Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1827-05-25
DOEEE1STIQ,
From, r. hat'orm Intelligence.
WASHlNGT0N'S PAPERS.

From Mr. Jared SPARKS 70 tie Honorable .Jo-
semi Storm

! seph Story.
( MoUEr VERNON, May i, 1927
Dear Sir: Since have been =, this Mace. p,
! gagged In examining Genersl Washington : pape,s
have though. it advisable to deer replying 10
your kind inquiries, respecting the progress ard
probable results OF my !nvestig TIL should
De able t" sp-ek with some degree OF er;aniy
and confidence. Alter two mon,h- of assiduor.
application tn the task am now prepa.ed TO state
such particulars as will give you outline of the
SUBJECT both IN regard TO the extent and character
OF The papers, and TO my plan for bringing
'hen before the public. You are already aonri. ed
oi my arrangement with dudge Washington, by
which am 20 have access to all the papers IN the
archives al Mount Vernon, thai belonged TO Gen.
Washing on, and 1" select and prepare for the
press such parts shall be beat suited for that
purpose With ihi, view have been eibployed
IN ge"eTai survey OF The materials, and in arrange
ing them Tor future examination and u-e II was A
habit, adopted by General Washington at an carIv
stage OF his lite, TO preserve copies of all his I'M
Poflani letters, as well those Of private a, of
public nature. Before the Rev olu,ion tins was a
troublesome labor 10 him, the copies were usu-
ally taken by his own hand, aud tL, even durjnu
me active years OF his military command on the
Virginia .rontler; hut afie. the Revolution hs 49,.
rriu"'n "hhnnt secretary, who iran crihed his
letters into letter books as they were written
or several OF The laite years OF his life he used
kan
st'li preserved although these letters also are for
the most part, recorded Ia volumes. "a that i,
many Cases, duplicate copies ase retained S,ch
having been his habit during long life Of extra
ordinary "ctlVi:y, large portion OF which was
"e'o'eu 20 pursuits VaIIohs IN their character and
vi We inquest moment, 1t may reasonably be sup
posed, that his papers accumulated rsnidlV nm
"ei MS hands, and that sinonas, them are many
materials worthy of better tate than thar of holm
SlItt lfIm the ~ ~.
lasting pfese walton, than can be secured to thao
Ia tie condition of pe.isha1le nanuscrio,s
The earliest written document of tnuch imoo,
lance from 'he hand OF Washington, was The Jour
nal oil III" tour TO the Western Country. Derforned
by the order o! Governor Dnyiddis This Co.
pr'nted at the time, bath in this country and Eng
land ana was much applauded as indiraiing y d,s.
c'e''""' anu sp''t oil Uncommon enterprise in 30
young man, lac being then hardly 2! wear. old
FoT several years previously TO tbs D.riod he hod
i"lO"el the profession OF sprsctical surveyor. II,
We employment OF Lord Fairfax, aud LaJ sur
Veyeo numerous IGscta OF wild lands in the IN
per counties oil Virginia, on both sides of the Blue
A>'uE'' Al 'his occupation he seemed to have pc
GUITAR pleasure, and Ia the end il proved nf essen
"'' se'"icr' a. IL opened 10 him k, Dw.ledge OF
the couniry which wss afterwsrd. IN he he tbso-
ire "i bis early military career; anil IL Injured him
TO hardsbips and priyations There ere 100, -
naming Journals, and fragments of journals in his
own handwriting, OF some OF these surycviug
| expeditions Il small volume in particvlar, re-
cords the events OF tour OF this kind ao.oo, tb
Aheshaay mountains, when be was bu, sixteen
years Old. Ia addition to diary OF the princiuaI
incidents OF Zach day, ibis volume contains his field
o''s' :" H''"u'e' OF surveys aud original drafts OF
letters TO bis friends.
bt me time AZ which his papers begin TO as
| sumo al importance worthy OF special notice az
claiming rank ~ history, - when he engaged in
lls caWpoign with General Bfaddock He had
already returned from the affair OF the Great keA
dows' aud been appointed by the Governor OF VIr.
glnisI to command body of new forces imme.
a,atsy to be raised aud despatched 10 The frontier
| But as the Assembly broke Up without annro,,i.
allnS any money TO carry the scheme into effect.
Washington resgred the command. and wen,
back TO bic farm. Braddnck shortly after Landed
In virginia, and invited him to Join his fs.,ilv q.
volunteer add -de-Csmp. From This date hi.
papers have been preserved in detail, TO the Ia.
Gay Of his military ~ vices under The Virginia an
thorites. 90
/ These papers were recorded ia leneI books. and
eoP'eo oHi by bnseli when wriiteo. They con
sisi ~ ms couespondence With O. =. Jyi,,,,,,,l
tbe Speaker oil tue Virginia Assembly. the vi ~
| Londoun. General Foibes Governor share ~
I Hian"if, Lprd IsI!sG, aud with the subo,J,na,,
ohcefs Under his command; also with his r,nfbe,
bro'hs's end other private friesds. ,rbe,sis -
recover, ~ Hsshington's han.i-wri.i r.. an eo,;,,
copy OF Brsdcock's Genusl orders. as ,bsy ,ger,
issuel daily, from The tine be eus,sJ Yire,,ia al
the isiai defeat, except few days, while WASH
Il ins'on was c"nfnei widi feve-, md unable 10 b
: on duty. Alter bis setmn from mat exoedition
I snd appointment 10 the command Of fhe Vifa.ni
. forces, his letters, orders, aud instructions. ar
= nioaiey and fully recorded. The whole collsc
= non extends through tour volumes, embracing no
. only h'' public bu' pnyste IL ters; AID exbjbuo