PREFATORY.

IT is with unaffected diffidence, that the editor now presents his long-expected volume to the people of the United States, from an apprehension that its contents will not accord with the hopes entertained by those who felt interested in the publication. Self-love, or self-respect, seems to demand that some account of the origin and progress of this work should be submitted, that the real merits or demerits of the case may be understood.

On the 23d of November, 1816, a letter was published in the WEEKLY REGISTER (of which the editor of this work is also the editor and proprietor), from an anonymous correspondent,* from which the following is an extract:

"Among the patriots whose efforts have tended to give stability to our institutions, no one is more entitled to the best wishes of his fellow-citizens, and no one has rendered himself more honorably known, than yourself. The steady zeal with which you have prosecuted your valuable work, has made it as a light to the people, by which they see their true interests, and discover the certain means of preserving and improving their unparalleled freedom and its attendant blessings. I am satisfied that you take pleasure in an American offering you his thoughts on any subject of a public nature, however little merit may be in his suggestions. I am, therefore, led to propose to your consideration an undertaking which no one is so well qualified to accomplish as yourself-it is to collect and print handsomely a volume of speeches and orations of our revolution: you can make the supplement to one of your volumes such a book. The present is a most propitious period; the feelings and sentiments of '76 were never so prevalent as at present. The moment and opportunity may pass and not immediately return; the events of the late war have imparted a glow of national feeling for every thing republican. Let us then avail ourselves of the circumstance to make some deep impression. What better impression can we make than by rendering the opinions and conduct of our fathers familiar? An opportunity for such a work exists now-which, we know, is but transient, as but six Americans who witnessed the great debate remain. Now, can a doubt arise that Mr. Jefferson, or Mr. Adams, or Mr. Thompson, would not take delight in furnishing materials?-the speeches themselves, and a view of the proceedings and different characters of the speakers. We have one selection of American speeches-made by a British emissaryif such men are to select our political lessons, I need not tell you what must be the opinions of the rising generation, nor of their certain degradation."

Then followed a promise to communicate sundry articles, and some hints of the writer to obtain others.

This letter was spread before the readers of the REGISTER to gather public sentiment on the subject, and form some opinion, through communications solicited, of the supply of materials that could be obtained, with very little prospect, at that time, of accomplishing the wishes of my correspondent, though there was not any want of zeal to satisfy them. I apprehended that the supply of matter would be short-for I had, myself, been an eager collector of such things for many years, and seemingly had some right to judge of the quantity that remained for edification and improvement, in a recurrence to first principles. But it soon appeared that many were desirous that the collection should be attempted, and certain distinguished persons held out flattering prospects of success, urging me forward by the presentation of motives which they were pleased to think had an irresistible influence on my conduct; but I still hesitated, because of the deficiency of materials, until January, 1819, when it was announced that the volume would be put to press in an address that contained the annexed remarks:

"It is much to be regretted that very few of the soul-stirring orations and speeches of the revolutionary period remain to claim the admiration of a blessed posterity. Still, some good things are left to us,-and, by a liberal enlargement of the plan originally proposed, we feel pretty confident of presenting an acceptable gift to the American people, by rescuing from oblivion a great variety of fleeting, scattered articles, belonging to the history of our country anterior to the sublime epoch of the revolution, during its continuance, and immediately after its glorious termination, whilst its feelings were fresh upon the heart and understanding of our heroes and sages. As heretofore observed, our collection of materials is somewhat extensive, our resources promise some rich additional supplies, and no effort shall be left untried to increase our store: so that, on the whole, though the collection will doubtless be defective, and, perhaps, not equal the expectations of some, we are consoled with a belief that it will not be unworthy of the patronage of an enlightened public-zealous to catch a "spark from the altar of '76," and prepared to enter into the spirit of past times.

Since ascertained to be BENJAMIN ELLIOT, Esq., of Charleston, S. C., whose name I take the liberty to mention as the projector of the undertaking, and the merit of it belongs to him.

"The volume will be slowly printed as the matter presents itself, and be concluded as soon as the nature of things will admit of-but shall not be hurried. Order in its arrangement can hardly be hoped for; but it will not, on that account, suffer much depreciation of value."

Still, it was not until September in the same year that a regular prospectus was offered, for I yet feared the want of matter, as well as the severe labor that I was sensible would become necessary to obtain it, if to be obtained at all. This prospectus contained these paragraphs:

"Believing, as we do, that the simplicity of the truth, as held forth by those who devised and executed the severance of this country from the power of a despot, has been widely departed from, no effort on our part shall be wanting to encourage a spirit to seek after and hold on to the principles which appear essential to the preservation of the rights and liberties of the people of the United States; under an assurance that vigilance is the condition on which freedom is granted to us. But we enter upon the undertaking before us with considerable diffidence-fearful of the want of a just discrimination, and also of time for research and reflection to do justice to the weighty concern. It seemed, however, to be imposed on us as a duty, and we will execute the task as well as we can.

"The materials, though the stock is pretty large, are not yet sufficient for the extensive work contemplated. The editor of the REGISTER has, for several years, been a collector of scraps and rare things-several gentlemen have liberally contributed articles which they would not have parted with except on an occasion like this; and others have promised us liberty to overhaul their neglected stores of old papers: but much useful matter must be in the hands of those with whom we have not yet communicated on the subject; and every patriot is invited to give his aid to this collection, designed to record the feelings of "the times that tried men's souls." Letters may be sent to the editor at his cost for postage, and originals will be carefully returned, if requested. When copies from manuscripts are presented, it might be well to permit us to state the source from whence they were derived, if necessary."

The terms were also set forth—it was promised that the volume should contain between four and five hundred pages, and cost, in sheets, the sum of three dollars. A view to pecuniary profit was disavowed—it had nothing to do with the origin or progress of the work, and if a reasonable allowance for money and time expended is afforded by its sale, it will be as much as ever has been expected.

I had no sooner fairly committed myself than I regretted it-the patriots of the revolution did not make speeches to be unattended to by their brethren in congress and fill up the columns of newspapers.* They only spoke when they had something to say, and preferred acting to talking—very unlike the legislators of the present time. I plainly saw that great difficulties would oppose themselves to the fulfillment of my promise-I feared that more was expected of me than any man could do-for the facts that were manifest to my mind could not be appreciated by all my pride (an honest one, I trust) was alarmed, but, in obedience to a fixed rule that I have adopted for my own conduct, I resolved to meet the difficulty presented and conquer it by perseverance-if I could. To give some idea of the quantity of books and papers that have been looked into to effect this compilation, I think that I do not exaggerate when I say that they were sufficient to load a cart, and hours on hours have been spent in the service without the least profit. Perhaps, I was unlucky or unwise—that my attention was not directed to the proper sources; it may be so-but of this I am satisfied, that very few of the "soul-stirring' speeches of the revolutionary period remain to warm the hearts of a grateful posterity: they were pronounced to be heard, not published.

"

With this brief narrative, I submit the work to the liberality of my countrymen, American republicans—in the firm belief that, if I have not accomplished all that was hoped for by some, it will appear that others are agreeably disappointed; and I am satisfied that good will result from the publication of this collection: it will rescue from oblivion many things that were hastening to it, and lay the foundation, perhaps, of a more extensive and much more perfect work, which I shall always keep in my view.

In explanation it is necessary further to observe, that the leading object of this volume was to show the feelings that prevailed in the revolution, not to give a history of events; hence, all matters of the latter class have been rejected, except as immediately necessary to show the effects of feeling. The volume, also, might have been more acceptable if a greater degree of order had been observed as to dates, etc., but it was almost impossible to approach regularity, in this respect, as well from the nature of things as from the occasional attention, only, that I was able to give to the work-but any inconvenience on this account is obviated by the copious index, or table of contents prefixed. Two articles have been, unfortunately, inserted twice-but, as they are of an excellent quality, I shall not be sorry for it, if the error causes them to be twice 'read. Many notices of proceedings, etc., are given only to indicate the general conduct of the people on such occasions as they have reference to.

* The earl of Dartmouth asked an American in London (whose name we cannot call to mind at present), of how many members the congress consisted? The reply was fifty-two." "Why that is the number of cards in a pack." said his lordship-" how many knaves are there? "Not one," returned the republican-" please to recollect that knaves are court cards."