Page:Jefferson's Germantown letters.djvu/18

 xii to fear from the yellow fever, but by the 15th of September every official matter having been disposed of, and all the clerks in his office but one having fled the city, Jefferson concluded to return home. The start from Philadelphia was made on September 15th, and the party reached Monticello on the 22nd of that month. Here he remained until late in October, when the President having selected Germantown as a convenient and safe gathering point for the members of Congress and the cabinet, Jefferson set out for this place. The Secretary of State during the summer had resigned his office to take effect December 31st. Relinquishing his post in mid-winter would compel him, should he return imme- diately to Virginia, to plough through the heavy, muddy roads, and for this reason he did not wish to use his own horses and carriage, and the journey from Monticello to Germantown was therefore made by horseback and the public stage. The start was made on October 25th, with two servants, James and Bob. The latter