Literary cadet and Rhode-Island statesman. [volume] (Providence, R.I.) 1827-1829, 1827-05-26

FROM THE NATIONAL INrELLreENcER.
FLASHING TOMS PAPERS.
From Mr.. Jared Sparks to the Hon. Joseph Story.
MOUNT VERNON, May 4, 1927.
DEAR SIR Since have been at this place,
engaged in examining General Washington's
papers, have thought it advisable to defer re-
plying to your kind inquiries, respecting the
progress and probable results of my investiga-
fions, till I should be able to speak with some
degree Of certainty and confidence. After two
months of assiduous application to the task, l
am now prepared TO state such particulars as
will give you an outline Of the subject, both in
regard TO the extent and character oe the pa
pers, and to my own plan for bringing them be-
fore the public. You are already apprised OF
my arrangement with Judge Washington. by
which am to have access to all the papers IN
the archives at Mount Vernon, that belonged
TO General Washington, and to select and pre-
pare for the press such parts as shall be best
suited for that purpose. With this view have
been employed in general survey Of the ma
terials, and in arranging them for future exam
ination and use. 1t was habit, adopted by
General Washington at an early stage OF his
life, to preserve copies of all his important let
ters, as well those Of a private, as of a pub
troublesome labor TO him, as the copies were
usually taken by his own hand, and this even
during the active years of his military command
on the Virginia frontier but after the Revolu-
ton, he was seldom without Secretary, who
transcribed his letters into letter books, as they
were written. For several of the latter years
of his life he used a copying press, and the inn
pressions thus taken are still preserved, al
though these letters also are for the most part
recorded in volumes, so that, in many cases,
duplicate copies are retained. Such having
been his habit during long life Of extraordi-
nary activity, large portion OF which was de-
voted to pursuits various in their character, and
OF the highest moment, it may reasonably be
supposed that his papers accumulated rapidly
under his hands, and that amongst them are
many materials worthy Of better fate, than
that of being shut out from the eyes Of the
world, and Of a more lasting preservation, than
can be secured to them in the condition Of per-
ishable manuscripts.
The earliest written document Of ruuch inn
portance from the hand Of Washington, was
the journal Of his tour to the Western Country,
performed by the order of Governor Dinwiddle.
This was printed at the time, both in this coun-
try and England, and was much oppiauded, as
indicating discretion, and sprii OF uncom-
mon enterprise in SO young man, he being
then hnTuIy tWenty-OHc ycdis TIL oeNOioi
wears pre vously to this period, he had followed
the profes. ion ofa practical surveyor, in The
employment cf Lord Fairfax, and had surveyed
numerous tracts of wild lands, in the upper
counties of Virginia, on both side OF the Blue
RIDGE. In this occupation he seemed to have
peculiar pleasure, and IN the end it proved OF
essential service, as il opened to him know-
edge of the country, which was afterwards to
be the theatre of his early military career and
it Injured him to hardships and privatIons. There
are now remaining journals, and fragments of
journals, in his own hand writing, OF some OF
these surveying expeditions A small volume,
in particular, records the events of tour OF
this kind among the Allegany mountains, when
he was but sixteen years old. In addition 10
diary of the principal incidents of each day.
this volume cont aims his field book, or minutes
of surveys, and ori inal drafts of letters to his
friends
But the time at which his papers begin to as
sumo on importance worthy of special notice,
as claiming a rank in history, is when he en-
gagged in the campaign with General Braddock.
He had already returned from the affair of the
Great Meadows, and been appointed, by the
Governor of Virginia, to command body of
new forces Immediately to be raised, and de-
spatched TO the frontier. But as the Assembly
broke up without appropriatng any money TO
carry the scheme into effect, Washington re-
signed the command, anG went back to his
farm. Braddock shortly after landed III Vr-
ginia, and invited him to join his family as vol
unteer and A,d-de- Camp. From this date his
papers have been preserved in detail, to the
last day of his military services under the Wiz
ginia authorities.
These papers we're recorded in letter books,
and copied out by himself when written. They
consist Of his correspondence with Governor
Dinwiddie, the Speaker OF the Virginia Assem-
bly,, the Earl Of Loudoun, General Forbes, Gov
ernor Sharpe, Colonel Stanwix, Lord Fairfax,
and with the subordinate officers under his
command also with his mother, brothers, and
other private friends. There is, moreover, in
Washington's hand writing, an entire copy Of
Braddock's General Orders, as they we're is
sued daily, from the time he entered Virginia
till the fatal defeat, except a few days, while
Washington was confined with fever, and un-
able to be on duty. After his return from that
expedition, and appointment to the command of
the Virginia forces, his letters, orders, and in
structions, are minutely and fully recoide'
The whole collection extends through four vol
umes, embracing not only his public but pri-
vate letters and exhibiting n complete history
of the operations in which he was engaged
The value set by Washington on these papers
may be inferred from the circumstance that,
several years afterwards, he corrected the Ian
guage by erasures and interlineations, and had
them all transcribed anew. Both the originals,
thus corrected, and the transcripts, are prescrv-
ed
Fiom tho end Of these military services, till
the first movements Of the Revolution, Wash
ington lived in retirement, at Mount Vernon f,
not otherwise mingling in public affairs than as
an occasional member Of the House of Burgess
scs, IN Virginia, He was devoted to the cult
walton OF his farms. During this space Of fif-