I quitted my Seat in the House of Delegates, from a Conviction that I was no longer able to do any essential Service.
One of the first principles of decorative art is that in all manufactures ornament must hold a place subordinate to that of utility; and when, by its exuberance, ornament interferes with utility, it is misplaced and vulgar.
I thank God, I have been able, by adopting Principles of strict Economy and Frugality, to keep my principal, I mean my Country-Estate, unimpaired.
I retired from public Business from a thorough Conviction that it was not in my Power to do any Good, and very much disgusted with Measures, which appeared to me inconsistent with common Policy and Justice.
Attend with Diligence and strict Integrity to the Interest of your Correspondents and enter into no Engagements which you have not the almost certain Means of performing.
I determined to spend the Remainder of my Days in privacy and Retirement with my Children, from whose Society alone I cou’d expect Comfort.
I begin to grow heartily tired of the etiquette and nonsense so fashionable in this city.
The freedom of the press is one of the great bulwarks of liberty, and can never be restrained but by despotic governments.
As nations can not be rewarded or punished in the next world they must be in this.
Habituated from our Infancy to trample upon the Rights of Human Nature, every generous, every liberal Sentiment, if not extinguished, is enfeebled in our Minds.
The augmentation of slaves weakens the states; and such a trade is diabolical in itself, and disgraceful to mankind.
Every society, all government, and every kind of civil compact therefore, is or ought to be, calculated for the general good and safety of the community.
I wish I knew where to get a good one myself; for I find cold Sheets extreamly disagreeable.
The poor despise labor when performed by slaves.
I have been for some time in Retirement, and shall not probably return again to public Life; yet my Anxiety for my Country, in these Times of Danger, makes me sometimes dabble a little in Politicks, and keep up a Correspondence with some Men upon the public Stage.
No point is of more importance than that the right of impeachment should be continued. Shall any man be above Justice?
Taught to regard a part of our own Species in the most abject and contemptible Degree below us, we lose that Idea of the dignity of Man which the Hand of Nature had implanted in us, for great and useful purposes.
We owe to our Mother-Country the Duty of Subjects but will not pay her the Submission of Slaves.
I am now pretty far advanced in life, and all my views are center’d in the Happiness and well-fare of my children; you will therefore find from me every Indulgence which you have a right to expect from an affectionate Parent.
I give and bequeath my soul to Almighty God that gave it me, hoping that through the meritorious death and passion of our Savior and Redeemer Jesus Christ to receive absolution and remission for all my sins.