American watchman and Delaware advertiser. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1822-1828, 1827-06-05

nnpd t. be very extensive with eminent persons
in this crpntrv and Europe, and frequently on
,.,iacc'S ii much interest and moment From this
re,imi. ill TIE time Of his accepting the Prcsilen
81. Ills copied letters fill six folio volumes. Scarce
I, any 81 them have been printed, aud on many
socanot, they may be considee ed among the most
yatnablc Of his written remains. NotwIthstand-
ing he was CLOSELY occupied with his agricultural
pursuits, and visited by crowds OF company
from all parts Of the United States, and from the
Ok! world, yet lie claimed to himself hours OF Sc
ciuson, ana evidently bestowed no little pans on
the letters he wrote to large circle OF friends.
am, 70 few eminent strangers who bad c0urted hi,
cor, c,Ooudence To the prominent statesmen ut
this country, he repeatedly pointed out the defects
Of the old Confederation. iamenting the evils that
were daily undermining the body polite. and
which were to be ascribel TO badly organized
system of Governments, calling loudly on all to
suggest aud apply remedy, to rouse the People
10 a sense Of their DANCE. and to brin" the re-
tccting part of the community to unite in ener
setic 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 dear sacrifice
Of blood and treasure. These perpetual
themes with him IN his letters to those, who, from
their weight OF character, or public station, cxcr-
ci-ed commanding influence and when these
letters shall be published it will he SEEM that the
sgency Of Washington. in preparing the way for
tite new constitution, was much more efficient.
than has generally been supposed. Another sub
iect upon which he often dwet with apparent
fondncss, vas Tie internal Improvement Of the
country and particularly the Importance OF water
communications between the East and the West.
Ills corresr ondence with Mr. Jefferson and other
gentlemen this subject, is full Of information,
combined With sound views of policy that have
sinsc been successfully acted upon by the wscst
of tie nation. Soon after the closed.
Il Il
0ae Of his letters, he cmphatcaliy predicts, that
water communication would AT distant dav be
c1ened through tie Western pats Of that State,
ahti enarges on the benefits that would be derived
from such a work In short, there few to-
pics " mach interest at that time. OH which hr
was not led more less to touch in his letters.
and especially such related 70 the political con
ditinn aud prospects OF the country.
lty biz foreign cores ondente he was made &C.
qnalnted with the impressions entertained in Eu
rope 81 the American states and he was thus en-
abtd to render some service by communicating in
I 'il@encc ami correcting errors. His numerous
letters 70 Lafayette are franght with warmth Of
iiiendl, feeling and kind recollection, which i'm
raft 10 them an uncommon charms and his cor,
icspondencc with Rochambcau. Count d'Estaing,
Cont Dc erase. and nthcr French officers, with
whom he had shared the tolls Of war and the tri-
uups of victory, is highly honorable to tie par
ties. and replcte With incidents that may be pc.
'u.cd with pleasure at The present day.
The following are tie names of very small
number only Of the persons. with whom he hahitu
ally correspondent during the period to which
have been abiding. In this country, Franklin.
Jefferson. Madison, Hamilton. Richard Henry Lee
NAmund Randolph. Patrick Henry, Jay, Knox.
Lincoln. Moultrie Clinton, Charles arroll, Ben
ianln Harrison, Humphreys, Governor Morris,
Grayson, George Mason. Arthur Lee, Boudinot
tri. i,u1I I lalI
pnckncN, Hutedse, llopkinson, Thomas Johnson, |
DR. RAMSAY, General ~. Clair, Baron S,cuben.-
IL Europe Lafayette, Rochambeau. Count DIES
tang. Cuunt de Grasse Duke de l.auzun, Cheva-
Tier De Cba,clux, Chevacrd de la Luzernc. Count
dc Naaill's Marquis de la Rouierc, Count de
Moustlrr. Dumas, Don Diego, Gardoqui, Count dc
Florida Blanca, Paul lone,. Countess Of Hunting
TON. Mr. Macauly Graham. Arthur Young Lord
Fairfax. Doctor Carbon, sir Edward Nottingham
aud numerous others.
When Washington entered upon the arduGu.
dice ut the Presidency. he Of course Obliged
~ q linq ,ish portion Of his private correspon-
tienac. vet his carly formed and long continued
ha't. ot industry. procured him leisure from his
puplic duties, and within the years OF his Ples
deltial iabnia are seven volumes If recorded pr-
yatc letters besides many others Of which press
copies were taken, ana which were NOT entered IL
books. long letter he regularly wrote, once
week. and sometimes oitencr, to the manager Of
his plantation. press copies of which he retained
and he kept up spirited cores pondence on agri-
cultural subjects. with sir John Sinclair, Arthur
Young Mr.. Anderson, and other persons Iii,
European correspondence rather increased than
diminished. but his answers became brief and for
NAL. Man, intecd, were turne, over to his Sec
retarv. II appears to have been fixed principle
with him, all His life, never to receive letter Of
any description respectful in its language. without
ieplying tol,and commonl y.wlth great promptness
The number OF letters which came 70 him fom all
qaai;er', on subjects having no relation to his own
concerns. would hardly be credited, without ocu-
- l,lL.r n ~ ...l y /