Daily Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1828-1831, 1829-02-13


ecutor ofhis wil has sgnifed his intention of pub
fishing selection from the manuscripts of the deceas-
cd statesman and patriot. by the mail OF Monday
evening we received from friend at Charlottesville.
the first halfshcet of this contemplated work which
as specimen of Typography and paper, is entitled to
rank high among the beautiful s. elegant books issued
from the American Press. Without doubt the work
will oosttue proud memorial of the pov
or of Mr.. Jefferson. The Preface of the Editcr is
contained entire on the sheet with which we have
been favored and it is here presented to our readers
us furnishing them with better account of the work
which it ushers forth to the world than pny which
has before been published.
1.-The opinion universally entertained OF the extraor
binary abilities OF Thomas Jefferson, and the signal
evidence given by his country Of profound sense of
his patriotic services AID OF vcneration for his MS
mory, have induced the editor, who is both his ex-
ecutor and the legatee of his manuscript papers, to
believe that an extensive publication from them
would be particularly acceptable To the American
people.
The Memoir, contained in the first VOL, commences
with crc1mstantia notices of his earliest le and is
continued to his arrival in New York in March, | 100
when he entered the duties OF the Department
OF State, of which he had been just appointed Sc
cretary.
From the aspect of the Memoir it may be prcs-
'su thu, Pr's vf it least had been written for his
own ana his iany's use only; aud in style without
the finish OF his revising pen. There is however
part of it, minute aud personal as il may be- which
the reader would wish to have been passed over bv
the editor whilst not few parts of that descrip-
ton, VIII by some, be regarded with particular inter
est.
The contents of the Memoir. succeeding the bio
graphical pages, may be designated as follows
| l. General facts and anecdotes relating to the
origin and early stages of the contest with Great Br
tain.
H. Historical circumstances relatingto the Con.
| federation of the States.
III. Facts and anecdotes local and reneral nrelI
niiuary to the declaration of Independence.
~. An exact account of the circumstances attend
ing that memorable act its preparation and its pr-
gress through Congress- with copy from the original
draught, in the hand r'ns Of the .qultor; and l-
railel column in the same hand, shelving the altera-
tons made in the drought by Con gross.
The Memoir win be considered not littIse1ircIE-
ed by the Debates in Ccngress, OH the great question
OF Independence, as they taken down by Mr.
Jehcrso nat the tine and which, though in n conn
pressed form, present the substance of what passed on
that memorable occasion. This portion of the wpr.,
derives peculiar value from it's perfect authenticate
beng all III the hand writing of that distinguished
member OF the body; from the certainty that this is
the first disclosure to the world of those Deba es
and from the probability, rather certainty that
like knowledge of them Is not o be expected from
/ any other source. The same remarks are applicable
: 10 the Dabatcs IN the SAM. Congress, preserved
in the same manner, two of the original ar
ticles of Confederation. The first is the arti-
Gle fixing the rate of assessing the Quotas Of sup
ply to the common Treasury: the second is the arti-
3 each colony should have vote The Debates on
both are not only interesting in themselves but en-
rious, also, in relation to like discussions of the sub
r jcct on subsequent occasions.
Y. Views of the connections and transac IF bo
U. States with foreign nations, at different periods:
particularly narrative, with many details personal
ondpotical ofthe causes course earl of the French
Revolution, exhibited to the ohscrv,tio, of IT,
Author during hIs diplomatic residence at Paris The
narrative, with the interningied reflections on the
character ond consequences of that Revolution fills
considerable space in the Memoir, and FORM yery
important part Of it.
i VI. Within the BODY of the Memoir mr. rof;r,cd
TO as an Appendix, other papers which were
thought well entitled TO the place they orcuuv . :
mong them are, L. paper drawn up in the year l77l,
as as instructions to our delegates in Congress y
lhough heretofore In print, it will be new 10 most
readers and will De regarded by all as the most annie
4 ana precise enumeraons OF British violations that
had then appeared perhaps, that has since been
! presented IN form at once so comract md G.,
complete g a Penal Code, being part of n
Hevlsed Code Of Laws, prepared by appointment OF
the Legislature in Virginia in 1776 with refercncc
10 tie Republican form Of Government and to the
principles OF humanity congenal horewith aud with
inc improving spirit OF the age. Annexed to the s,,-
Veral articles are explanatory and other remarks nj
the Author, worthy ofbeing preserved by the mid Of
the press 3. historical and critical review tho
rcPcai OF the laws establishing the Church in Virri-
MA; which was ollowedby the act for establishing re-
lgous freedom This act, il is wei known was al
ways held by Mr.. Jefferson to he ono Of his best efforts
IN the cause of liberty, to which be was devoted: and
II is certainly the strongest legal barrier that coud
Sc erected against connection between Church and
state 80 fatal in its tendency the purity of both
l. IN elaborate paper concerning II money Unit
prepared in the year 1884, ard which laid the Iuudo
ton OF tc system adopted by Congress for COINAGE
and money of account. For other particulars LOT
nero noted, tho reader is referred 20 tic volume itself
! The Termination fthc Memoir, at the date men.
toned by the Author may be explained by the labo-
rIous tasks assumed or not declined by him. on his
return to private life; which, with his great arc did
not permit him 10 reduce his materials into q staff
! proper to be embodied in such work.
lho other volumes contain, I. Letters from 1878
10 MS DEATH addressed to great variety Ofindviduals
and comprising range Of information, and in MANY
reselur cTsays subj cots OF History Poll
,Ics' science, Morals and Religion. The letters IN
nun are omitted except IN very few instances where
| tho whole or part Of letter had been filed E,r
inc better understanding ofthe answer. And where
lnercnces from the tenor Of the answer might in n
NY way ohcct the correspondent, his name docs not
the letters, and the entire publication have tIo rave