ON MARCH 4, 1809, in the newly completed hall of the House of Representatives, Thomas Jefferson attended the presidential inauguration of his friend and fellow Virginian, James Madison. Observers noted - they could hardly fail to, such were Jefferson's high spirits - that he was elated to be leaving public office. One week later, on March 11, Jefferson left Washington. He would never return. Indeed, in the remaining seventeen busy years of his life, he would never leave Virginia, or even venture far from Monticello.