Delaware journal. [volume] (Wilmington [Del.]) 1827-1832, 1827-05-22

pies OF hrst drafts, winch eFe pIeetIVeup W W as p"
gton for occasional reference in camp, and from tt
which the above volumes were transcribed, are e.
mostly on separate sheets of paper they are now II
filed in perfect order, with such labels and dlrec u
lions on EACH that any one in the whole series can 81
be immediately consulted. IL
When the Revolution had terminated, and WASH n
ngton was settled on his farm, although renewed Sc
from public duties, his correspondence continued 10
be very extensive with eminent persons in this coun
try and Europe and frequently subjects Of much c.
interest and moment. From this period, I'LL the e
time of his accepting the Presidency, h's COPIED let
tiers fill six folio volumes. Scarcely amy OF them nave
been printed, and on many accounts they may oe
considered among the most valuable ol MS written e
remains. Notwithstanding he was closely occupied n
with his agricultural pursuits and visited by crowns
of company from all parts of the United States, and
from the old world, yet he claimed to himself hours ii
of secuson, and evidently bestowed no little pans Il
on the letters he wrote to large circle OF friends,
and to few eminent strangers, who had eoerted ms
correspondence. To the prominent statesmen OF /
this country, he repeatedly pointed out the detects
Of the old Confederation, lamentng the evils mat
were daily undermining the body polite, and which
were to be asclbed to badly organized system OF
Government, calling loudly OIL all to suggest and
apply remedy, to rouse the People to a sense OF
their danger and to bring the rejecting part vi the
community to unite ia energetic measures to stop the
tide Of i'll fortune. that threatened to sweep away
the fair fabric Of liberty which had been erected at
SO deara sacrifice of blood and treasure. These
were perpetual themes with him in his letters to those
who. from their weight Of character public sta
ton, exercised commanding influence; and when
these letters shall be published it will be seen, that
the agency OF ashington, IN preparing the way for
the new constitution, much more efficient, than
has generally been supposed. Another subject, up
on which he often dwelt with apparent tondness, acds
the internal improcemedofh The country, and parficu
ttceea the East and The Hest His correspondence
with Mr. Jefferson and other gentlemen on this sub
ject, is full OF information, combined with sound
views Vt policy. that have since been successfully
acted upon by the wlses men of the nation. Soon
alter the war was closed, he visited the internal
lakes Of New York, and in one of his letters, he
: emphatieally predicts, that water communication
would al no distant day be opened through the West
erD parts of that State. and enlarges the benefits
mat would be derived from such work. In short,
there few topics Of much interest at that time,
on which he was not led more or less to touch III ms
! letters, and especially such as related to the pot
! cal condition and prospects of the country.
BY his foreign correspondents he was made ac-
qualnted with the impressions entertained in Eu
rope oil the American States, and he was thus ena-
= bled to render some service by communicating intel
= gence and correcting errors. His numerous let
~ tiers to Lafayette, fiaught with warmth Of
= friendly feeling and kind recollection, which mpart
!, TO them an uncommon charm ; and his correspon-
a dence with Rochambeau, Count d'Estaing, Count de
y Grasse. and other French officers with whom he had
$ shared the tolls Of Il the trumphs of victory, is
ID highly honorable to the parties, and repee with in.
u cdeuts that may be peruscd with pleasure at the
90 present day
q The following are the names of very small num-
y Der only OF the persons, with whom he habituay
le correspondent dung the period 70 which have been
alluding In this country, Franklin Jefferson, Mad
Iss,n llat d.,
70 doph, Patrick Henry, jay, Knox, Lincoln, Moul-
ne trle, Clinton, Charles Carroll, Benjamin Harrison,
Humphreys, Governor Morris, Grayson, George Ma
10 son, Arthur Lee. boudlno, Robert Morris, Irum
IS bull, Henry Lee, Marshall, Pnckney. Rutedge,
u Hopkinson. Thomas Johnson DIR. Ramsay, Gene
C. raj ST. CLAIR, Baron Seuben. In Europe, Lafayette
Rochambeau, Count d'Estaing, Count de Grasse,
(; Duke della Lauzerne, Count de Noailles, Marquis
ry de laRouere, Count de Moustier, Dumas. Don D.
O. egoGardoqui, Count de Florida Blanca, Paul Jones'
Countess OF huntington, Mrs. Macauly Graham,
ty Arthur Young, Lord Fairfax. DIR. Gordon, Sir Ed
IS, ward Newlnglam, and numerous others.
IS When Washington entered upon the arduous Of
We hce OF the presidency he OF course obliged
relnqulsh portion OF his private correspondence
yet his early formed and long continued habits of in
u dustry, procured him leisure from bis public duties
n and within the years Of his presidential labors are
P seven volumes OF recorded private letters besides
many others OF which press copies were taken, and
Ia winch were not entered in books. long letter he
b. regularly wrote, once week. and sometimes often
to er TO the manager Of his plantation, press copies Of
le- which he retained; and he kept up spirited cor
respondence on agricultural subjects, with Sir John
nd omclalr, Arthur oGng Mr. Anderson & other per-
"a sons Ills European correspondents rather ncreas-
pm ed lhan dinnished but his answers became briet
ee and formal. Many indeed, were turned over 70 his
secretary. It appears 10 have been fixed prnci
'n pie with hhl, all bis life, never to receive letter
ate OF any description respectful in It's language, with
ite out replying to it, and, commonly with great