to fear from the yellow fever, but by the 15th
of September every official matter having been
disposed of, and all the clerks in his office but
one having fled the city, Jefferson concluded to
return home. The start from Philadelphia was
made on September 15th, and the party reached
Monticello on the 22nd of that month.
Here he remained until late in October,
when the President having selected Germantown
as a convenient and safe gathering point for the
members of Congress and the cabinet, Jefferson
set out for this place.
The Secretary of State during the summer
had resigned his office to take effect December
31st. Relinquishing his post in mid-winter
would compel him, should he return imme-
diately to Virginia, to plough through the
heavy, muddy roads, and for this reason he did not
wish to use his own horses and carriage, and the
journey from Monticello to Germantown was
therefore made by horseback and the public
stage. The start was made on October 25th,
with two servants, James and Bob. The latter
Page:Jefferson's Germantown letters.djvu/18
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xii
INTRODUCTION
