10 allel columns, printing in one of them the text of the original letter, and placing in the other the variations exhibited by the same letter as printed in “Washington’s Writings.” “In this way,” he says, “ an accurate judgment may be formed of the real extent of the alterations.” If he had written variations instead of alterations, this statement would have been more accurate, but even then, as applied to this class of letters, it w’ould have led to a deceptive conclusion. By the way in which the texts are compared, it is left to be inferred that every change from the originals as printed by Mr. Reed has been made by me. The initial of my name is prefixed to each separate variation, whether consisting of a single word or more. As the matter stands, no reader would suspect that any of these variations are to be ascribed to the differences between the originals and the copies in the Letter- Books, from which the text in “Washington’s Writings ” was printed; or, if such a suspicion should arise, the reader would have no means of deciding which particular variations are chargeable to the Letter-Books, and which to me. I cannot but regard this mode of comparison, however well intended, as exhibiting the case under a deceptive aspect, and as placing to my account numerous alterations for which I am in no degree responsible, and which are plainly nothing more
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