MAGAZINE OF AMERICAN HISTORY

VOL. IV

THE

FEBRUARY 1880

THE LETTERS OF WASHINGTON

HE publication of unpublished documents and letters of Washing ton was begun in the February and continued in the Aura number of the Magazine, last year (1879). In addition to some important public papers, eighty-nine letters from his pen or under his signature were then first printed. They covered a period from 1754 to the close of the year 1780, were printed in the order of their dates, and were numbered from I to LXXXIX.

After mature consideration it has been decided to adhere to the same order of chronological arrangement, and of numbering, until all letters of dates subsequent to those already printed and prior to the close of the Revolution have been made public.

The thirty letters of the present number comprise all that have been received of the year 1781. The publication of those of the year 1732 will follow in August; the intention being to publish a Washington aumber cach February, and a supplementary block of Washington letters each succeeding August, until every accessible letter has been procured and printed.

It is hoped that this plan will meet the approval of all, and be accepted by those, whose contributed letters have not yet appeared, as a satisfactory reason for the delay in their publication. Among those thys reserved are numerous, some very important, letters of dates antecedent to, and of the earlier years of, the Revolution. These will form. the first of a second series, which will be begun when the close of the Revolution has been reached in the present publication.

A general co-operation of all persons interested in American History is again requested, and the importance of this collection again earnestly urged. Every letter that bears the signature of Washington, whether in his handwriting or not, or however unimportant it may appear, has its value. The simple establishment of his presence at a particular date may have a cotrolling weight in determining some point of historic importance.

MAGAZINE OF AMERICAN HISTORY

VOL. IV

T

FEBRUARY 1880

THE LETTERS OF WASHINGTON

No. 2

HE publication of unpublished documents and letters of Washington was begun in the February and continued in the August number of the Magazine, last year (1879). In addition to some important public papers, eighty-nine letters from his pen or under his signature were then first printed. They covered a period from 1754 to the close of the year 1780, were printed in the order of their dates, and were numbered from I to LXXXIX.

After mature consideration it has been decided to adhere to the same order of chronological arrangement, and of numbering, until all letters of dates subsequent to those already printed and prior to the close of the Revolution have been made public.

The thirty letters of the present number comprise all that have been received of the year 1781. The publication of those of the year 1782 will follow in August; the intention being to publish a Washington number each February, and a supplementary block of Washington letters each succeeding August, until every accessible letter has been procured and printed.

It is hoped that this plan will meet the approval of all, and be accepted by those, whose contributed letters have not yet appeared, as a satisfactory reason for the delay in their publication. Among those thus reserved are numerous, some very important, letters of dates antecedent to, and of the earlier years of, the Revolution. These will form the first of a second series, which will be begun when the close of the Revolution has been reached in the present publication.

A general co-operation of all persons interested in American History is again requested, and the importance of this collection again earnestly urged. Every letter that bears the signature of Washington, whether in his handwriting or not, or however unimportant it may appear, has its value. The simple establishment of his presence at a particular date may have a controlling weight in determining some point of historic importance.

MAGAZINE OF AMERICAN HISTORY

VOL. IV

T

FEBRUARY 1880

THE LETTERS OF WASHINGTON

No. 2

HE publication of unpublished documents and letters of Washington was begun in the February and continued in the August number of the Magazine, last year (1879). In addition to some important public papers, eighty-nine letters from his pen or under his signature were then first printed. They covered a period from 1754 to the close of the year 1780, were printed in the order of their dates, and were numbered from I to LXXXIX.

After mature consideration it has been decided to adhere to the same order of chronological arrangement, and of numbering, until all letters of dates subsequent to those already printed and prior to the close of the Revolution have been made public.

The thirty letters of the present number comprise all that have been received of the year 1781. The publication of those of the year 1782 will follow in August; the intention being to publish a Washington number each February, and a supplementary block of Washington letters each succeeding August, until every accessible letter has been procured and printed.

It is hoped that this plan will meet the approval of all, and be accepted by those, whose contributed letters have not yet appeared, as a satisfactory reason for the delay in their publication. Among those thus reserved are numerous, some very important, letters of dates antecedent to, and of the earlier years of, the Revolution. These will form the first of a second series, which will be begun when the close of the Revolution has been reached in the present publication.

A general co-operation of all persons interested in American History is again requested, and the importance of this collection again earnestly urged. Every letter that bears the signature of Washington, whether in his handwriting or not, or however unimportant it may appear, has its value. The simple establishment of his presence at a particular date may have a controlling weight in determining some point of historic importance.