3743. HISTORY (American), Revolutionary.—
On the subject of the history of the
American Revolution, you ask who shall write
it? Who can write it? And who will ever be
able to write it? Nobody; except merely its external
facts; all its councils, designs, and discussions
having been conducted by Congress
with closed doors, and with no members, as
far as I know, having even made notes of
them. These, which are the life and soul of
history, must forever be unknown.—
To John Adams. Washington ed. vii, 489.
Ford ed., ix, 527.
(M.
1815)
