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

inferred from the circumstance that, several years
afterwards. he corrected the language by erasures
and interlineations. and had them all transcribed
anew. But the originals, thus corrected, ana the
transcripts, are preserved.
From the end of these military services till the
first movements of the revolution, Washington lived
in retirement at Mount Vernon, not otherwise min
Cling in public affairs than as an occasional member
of the house of burgesses, in Virginia. He was de-
voted TO the cultivation of his farms. During this
space of fifteen years, therefore, few papers are
found of much general interest or value, except as
showing the nature Of his pursuits and the traits OF
mind and character that marked his private life.
There several volumes pertaining to this period
chiefly in his own hand writing, which contain let
tiers to his mercantile correspondents in London, in
voices of articles shipped and ordered, Journals OF
daily accounts edgers letters to tenants and agents,
and entrances OF all the minute details OF business,
incident to personal management OF his large plan
tations In those days it was the custom of the |
Southern planters TO slip their produce directly to
the London market, and receive from that place
once or twice year, by special order, all the arti-
Giles of Importation, necessary for family use, thus
acting in the double capacity Of merchant and farm
er. This practice was followed many years by
Washington and his papers will shew, that he pur-
sued it with skill and attention, that proved him
not less acquainted with the various branches of
business, than prompt and digent in prosecuting
them.
We are now arrived at the opening scenes of the
revolution, after which, almost every day of Wash
lngtons life affords matter for history and happily
from that date, the records of the great events III
which he bore so conspicuous parts, the testimo-
malls OF his acts, opinions and motives, are numer-
GUS we'll preserved and attested by the sanction Of
his own hand Being actuated by single aim TO
public good which left him nothing TO conceal, and
apparently anticipating the eagerness with which
poserlty would trace his footsteps, and search into
his Deeds his habitual caution to preserve every
document that could i'll any manner help to lay open
his conduct to the broad inspection OF the world,
seemed to increase with the responsibility Of his
station, and the wider sphere of his duties. There
was probably no important public act, either per-
formed by himself, or with his counsel approba-
ton, for which his motives and purposes may not be
easily gathered from some of his papers and SO
regardless was he Of any discoveries which the pry-
ing eye Of curiosity might make in this respect, that
he to have taken pains to separate private
from what might be more properly called puciIc pa.
pers, any further than circumstances might suggest
! to him the prudence OF such measure, for a tenn
porary period. In whatever station he was placed
by Providence, listening to no other monitor than his
conscience, and obeyng no other guide than tha
recude OF his OWN heart, he sought shiplt
his conduct from the most rigid scrv tiny Of mank nd
/ be used in faithful narrative ftis actions Thu
brilliant gem in the crown Of V,ashington's glory
this stern virtue and unmingled purity OF motive
the same time 1t eXalts his mare above every otho
that has been called great, communicates TO hls his
torica character reality peculiar to him alone AN
stamps the records he has left behind him with in
dellibie marks of truth. As no country has been
fortunate our own, IN The hero that achieved il
national existence and greatness, so could rel
with such assurance, cr the facts which narrate tn
story of its early strug gles and growing renown.
Waalingtons reyol utionary papers have all bee
transcribed into Large folio volumes, amounting
forty -four IN numbc', and arranged according to tn
following classification
!. Letters to the congress OF the United States
! committees OF congress !; to the American minis
:, tiers plenipoteftiary at foreign courts to ndiv
dual members Of congress in their public charat
y tiers. This class contains seven volumes.
2. Letters to office Of the line, Of every rank
! to officers of THE staff and to all other militar
e characters Of every denomination. Sixteen We
! lumes
: g. Letters to conventions and committees of safet
- - and correspondence to governors, presidents
- and other executives of states, to civil mag
J trates and citizens of every denomination Fv
= volumes.
" A. Letters to foreign ministers to subjects of ft
- reign nations in the immediate service of the [
~ States, but not in virtue of commission from col
. gress to foreign officers of all other descriI
q ton. Two volumes.
ID 5. Letters TO officers of every rank and denomin
to ton in the service of the enemy to British sui
10 jccts of every character, with the enemy
- persons applying for permission to go to the en-
q. my. One volume. .,s-
IN 6. Proceedings and opinions of councils of war;
n. opinions of the general officers respecting the
n rious points on which they were consulted fro
lie time to time. by the commander in chief Thrt
" volumes
es g. Private correspondence during the revolutio
being letters written to persons both in prva
nd and public stations, but on subjects of Wiva