Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1827-05-29
DOMESTIC.
if'ron fAe National L,tsiligeaes,. |
F WASHINGFON'S PAPERS.

From JifT. Jared Sparks to tie Honorable Ia

O..
BEAR SIR Having FORMER les or nre.a,,-
eo you with brief account of the Character and
importance of General Washipyton,s pane,s =.
'oey are preserved at Mount Vernon, 7 nov nro.
coed to eXpiaa he manner in which il is conten
p'S'eu to prepare them for the press, and send
'he'n Out TO the public. You will recoIlect that il
was stated 20 Ia We been his custom from early lif.
10 ie'ain copies of his letters and other papers =
ihese copies amount to more than sixty manu-.
scrip foiio volumes, besides others on hle which
were never TRANSCRIBED, the whole embracing his
public and private letters, nearly all ne wrote in
iae'' on military, political, civil, agricultural and
misceiiansods subjects
ii is obvious, that IL would he cui,a ;n.v.0i;,
10 print, In detail, such mass OF paperr (Which
the public can neither spare money TO purchase nor
lime 10 read; yet, every American will desire 10
nave preserved In durable form, such portions of
the WRITINGS OF Washington, illustrate his own
great deeds and character, and reflect honor on
Tue country whose national existence and prosperi
" ms services contributed much 10 create and
establish. Jncicions selection from the whole
therefore, Is ali that eau, with propriety be sttempt-
ed Limits should be fixed which vii mol he M
narrow US TO exclude any thing Of essential value
nor yer sn broad as 10 in cuInber the work with
materials mat VIII add more its bulk and ex-
Pense than to It's interests and utility. AT this
medium IT Is my intention TO ain. Amids, such
multitude OF papers, treating on topics so ysri.
IN linda
az well as TO the innumsrable incidents OF private
life, the task Of SELECTION and Classification ,,;iI
not De without its smharassmen,s How far these
may be enscinally overcome, must remain To be
proved by the experiment.
Notes and historical additions will be inserted
throughout The work, tending TO elucidate the
TEX anu to place in the cleare=t view The motives
'P'hiohs' ana actions, OF Washington. In dis.
charging this duty, however, special care will be
taken to avoid prolixity, and to Introduce potbnn
~hich shall not have direct bearing on the sun.
Ject In hand Tor II Il not my purpose I'd connect
with the writings OF Washington history of the
times, any farther than that history NAV be dsvaI-
oped d che writings themselves, and by the n,ro
ducuon OF such facts as have an Intimate alliance
WIN uein' but, TO lead you TO more eylc, an
derstandinS ut my plan, 1 shall descend Ia,
to particulars, and draw out The scheme which
upon mature reflection, have concluded 10 fol-
low general method, BY which the materials
may DE 'hrown into proper classes, in the fist re-
qusite; and the next is szilful arranse,ue,t nj
those materials in their respective divisions. ac-
companied by appropriate notes and historical el,-
cidations. 10 compass both these ends the " or.
VIII be divided into six parts, in each of which
papers OF similar description viii he inciu.I<s
according to the order now TO be specified.
PART J.
Letters and other Papers reLosing to JYdshiag-
IONS earty military career, in the French
fGrs, and as GORi0lGg,der rf The Ylyeiuia
forces ''''
This period win occupy comparatively small
portion o! the work, yet it will by no means be
me least valuable. When il is recoliected that
Washington was then a mare vouth. eneased m
hazardous enterprises, to which he was lei bv bis
native a'dor and spirit; that, from the age of
twenty-two 10 twenty seven, he held yeTy res
pohsDie command over the united forces Of the
largest colony on the continent, and was required
10 defend dangerous frontier, where he was ex
posed TO The perpetual incursions of the French
and Indians; that he acquitted himself honora
oily on all occasions, and received HE npbiic
thanks oil MS Government, and he unanimous
applause OF his isiiOw citizens, for his good con
duct when these circumstances are hrou.ht IN
mnd' the conviction cannot De resisted that an
account OF such tram OF Occurrences written
by MS own hand, while these were tatng nI.re
must have much IN it worthy TO be treasured IN
among the permanent records Of The country. for
toe inspection OF the present and OF future genera
tons. Neither should Ii be forgotten. that This
was the theatre IN which lie gained the i,aowIeJpe
and experience tina. carried him succe..f,lI
through the sieat revolutionary c0ntes, In con-
dueting these early campaigns, he rested mainly
on The resources Of his oyy6- mind, end was driven
by necessity, As well inclination 10 fsrnjliariz,.
himself, not more with the tactics AMI sUu NJ
mhNary sciehce, than with the intricate and en-
oaTssslnB duties OF providing supplies Tor an army
Hence It was, that, sixteen years afterwards when
he took command OF the continental iorces =,
CambfidSe, he was prepared 90 enter at oDc. unoo
the~chafse Of sa!ioD bese with difficulties which
u j. pTooabie, no other man IN the country had
experience TO surmouni, bowever well srfr ed he
might have been with prudence aud fo,uiud,
Regarded IN this light. affofding the bes bs,orV
OF the events 20 which they refer, and Of the for
nation OF Washington 's military chafaci sr. these
IN t.yttIl t-b
have other qualities in their own merits, not less
to be esteemed; they are written IL a plain. bot
pefspicuous and energetic STYLE, repieie with sound
observations, and every where showing the sam.
elevation OF mind, the same insight INTO hum.n ma
tufe, the same undertaking sense Of ipsiic. and
sisFn regard for moral principle, The same psfse.
ye'ance IN the discharge OF duty, which marked
hIs future years. Some of the distinguished per
sons with whom he eofresponded al tbjs peTioI
were mentioned ~ my former letter.
In making the selection for this part, regard
VIII be had 10 the substance a1d historical cha
Tacter OF the papef-, as to exhibit the Infelec-
tual habits, moral feelings, and special views oil
ihe writer, together with A. regular q narfattve|
Oi occurrences, as can be attained by such a me
ihod. The notes will be designed chiefly 10 exs
plain illusions IN The exi TO particularly nece.sa.
fily ommited, to AL out breaks in the narrative
and occasionally 10 trace the connection between
the proceedings on the Virginia fonder, ami
operations IN other colonies, with remarks on the
colonial policy Of the Eaglish Government iben
prevailing.
PART H.
Letters end other Papers relating to TIE line
yicaJ RsUOlu60n.
Here IS opened wide hsld, bat the papers are
90 admirably classified, according 10 Washing.
tons directions, that little difficulty will be fell, In
exploring IL. al TIE letters, whether private or
no rrlfa