of to-day, entered the Capital in chariots drawn by four or six horses, and attended by a retinue of black and white followers. The display made by one of the "first families" at Williamsburg in 1760, could only be equaled in kingly pageants, or excelled in the Arabian Nights' Entertainments. It was, indeed, a knightly period, and many a "Sir Asinus" or lord of the golden. garter, with "rueful face and dolorous countenance," paid court on bended knee in gallant speech to his fair dulcinea. This was a golden epoch in the life of Mr. Jefferson, one in which he is doubtfully supposed to have said: "Therefore, I uphold the doctrine that love for young ladies who attend school is not wholly ridiculous, else how could those who go on studying until they are as old as the surrounding hills, be ever loved with reason? I am, therefore, determined to fall deeper still in love, and write more verses, and abolish that old dull scoundrel, Coke, and become a sighing, languishing, poetic Lovelace. I'll go and dance, and feel my pulse every hour, look at the weather-glass of my affections, and at night, or rather in the morning, report to myself the result." When Jefferson could write such drivel it still must have been the age and place where prevailed "the idea that woman should, from her very weakness, rule and direct." There are not wanting evidences that Mr. Jefferson now entered largely for a time into the spirit of fashionable dissipation. Among his new and distinguished acquaintances was the dissolute freethinker, Governor Farquier, a man devoted much to elegant nothingnesses. His company, according to his own statements, was often of the bad sorts from which it was a source of amazement, even to him

self, that he ever escaped, to be worth any thing to the world.

Those were, in sooth, brave days in Old Virginia when men gave themselves: "Ah! to love and be loved under the skies, in Arcady! But Arcady is everywhere when the true heart is near. To love and be loved! to know there is one near you whose whole heart is yours, whose bosom would willingly support the weary head; to have a heart to bring all your sorrows to; to feel that the sky was brighter, and all the stars more friendly and serene, if she were by you; to love and love, and never change, and live a life of happy dreams, however active it might be, when the dear image swept across the horizon! To give the heart and in mind a sigh, and seal the vow of faith and truth upon loving lips! In a word, one word speaks it all, to love! Yes, yes, to love! To feel the horizon expand around you till it seems to embrace every thing, to love innocently, purely, under the holy heavens; to love till the dying hour, and then, clasped in a pure embrace, to go away together to another world! Only to love!"

No wonder, then, according to another sketch, also from Mr. Cooke's elegant fiction, that at such a time a young republican should appear in fantastic garb, "his coat heavy with embroidery, his waistcoat a blooming flower-plat, upon whose emerald background roses, marigolds, and lilies flaunted in their satin bravery, and his scarlet silk stockings were held up by gold-colored garters; and his narrow-edged cocked hat drooped with its feather over his handsome features, and in his delicately gloved hand he held a slight cane, which, from time to time, he rested on the point of his

high-heeled shoes, bending the lithe twig with irreproachable elegance." In this state of society Mr. Jefferson spent his two years with "Old William and Mary," and that he did not fall beneath his ambition was not owing to his non-compliance with the fashions. of the times. Amidst his efforts to rise to the levels of the fine models he chose from his acquaintances, the influence of court society must have given rise to such outbursts as the following, found in one of his letters: "I do wish the devil had old Coke, for I am sure I never was so tired of an old dull scoundrel in my life.... The old fellow says we must read to gain knowledge, and gain knowledge to make us happy, and be admired. Mere jargon! Is there any such thing as happiness in this world? No. And as for admiration, I am sure the man who powders most, perfumes most, embroiders most, and talks most nonsense, is most admired."

As early as 1760, there appeared no little dissatisfaction in Virginia, as to the conduct of the British ministry, and murmurs of complaint were plain enough. Although but a boy, Jefferson took a deep interest in these affairs, and became somewhat distinguished at the college for his opposition to the measures of the Government, the Established Church, and his decidedly republican tendencies. His independent traits, which had characterized his father, gained for him the reputation of a fearless thinker. The following, piece of romance is not unlike what might have been expected of Mr. Jefferson at that period, however little truth there should be in attributing it to his pen :

"WHEREAS, the undersigned has heretofore at different times expressed opinions of his Majesty, and of the Established Church,

and of the noble aristocracy of England and Virginia, derogatory to the character of the said Majesty, and so forth; also, whereas he has unjustly slandered the noble and sublime College of William and Mary, so called from their gracious majesties, deceased; and whereas, the said opinions have caused great personal inconvenience to the undersigned, and whereas he is tired of martyrdom and exile; therefore, be it hereby promulgated, that the undersigned doth here and now publicly declare himself ashamed of the said opinions, and doth abjure them; and doth declare his Majesty, George III., the greatest of kings since Dyonisius of Syracuse, and Nero; and his great measure, the Stamp Act, the noblest legislation since the edict of Nantz. And further, the undersigned doth uphold the great Established Church, and revere her ministers, so justly celebrated for their piety and card-playing, their proficiency in theology, and their familiarity with that great religious epic of the Reformation, Reynard the Fox,' the study of which they pursue even on horseback. And lastly, the said undersigned doth honor the great college of Virginia, and revere the aristocracy, and respect entails, and spurn the common classes as becomes a gentleman and honest citizen; and in all other things doth conform himself to established rules, being convinced that whatever is, is right."

While Jefferson considered himself fortunate in a distinguished class of friendships, he did not escape. all of the evils of such association. But if he played cards at Williamsburg, he was not a gambler, and in his own home he did not tolerate card-playing. He had a taste for music, and was himself a fine player on the violin. As an amateur musician, he enjoyed no inconsiderable distinction at the old Capital of Virginia. Among his early accomplishments was included dancing, in which he displayed the elegant manners of his times to advantage in his tall and then not ungraceful figure, rendering him, in his school and law student days, one of the most attractive beaux of Williamsburg, which position his fine pecuniary prospects and family relations did not diminish.

CHAPTER III.

MR. JEFFERSON, OLD COKE, BELINDA, AND THE DEVIL.

A

CCORDING to the plan announced in the general

preface of this work of allowing men to speak for themselves, it is deemed advisable to occupy this chapter with a few letters and extracts from letters written by Mr. Jefferson at the outset of his career, as fully confirmatory and illustrative of the somewhat reckless youth exhibited in the preceding pages, and as an indubitable means of starting the reader right in his estimation of this interesting individual, whose character presents so many points for unfavorable criticism, as well as of admiration.

LETTERS TO JOHN PAGE.

"FAIRFIELD, December 25, 1762. "DEAR PAGE,-This very day, to others the day of greatest mirth and jollity, sees me overwhelmed with more and greater misfortunes than have befallen a descendant of Adam for these thousand years past, I am sure; and perhaps after excepting Job, since the creation of the world. I think his misfortunes were somewhat greater than mine; for, although we may be pretty nearly on a level in other respects, yet, I thank my God, I have the advantage of brother Job in this, that Satan has not as yet put forth his hand to load me with bodily afflictions. You must know, dear Page, that I am now in a house surrounded with enemies, who take counsel together against my soul; and when I lay me down to rest, they say among themselves, Come, let us destroy him. I am sure if there is such a thing as a Devil in this world he must have been here last night, and have had some hand in