Noah Webster letter to Emily Ellsworth, 1839 December 6

New Haven Decr 6. 1839

Dear Emily.

I have recd your long & good letter, in which the very first sentence surprises me. Why really have you just made the discovery that Tho Jefferson was a very bad man. I am afraid I have not been faithful in my instructions to my Children. I have known & published for forty years that Jefferson's principles have been the primary causes of all our public evils - not merely commercial evils, which are bad enough, but the evil of erroneous opinions, corrupt opinions, which in fact the great body of our citizens & which render it impossible to rectify disorders during this generation. I hope Mr Dwights books will do some good. but the evil is too deep-rooted to be cured for a long time.

I am constantly engaged in the preparation for the press & the correction of my great books. About 200 pages are printed, & William & myself have full works on our hands_ I can not write lectures_ I am too old & much too hurried. I shall be at Hartford at the celebration; but not with any thing to please myself; so if other people are not pleased, I shall not be disappointed. Rosalie will probably attend. & some others of our inhabitants.

J. Webster writes me from Waterbury that his mother has lately died.

Our families are all pretty well. & send love -

Your affectionate father

N Webster ~

74109

Miss Emily W. Ellsworth

Mrs Emily W Ellsworth Hartford

[POSTMARK] NEW HAVEN Ct. DEC 7

Single

Hart

Henry W Harrison

1972.96.75 74109