autobiography-第1部分

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　　　　　　　　AUTOBIOGRAPHY

　　　　　　　　by　Thomas　Jefferson

　　　　　　　　　　　　　　AUTOBIOGRAPHY　　　
　　　　　　　　　　　　　　1743　　1790　
　　　　　　　　　　　　　　With　the　Declaration　of　Independence　　　
　　　　　　　　　　　　　　January　6；　1821

　　　　　　　　At　the　age　of　77；　I　begin　to　make　some　memoranda　and　state　some　recollections　of　dates　&　facts　concerning　myself；　for　my　own　more　ready　reference　&　for　the　information　of　my　family。

　　　　　　　　The　tradition　in　my　father's　family　was　that　their　ancestor　came　to　this　country　from　Wales；　and　from　near　the　mountain　of　Snowdon；　the　highest　in　Gr。　Br。　I　noted　once　a　case　from　Wales　in　the　law　reports　where　a　person　of　our　name　was　either　pl。　or　def。　and　one　of　the　same　name　was　Secretary　to　the　Virginia　company。　　These　are　the　only　instances　in　which　I　have　met　with　the　name　in　that　country。　I　have　found　it　in　our　early　records；　but　the　first　particular　information　I　have　of　any　ancestor　was　my　grandfather　who　lived　at　the　place　in　Chesterfield　called　Ozborne's　and　ownd。　　the　lands　afterwards　the　glebe　of　the　parish。　　He　had　three　sons；　Thomas　who　died　young；　Field　who　settled　on　the　waters　of　Roanoke　and　left　numerous　descendants；　and　Peter　my　father；　who　settled　on　the　lands　I　still　own　called　Shadwell　adjoining　my　present　residence。　　He　was　born　Feb。　29；　1707/8；　and　intermarried　1739。　with　Jane　Randolph；　of　the　age　of　19。　daur　of　Isham　Randolph　one　of　the　seven　sons　of　that　name　&　family　settled　at　Dungeoness　in　Goochld。　　They　trace　their　pedigree　far　back　in　England　&　Scotland；　to　which　let　every　one　ascribe　the　faith　&　merit　he　chooses。

　　　　　　　　My　father's　education　had　been　quite　neglected；　but　being　of　a　strong　mind；　sound　judgment　and　eager　after　information；　he　read　much　and　improved　himself　insomuch　that　he　was　chosen　with　Joshua　Fry　professor　of　Mathem。　in　W。　&　M。　college　to　continue　the　boundary　line　between　Virginia　&　N。　Caroline　which　had　been　begun　by　Colo　Byrd；　and　was　afterwards　employed　with　the　same　Mr。　Fry　to　make　the　1st　map　of　Virginia　which　had　ever　been　made；　that　of　Capt　Smith　being　merely　a　conjectural　sketch。　　They　possessed　excellent　materials　for　so　much　of　the　country　as　is　below　the　blue　ridge；　little　being　then　known　beyond　that　ridge。　　He　was　the　3d　or　4th　settler　of　the　part　of　the　country　in　which　I　live；　which　was　about　1737。　　He　died　Aug。　17。　1757；　leaving　my　mother　a　widow　who　lived　till　1776；　with　6　daurs　&　2。　sons；　myself　the　elder。　　To　my　younger　brother　he　left　his　estate　on　James　river　called　Snowden　after　the　supposed　birth…place　of　the　family。　　To　myself　the　lands　on　which　I　was　born　&　live。　　He　placed　me　at　the　English　school　at　5。　years　of　age　and　at　the　Latin　at　9。　where　I　continued　until　his　death。　　My　teacher　Mr。　Douglas　a　clergyman　from　Scotland　was　but　a　superficial　Latinist；　less　instructed　in　Greek；　but　with　the　rudiments　of　these　languages　he　taught　me　French；　and　on　the　death　of　my　father　I　went　to　the　revd　Mr。　Maury　a　correct　classical　scholar；　with　whom　I　continued　two　years；　and　then　went　to　Wm。　and　Mary　college；　to　wit　in　the　spring　of　1760；　where　I　continued　2。　years。　　It　was　my　great　good　fortune；　and　what　probably　fixed　the　destinies　of　my　life　that　Dr。　Wm。　Small　of　Scotland　was　then　professor　of　Mathematics；　a　man　profound　in　most　of　the　useful　branches　of　science；　with　a　happy　talent　of　communication；　correct　and　gentlemanly　manners；　&　an　enlarged　&　liberal　mind。　　He；　most　happily　for　me；　became　soon　attached　to　me　&　made　me　his　daily　companion　when　not　engaged　in　the　school；　and　from　his　conversation　I　got　my　first　views　of　the　expansion　of　science　&　of　the　system　of　things　in　which　we　are　placed。　　Fortunately　the　Philosophical　chair　became　vacant　soon　after　my　arrival　at　college；　and　he　was　appointed　to　fill　it　per　interim：　and　he　was　the　first　who　ever　gave　in　that　college　regular　lectures　in　Ethics；　Rhetoric　&　Belles　lettres。　　He　returned　to　Europe　in　1762；　having　previously　filled　up　the　measure　of　his　goodness　to　me；　by　procuring　for　me；　from　his　most　intimate　friend　G。　Wythe；　a　reception　as　a　student　of　law；　under　his　direction；　and　introduced　me　to　the　acquaintance　and　familiar　table　of　Governor　Fauquier；　the　ablest　man　who　had　ever　filled　that　office。　With　him；　and　at　his　table；　Dr。　Small　&　Mr。　Wythe；　his　amici　omnium　horarum；　&　myself；　formed　a　partie　quarree；　&　to　the　habitual　conversations　on　these　occasions　I　owed　much　instruction。　　Mr。　Wythe　continued　to　be　my　faithful　and　beloved　Mentor　in　youth；　and　my　most　affectionate　friend　through　life。　　In　1767；　he　led　me　into　the　practice　of　the　law　at　the　bar　of　the　General　court；　at　which　I　continued　until　the　revolution　shut　up　the　courts　of　justice。　　＇For　a　sketch　of　the　life　&　character　of　Mr。　Wythe　see　my　letter　of　Aug。　31。　20。　to　Mr。　John　Saunderson＇

　　　　　　　　In　1769；　I　became　a　member　of　the　legislature　by　the　choice　of　the　county　in　which　I　live；　&　continued　in　that　until　it　was　closed　by　the　revolution。　　I　made　one　effort　in　that　body　for　the　permission　of　the　emancipation　of　slaves；　which　was　rejected：　and　indeed；　during　the　regal　government；　nothing　liberal　could　expect　success。　　Our　minds　were　circumscribed　within　narrow　limits　by　an　habitual　belief　that　it　was　our　duty　to　be　subordinate　to　the　mother　country　in　all　matters　of　government；　to　direct　all　our　labors　in　subservience　to　her　interests；　and　even　to　observe　a　bigoted　intolerance　for　all　religions　but　hers。　　The　difficulties　with　our　representatives　were　of　habit　and　despair；　not　of　reflection　&　conviction。　　Experience　soon　proved　that　they　could　bring　their　minds　to　rights　on　the　first　summons　of　their　attention。　　But　the　king's　council；　which　acted　as　another　house　of　legislature；　held　their　places　at　will　&　were　in　most　humble　obedience　to　that　will：　the　Governor　too；　who　had　a　negative　on　our　laws　held　by　the　same　tenure；　&　with　still　greater　devotedness　to　it：　and　last　of　all　the　Royal　negative　closed　the　last　door　to　every　hope　of　amelioration。

　　　　　　　　On　the　1st　of　January；　1772　I　was　married　to　Martha　Skelton　widow　of　Bathurst　Skelton；　&　daughter　of　John　Wayles；　then　23。　years　old。　　Mr。　Wayles　was　a　lawyer　of　much　practice；　to　which　he　was　introduced　more　by　his　great　industry；　punctuality　&　practical　readiness；　than　to　eminence　in　the　science　of　his　profession。　　He　was　a　most　agreeable　companion；　full　of　pleasantry　&　good　humor；　and　welcomed　in　every　society。　　He　acquired　a　handsome　fortune；　died　in　May；　1773；　leaving　three　daughters；　and　the　portion　which　came　on　that　event　to　Mrs。　Jefferson；　after　the　debts　should　be　paid；　which　were　very　considerable；　was　about　equal　to　my　own　patrimony；　and　consequently　doubled　the　ease　of　our　circumstances。

　　　　　　　　When　the　famous　Resolutions　of　1765；　against　the　Stamp…act；　were　proposed；　I　was　yet　a　student　of　law　in　Wmsbg。　　I　attended　the　debate　however　at　the　door　of　the　lobby　of　the　H。　of　Burgesses；　&　heard　the　splendid　display　of　Mr。　Henry's　talents　as　a　popular　orator。　　They　were　great　indeed；　such　as　I　have　never　heard　from　any　other　man。　　He　appeared　to　me　to　speak　as　Homer　wrote。　　Mr。　　Johnson；　a　lawyer　&　member　from　the　Northern　Neck；　seconded　the　resolns；　&　by　him　the　learning　&　the　logic　of　the　case　were　chiefly　maintained。　　My　recollections　of　these　transactions　may　be　seen　pa。　　60；　Wirt's　life　of　P。　H。；　to　whom　I　furnished　them。

　　　　　　　　In　May；　1769；　a　meeting　of　the　General　Assembly　was　called　by　the　Govr。；　Ld。　Botetourt。　　I　had　then　become　a　member；　and　to　that　meeting　became　known　the　joint　resolutions　&　address　of　the　Lords　&　Commons　of　1768　　9；　on　the　proceedings　in　Massachusetts。　Counter…resolutions；　&　an　address　to　the　King；　by　the　H。　of　Burgesses　were　agreed　to　with　little　opposition；　&　a　spirit　manifestly　displayed　of　considering　the　cause　of　Massachusetts　as　a　common　one。　The　Governor　dissolved　us：　but　we　met　the　next　day　in　the　Apollo　of　the　Raleigh　tavern；　formed　ourselves　into　a　voluntary　convention；　drew　up　articles　of　association　against　the　use　of　any　merchandise　imported　from　Gr。　Britain；　signed　and　recommended　them　to　the　people；　repaired　to　our　several　counties；　&　were　re　elected　without　any　other　exception　than　of　the　very　few　who　had　declined　assent　to　our　proceedings。

　　　　　　　　Nothing　of　particular　excitement　occurring　for　a　considerable　time　our　countrymen　seemed　to　fall　into　a　state　of　insensibility　to　our　situation。　　The　duty　on　tea　not　yet　repealed　&　the　Declaratory　act　of　a　right　in　the　British　parl　to　bind　us　by　their　laws　in　all　cases　whatsoever；　still　suspended　over　us。　　But　a　court　of　inquiry　held　in　R。　Island　in　1762；　with　a　power　to　send　persons　to　England　to　be　tried　for　offences　committed　here　was　considered　at　our　session　of　the　spring　of　1773。　as　demanding　attention。　　Not　thinking　our　old　&　leading　members　up　to　the　point　of　forwardness　&　zeal　which　the　times　required；　Mr。　Henry；　R。　H。　Lee；　Francis　L。　Lee；　Mr。　Carr　&　myself　agreed　to　meet　in　the　evening　in　a　private　room　of　the　Raleigh　to　consult　on　the　state　of　things。　　There　may　have　been　a　member　or　two　more　whom　I　do　not　recollect。　　We　were　all　sensible　that　the　most　urgent　of　all　measures　was　that　of　coming　to　an　understanding　with　all　the　other　colonies　to　consider　the　British　claims　as　a　common　cause　to　all；　&　to　produce　an　unity　of　action：　and　for　this　purpose　that　a　commee　of　correspondce　in　each　colony　would　be　the　best　instrument　for　intercommunication：　and　that　their　first　measure　would　probably　be　to　propose　a　meeting　of　deputies　from　every　colony　at　some　central　place；　who　should　be　charged　with　the　direction　of　the　measures　which　should　be　taken　by　all。　　We　therefore　drew　up　the　resolutions　which　may　be　seen　in　Wirt　pa　87。　　The　consulting　members　proposed　to　me　to　move　them；　but　I　urged　that　it　should　be　done　by　Mr。　Carr；　my　friend　&　brother　in　law；　then　a　new　member　to　whom　I　wished　an　opportunity　should　be　given　of　making　known　to　the　house　his　great　worth　&　talents。　　It　was　so　agreed；　he　moved　them；　they　were　agreed　to　nem。　con。　and　a　commee　of　correspondence　appointed　of　whom　Peyton　Randolph；　the　Speaker；　was　chairman。　　The　Govr。　（then　Ld。　Dunmore）　dissolved　us；　but　the　commee　met　the　next　day；　prepared　a　circular　letter　to　the　Speakers　of　the　other　colonies；　inclosing　to　each　a　copy　of　the　resolns　and　left　it　in　charge　with　their　chairman　to　forward　them　by　expresse