Jackson, Andrew (1767-1845) to Emma Donelson
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Gilder Lehrman Collection #: GLC00496.037 Author/Creator: Jackson, Andrew (1767-1845) Place Written: Washington, D.C. Type: Autograph letter signed Date: 13 February 1837 Pagination: 2 p. : address: free frank ; 25 x 20 cm. Order a Copy
Letter of condolence to his niece upon the death of her son.
Emma Yorke Farquhar Donelson was married to Thomas Jefferson Donelson, Jackson's nephew.
[excerpt]
This moment the sad intelligence of the death of your darling son and my name sake, has reached us - can scarcely summon expression [strikeout] [inserted: for] my grief, or fond language to convey to you my heartfelt condolence on this sudden and mournful occasion. But why mourn for the dead - we are instructed by the scriptures, "not to mourn for the dead, but for the living" - we are frail human beings and cannot forbear to mourn upon such occasions But my dear Emma, let us remember that he who giveth life has a right to take it away - the child is [illegible] the bosom of his savior to a happy immortality, and we ought to submit to his will, & with humility be prepared to say, "the Lords will be done" - "that he does all things well"
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