fifty years before, he had uttered on the floor of congress—'Independence forever.' On the morning of the jubilee, he was roused by the ringing of the bells and the firing of cannon, and, on being asked by the servant who attended him, whether he knew what day it was, he replied, 'O yes! it is the glorious 4th of July—God bless it—God bless you all.' In the course of the day, he said, 'It is a great and glorious day,' and, just before he expired, exclaimed, 'Jefferson survives.' But Jefferson had already, at one o'clock, that same day, rendered his spirit into the hands of its Creator.
THOMAS JEFFERSON.
Thomas Jefferson, the third President of the United States of America,
was born April 2, (old style,) 1743, at Shadwell, in Albemarle County,
Virginia, and was the eldest of eight children. His father, though his
education had been entirely neglected in early life, being a man of strong
mind, acquired, by subsequent study, considerable information. He died
when the subject of our sketch was about twelve years old, having previously
given him every means of knowledge that could be procured, and left
him a considerable estate. After going through a course of school instruction,
young Jefferson entered the college of William and Mary where he
remained for two years. He then commenced the study of law under the
guidance of the celebrated George Wythe, by whom, in 1767, he was
introduced to its practice, at the bar of the general court of the colony, at
which he continued until the revolution. In 1769 he was elected a
member of the provincial legislature from the county where he resided,
and made a fruitless effort, in that body, for the emancipation of the slaves.
By this time a spirit of opposition had been excited in the colonies to the
arbitrary measures of the British government; and when the governor of
Virginia dissolved the general assembly, in 1769, in consequence of the
sympathy which was displayed by the majority of its members with the
feelings which had been manifested in Massachusetts, they met, the next
day, in the public room of the Raleigh tavern, formed themselves into a
convention, drew up articles of association against the use of any merchandise
imported from Great Britain, and signed and recommended them to
the people. They then repaired to their respective counties, and were all
reëlected, except those few who had declined assenting to their proceedings.
In 1773 Mr. Jefferson associated himself with several of the boldest and
most active of his companions in the house, ('not thinking,' as he says
himself, 'the old and leading members up to the point of forwardness and
zeal which the times required,') and with them formed the system of
committees of correspondence, in a private room of the same Raleigh
tavern. This system was adopted as the best instrument for communication
between the different colonies, by which they might be brought to a
mutual understanding, and a unity of action produced. This end was
completely accomplished, as well as another object, that of exciting throughout
the colonies a desire for a general congress. It was accordingly
resolved that one should be held, and in Virginia a convention was assembled
for the purpose of choosing delegates. Of this convention Mr.
Jefferson was elected a member; but being suddenly taken ill on the road,
as he was repairing to Williamsburg, its place of meeting, he sent on to its
