PREFACE 



In the preparation of this collection of Washington s let 

 ters, the editor wishes to acknowledge his indebtedness to 

 Miss Johanna Sprague, Librarian of the Salt Lake Public 

 Library, for valuable assistance in making much important 

 material easier of access than is common with public libra 

 ries. To Mrs. Gail North Parks, the editor is indebted for 

 the very thorough and careful work in copying the text of 

 these letters, and for several suggestions as to their arrange 

 ment. 



Mr. Walter Cook has placed the editor under obligation 

 for his painstaking work in copying the map of the Mount 

 Vernon Estate from a very faded and discolored print. The 

 editor is also grateful to Mr. Lowry Nelson for much valu 

 able criticism of the editorial work; and to Mr. Allen Mar- 

 tineau and Mr. Sidney Spencer for careful assistance in re 

 reading the manuscripts and proofs. 



W. E. B. 



