Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1827-05-25

eferled at so dear sacrifice OF blood and treasure.
These perpetual ihemes with him in his let
tiers to bos-. who, from their weigh, of character,
or public station exercised a commanding influ-
ence and when these letters shall be published, il
will be seen, that the agency of Washington in
preparing the way for the new constitution, was
much more efficient, than has generally been sup
posed. Another subject, upon which he often
dwelt with sppai ent fondness, was tie internal
Improvement of the country, and particularly the
importance of water communications between
the East and the West His correspondence
with Mr. Jefferson and other gentlemen, on this
| subject, is full OF information, combined with
sound views OF policy, that have since been sue
! cessfully acted upon by the wisest OF the
! nation Soon after the closed he visit
| ed the internal lakes Of New York, and in one
OF his letters, he emphsiiray predicts, that "A
water communication would az distant day
be opened through the Western parts OF bat
State, and en!argss on the benefits ha, would be
| derived from such work. In short there Were
few topics OF much interest at that time, on
| which be was no, led more or less 80 touch in his
Letters, and especially such related TO the po-
liticai condition and prospects of the country.
b. his for eign corr espondents he was made ac-
quainttd with the Impressions entertained IN Eu
rope of he cerican Sta as and be was bus eBa-
bled 10 render some service by communicating la
'elligence and correcting errors. HIS numerous
iettes 10 Lafayette ore fraught with warmth Of
| friendly feeling and kind recollection, which i'm
part 20 hem unconm. charm; ani his ror
| respondence with Rorhambesu, Coua d E,laing,
Count de Grss.e aud ether French .ficeIs, with
! whom he had shared the tolls Of war and the
| ,ruinfhs OF victory. Is highly honorable TO the
parties. and replrte with incidents that may be
perused With pleasure al the present day.
The following are the usUes OF very small
nuiDber on'y OF the persons. with whom he habi
| iuai!y conesponded during he periot which |
have BEEN abiding IN this country, franklin,
Jefferson. Madison, Hamilton, Rchad Henry
Lee. Edmund Rsniolph, Patrick Henry, Jay,
k"oN, i.inc0n. Moultrie, Clinton, Charlie. Car
roll Benjamin Harrison, Humphreys, Governor
Morris. Grayson, George Mason, Ar,hur Lee.
boudnot, Robert Morris, Trumbnil, Heury Lee
Marshall, Finctney, Rmledge Hopkmspn, Tho
mas Johnson, DR.. Ramsay, General s.. Clair,
Baron Steuhen. In Europe. I.atayet e, Rorhau-
besu, Count d'Es'sing, Count de erase, Duke
de i4auzpn, heva-r de Chssteiieux, Chevalirr
| de Il Lans;erne, Count lie Nnsille,, Marquis de
Ia Rcuieie, C"uni de Aious'ier Dumas, Don DIE.
20, GsrdIqpi, Count de Florida Blanca. Paul
Jone>, Countess f Huntington. Mrs. Maceul, e.,
| Gr'h IN, A. muir YJung. Lord Fairfax DR. CIR
dor, Sis Edward Newiugham, and numerous
! Others
When Wellington entered upon the arduou>
oince OF The Presidency, he was OF course obliged
Ia renqti-h pOr,Ioi, of hts PRIV te currespon-
dence, ret his early formed and len. continued
habits o! industry, procured him leisure from, his
public du les, and wnhin the years of his Pres
Dental lab0rs seven volumes o. recorded pri
| ya:e letters, besides many Others Of which press
copies were taken, and which were not entered
In books. y long letter he regularly wrote once
a week, and SOMETHING'S oftener, to the manager
OF ms plantation, lress pies OF which lie rrr,r
edj and he Kept up spirited core -pundence or
! agricultural subjects, With Sir Jrh SINCLAIR Ar
Lhnr Young, MIR. Anderson, ard other persons
Hi' European correspondents rather increased than
diminished, but kis answers became biief and
ioi NAL. Many, Indeed, were tutced over to his
Secretary. II appears to have teen tiye.i prin-
'lpic with him, all hi- lifs, never 10 receive
ie 'er OF any dsscrpI n respectful in its ansuage
without replying 30 II. ADD commonly, with great
Tr"mp'ness. The number o. letters which came
10 him from ali GU r'ers. on subjects hsvins 70
fe!ail"n i@ iis own corceFns. would hardly tie
credited. without cccuar proof. Letters r. ON per-
sons IN distress, asking charity; letters from old
Soldiers and soldiers w!dcws making claims on
'he @o"e'nnent; letters suggesting projects Of i'm
PToVemeEi; letters innumerable from Europe
desiring Inflammation as TO the Inducements tor eni-
grating To America, and inquirins abou, lost re
lauVes or lends, supposed 20 be in this country
! uf aoout i"E1s or other property In some OF the
Sla'es' ihsse are bat lew at the topics upon
tons.
All The World seemed 10 shi0k, that, if thew
wished to know any thing concerning America q,
what T"s In America, thy had only TO write To-
washington. In no Instance did ne treat such An
Phcaiion-, ootTusIYe as they were, with harshne-s
or neglect In acts Of charity he was open md
ed, TO an eKifcnei where informs IL was desired
he frequently submitted TO good deal of trouble
IA collecting ~; where claims were presented
over which. he had no control, he would pnt the
r.ai Z t0ae rtt.ff. sla -
examined and adjusted. To ell letters of th- sort.
whether he could return a favorable an.wcr or ,o,
and however humble rank in life the writer
might sustain, be never failed 10 reply in a con-
descending and friendly manner
Among the letters demanding particular atten
ton, while he was President, are hose of nriva;e
add c0nhd@ntIai nature. 10 our Ministers abroad
-Governeuf Morris, Pinckney, Jay, Monroe.
King; and those 10 The members OF the ,;ab;ne,
Jefferson, Hamilton, Randolph, Pickering, KNOX,
dur9S his absences a. Mount Vernon, aud whil.
he WAS on ,he Western expedition, caused b. the
lnsuTTeciIon IN Pennsy Ivdnia Morris va. in
france at the hrst movements Of the REVOLUTION
and the -pondence with him goes largely INF %
discussion of principles and events then .hcvyinr
tliem-elye9 in thar country But in ell the paoe5s
Lett by Washington, there is nothing ~hcb can be
read with more abstraction than hi- private CORES
poDdence win Nh. Jay, while she British rr.a,v
was in agitation and pfofre,s Such flame DID
that Instrument kindIe in The nation when il was
promulgated, that, even at the presen, day il IL
almost impossible 20 touch upDn it. vylthont
stirring up some OF the slumberiog euibers OF mar
~. Could the private letters Of Washington g. Jaw
have been exhbedin broad day light TO the oublIc
when the Treaty was laid before The Senate there
would have been but one loud and undivided Voice
\ az To The motives oil these men, their unsnIlIpJ
patriotism and ardent eihois for the best interests
| nj hH tul,a -