There was a curious accuracy in the analytical tests which Mr. Jefferson applied to all the ordinary transactions of life. It was not enough for him to know exactly how many dollars and cents he had expended; he must know what should be the average result of such expenditures. In the middle of a life of tremendous and marvelously varied activities he finds time to leave for us such records as these: Mr. Remsen tells me that six cord of hickory last a fireplace well the winter.
Myrtle candles of last year out.
Pd Farren an impudent surcharge for Venetn blinds, 2.66.
Borrowed of Mr. Maddison order on bank for 150d.
Enclosed to D. Rittenhouse, Lieper's note of 238.57d, out of which he is to pay for equatorial instrument for me.
Hitzeimer says that a horse well fed with grain requires 100 lb. of hay, and without grain 130 lb.
T. N. Randolph has had 9 galls. whisky for his harvest.
My first pipe of Termo is out--begun soon after I came home to live from Philadelphia.
Agreed with Robt. Chuning to serve me as overseer at Monticello for £25 and 600 lb. pork. He is to come Dec. 1.
Agreed with ---- Bohlen to give 300 livres tournois for my bust made by Ceracchi, if he shall agree to take that sum.
My daughter Maria married this day.
March 16--The first shad at this market today.
March 28--The weeping willow shows the green leaf.
April 9--Asparagus come to table.
April 10--Apricots blossom.
April 12--Genl. Thaddeus Kosciusko puts into my hands a Warrant of the Treasury for 3,684.54d to have bills of exchange bought for him.
May 8--Tea out, the pound has lasted exactly 7 weeks, used 6 times a week; this is 8-21 or .4 of an oz. a time for a single person. A pound of tea making 126 cups costs 2d, 126 cups or ounces of coffee--8 lb. cost 1.6.
May 18--On trial it takes 11 dwt. Troy of double refined maple sugar to a dish of coffee, or 1 lb. avoirdupois to 26.5 dishes, so that at 20 cents per lb. it is 8 mills per dish. An ounce of coffee at 20 cents per lb. is 12.5 mills, so that sugar and coffee of a dish is worth 2 cents.
As to the code of official etiquette which we have seen to exist in Washington, the President himself was responsible for it, for we have, written out in his own delicate hand, the following explicit instructions: The families of foreign ministers, arriving at the seat of government, receive the first visit from those of the national ministers, as from all other residents. Members of the legislature and of the judiciary, independent of their offices, have a right as strangers to receive the first visit. No title being admitted here, those of foreigners give no precedence. Difference of grade among the diplomatic members gives no precedence.