Jefferson, Thomas | The former president writes to his grandson during a period of national threat

Jefferson, Thomas

Autograph (polygraph) letter signed ("Th: Jefferson") to his grandson, Thomas Jefferson Randolph, dates 6 September 1814

1 page (253 x 205 mm). Jefferson's retained polygraph copy, docketed by Jefferson at top edge of verso; old folds, one small marginal repair to verso.

"we are so flooded with lies that all is as blank paper to me which does not come thro’ a known channel..."

The present letter was written shortly after the Burning of Washington on 24 August 1814, the British attack led by Rear-Admiral George Cockburn during the Chesapeake campaign. The British set fire to many public buildings, including the White House, the Capitol, the Treasury Building, and the Washington Navy Yard, which had been founded by Thomas Jefferson. It was the only time since the Revolutionary War that a foreign power had captured and occupied a United States capital. 

The damage wrought by the British could have been far worse if not for the intervention of an act of nature. The following day, as the British invaders sought out American ammunition and other supplies to destroy, a storm engulfed the burning city. George Robert Gleig, a British soldier present at the conflict, reported that rains extinguished the fires, and the subsequent chaos allowed Gleig along with his cohort to quickly withdraw from the capitol.

Jefferson's letter to his oldest grandson quickly takes on a more familiar, domestic tone, with the former president writing: "I can give you nothing in exchange but the state of health of the family, which at present is all in perfect health." 

The Burning of Washington, however, remained at the forefront of Jefferson's mind. Much of the original collection of the Library of Congress was lost during the fire. On 21 September 1814, Jefferson wrote to Samuel H. Smith, with an offer to sell his personal library in order to replace the books that were destroyed by the British. Indeed, this offer of his collection of 6,487 books at Monticello was accepted by Congress. 

A personal letter penned during a time of national crisis.