To Thomas Jefferson from Thomas Jefferson Randolph, 3 February 1826

[ ] dear Grandfather

[R]ichmond [ ]

You will be disappointed in hearing [ ] your bill is not yet before the Legislature. Upon the [ ] being generally known that such an application would be made, a panic seised the timid & indecisive among your friends as to the effect it might have upon your reputation which produced a reaction so powerfull that yesterday and the day before I almost despaired of doing anything. But upon availing myself of the councils of Judges Brook, Cabell, Green & Carr and their weight of character and soundness of views to act upon gentlemen of less experience & decision they have been again rallied to the charge and are now bold & determined, and assure me they will not again hesitate or look back and feel confident of success; they do not believe that the delay has been injurious. The policy of the state had been against lotteries as immoral and the first view of the subject was calculated to give alarm which it took time & reflection to remove

We owe great obligations to the kindness and zeal of the Judges particularly Brook whose tact & readiness and decision [ ] to us, invaluable The importance [ ] more urgent than ever. the Banks will [ ] for us, without additional [ ] our friend; and which I pro[mt]ly [ ] ordered. If [ ] fail I shall endea[vor] [ ] money for pressing demands by pledging pro[perty] [ ] give us time to sell ourselves. I do not at all anticip[ate] [ ] will not be unprepared to meet it. If you will preserve y[our heal]th and spirits and not suffer yourself to be affected by it; [ ] [ch]ildren will be so happy in that, that we shall never think of difficulties or loss of property, as an evil. My own trials & struggles with the world have been so salutary, as to give me a decision of character and confidence in myself not to be dismayed at any difficulties which can arise. and if the worst happens we shall among us have a plenty for the comfort of my mother & yourself during your lives: and children that make the proverty of rich men, make the wealth of poor ones. Peyton has been kind and true he sees our difficulties and can wait for our crop

most devotedly your

Th J Randolph

ViU: Edgehill-Randolph Papers.

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