The weekly clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1863-1882, 1881-01-27
Jefferson Davis History of the War
A WORK LIKELY To CREATE A PROFOUND
SENSATION NEARLY READY.
y. Y. Herald. I

/ n Y Herald.
A Herald representative visited the pub,
| fishing house of the Appletons on yesterday
for the purpose of getting whate yer was new
! concerning the forthcoming history of the
late war, by Mr.. Jefferson Davis, now in the
/ presses Of that house. He found at desk
in the front of the building Mr.. J. c. Derby
who has more direct charge of this book
possibly, than any one connected with the
firm. In response to an inquiry to when
the book would be out he replied
/ "WelI, the Appletons do not like to make
( promises, but | feel justified in saying that
I it will be ready inside of ninety days.
have now the proof sheets of half the first
/ volume in my desk here. | have Just re
ceived letter from Judge Tenney, who was
sent yown by the House to assist Mr.. Davis
with the writing, in which he says that he
will forward inside of ten days from the
date of writing half the manuscript for the
second volume, which is now ready, and is
withheld simply that Mr.. Davis may make
a slight correction in one Of the chapters.
He adds that the printers may be put to
work or it at once, as the last half of the
second volume is about ready, and will be
here before the printers will need it. He
writes that everything is now ready for the
pushing forward of the work, and that the
manuscript, virtually prepared to the last
chapter, will come forward at once"
"When was the contract with Mr.. Davis
for this work closed ?'
About five years ago. Mr.. Davis has
proceeded in che preparation OF this history
with the utmost deliberatiOn lie has taken
nothing for granted, but has examined into
the smallest details and sifted the records.
He was ambitious, too, to give the work
such scope as to make it comprehensive as
well as thorough. His labor has, therefore,
been immense Still he would have been
ready long ago if he had been provided with
prompt and skilful writers who could have
kept up with his dictation. He dictates
slowly, deliberately, and will have no short
hand writer. Since Judge Tenney was
sent out to him nearly year ago the work
has gone right ahead"
''Has the name of the book been agreed
on yet - .r,
Fall of the Confederate Government The
name first determined on was The History
of the Confederate War for Independence
Its Causes and Results You will see that
title runs on the proof sheets here"
''And by the way" he said, as he leaned
forward to get the bundle of proofs from his
drawer, you are the first journalist who
has ever had glimpse of these proofs And
it is a coincidence that this history and
BancrOft's history of the "Times of Wash
ington" are being published simultaneously,
and" holding up batch Of tho Bancroft
proofs, chat the title of the first chapter OF
Bancroft's is headed The COnfedeFaoy,'
meaning of course the first confederation of
the Colonies. All here are the Davis
proofs
With this he held up a bundle of sheets
handsomely printed on heavy paper, in
much the same style as, but clearer and
heavier, than "Sherman's Memoirs" The
introduction" to the book was short cover
ing nearly the first page and half the next,
aud it could be seen in the glance that the
reporter got that the dedication was con-
tanned in the Introduction. The title of the
book-which of course will be changed on
the present proof sheets-runs across the
top of every page.
TN what shape aud at what price will the
book be published ~
at will be issued in two volumes, about
the size of 'Appletons' Encyclopedia and
will be sold for So volume 1t will be sold
entirely o. subscription. There is already
a large demand, ole man in Missouri having
already ordered 5000 copies. While of
couse the heaviest demand is from the South
We md very large demand throughout the
North, and shall be disappointed if the sales
do not reach 100000 copies. The sales of
Stewards Journey Around the World
went up to that point, and the demand for
this is AS promising as that was No expense
has been spared to make this book worthy
of the reputation it must have"
"The terms upon which Mr.. Davis wrote
the book are liberal %
at is sufficient ia say that he will receive
enough from the early sales to make him
independent and easy for the rest of his life.
But the chief reward that he will have will
be the consciousness of having performed a
duty that has weighed upon him ever since
{ III 20 nf he hot ha tod
He determined, shortly after the collapse Of
his government, to devote the remainder of
his life to the preparation of full and COM
prehensive history of the struggle of the
Southern people and the causes that led to
it"
"Have you seen him since the completion
of the work p
Eyes, / spent several days with him at
BeauSoiT last January, when his labor was
mainly over. l Es7er saw a man that so
sincerely rejoiced in his work, He said
that he had made history that would
stand all the tests of time and criticism, be-
cause il yes true, and that he had put in
/ permanent record Q defence af his people
! that would command the verdict of poster
| ity. He seemed to feel as a man who hag
! had sacred duty weighing upon him as
burden, and who had at last honorably lift
ed it from his shoulders he gave five years
of almost unceasing labor to the work.
Night and day during the most of that
time he has been In the seclusion of Beau
voir, in his little study, careless Of the bus
/ tie and worry of the outside world, at work
at his self-appointed task"
| The first volume of the work is almost
entirely taken up with constitutional dis
cussion of the causes that led to the war.
The latter half of this and the last volume
treats Of the conduct Of the war. Both vol
umes will contain portraits of the prominent
men who figured on the Confederate side.
The work Is dedicated 10 the widows AND
orphans Of the men who died for the cause.
Tie introduction afirms briefly the cons
federated character OF the Union and the
necessity Of separate eoVeEeiT lies under
I general diEnptioni