmer, prosperous, strong in body, intellectual, and capable of public spirit. His mother was Jane Randolph, a refined and accomplished daughter of Isham Randolph, a worthy representative of the powerful family whose name he bore. Thus from both father and mother Jefferson was fortunate in his personal inheritance: big bones, well-knit muscles, a quick understanding, gentle instincts, and high social position. The education of young Jefferson was attended by such happy circumstances that in after life he was constrained to say that, if he were called upon to choose between the large estate left him by his father and the education given to him, he would without hesitation choose the latter. At the age of five he was sent to school at Tuckahoe, a temporary residence of his family, where he learned the rudiments of English and was practiced in psalms and in the prayers and collects of the liturgy of the Episcopal Church. At the age of nine he was placed under the care of the Rev. William Douglas, a Scotchman, from whom he learned the beginnings of Latin, Greek, French, and mathematics. With this master he remained until his fourteenth year, when death suddenly took away his father. He now left the school of the Scotchman, carrying with him memories of "mouldy pies and excellent instruction," and entered one kept 3 |