J. 347
Not in the Manuscript Catalogue.
1815 Catalogue, page 107. no. 309, Wilkinson’s Memoirs, 8vo.
WILKINSON,
James.
Memoirs of General Wilkinson. Volume II [with Appendix]. Washington City: Printed for the Author,
1810. [--
Appendix, to Volume the First.--Appendix, to Volume the Fourth.--Postscript to Appendix Vol. IV.--A Brief Examination of Testimony, to vindicate the character of General James Wilkinson against the imputation of a sinister connexion with the Spanish Government, for purpose hostile to his own country; with
a glance at several topics of minor import.
Washington City:
W. Cooper, Printer,
1811.--Appendix.]
E334 .W67
First Edition. 8vo. 5 parts in 1. Vol. II. 59 leaves (lacks a leaf between the Introduction and the text, probably blank); caption
title on the first leaf of text reads:
Examination of General Wilkinson’s Conduct in relation to Burr’s Conspiracy. Appendix to Vol. II, 68 leaves; Appendix to Vol. I, 96 leaves only, imperfect at the end; Appendix to Vol. IV, 104 leaves,
the last a blank; Postscript to Appendix Vol. IV, 6 leaves; A Brief Examination 16 leaves, Appendix 40 leaves. The Appendix
to Volume the First is placed first in the volume.
Sabin 104028, 104026.
Wandell, page 245.
Original calf, rebacked. Not initialled by Jefferson, but with his shelfmark,
c. 24. 309, written in ink by him and pasted on the first leaf; one or two textual corrections in ink. With the Library of Congress 1815 bookplate.
On September 14, 1810, John B. Colvin wrote to Jefferson, from Washington, a letter marked
private: “You will not doubt, I presume, the sincerity of my respect for you. The sentiment is strong in my breast; and as it has survived
your presidential terms, and honors you in retirement, it is, from the nature of the sensation as well as from your own great
qualities, likely to endure . . .
"Gen Wilkinson is now engaged in composing the Memoirs of his Life: He thinks they will present to the world a picture that
will excite its sympathy and sober approbation, if not its clamorous applause; and that he will thus stand acquitted in the
eyes of his countrymen of the various charges which have been so long and so forcibly urged against him.
"Gen. Wilkinson has solicited me to write one of the volumes for him; and the subject which he wishes to confide to me is
the Treason of Burr. Various considerations induced me to hesitate on this proposition. My situation in the Department of State; the relation
in which the General stands to the Executive and to Congress, were circumstances which weighed with me most forcibly against
the undertaking. On reflection, however, I concluded to lend him my aid
on that point alone, and to devote my leisure hours for a week or two gratuitously to the topic in question. I have, however, exacted from him
a promise of inviolable secrecy as to the authorship; and he has put into my hands numerous original documents touching the
subject, which have never yet been developed to the world. Your private letters, of course, form a part.
"In surveying the work before me, I have reflected that the treason and general conduct of Burr will hereafter form a prominent
feature in the history of your political life; that it is of importance to the Character of republican Government that it
should be well narrated; and, especially, that it is of essential consequence to your good name, (so precious to the republicans
of the Union,) that the
principles upon which you approved of Gen. Wilkinson’s conduct at New-Orleans should not be mistated or mistaken.
"I therefore, Sir, take the liberty of submitting to you the following Question; and will thank you for your ideas on it,
together with whatever observations, in relation to the subject generally, you may think proper to honor me with. I ”
