PREFATORY NOTICE.

It is now proposed to present to the public eye the whole of the collection of letters written by Washington to Heath, so far as it is supposed not to have yet seen the light. In substance, they differ little from those heretofore produced under the careful supervision of Mr. Sparks; but they add strong testimony to the diligent attention which Washington was constantly exercising in all the great variety of events passing before him, to oversee the complicated military machinery with which he had to deal. In this process there was much that was minute as well as large. To both he paid the attention they required, no less and no more. His views were all of them practical, and strictly looking to results. They all bear more or less the tinge of his own mind and the mark of his own hand. The unity of his manner is seldom broken, even when treating the most indifferent subjects, the same grave dignity, whether enjoining that the men should be employed in making cartridges and in preventing the powder from receiving damage, or in preparing for the execution of the most critical combinations of the war. It is in this sense that the addition now made to the already large supplies of materials relating to that interesting period is still deemed valuable enough for publication in the present form.

LETTERS

FROM

WASHINGTON TO HEATH.

THE Life of WILLIAM HEATH, written by himself so far down as to the close of the Revolutionary War, was printed and published in Boston, in the year 1798. Copies of the work are now scarce, though some might possibly be still found in what remain of the old New England country mansions. He had much material with which to make it interesting, but did not know how to use it to advantage. That he served-faithfully during the great struggle, is attested in a communication from his chief, George Washington, clothed in language of which any man might have been proud. In later life, he took an active interest in the political struggles of the day, and was once chosen Lieutenant-Governor of Massachusetts, but declined the honor. He died in 1814, at the age of 77. Forty-five years passed away, when it became known to a few persons that the large mass of his papers were still in existence, and open to purchase. Happily, a public-spirited member of a public-spirited family, on learning the fact, lost little time in securing the treasure, and in placing it in the permanent custody of the Massachusetts Historical Society. This handsome benefaction, made by Mr. Amos A. Lawrence, was duly appreciated at the time, the record of which, expressed at a meeting of the Society, in the month of May, 1859, may be found by reference to the volume of its Proceedings printed in that year.

Among these papers is included a large collection of letters addressed to General Heath by General Washington, most of which, it is believed, have never seen the light of publication. It has been thought that no more fitting time to produce them could be selected than on the centenary anniversary of the nation, when all eyes have been turned to a re-examination of old events. Washington's relations with Heath seem to have commenced early, and lasted through the entire war. He was appointed by the Congress to the chief

command of all the forces raised in the war, on the 15th of June, 1775. Two days later Heath was appointed, by the same authority, the fourth Brigadier-General, in a list of eight. He soon received promotion, and served as a Major-General during the rest of the war. At its close, when the officers were dispersing to their several homes, Washington, on the 24th of June, 1783, added still another earnest but spontaneous private testimonial of his regard. If the value of such compliments is to be measured by the known character of the writer for sincerity, this testimony must for ever remain the crowning glory in the life of William Heath.