American watchman and Delaware advertiser. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1822-1828, 1827-06-05
From the National Inteiligpncer.
WASHINGTON'S PAPERS.
LETTER T..
From .Mr. Jared SPARKS TO the Honorable Joseph
iStorY.

MOUNT VERNON. Mar 4, 1897

gagged in examining General Washington's papers,
| have thought it advisable to defer replying to
your kind inquiries. respecting the progress and
probable results of my Investigations, till should
be able to speak with some degree of certainty
and confidence. After two months of assduous
application to the task. am now prepared Of state
such particulars will give you an outline OF the
subject, both in regard to the extent and character
OF the papers, and to my own plan for bringing
them before the public. You are already apprisrd
OF my arrangement with Judge Washington, b,
which am to have access TO all the papers III the
archives at Mount Fcrnon, that belonged to Gen
eral ashlngton. and 10 select and prepare Cor the
press such parts as shall be best suited fer that
purpose. With this view have been employed
in general survey Of the materials, and in arran.
gng them for future examination and use. 1t was
habit, adopted by General Washington at
early stage OF his life, TO preserve copies OF all his
important letters, well those oi a private. az of
public nature. Before the Res outioa this vas
troublesome labor to MIN. as The copies we're nsu-
ally taken by his own hand and this even duiin.
the active Years Of his military command on the
Virginia frontier; but after the Revelation. 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 AZ u,cI
copying press. and the impressions thus taken
are still preserved, although these letter. also are
for the most part recorded in Volumes 50 tlat. in
man, cases. duplicate copies arc retained. Such
having been his habit durin. long life Of extra
ordinary activity, large portion Of which was
devoted TO pursuits various in their character and
OF the highest moment. it may reasonably be sup
posed. that his papers accumulated rapidly under
his hands. and that amongst them are many ma
/ terals worthy Of better fate. than that Of being
shut ont from the ewes Of the world, and OF more
lasting preservation, than can be secured to them
IN the condition Of pelishablc manuscripts.
The earliest written document Of much impor-
tance from the hand Of Washington, was the ioui
nal oi his tour to the W estern Country, perform.
| ell by the order Of Governor nDwiddie Ills
was printed at the time, both III this country and
England, and was much applauded, as indicating
a discretion. and spirit Of uncommon entel
prise in so young man, he being then hardly
| twenty -one years old. For several years prcvi-
otsly to this period, he had followed the proies
sion of q practical surveyor, iA the employment
Of Lord Fairfax. and had surveyed numerous
tracts of wild lands in the upper counties OF Eir-
ginia, on both sides of the Blue Ridge. In this
occupation he seemed to have peculiar pleasure.
and in the end it proved Of essentie service. it
1 opened to him knowledge of the country, which
was afterwards to be the theatre Of his early mill
tarv career; and it Injured him to hardship, and
privatons. There remaining journals. and
fragments of journals in his own hand writing Of
some of these sur, ewing expeditions. A small
!
of this kind among the Alegany mountains when
he was but sixteen wears old In addition to a
diary Of the principal incidents Of each day. this
volume contains his field book, minutes Of sur
veys and original drafts Of letters to his friends.
i But the time at which hi papers begin to assume
an Importance worthy Of special nntce, as claim
ng d rank in history. il when he engaged in the
campaign with General Braddock. He had area
dy returned from the affair Of the Great Meadows,
and been appointed, b, The Governor of Virginia,
to command body of new forces Immediately to
be raised and despatched to the frontier But as
the Assembly broke up without appropriating any
money to carry the scheme into effect, ashing-
ton resigned the command. and went back to his
fatm. Braddock shortly after landed in Virginia,
: and invited him ojon his family as volunteer and
! Aid-deC Camp From this date his papers have
been preserved in detail, to the last day of his
military services under the Virginia authorities.
These papers recorded in letter books,
and copied out BY himself when written. They
consist of his correspondence with Governor Din
wdde. the Speaker of the Virginia Assembly. the
Earl of I.oudoun, General Forbes. Governor Sharpe.
Colonel Stanwix Lord Fairfax, and with tie sub
ordinate officers under his command !; also with
his mother. brothers, and ether private friends.
There is, moreover. in Nashngton's hand writing,
; an entire copy Of Brad,lock's General Orders, as
they were issued daily, from the time he entered
Virginia till the fatal defeat, except few days,
while Washington was confined with fever and
unable to be on duty. After his return from that
expedition, and appointment to the command Of
the Virginia forces his letters orders. aud instruc
tons. are minutelv and fully recorded The whole
collection extends through four volumes, embra-
Gin. not only his public but private letters and
exhibiting a complete history Of the operations in
which he was engaged. TIE value set by Wash
ington on these papers may BE- inferred from the
circumstance that, several years afterwards, he
corrected the language BY erasures ana, interne-
ations. and had them all Transcribed anew Both