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JEFFERSON, Thomas (1743-1826). State Papers and Publick Documents of the United States from the Accession of Thomas Jefferson to the Presidency, Exhibiting a Compete View of Our Foreign Relations since That Time, 1811-1816. Boston: T.B. Wait & Sons, 1815. 8vo., (9 2/8 x 6 inches). (Some light spotting throughout). Original grey printed paper boards, cream paper spines, with printed paper label, uncut (worn with minor loss to the head of the spine). Provenance: with the near contemporary gift inscription to "B.L. Lear from his Friend & Cousin J.L. Storer" dated 1820 on the front free endpaper "The motives for commencing with Mr. Jefferson s administration are, that the more recent events are much the most interesting." First edition of the fourth volume of Wait's "State Papers.", which, while a wonderful idea, were a bit difficult to bring to fruition as Wait's letter to Thomas Jefferson of the 8th of September, 1814, shows: "Sir, In January of the present year we issued proposals (a copy of which is inclosed) for publishing the State Papers & Public Documents of the Un. States that affect our Foreign Relations; commencing with your accession to the Presidency and at the same time announced our intention of issuing proposals for publishing the Docts of a prior date; as soon as the present undertaking should be completed. One of the most learned men and accurate politicians of our state consented to superintend the publication, and to aid us in making the collection perfect, many of the distinguished political characters of our own and the neighbouring states, cheerfully gave us access to such papers as were in their possession. But notwithstanding the assistance that was generously afforded us from every quarter, many papers were not to be found, and we were at length satisfied that New England did not afford them. While prosecuting a journey to Washington, in the hope of there completing the collection, our progress was arrested by tidings of the destruction of that city; and we have since learnt, that it entered into the project of the enemy to destroy books and papers as well as warlike materials, and that the mass of documents upon which our reliance was placed for perfecting the work, had been consumed by fire. The facilities toward effecting our object that this city affords, are indeed very inconsiderable, and we can learn of no collection that gives any promise of assistance. In our dilemma, the idea occurred, that you sir, would more probably have in your possession a complete series of Amer. State Papers, than any man in the country; and the remarks of many of our friends strengthened us in the hope that the desired papers might be found in your hands. The principal deficiency of our collection occurs in the series prior to your administration. The collection of the subsequent period is more complete altho yet imperfect. Will you Sir, have the kindness to inform us whether you possess a collection of the State Papers & Public Docts of the U. States, and if such papers are in your possession, whether you would consent that we may have access to them for the purpose of making copies of those that we are unable to procure elswhere? " Thomas B. Wait & Sons, printed prospectus for State Papers and Publick Documents of the United States, Boston, Jan. 1814, makes the case for a publication collecting American state papers, with the need amplified by the war with Great Britain and tangled relations with other European states; asserting that the documents printed by Congress to date have had inadequate print runs and reached only "the favoured correspondents of members of congress"; promising that the proposed work will be "equally useful to persons of both parties," that it will "have no party character," that it will "print all the publick documents relating to our intercourse with foreign nations, commencing with the accession of Mr. Jefferson to the Presidency," that "Nothing will be omitted, and no pol. N° de ref. del artículo 72lib1408
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