" To these particular services I think I might add the establishment of our university, as principally my work, acknowledging at the same time, as I do, the great assistance received from my able colleagues of the visitation." When Mr. Jefferson was a member of the colonial legislature, he made an effort for the emancipation of slaves; but all proposals of that kind, as well as for etopping the importation of slaves, were discouraged during the colonial government. The importation of slaves into Virginia, whether by sea or land, was stopped in 1778, in the third year of the Commonwealth, by a bill brought in by Mr. Jefferson, which passed without opposition, and, as Mr. Jefferson observes, "stopped the increase of the evil by importation, leaving to future efforts its final eradication." The Act for the Abolition of Entails was not carried without some opposition, and that for the abolition of the Established Anglican Church was not finally carried till 1786, though before the Revolution the majority, or at least a large number of the Feople bad become dissenters from the church.
Mr. Jefferson married, in 1772, Martha Skelton, the widow of Bathurst Skelton. She died ten years after their marriage. One daughter, and a numerous family of grand-children and great-grand children survived him.
Ho was the author of 'Notes on Virginia,' which have been several times printed; but his reputatiou as a writer rests on his official papers and correspondence. "As an author," as his biographer remarks, "he
has left no memorial that is worthy of his genius; for the public papers drawn by him are admired rather for the patriotic apirit which dictated them than for the intellectual power which they exhibit. They presented no occasion for novelty of thought or argu ment, or diction. His purpose was only to make a judicious and felicitous use of that which everybody knew and would assent to; and this object ho has eminently fulfilled." Much has been said and conjectured as to the religious opinions of Mr. Jefferson, and his sup posed infidelity has been the ground of much bitter attack on his character. In the latter part of his life he used to call himself a Unitarian when questioned on the subject by any of his friends. Perhaps his published correspondence presents the best means of judging of his religious opinions. Though approving of the morality which the Gospel inculcates, he speaks, to say the least, disrespectfully of the founder of Christianity, and contemptuously of his apostles and immediate followers.
(Tucker, Life of Jefferson, 2 vols., London, 1837 ; Jefferson, Memoirs, Correspondence, &c., London, 1829.)