Literary cadet and Rhode-Island statesman. [volume] (Providence, R.I.) 1827-1829, 1827-06-02

occurrences, and the employment and progress
of the laborers. ! have before me volume Of
press copies of letters, written in one year,
during the Presidency, TO his manager and over
seers. Some Of them extend TO several pages
and they average more than one week. They
are written in his own hand, with its usually
fair and regular character, and bear every mark
oil having been as much studied in expression
and style as any of his compositions. In some
cases, and probably in most, they were written
and copied out by himself before the press i'm
pressions were taken. Such was his habit for
years amidst the burthen OF his public cares.
There 10 also before me a curious agrcul-
turai document, dated four days before his
death. Ii is a manuscript pamphlet of twenty
iour folio pages, written in close hand, COLI
tanning instructions to his manager for the culti-
vatioa OF three farms, on the estate at Mount
Vernon. the following year. Each farm was
divided into lots, which were numbered. In
the pamphlet very full instructions are given
how to cultivate every lot in the three farms
during the next year, stating the crops,
with remarks On the soil, the products of for
rncr wears, and the results of former exper-
men,s. Washington died, you will recoect in
the middle oil December, and this pamphlet,
drawn up evidently with much labor and re-
fection, was already prepared to be handed to
the manager at the beginning of the year, pre-
faced by letter Of general directions on the
importance of method and forethought in farm
ing operations, and this, notwithstanding he
was himself to be on the plantation, and exer-
else daily supervision.
These instances are mentioned only as exam
pies; they indicate the habit, and it is unneces-
sary to add more. For time he kept an agri-
cultural journal, and was engaged in expert
ments on rotation Of crops, noting down for a
series ofyears, the crop of each lot, with re-
marks on the comparative success of different
rotations. He was at much pains to stock his
farms with the best of breeds Of animals, and
his grounds we're adorned with rare and Curl
Gus trees and shrubs, collected from various
paris oftne Un!icd States, and from foreign
countries. Hls correspondence with Sir John
Sinclair, Mr. Anderson and Arthur Young, on
agriculture, has been printed. Ii IS not my in
tent.jn to select much for publication under
this head, but such papers will be included, and
such illustrations appended, as will exhibit in
their due proportions the character of Wash
ington on his farm, and his intention to the
humber concerns oi life.
Here bring to close what proposed to
say in reply to your inquiries, and if your pa
tlcnce has carried you along with me thus far,
you will possess as full and accurate an account
ofthe present condition Of the papers of Gener-
al Washington, and tho manner in which they
are to be prepared for publication, as | have
been enabled to embrace within the limits which
prescribed to myself. You will observe that
the great oh ject is to publish such collection
Of Washington's writings, as will hold per-
manent place in the historical literature of the
country, and transmit to poserity in one body
the best memorials of his character and actions
and tne best fruits Of his mind, that were record
ed by himself. will add, that the letters re-
hu tfttfa nf ,,,ata ,nls
more extensive and important than would bt
inferred from the casual manner in which have
alluded to them, and that they will afford mI
very essential aids throughout the work. They
amount in number to more than tWenty thou
sand and the literary merits Of a portion o.
them are of a much higher order than is com
mon in letters of the same promiscuous charac
ter; comparatively few persons wrote TO Wash
ingon on trifling subjects, and few wthou
more than ordinary care in regard to ideas an,
style. AT no distant day it is presumed Sc
lection from these letters will be published
Each volume of the work in contemplation vii
probably have an appendix, in which extract!
from them will occasionally be inserted,
hardly need repeat TO you what you know al
ready, that Chief Justice Marshall most cor.
daily approves my undertaking. and will favor
me with such assistance by his counsel arc
pcr5 will make it easy for him to render
Ityou ask me how large the work will be
when finished on the above plan, cannot re-
ply with certainty TO your question. | may
venture to predict, however, that it will not be
! less than eight volumes nor more than twelve
and those bound have suggested themselves il
accordance with the principle heretofore stat
ed, that it will not be advisable to print so much
| as to encroa ch on proper economy OF purse
and time in the reader, nor so little as to leave
! materials Of substantial value behind If YOU
ask again, when the publication will be clos
ed, | am equally at loss for definite answ cr
| have nearly completed n general assortmen,
of the papers, and prepared them for removal
( to Boston, whsrc | shall apply to the tas,
with much expedition as the nature of ihc
undertaking and my other pursuits will admit
As the work is of kind 10 have an equal in
tcrost with readers in every part oftho United
States, it will be published by subscription, and
every person so disposed will have an oppor-
tunity OF procuring copy with facility from
the hands of agents TO be employed for the
purpose. Within few weeks n prospectus will
be issued and put in circulation. Ii is intended
that the style of printing shall be handsome,
and worthy ofthc subject, bat not so expensive
as 10 impose an unreasonable tax on the pur-
chaser. The volumes will be published one,
two, or three at u time, and at such periods as
circumstances may render convenient.
A work thus comprising the best Of Wash
ington's writings, faithfully prepared in It's lit
crary execution, and published in the form and
manner here described, will have claims, it Is
hoped, to general appreciation, and to liberal
patronage from the American public. | am,
sir, sc. JARED SPARKS.
Hon. JOSEPH SroRY.
French gentleman named Charles &. es-