5 February 1800

My dearest Wife
     It would greatly enhance my
present felicity to be able to express to you,
(who are the Cause of it) in terms equal to the
warmth of my feelings, how sensible I am of
the Blessings I enjoy from an Union with You --
     Mankind would be still more attached to
this Earthly State could every Individual after
the experience of [m]ore than fourteen Years, with
equal sincerity & satisfaction as myself, hail
with Joy the return of that day on which his
Wife was born -- May you most amiable
of Women & Best of Wives live many Years, and
continue to afford to our Daughter a bright
Example of every moral Virtue, unaffected Religion
& perfect Consistency of Character & diffuse around
You Cheerfulness & agreeable & rational pleasure
to those who are so happy as to enjoy your society