“ the list I sent you. if you turn to this you may rely on it’s correctness.”

On October 22, Hening sent the first volume: “I have now the pleasure of presenting to you the first volume of the Statutes at Large, which was published on yesterday, only. In the execution of this work I have had to encounter many difficulties; but I have spared no pains to render it as perfect as possible. The typography is the best that could be procured in this place, where I was compelled to publish it, for the purpose of revising the proofsheets as they came from the press. The second volume, (which is now in the press,) is considerably advanced, & promises to be much better executed than the first.

"The views which all our historians have taken of the early history of Virginia, (even Marshall & Burk) have been so grossly inaccurate, that I have felt it a duty incumbent on me to intersperse the volume with various notes, pointing those errors out. These you will particularly find in pages 429, 513, 526; to which I invite your attention.

"In the preface, I fear I have been too prolix.--Believing that it would be important to give a concise summary of the rise and progress of the most remarkable of our laws, (especially in a work of so much antiquity, which few would be disposed to read, for the purpose of forming their own conclusions,) I attempted the task.--As far as it is executed, I believe it is done with tolerable accuracy; but many other topics might have been introduced to advantage, which I was deterred from noticing, lest the preface itself should be so long that few would be disposed to read it.

"To this volume is prefixed all the ancient Charters relating to Virginia, which have hitherto been printed, together with some others from MS copies; & to the whole, a complete set of marginal notes has been given . . .”

On November 21, Hening wrote: “Being about to announce the publication of the first Volume of the Statutes at Large, I cannot suppress the anxiety which I feel to accompany it with the testimonials of some literary characters whose recommendations would tend to introduce it. The Judges of the Superior Courts, at this place, with the members of the bar, have offered their sanction to the utility of the work; but knowing the weight which your name would give, I am unwilling to announce the volume till I hear from you--Should it be your opinion, after perusing the work, that it merits the encouragement of the public, an expression of that opinion, will greatly aid me in my arduous and hitherto, unproductive undertaking.--My subscription is, indeed, very respectable, but far from being numerous; and if there be any case, in which it is proper to be guided by the opinions of others, it is certainly in relation to literary matters.”

Jefferson replied from Monticello on December 1: “ After my return from Richmond I took a journey to Bedford from which I have been returned but about a week. that time has been occupied by an accumulation of letters during my absence which required answers, & have left me time to cast but a cursory eye over the volume of laws you were so kind as to send me. this prevents my being more particular in the inclosed letter, which however is probably as long as the occasion requires . . . ”

The “ inclosed letter” reads as follows: “ I have duly received the 1 ^st. vol. of your collection of our statutes at large, & return you my thanks for it. the opinion I entertain of the importance of the work may be justly inferred from the trouble & expence I incurred during the earlier part of my life, to save such remains of our antient laws as were then still in existence. the compilation appears to be correctly & judiciously made, and gives us exactly what I had so long considered as a desideratum for our country. it sheds a new light on our early history, and furnishes additional security to the tenure of our rights & property. Sincerely wishing you may reap the reward you have merited, I tender you the assurances of my great esteem & respect. ”