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A.L.S. 2 pages. Expresses thanks for the books sent. Asks a favor in regards to Mr. Felton.

Reports on his share of earnings from "Washington's Writings." Many copies of the book were destroyed in a fire, but the stereotype and engraved plates were in a fire proof vault.

A.L.S. 3 pages. Cambridge to Washington, D.C. Does not think Washington can get a loan on security of the papers, since he has already made them over to the govt.--when he finishes with the paper he will bundle up private papers and send to W-n--"Strictly speaking all the papers pertaining to the period in which Genl. Washington held no office are private, but I suppose the spirit of your contract included only family papers, and such as related to his private affairs,"--must have written authority from Washington to hand over papers to any but him--Mr. Forsyth has made formal demand for the papers and will take it to court, but doesn't think he will succeed--he will hand papers over as soon as he is through with them. Autograph letter signed, integral cover, docketed, postmark "Cambridge Mass Apr 13," red seal.

A.L.S. 3 pages. Cambridge to Georgetown, Washington, D.C. Has confirmed his own opinion that money cannot be borrowed on security of the [Washington] papers since title to them has gone to govt.--cannot advance any money himself because every cent is tied up in publication of Writings--assures him he is working every minute to complete publication--Mr. Forsyth's efforts to institute suit against him for the papers will come to nothing, because "my contract with Judge [Bushrod] Washington gives me a right to use the papers till the work is completed." Autograph letter signed, integral cover, docketed, postmarked Cambridge Mass. May 11," laminated.

A.L.S. 1 page. Cambridge. Dr. Sprague of Albany secured permission from Judge [Bushrod] Washington to take certain autographs and substitute a copy--this done before papers were sold to Congress--doesn't wish it to be thought that he himself took liberties with mss. Autograph letter signed, integral cover, docketed.

A.L.S. 3 pages. Cambridge to Georgetown. He has never seen G.W.'s missing diaries and Cash Memorandum Books returned all he had--Judge W. not home when he took papers from Mt. V., and altho Revolution papers in good order, private one and those before and after were in bad shape--noticed some diaries missing then--vol. of Orderly books missing at the time and nothing known of it by the Judge or Marshall--"I have recently been informed that one of the volumes of the "Diary," (I think for the year 1790, but am not certain) is now in possession of Mr. Bogart of New York, but how it fell into his hands I know not ... I have the impression, also, that I have heard of another volume somewhere, but I do not now recollect where it was said to be ... You know there was a rumor, that papers relating to the latter part of this period [the Presidency] were secretly taken from the office after the General's death. I once mentioned this to Judge Washington. He replied cautiously; "We have never charged any person with such an act," intimating, as I thought, that his suspicion was strong."--G.W.'s books which G.C.W. sold to Mr. Stevens have been purchased there by subscription and are deposited in library of the Boston Athenaeum. Autograph letter signed, cover, docketed "Important regarding missing Books and papers from Jared Sparks," postmarked "Cambridge Ms. Jan 2," laminated, watermarked (Lumsdon and Son 1848), red seal (crane). [A "Memorandum of Papers in 12 Boxes" is enclosed, in Sparks' hand, listing vols. of George Washington's correspondence & other documents with notation "Vol. III of orderly Books was never received. 10 vols. of Army Returns - being a part of the series of 117 vols. - were taken away by Colonel Washington"].

Autograph letter signed with integral address panel. Sparks writes to Jane, "My Dear Madam, I am about to publish a series of American Biographies, and I should be glad to include in it a Life of Lawrence Washington, if the materials exist for writing such a Life. Have not his papers been preserved at Mount Vernon?..." A note on the address panel indicates this letter was forwarded to John Augustine Washington III to respond to.

A.L.S. Cambridge to Mount Vernon. Letter from historian and George Washington biographer Jared Sparks to John Augustine Washington III proposing he write a life of Lawrence Washington. Sparks writes "I was already acquainted with the principal incidents in the life of Lawrence Washington, and although the papers would not seem to furnish materials for a biography of much extent, yet I think a Life of moderate length might be written, which would be interesting and fill a proper space in the 'Library of American Biography.' If you will forward me the papers, I will do the best that I can with them."

Discusses payments based on sales of "Washington's Writings." Tells percentages paid to various legatees.