Delaware journal. [volume] (Wilmington [Del.]) 1827-1832, 1827-05-25

onay elected president, shall have greater power
over the people, (whose only interest in the qnes
ion s-hat that the country shall be we'll governed,
Without much care who the governors are-) than '
those who feel it their duty TO ANTE for the support
and maintenance of such president.
-es~see11@peees,e~
From the Natona lnteigencer.
WASHINGTON'S PAPERS.
LETTER ii.
From, h1r. Jared Sparks to the HONORABLE Joseph
Story.
Mourn VERNON, May r, 1927.
Dear Sir Having in former letter presented
YOU with brief account of the character and Inn
portance of General Washington's papers, as they
are preserved at Mount Vernon, now proceed to
explain the manner in which it is contemplated to
prepare them for the press, and send them out to the
public. You will recollect that it was stated to have
been his custom from early life to retain copies Of
his letters and other papers. These copies amount
to than sixty manuscript folio volumes, be
sides others on file, which were transcribed,
the whole embracing his public and private letters
nearly all he wrote, in fact military, political,
| civil, agricultural, and miscellaneous subjects.
1t is obvious, that it would be quite inexpedlent
to print, in detail, such of papers, which the
public can neither spare money to purchase, nor
time to read: yet, every American Will desire TO
have preserved, in durable form, such portions Of
the writing for Washington illustrate his own great
deeds and character and reflect honor ON the country
whose national existence and prosperity his services
| contributed so much to create and establish. a
udicious selection from the whole, therefore, is all
that can, with proprlety, be attempted. Limits
should be fixed, which will not be so narrow as to
exclude any thing of essential value, nor yet SO
broad as to ncumber the work with materials that
will add more to its bulk and expense, than to Its
interest and utility. At this medium 1T IS my nten-
ton to aim Amidst such multitude of papers,
treating topics various, and relating to events
of the first magnitude, we'll to the innumerabe
incidents of private life, the task of selection and
classification will not be without its embarrassments.
; How far these may be efectually overcome, must
S remain to be proved by the experiment.
n Notes and historical additions will be inserted
Y throughout the work. tending to elucdate the text
and to place in the clearest view the motives, oPn
e ions, and actions, Of Washington In dischargins
j. this duty, however, special will be taken tt
j. avoid prolixity, and to introduce nothing which shall
not have direct bearing on the subject in hand
for it is not my purpose to connect with the writing
O of Washington history of the times, any turtle
than that history NAV be developed by the writing
i themselves, and by the introduction of such facts
- have an intimate alliance with them. Butt to leat
d you to a more exact understanding OF my plan,
% Shall descend somewhat to particulars, and draw
W out the scheme which, upon mature reflection,
q have concluded to follow. A general method, b.
- which the materials may be thrown into prope
ia classes is the first requisite and the next is skill
m full arrangement OF those materials IN their reSpee
i. tive divisions, accompanied by appropriate note
70 and historical calculations. To compass both thes
ends, the work will be divided into six parts
! in each of which, papers ola similar description Wi
be included, according to the order now to be spec
r., fed
y PART l. 81.
rs Letters and other papers relating to Washington
H. early military career, an the French 7cars ana
Us commander Of the Virginia forces
lie This period will occupy comparatively sma
We portion Of the work. yet it will by no means be tn
Sc least valuable. When it is recolected that VAST
in ingon was then youth, engaged in hazardou
on enterprises which he was led by his native ardo
If and spirit; that from the age of twenty-five to TWEEN
ne ty seven, he held very responsible command owe
the united forces of the largest colony on the cont
nix nen and was required to defend dangerous fror
ny tier where he was exposed to the perpetual incur
lat sons of the French and Indians that he acqultte
he himself honoraby all occasions, and received tn
he public thanks of his government, and the unanlmou
p applause of his fellow citizens, for his good conduct
&C. when these circumstances are brought to mind tn
connection cannot be resisted that account OF suc
ho a train of occurrences, written by his own hand
while these were taking place, must have much Il
IN it worthy to be treasured up among the perlnanen
ct records of the country for the inspection and
ed future generations. Neither should 1t be forgotten
ms that this was the theatre in which he gained thu
in knowledge and experience that carried him success
to fully through the great revolutionary contest II
md conducting these early campaigns he rested ualn