The Papers of Thomas Jefferson, Retirement Series, Volume 21

A definitive new volume of the retirement papers of Thomas Jefferson The 533 documents in this volume include revealing material on Jefferson’s health. He is limited to a liquid diet for weeks due to an abscess under his jaw. Although daily horseback rides take him “3. or 4. to 8. or 10. miles without fatigue,” he cannot walk “further than my garden.” He has lost only one tooth due to age and is glad not to need “teeth of porcelain.” Due to debility, Jefferson’s only serious occupation is the ef