This may do for young men with whom passion is enjoyment.
But it is afflicting to peaceable minds. Tranquillity is the old man's
milk. I go to enjoy it in a few days, and to exchange the roar and
tumult of bulls and bears, for the prattle of my grand-children and
senile rest. Be these yours, my dear friend, through long years, with
every other blessing, and the attachment of friends as warm and sincere,
as yours affectionately,
Th: Jefferson.
LETTER, CCXVI.--TO JAMES MADISON, August 3, 1797
THOMAS JEFFERSON TO JAMES MADISON.
Monticello, August 3, 1797.
I scribbled you a line on the 24th ultimo: it missed of the post, and
so went by a private hand. I perceive from yours by Mr. Bringhurst, that
you had not received it. In fact, it was only an earnest exhortation to
come here with Monroe, which I still hope you will do. In the mean time,
I enclose you a letter from him, and wish your opinion on its principal
subject. The variety of other topics the day I was with you, kept out
of sight the letter to Mazzei imputed to me in the papers, the general
substance of which is mine, though the diction has been considerably
altered and varied in the course of its translations from English into
Italian, from Italian into French, and from French into English.
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