[applause] to i would say half of the rating and a big chunk of the research i did while i had a fellowship for jefferson studies. I want to think andrew for that and my good friend for many acts of friendship does the Thomas Jefferson Memorial Foundation chair at the university of virginia. I want to think mary Scott Fleming for keeping the trains running on time for this presentation and to Christopher Oliver assistance to a range of this. And managing the fellowship that i so have profitably and so spent here. Also might sister and her brother traveling here for connecticut also alan taylor one of the leaders of the of escape from the virginia plantation during the war of 1812. Since it is monticello lets begin with Thomas Jefferson and this is a that comes from a letter that he wrote in response to his former secretary. He wrote this letter August August 251814 which is a low point in the United States will recall the war of 1,812th. If you know, of the occupation and the partial b
My sister, carol and my brotherinlaw, marty, for traveling here from connecticut for this. And i want to thank tina dunkley and their family for coming. Tina has come in from atlanta. They are the descendents of one of the leaders of the largest single escape of slaves from a virginia plantation during the war of 1812. And since it is monticello we begin with Thomas Jefferson and his words here. And this is a quote that comes from a letter he wrote in response to edward cole, his former secretary. He wrote this letter, and as you can see, august 25, 1814, which is a low point to the United States and its war against the british empire, the war we call the war in 1812 but a war which lasted in to 1815. Now, those of you who know about the occupation and the partial burning of washington will recognize that august 25 was right after the british had occupied washington and while the buildings were burning. Jefferson was writing this letter from monticello so he didnt know yet about that b