You may perhaps recollect, that nearly two years ago I wrote you concerning a design, which a friend of mine then had, of publishing an edition of "General Washington's Works." As he did not carry his purpose into execution, I was myself led to examine the subject, and have read with great attention such of the writings of General Washington as I have been able to obtain. I have also made numerous inquiries, respecting his official letters to the Governor's of the States during the revolution, and to the principal officers of the army. The result of my investigations has been, that there is in existence a vast number of the unpublished letters written by him, which are of the highest importance as containing materials for a correct history of the country, and as exhibiting in a still more imposing light, than has ever yet been done, the extraordinary resources and powers of the authors mind, and the controlling influence of his opinions and character in gaining the independence and establishing the free government, which are now the glory and happiness of his countrymen, and the admiration of the world.

     Under this conviction, and after very mature reflection and extensive inquiry, I have resolved, should such a project meet your approbation, to collect and publish all the works of general Washington, both such as have already appeared in print, and a selection from such as are to be found in manuscript. My plan is to accompany the whole with a full body of notes and historical illustrations, and to arrange the materials under the following divisions.

Part I. Official Letters.

     This division will embrace those parts of General Washington's correspondence, which may be strictly called official, that is his letters to the Governor of Virginia, while engaged in the French war; his letters to the President of Congress and the Committees on the army during the whole revolution; his letters to the Governors of the states and Committees appointed to correspond with him by different legislatures; his letters to officers of the army, and other individuals engaged in public affairs and such of his letters while President of the United States, as may be deemed of an official nature.

     The two volumes of "Washington's Official Letters." first published in London, in the year 1795, contain those only which were addressed to the President of Congress from the time he took command of the army in June 1775, to the end of the year 1778, about three years and a half. These were copied in the Secretary's Office at Philadelphia by a person who took them to London, and published them with the apparent design of continuing the series. But the sale probably did not encourage him to fulfil his intention, as he is still living in London, and nothing in addition to the above two volumes has appeared. These letters were doubtless correctly copied, but they are printed with many omissions, which were thought necessary to accommodate them to the state of public feeling at that time. I do not find that any of the letters to Congress, after the year 1778, have been printed; nor any of the vast numbers which he wrote to the Governors of the states, nor any of those sent to officers of the army, except in a few instances, where memoirs of some of the general officers have been written.

     I have learnt from the Secretaries of several states, that many letters from General Washington are on file among the public papers, copies of which can be obtained without difficulty. The same thing I have also ascertained in regard to the papers left by some of the leading officers of the army. Many letters of the Commander in Chief are found among them. in the library of the Massachusetts Historical Society is a volume of original letters by General Washington collected from the papers of Governor Hancock, and deposited there by his widow. In the same library is also a series of volumes of manuscripts which belonged to Governor Trumbull, and which contain all General Washington's correspondence with him. A gentleman in New Hampshire has a full copy of the proceedings of the committee of Congress, which visited the army in 1780, to consult with the Commander in Chief on important affairs. In this manuscript volume are contained fifteen letters from General Washington. Numerous unpublished letters of his are also deposited in the library of the New York Historical Society. In short it would not be easy to calculate the number of letters of this description, all of them exceedingly important, which may be gathered from different sources, by a thorough and persevering examination.

     When these are collected, my purpose is to arrange them in chronological order, and to add such explanations by way of notes, as will may every statement and allusion clearly understood, and exhibit, in connexion with the letters, a thread of history as continuous and perfect as the nature of the subject will admit. In constructing the notes, many valuable materials may be drawn from the letters written in reply to those of General Washington, very few of which have ever been published. To what extent these may be obtained, can be known only by future inquiry. Copies of those written by the governors and other authorities of the states, are unquestionably preserved. All other sources of information will likewise be resorted to, which promise in any way to aid the execution of my plan.

Part II. State Papers and Other Official Documents.

     In this division will be brought together his Messages to Congress, Addresses, General Orders to the Army, and whatever other papers there may be of a public nature, which cannot be properly ranked under the division of official letters.

     The notes and illustrations here will principally related to the political state of the times; to the opinions views and purposes of the author; to his wisdom in devising measures of the most salutary kind, and his influence and the weight of his character in carrying them into effect; to his agency in directing the progress of events, and leading them to the best ends in establishing the new government on a solid foundation; and, indeed, to whatever may elucidate the history of his political life.

Part III. Private Correspondence.

     In this department much discretion must of course be exercised. It is not to be supposed, that all his private letters, nor all that can be collected, are suited to publication. There is much even here, however, that is not only curious, but valuable. His agricultural correspondence with Sir John Sinclair and Mr Anderson, which was published in England, will come under this head; and many letters, which have appeared from time to time in public papers and journals; as well as numerous others in manuscript; known to be in the hands of individuals. Of this description of letters, I should not be disposed to print any, except such as you, and other judicious persons may deem in accordance with the dignity of the work, as containing interesting facts, or developing traits of the authors mind and character.

     The notes under this division will be few and short, explaining parts of the letters that may require it, and detailing such particulars and incidents, as may come to my knowledge, respecting the private pursuits, and the characteristic habits and opinions of the writer.

     I have thus, Sir, in as few words as possible, disclosed to you my plan. In making to you this frank and explicit exposition, I have two objects in view. First, as it is a thing in which you, as an individual, are more deeply interested than any other person, it is highly proper for me to ascertain, whether you approve my undertaking, and are willing to promote it by your counsel and aid, before I take any public measures for prosecuting it. And, secondly, whether, you will consent, that access may be had to the papers of General Washington in your possession.

     I am aware, that there is some delicacy in this second point, nor should I venture to make the inquiry, were I not encouraged to do it by many gentlemen to whom I have explained my design, on whose judgment I can rely, and to whom the fame of no man is dearer, than that of Washington. These have professed one and all to regard my project as one of a magnitude and consequence which justify me in making even such an application and, whatever may be your views as to the expediency of allowing the papers to be examined, I cannot doubt you will duly appreciate my motives, and freely excuse any thing that may to you have the appearance of impropriety in the liberty which I take. It was the habit of General Washington to preserve copies of his correspondence. While in the army he kept regular letter books for this purpose; and from many circumstances I infer the same was done in respect to most of his private letters. In his correspondence with Mr. Anderson, for instance, he sent a duplicate of a letter, which he found had not reached its destination.

     Now it is to be presumed that General Washington's letters have been preserved with great care, by the persons into whose possession they have fallen, and it can hardly be doubted that a public advertisement would bring nearly all of them to light, and those in the archives of the Legislatures of the states may be had by a direct application: yet, after every effort is made, there must be deficiencies, particularly in regard to letters among the papers of the general officers of the army, whose descendants may desire to retain them for a first publication in a future biographical account of the person to whom they were written. And some will also necessarily be overlooked, that are in the offices of the Secretaries of the states, by reason of the mass of papers with which they will be connected. The only possible mode of supplying such deficiencies, is by examining the copies of correspondence left by General Washington. If you agree with me, therefore, as you most certainly will, that if such a work is to be executed, it should be done in as complete and perfect a manner as possible, I think you will not fail to see, in a clear and convincing light, the force of these hints.

     Again there are other documents of the highest value among the papers of General Washington, many of which cannot be supposed to exist any where else, and these are the letters received by him during his whole public life. It would seem that he was as remarkable for retaining the originals of all letters sent to him, as for preserving copies of his own. In almost every letter to Congress he mentions copies of letters enclosed, which he had received from public persons, and the originals of which were kept by himself. In some cases it is not likely that the writers of these letters preserved copies; in others, where copies were taken at the time, they have doubtless been lost in the vicissitudes though which they have passed; so that at this day it is probable, that the only copies in being are the single ones among the papers at Mount Vernon. Yet these letters unfold many of the leading principles and moving springs of the revolution, they afford the very best materials for history; and, in a word, are absolutely essential to illustrate the works of Genl Washington.

     With these views of the subject, I shall leave it to your better judgment to decide in what light it is proper for you to regard my proposed undertaking. As to myself it only needs to be added that I have been chiefly influenced by a deep conviction of the importance of such a work, both as a tribute due to the name of Washington, and a repository for perpetuating the most valuable treasures of American History, which in their present scattered state, are subject to be swept into oblivion by every wind that blows; exposed to the mercy of accident, and the consuming power of the elements. My thoughts have been more or less occupied with the plan for the last two years; as a literary enterprize it falls in with my inclinations and pursuits; but the labor of collecting materials so widely diffused, and of preparing them in the way I propose for the press, is one of which no adequate conception can be formed by any person, who has not had some experience in works of a similar kind. But I have resolved to engage resolutely in the task, if I undertake it at all, and to spare neither industry nor expense in endeavoring to execute it, as far as my ability will allow, in a manner creditable to the fame of Washington, to our literature, and to our national history.

     For further information, as to my purposes and qualifications, permit me, Sir, to refer you to Judge Story, with whom I have conversed on the subject, and who manifests a lively interest in the plan of collecting into one body all the writings of General Washington. With Mr Webster and Mr Wheaton I am also acquainted, & I doubt not they will readily answer any inquiries, you may wish to make respecting my character and pursuits.

     I shall write to Judge Marshall, and I hope you will do me the favor to show him this letter, that he may fully understand my views and motives. I have the honor to be, Sir, with great respect, your obt servt